Wild Ones Events

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Janet Allen, of Habitat Gardening in Central New York and a Toastmasters Advanced Communicator Gold Certificate recipient, will give a 1-hour presentation about how caring for our yards is the most direct way we can care for the earth. By planting native plants, we can provide habitat for even the smallest creatures, and by using earth-friendly landscaping practices, we can create a healthy yard for our family and a healthy planet for future generations. Just as important, we can reconnect with the natural world as we enjoy our own piece of the earth every day. Following the presentation, National Audubon Society and Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps volunteers will lead a 1-hour, leisurely walk along the West Shore Trail to explore the pollinator garden and restored habitats, and the birds and other wildlife that depend on them to survive. This program is sponsored by Honeywell, Parsons and Anchor QEA.

Fee: $10/adult; $7.50/child

Space is limited and registration is required. 

Call 315-365-3588 or email [email protected] with questions.

Habitat Gardening in Central New York (HGCNY) is a local chapter of Wild Ones. Wild Ones promotes native landscapes through education, advocacy, and collaborative action, with a vision of native plants and natural landscapes thriving in every community. At HGCNY, they bring this vision to life by helping people transition yards, big and small, into flourishing natural habitats throughout Onondaga County and neighboring Cayuga, Cortland, Oswego, and Tompkins counties.

More information:

On the shores of Onondaga Lake and along its tributaries, Honeywell has already restored about 90 acres of wetlands and about 1.1 million native plants are being planted. More than 260 wildlife species are now calling these areas home, and 200 bird species have been identified in and around Onondaga Lake. Honeywell also is working with federal and state government on additional projects to restore and protect wildlife habitats and enhance recreational opportunities, including creating 100 acres of new native grassland habitat and conserving about 1,600 acres within the watershed.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps is an expanding organization of community volunteers who are contributing to restoration projects that are creating, improving, and monitoring wildlife habitat in the Onondaga Lake watershed and sustaining its value as an Audubon Important Bird Area.

The Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps was founded in 2012 by Honeywell in partnership with Montezuma Audubon Center and Onondaga Audubon and is now an Audubon New York program. Additional Corps supporters include Parsons, Anchor QEA, National Grid, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or participate in future activities, please contact [email protected], visit https://www.audubon.org/OLCC,  or call 315-365-3588. Schools, community groups, local organizations, and individuals are welcome. Like the Corps on Facebook or Instagram, or visit YouTube to learn more.

HGCNY Presents: Meadow Creation by Sam Quinn

An overview of meadow creation for private landowners in Central New York: timelines, nativity, costs, establishment methods and other guidance

Today, many landowners are interested in meadows as a way to benefit wildlife and reduce some of their lawn area, which can save money long-term compared to typical lawncare.  But, this process can be daunting with so many factors to consider like how to remove the lawn or other vegetation, how to design meadow plant composition, where to buy seeds and other materials, how to monitor to ensure the meadow is functioning as intended, and numerous other questions.  Upland meadows in the northeastern US are an example of an artificial ecosystem, i.e., a plant community created and maintained by people to meet certain objectives, like supporting pollinators in our rapidly changing landscape.   Many of these upland meadows trace back to the land-management practices of Native Peoples, who created and maintained these open spaces in landscapes that would otherwise be wooded.  Sam is a conservation biologist who has been creating meadows since 2010 and has recently expanded this effort through his company, Meadowcraft Ecological Services.  He will present on the meadow creation process and share practical guidance geared toward landowners interested in learning about this multi-year process.  

Sam Quinn is a conservation biologist who helps clients design, establish and manage meadows, as well as other natural features of their land.  He is the co-owner of Meadowcraft Ecological Services, a company focused on working with landowners to enhance their property's ecological function and habitat quality for pollinators, birds, soil biota and other elements of biodiversity.  He has helped create thousands of acres of meadows throughout the US, primarily in the Northeast.  In addition to establishing these plant communities, Sam’s biggest motivation is to help landowners become confident stewards of their land.

Schedule
• 1:00 p.m. — Refreshments and conversation with fellow native plant enthusiasts
• 1:30 p.m. — Presentation begins

Location
This meeting is both in-person at the Liverpool Public Library and online via Zoom. Zoom attendees will be able to hear the speaker, view their slide presentation, and ask questions during the Q&A at the end.

Registration is required for Zoom attendance only.

Recording
Meetings are typically recorded and posted on our YouTube channel.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

December 5-6, 2026
Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13224 map

Saturday 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Sunday 10:30AM – 4:30PM

Admission is $2-5 sliding scale (more if you can, less if you can’t)
Under 16 and over 65 free

Masks are preferred and encouraged for everyone’s safety — and will be available.

Join a thriving multicultural community at Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival, featuring over 120 local craftspeople and community organizations.

Plowshares features handmade crafts such as pottery, jewelry, clothing, art, and much, much more; performances from local musicians and dance troupes; and a silent auction with items from Central New York’s finest restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

Plowshares is a two-day showcase of the kind of world we’re working to build: one where justice, compassion, joy, peace, and environmental sustainability are in abundance.

Volunteer to help spread the word! 

We need enthusiastic members to staff the booth (flexible shifts throughout the day - no experience needed, just passion!). Great chance to connect with like-minded folks and inspire more native-focused action in our region.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

December 5-6, 2026
Nottingham High School, 3100 E. Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13224 map

Saturday 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Sunday 10:30AM – 4:30PM

Admission is $2-5 sliding scale (more if you can, less if you can’t)
Under 16 and over 65 free

Masks are preferred and encouraged for everyone’s safety — and will be available.

Join a thriving multicultural community at Plowshares Craftsfair and Peace Festival, featuring over 120 local craftspeople and community organizations.

Plowshares features handmade crafts such as pottery, jewelry, clothing, art, and much, much more; performances from local musicians and dance troupes; and a silent auction with items from Central New York’s finest restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

Plowshares is a two-day showcase of the kind of world we’re working to build: one where justice, compassion, joy, peace, and environmental sustainability are in abundance.

Volunteer to help spread the word! 

We need enthusiastic members to staff the booth (flexible shifts throughout the day - no experience needed, just passion!). Great chance to connect with like-minded folks and inspire more native-focused action in our region.

Learn more about our tabling outreach: https://hgcny.wildones.org/event-tabling/

Volunteer to help at this event: https://hgcny.wildones.org/volunteer-for-tabling/

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.