Please Note: These Community Events Are Not Run by Wild Ones HGCNY
November 1, 2026
Halloween Bird Walk at Seneca Meadows Education Center
When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, November 1, 2026
Where: Seneca Meadows Education Center, 1977 NY-414 in Waterloo, NY 13165
Description: Please join us for a mid-fall bird walk, meeting at 1977 NYS Route 414 in Waterloo, NY 13165. We will have light snacks and coffee/hot chocolate, then we will drive to the Seneca Meadows Wetland Preserve at 1712 Black Brook Road in Seneca Falls, NY 13148. We will walk about 2 miles in about 2 – 2 and a half hours. Expected birds are several species of ducks, Canada Geese, Gallinules, Pied-billed Grebes, Great blue Herons, Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, and late migrating songbirds. Please be prepared with binoculars, boots, insect repellent, and water bottles. (If you don’t have your own binoculars, I have loaners for the trip). All individuals, groups, families with or without children, people with disabilities, and those from under-represented communities are welcome. This is a free event! Please register, which is required, by filling out the right-hand side of this message. For more information and/or questions, please email to [email protected] or call (315) 539-5089 and leave a detailed message.
For anyone with disabilities, please contact me and I will send you a description of the trails.
Free but Registration Is Required.
Register: https://act.audubon.org/a/hbw11126
November 2, 2026
Hike into November: The Boundary Trail at Baltimore Woods
When: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, November 2, 2026
Where: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Rd, Marcellus, NY 13108
Description: Celebrate 60 years of hiking at Baltimore Woods by walking the Boundary Trail in this monthly series! Over time, the preserve has changed and grown to include over 7 miles of trails, and we will explore the diversity of each ecosystem at The Woods. Join us to connect with other hikers, check out a trail you haven’t hiked before or get a new perspective on one you’ve done dozens of times. Free program, donations appreciated. Throwback event based on a 1991 program!
More Details: This program will follow the Boundary Trail. These most difficult trails have narrow and steep sections with steps, roots, and loose soil. The surfaces may be muddy this time of year. Our total route will be about 1.7 miles. This program is designed for adults.
Free but space is limited. Online pre-registration is required.
Register: https://secure.everyaction.com/sfIN0uSDkUG14mEqdXS45w2
Link: https://baltimorewoods.org/event/hike-into-november-the-boundary-trail/
November 6, 2026
Lights Out: Making CNY Safer for Birds at the Great Swamp Conservancy
When: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2026
Where: Great Swamp Conservancy 8375 N. Main St., Canastota, NY, 13032
Description: Meredith Barges is a bird-friendly building policy advocate and educator. Through her work, she helps people to appreciate the complex lives of birds and how our decisions about buildings, lighting, and landscaping affect bird populations. She is the co-author of “Building Safer Cities for Birds: How Cities Are Leading the Way on Bird-Friendly Building Policy”
Registration for this presentation is appreciated. Please call (315) 697-2950 or email [email protected] to register.
$5 per person, $4 for members
Link: https://www.greatswampconservancy.org/events-1/2026/11/6/lights-out-making-cny-safer-for-birds
November 7, 2026
The Native Plant Society of New Jersey Fall Conference – Myths, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned
When: 8:50 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2026
Where: Online via Zoom
Description: The 2026 NPSNJ Fall Conference will take place online on Saturday, November 7. This year’s theme is “Myths, Mistakes, and Lessons Learned.” All three speakers are Society board members, and they will examine gardening myths: things that everyone knows that are nonetheless wrong.
What gardening or native plant “truth” have you heard repeated so often that nobody seems to question it? Which rule has failed in your own garden? What claim about insects, trees, plant selection, propagation, or maintenance would you like our speakers to investigate? Send your myths, misconceptions, and questions to [email protected]. We will share them with the speakers to include in their presentations.
View full event description here: https://npsnj.org/event/fall-conference-2026/
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LMexJOnVTreJww0ek9XO0w#/registration
November 7, 2026
Birding for All at Beaver Lake
When: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Saturday, November 7, 2026
Where: Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Description: Join us for Birding for All, an inclusive and welcoming program designed for people of all ages, abilities, and experience levels. Whether you’re a seasoned bird enthusiast or have never picked up a pair of binoculars, birding guide Ryan Shostack offers a fun and engaging way to connect with nature and explore the fascinating world of birds. Binoculars will be available to borrow.
Free with park admission ($5/vehicle), but registration required.
Link: https://beaverlakenature.org/events/view/birding-for-all37847/
November 7, 2026
On the Canals: Guided Walk in Savannah with Montezuma Audubon Center
When: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, November 7, 2026
Where: Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 NY-89, Savannah, NY 13146
Description: In early November, we have the wonderful opportunity to see a mix of our year-round residents, late fall migrants, and newly arrived winter visitors. The season of Woodpeckers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees are upon us. Join Montezuma Audubon Center staff for a leisurely stop-and-go walk to explore all the sights and sounds of fall. This excursion will be approximately 1-2 miles in length, round trip along our stone dust and natural surface trails. We will meet at the Montezuma Audubon Center at 2295 State Route 89, Savannah, NY. Binoculars/monoculars and bird guides will be provided. These are free, family-friendly adventures funded by the New York State Canal Corporation.
If you have specific accessibility needs or questions, please let us know by reaching out to our Inclusion Point of Contact, Cassidy Attanasio, at [email protected]
Free but Registration Is Required
Register: https://act.audubon.org/a/canals-guided-fall-morning-bird-walk-5
November 12, 2026
Planning Your Garden: Site Assessment and Mapping with CCE Tompkins County
When: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, November 12, 2026
Where: In-person at CCE‑Tompkins Education Center, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850‑3555, or Online via Zoom
Description: Assessing and mapping the conditions of your site is an essential first step to a successful garden. Choosing the right plants for the right place will save you time and money in the long run. In this class we will go through the steps to assessing your soil type, light and shade patterns, views to screen or enhance, identifying existing plants and noting any other conditions that define your garden. This information will then be used to create a base map that can be used in future years to help you select plants that will thrive in your unique site conditions.
Instructor’s bio: Chrys Gardener is a Master Gardener, avid gardener, and landscape designer. She specializes in designing gardens that include lots of native plants and are also deer-resistant and low-maintenance. A self-confessed seedaholic, Chrys starts thousands of seeds each spring for her own gardens and gardens she designs for others, and she is excited to share this easy technique with others who wish to fill their own gardens with lots of native plants.
This class is offered either in-person or online.
Fee: This program is $20. A donation funds scholarships to keep our programs accessible to all. Subsidized rates are provided to support all community members’ access. Please pay what you are able.
Register: https://ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/m1x62d050txbnyf/
Link: https://ccetompkins.org/events/2026/11/12/planning-your-garden-site-assessment-and-mapping
November 17, 2026
Growing Native Plants in One’s Backyard with Don Leopold and the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Where: In-person at Cornell Botanic Gardens’ Nevin Center, 124 Comstock Knoll Drive, Ithaca, and Online via Zoom
Description: Presented by Don Leopold, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Environmental Biology SUNY ESF
While many native plant species grow well in average garden conditions, many interesting and often rare species require adjusting those conditions. Don’s talk will cover some of the native species that he has been growing in his garden including the common and not so common, discussing simple and inexpensive ways to accommodate species that thrive under alkaline or acidic, wet or dry environments, as well as those that need nothing special.
Register: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/9qOb-9RaTOiDNL9DZYOqmQ#/registration
Link: https://flnps.org/activities/3015/growing-native-plants-one%E2%80%99s-backyard
November 18, 2026
How Animals Prepare for Winter with Leah Brooks and the Native Plant Society of New Jersey
When: 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Where: Online via Zoom
Description: Presented by Leah Brooks, Mt. Cuba Center’s Marketing Coordinator.
Join Leah Brooks as she highlights the strategies and adaptations that native animals use to survive the winter. Unlock the secrets of frogs that freeze, mammals that hunker in hollows, butterflies that bunk under bark, and more.
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Of1D9InUQSGYzhHQKJ2Ivg#/registration
Link: https://npsnj.org/event/how-animals-prepare-for-winter-with-leah-brooks/
November 19, 2026
Woodpeckers of the Woods at Baltimore Woods
When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, November 19, 2026
Where: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Rd, Marcellus, NY 13108
Description: Have you ever wondered how woodpeckers avoid getting headaches, or how they find insects hiding under tree bark? Come along to learn about the many adaptations that help these resourceful birds to survive. We will watch woodpeckers at our birdfeeders, search for areas where woodpeckers have been especially active in the forest, and learn how they help our local ecosystems. Throwback to 2005!
More Details: This program is designed for adults. This program will include a hike along the Valley Trail, which is one of our more difficult trails with hills and exposed rocks and roots. Please bring binoculars if you have them; a few extras will also be provided.
Fee: $6 (members), $9 (non-members)
Space is limited. Online pre-registration is required.
Register: https://secure.everyaction.com/h3fmwgyRyk6hylVOhuO7Ww2
Link: https://baltimorewoods.org/event/woodpeckers-of-the-woods/
November 20, 2026
Nature’s Thanksgiving Menu at Beaver Lake
When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Friday, November 20, 2026
Where: Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027
Description: What’s on your Thanksgiving plate? Join a naturalist on a guided hike going through a Thanksgiving menu in the woods! From wild cranberries, to stuffing, to drinks and side dishes, we will discover an entire Thanksgiving menu on the trail.
Free with park admission ($5/vehicle).
Link: https://beaverlakenature.org/events/view/natures-thanksgiving-menu/
November 20, 2026
December 11, 2026
Mindful Botany Walk at Cornell Botanic Gardens
When: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Fridays, November 20, 2026 & December 11, 2026
Where: Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center, 124 Comstock Knoll Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Description: Join Cornell Botanic Gardens staff to observe the beauty and drama of nature unfolding on monthly nature walks. While exploring various paths and gardens each month, we will practice mindfulness by dedicating our attention to the present moment and fully observing and appreciating the amazing plant transformations that take place throughout the year. Walks will be held rain or shine.
Fee: Free; donations welcome. Pre-registration is not required.
Link: https://events.cornell.edu/event/mindful-botany-walk-2026
November 21, 2026
Turkey Walk at Baltimore Woods
When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, November 21, 2026
Where: Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Rd, Marcellus, NY 13108
Description: Have you ever really thought about turkeys? Waddle around the preserve with us as we learn about and look for turkeys while enjoying the fall weather. Bring your family or friends to discover what makes these birds special and connect to nature! Throwback to 1984!
More Details: All ages, children must be accompanied by an adult. The program will begin inside the interpretive center, then we will take a hike that includes uneven surfaces and some moderate hills, totaling about 1.5 miles. Please call ahead if you have concerns and we’ll be sure to choose a path that works for everyone in the group.
Fee: $6 (members), $9 (non-members)
Space is limited. Online pre-registration is required.
Register: https://secure.everyaction.com/IJeJCSHNo0K_6amsJv1Lpg2