The Rogers Center has over 600 acres of beautiful forests, fields and meadows and 7 miles of trails for the public to learn and experience the full offering of New York’s ecosystems, wildlife habitat and cultural heritage.
The Rogers Center, or Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center includes 600 acres, five facilities and seven miles of trails. This preservation area is dedicated to providing educational opportunities about the upsatte New York environment and its ecosystems, with the staff being made up of devoted community members and environmental scientists and educators from the region. Plus, the property is open daily from dawn to dusk and free to the public!
The Rogers Center exists, according to the Friends of Rogers mission statement, “to provide outstanding educational opportunities that excite, inspire, and motivate people of all ages and abilities to enjoy, understand, appreciate, and protect our natural environment.”
Home to the longest-standing environmental education facility and programming in the state, the Rogers Center offers weekly programs to the public.
The Rogers Center also serves as a protection of the natural ecosystem and wildlife against the sixth great extinction – a result of climate change and unsustainable land practices.
Since 1909, this incredible facility has been serving Central New York.
With 600 acres of land, there’s no shortage of things to do at the Rogers Center.
Programs run all year long for a free or reduced cost to the public. Enjoy lessons from expert speakers or exmbark on guided excursions.
Some of these programs include:
Monday Morning Rambles are easy walks through the trails of the Rogers Center with different themes each week.
Three Things Thursdays are a summer lecture series featuring guest speakers on special topics like chemical ecology, native bees, and forest safety.
Families with young children can take part in kid-friendly hikes and storytime which take place almost every week!
The Tracking Club meets the first Sunday of each month to discuss and share tracking skills.
Facilities at the center include:
Stop by the Visitor Center to take. a look at the education and exhibit spaces. You can also peruse around the gift shop to bring a piece home to commemorate your trip.
Feed brook, rainbow and brown trout at the Trout Ponds. You can buy their food at feeders and the gift shop!
The Outdoor Classroom is a gorgeous six-sided outdoor space used during summer camp, an education space on rainy days, and for bands during summer concerts.
The Bird Cabin hosts the George Lesser Bird Collection and also makes a great meeting space.
The property also has a covered picnic pavilion complete with tables and grills.
In 2025, the Sugar Shack will be opening, a historic sugarhouse once stored at the Chenango County Historic Society.
Beyond their weekly programming, the Rogers Center offers seasonal events throughout the year for the community.
Animals of Halloween is taking place on October 26 of this year from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. This event, ideal for families with young children, is a not-so-spooky Halloween celebration. Costumed guides will lead groups along the trails to meet some animals and learn their stories. Afterward enjoy cider and donuts.
Winter Living Celebration is a winter festivity (with snow or not!) with music, wagon rides, children’s activities, hot food, baked goods and more. The next one will be on February 1, 2025 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The Earth Day Celebration is not only a fun-filled event but also a day about learning about the importance of this special day. Learn about the nature of Central New York, how you can be a part of community science, how you can make a difference, and what initiatives are happening within the community.
The Rogers Center is located at 2721 State Route 80, Shelburne, NY 13460. For directions, click the button below.
Experience this unforgettable attraction via Amtrak to Utica Station in Central New York—Don’t forget to use the New York By Rail 15% discount!
