New Morning Birdsong Guided Hikes at Cumming Nature Center

New Morning Birdsong Guided Hikes at Cumming Nature Center

Tweeting trek in addition to wildflower hikes and other outdoor exploration

ROCHESTER, NY - On Saturdays at the Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) Cumming Nature Center this spring, visitors have several opportunities to explore the natural world with seasoned guides or hike on their own. New this year are morning birdsong hikes. Hiking trails are open through the fall.

Hikers absorb the sights and sounds that the 900-acre Cumming Nature Center outdoor "classroom" has to offer through birding hikes, wildflower forays as well as self-guided trips along the trails. Details below:

Morning Birdsong Hike 

Saturdays, April 23 and 30, May 7, 14 and 21: 8-10am

Nature-seekers listen for morning birdsong and spot spring birds along the trails. Hikers might come across Black-Throated Blue Warbler or an Indigo Bunting.

Wildflower Hike 

Saturdays, April 16, May 7 and 21: 10am-12pm

Look for and identify the many different species of wildflowers. Discover which wildflowers are native or invasive to this area, and how they benefit humans and animals. From the rare Spreading Globeflower to the near-perfect red, white and painted trilliums, wildflowers of all colors represent the vitality and energy of nature.

Trail Exploration

Outdoor enthusiasts explore six miles of gentle and maintained hiking trails, including the wetlands and forest. Each trail has a different theme:

• The Beaver Trail introduces hikers to the important cycles of nature. See forest, stream, marsh and meadow habitats rich with plant and animal life on the way to an observation tower overlooking a 35-acre beaver pond. Discover first-hand one of the most stunning examples of an animal's interaction with its environment.
• The Helen Gordon Trail is an outdoor art gallery with paintings by artists Jerry Czech and Helen Edinger that acquaints hikers with the birds and other animals of the area.
• The Haudenosaunee Trail features paintings by Seneca artist Ernest Smith that introduce the fascinating culture and tradition of the Haudenosaunee and evoke images of a time long past.
• The Pioneer Trail features a reconstructed 18th-century homestead and interpretive signs that tell of the lives of early settlers.
• The Conservation Trail communicates forest conservation and management practices. Trail signs identify tree species and explain their uses to both wildlife and humans. These signs, along with a working sawmill and a replica of a fire tower, show how informed management practices can result in a sustainable, mature forest.

Trails are open five days a week: Wednesday through Friday, 9am-3:30pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9am-4:30pm (closed Monday and Tuesday). Guided hikes are free. Regular Cumming Nature Center admission is free for RMSC members and a $3 donation is requested for the general public, $10 requested per family.

The Cumming Nature Center is located at 6472 Gulick Road, Naples, NY 14512. Phone: 585.374.6160. The complete Cumming Nature Center offering is available at www.rmsc.org.

About Rochester Museum & Science Center

Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium, and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester's past including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit www.rmsc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

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Media Contact: Amanda Bayer, Marketing Communications Manager, 585.697.1962, amanda_bayer@rmsc.org