A fresh batch of experienced professionals and master storytellers have their work cut out for them following last year’s record-breaking attendance at Letchworth State Park’s Winter Lecture Series.
These free, engaging talks are held at 1 p.m. every Saturday in January and February at the Humphrey Nature Center, which is accessible year-round through the park entrance at 6787 Denton Corners Road, Castile, NY. Coffee, cocoa, and cookies are served with every lecture.
“Our winter lecture series is a great way to delve deeper into a wide range of nature and history topics in and around the Genesee Valley,” said Matt Nusstein, lead environmental educator for the Genesee Region of New York State Parks. “Our roster of speakers ranges from professional biologists, educators, professors, historians, and other professionals in their respective fields. There is a lecture presentation for everyone!”
The 2025 speakers’ specialties range widely. Some lectures are immediately followed by a guided outdoor adventure on the same topic.
The remaining schedule is:
•January 18 – “Chasing Eagles” by Dan Jordan
•January 25 – “Niagara Gorge Exploration” by Angelina Weibel
•February 1 – “Short Stories Along the Genesee Valley Canal” by Jules Hoepting
•February 8 – “Floral Family Secrets: The Patterns of Plant Identification” by Lara Hargrave
•February 15 – “Stories from the Oldest County Forest in NYS” by Claudia Nusstein
•February 22 – “Memorial Trees of Letchworth State Park” by Mike Landowski.
While registration is not required, it’s important to remember that the nature center classrooms do have seating and capacity limits. Be prepared for special seating arrangements in the event of more record-breaking attendance.
These are far from the only educational adventures in Letchworth State Park this winter. The Genesee Naturalist is the quarterly event calendar and newsletter for all state parks on and around the Genesee River. View the latest newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/3frwvbyc. Email genesee.education@parks.ny.gov to get The Genesee Naturalist in your inbox.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 80 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit http://parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518-474-0456.
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