Westchester County Parks will lead a guided Nature Sketchbook Walk at Marshlands Conservancy in Rye on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The 90-minute walk runs from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the 147-acre conservancy, located at 220 Boston Post Road. Participants will sketch natural objects and landscape features during what the county describes as a relaxed, guided outing. No art experience is needed. Attendees can bring a sketchbook and pencil or borrow supplies on-site.
The county's weekly parks calendar lists the walk without a stated admission fee, though several other events that week are explicitly marked free. Residents can call (914) 835-4466 to confirm details.
Marshlands Conservancy sits above Milton Harbor, an inlet of Long Island Sound, and includes a half-mile of shoreline, five distinct natural areas designated as critical habitats and bio reserves, and three miles of hiking trails, according to the conservancy's website. The Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation owns and operates the property.
The setting has drawn attention from local naturalists. Kara Mason, a nature photographer and Saw Mill River Audubon board member, described the conservancy's ecological value in a Sept. 11 MyRye.com feature on the area's birdlife. "Marshlands and Read are uniquely positioned on Long Island Sound's migratory flyway," Mason said, noting the conservancy's tidal estuaries and forests support more than 200 bird species. "We are truly lucky to have these diverse environmental gems right here in Rye!"
The sketchbook walk is one of several Westchester County Parks events scheduled for the week of Sept. 21-27.
Other county parks events, Sept. 21-27
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Bicycle Sunday on the Bronx River Parkway, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A 13.1-mile loop closed to cars opens to walkers, joggers, bicycles, scooters, in-line skaters and Class 1 e-bikes. Free.
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Westchester County Car Show at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free for spectators; $5 parking fee per car. Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 4.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Third annual Scarecrow Making Contest at Muscoot Farm in Katonah, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $10 per family. Scarecrows will be displayed during the farm's pumpkin-picking weekend for public voting.
- Saturday, Sept. 26: Fireside Nature Storytime at Cranberry Lake Preserve in North White Plains, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Children's stories among the trees with a campfire.
