A “Family Fun” participant focuses on camouflage painting techniques during a recent program. M&T Bank sponsors all “Family Fun” programming with Friends of Rogers through the end of 2017. Photo courtesy Friends of Rogers
A “Family Fun” participant focuses on camouflage painting techniques during a recent program. M&T Bank sponsors all “Family Fun” programming with Friends of Rogers through the end of 2017. Photo courtesy Friends of Rogers

“Family Fun” is the popular Friends of Rogers program designed to provide participants of all ages the opportunity to experience hands-on learning about the natural environment at Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne.

Held on the third Saturday of every month at 10:30 a.m., M&T Bank is serving as the official presenting sponsor of “Family Fun” throughout the remainder of the calendar year.

Led by a specially trained environmental educator, popular “Family Fun” titles have included For Goodness, Snakes!, Grow Friends, Kitchen Science, Lazy Planters, Make Your Own Bird House, Night Stalkers, Pond Ecology, Running A-Fowl, Skull Science, Upcycled T-Shirts, and What’s Bugging You?

While “Family Fun” has been underwritten by several organizations since its inception over five years ago, this marks only the second time that a corporate partner’s financial support will provide long-term support for fundamental Friends of Rogers programming.

“M&T Bank’s generosity to Friends of Rogers and our local communities is truly inspiring,” said Simon Solomon, executive director. “Their leadership support ensures that Friends of Rogers will be able to continue offering this free community program for the rest of 2017. We are extremely grateful for M&T Bank’s investment in our mission.”

On Sept. 16, “Family Fun” participants can get in on the “Chenango County Rocks!” movement by painting rocks with positive messages. Designed to promote random acts of kindness, this movement encourages community members to hide hand-painted rocks throughout the community for others to find.

Once a rock is found, people are encouraged to pick them up, share photos on Facebook, and then hide them again somewhere else. (Good hiding spots can be found during the ‘Wild Goose Chase’ 5K trail walk/run taking place at Rogers Center that day.)

Rogers Center is operated by Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs for all ages. Summer hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (607) 674-4733 or visit friendsofrogers.org.

By martha

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