South Fork Natural History Musuem Has Two Events West Of The Canal

South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) is offering two informational and educational events this weekend.

On Saturday, July 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard Station Shinnecock (100 Foster Avenue, Hampton Bays) will host its annual open house and family fun day. Participants can meet the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, the nation’s oldest continuous seagoing service, whose mission is to keep commercial and recreational fishers safe, and get up-close to a helicopter, boats, and the equipment used by the Coast Guard for search and rescue efforts. Suffolk County Sheriff canine officers will present a K-9 demonstration, Riverhead Research Center will release a seal, and demonstrate haul seine nets in the bay. SOFO’s education and outreach coordinator Melanie Meade will also be there offering free marine activities, including microscopic views of Shinnecock Bay. Food is available at the event.

On Monday, July 8 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., SOFO leads “They Called it Red Gold,” a walk for teens and adults exploring the history of the Long Island cranberry industry. Cosponsored by the Peconic Land Trust John Turner, naturalist, conservationist, author, birding tour leader and SOFO board member, leads the adventure, which will visit the wilds of Suffolk County’s Cranberry Bog Nature Preserve in western Southampton. Here, participants will explore what was, at one time, the largest cranberry farm on Long Island—the Woodhull Bog.

Come learn about this past agricultural tradition for which Long Island once ranked near the top of the list for production, how cranberry farms were created and what brought about their demise. The group will also be on the lookout for wetland-dependent wildlife and some of the native plants that have colonized this area of the Pine Barrens. There is a $5 charge for this program. Reserve to events@peconiclandrust.org or call Autumn Rose at 631-283-3195, extension 17.