As the temperatures warm up and spring begins to blossom, rediscover the wonders of nature at Teatown Lake Reservation in northern Westchester.
This 834-acre nature preserve is conveniently nestled in a quiet neighborhood, just minutes off the Taconic State Parkway. Park next to the Tudor-style education center and then walk right in.
For Free
You can see a variety of animals inside and outside the center at no cost. My 6-year-old daughter, Ava, and I started in the room known as “Moose Hall” (you’ll see a large stuffed moose head on the wall). It should probably be known as “Turtle Hall,” because there are a lot of the reptiles in various tanks.
In the biggest tank, we found North American Wood, Eastern Painted, Red-eared slider and Eastern box turtles. Ava enjoyed watching the turtles play with each other. In a tank nearby, there was a very active Diamondback Terrapin. The turtle didn’t stop swimming, raising its head above water and then diving down again.
Moose Hall also has other animals, including snakes, walking insects and a honeybee colony! Ava was afraid the bees would get out, but once she realized they were safely behind glass, she was happy to peek inside.
More
There is also an area called the “Children’s Exploration Corner,” where kids can read nature-themed books and use crayons to complete educational worksheets. Ava enjoyed doing the “Winter Food Search.” In a second room near the entrance to the education center, there are more animals to check out. We saw some sleeping ferrets, several gray tree frogs (which were fun to find) and a huge bullfrog. Each tank has information cards above it, identifying the animal, where they live, what they eat and other fun facts.
The lobby area of the education center has a big fish tank and a nature store with environmentally focused toys, books and little treasures. When you are done inside, head outdoors for even more animal encounters.
Outside
Teatown Lake Reservation provides a home to many injured and mistreated animals. Their bald eagle named Gryphon is believed to have been injured in a collision with a car. Now, the beautiful bird sits perched in an outdoor enclosure, sometimes greeting visitors with a high-pitched chirping call.
As you follow a trail of outdoor exhibits, you’ll meet turkey vultures, crows, red-tailed hawks, several types of owls and even rabbits. Each enclosure has a description of the animal inside, along with stories about how they ended up at Teatown. The birds of prey really are remarkable.
Before you leave this area, make sure to spread your wings on the big wooden sign that will compare the length of your arms to the wingspan of animals in the exhibits. Ava’s arms matched the wingspan of a turkey vulture, while mine equaled the bald eagle’s.
Hike On
No visit to the Teatown Lake Reservation would be complete without walking along some part of its 15 miles worth of scenic hiking trails. There are easy, moderate and strenuous walks. Ava and I stuck to the Lakeside Trail, closest to the education center where you can stroll along the shores of Teatown Lake, a 33-acre freshwater lake, adorned with a variety of trees.
Along this trail is also the entrance to “Wildflower Island.” The 2-acre sanctuary is home to 230 native and endangered species of wildflowers. The island is open for guided tours from April through September.
Teatown also hosts weekend nature hikes, and all sorts of family and adult nature programs. Its premier event is the annual Hudson River Eaglefest, held in Croton Point Park in February. You can enjoy a pancake brunch in March and also learn about sugaring season. And on April 6, there is a wine tasting and silent auction to help raise money for this nonprofit Reservation. See their website for details.
A visit to Teatown is fun and educational for both children and adults. You’ll appreciate the animals, both inside and out. And it’s a great place to enjoy the beauty of the nature around us. Ava said she didn’t want to leave because she wanted to keep discovering. You can’t ask for much more.
Andrea White is a TV news producer and writer who loves exploring Westchester with her husband and children.
When You Go…
Teatown Lake Reservation
1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining, N.Y.
762-2912
teatown.org
Hours
Nature Center: Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hiking trails are open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk.
Programs & Events
A variety of family and children’s programs are offered throughout the year, as well as a summer camp and school break mini-camps. There is a cost for these events. Check their website for more information.
