Upcoming Events

Please reserve your spot in one of our workshops by registering online at merckforest.org/shop/ Most of the listed activities have an outdoor component – all members of your party should be dressed appropriately for conditions, including water, snacks, sturdy footgear. Due to the low cost of our programs, refunds are not available unless an event is canceled by MFFC. Reservations are required for all events at merckforest.org. All events meet up at the Visitor Center.

Kits & Cubs

Monday & Wednesday Mornings 10:00am - 11:30pm

A new preschool/toddler and parent meet-up group. Themed outdoor nature exploration, songs, story time, and take-home craft or project. Warm, water-proof or water-resistant clothing is strongly recommended. Drop in or register ahead of time online. We hope to see you up on the mountain! $10 for a parent/child team, $5 each additional child

Animal Tracking Workshop

1/28/23 (Saturday) 10:00am - 12:00pm

We’ll hike out into the snowfields and woods in search of … whatever has come before us! We’ll look for signs of wildlife that are active in our fields and woods during the winter. Be sure to dress in layers, with warm footwear, and bring a snack and warm drink, if desired. $10/person, space is limited, and reservations are required.

Volunteer Days

Sundays from 1:00pm - 3:00pm starting January 22 - February 12

Help us with Apple Tree and Blueberry Pruning. Join MFFC’s Farm Manager for essential winter pruning and learn how to tend to bushes and trees.

Free

Winter Full Moon Hikes

2/4/23 (Saturday) 5:30pm-7:00pm & 3/7/23 (Tuesday) 5:30pm-7:00pm

Join us for a guided moon-lit hike on our trails on a wintery evening. Bring a headlamp and dress warmly, with proper footwear, including Microspikes or snowshoes, depending on ground conditions. Hope for clear skies!

$10.00/person

Educational Farm Event Forest Event

Kids Owl Workshop

2/11/23 (Saturday) 10:30am - 12:00pm

Kids will learn about owls and their special adaptations through hands-on exploration. Starting with a short story, we’ll take a hike through our woods to see if we can hear one calling. Then, we’ll warm up inside as we explore what they eat as we dissect owl pellets and explore what makes an owl an owl.

$10/person Space is limited (to 10 children), and parents must be present. Ages 5 and up.

Owl Hike for Adults

2/25/23 (Saturday) 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Get a brief primer on the owls in our area, and then head out for a hike to consider the haunts and habits of these feathered creatures. We’ll see if we can see or hear any owls that may be out and about at Merck Forest.

$10/person

Winter School Break: February Fun

February 22-24

Whether its a bonfire with s’mores, games and activities on Wednesday 2/22 from 10am - 12 noon or two afternoons of “pop up”winter fun and fresh air on Thursday and Friday 2/23 and 2/24 from 1:30 - 3pm, your President’s Day vacation gang will have a super time up at Merck Forest.

$5/person

Check merckforest.org for info about our April Spring Break camps and events.

Maple Meet-Up

2/26/23 - 4/2/23 (Sundays) 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Join us on Sunday afternoons for a 2 hour sugaring tour from 1:00p -3:00p. You’ll get a chance to see and experience our maple sugaring operations, from the trees in the sugarbush to the evaporator, where we draw off the finished syrup.

$5/person

Maple Open House is on Saturday 3/25 at Frank

Hatch Saphouse. See page 5 for details.

2023 Signature Events

March: Maple Open House (see page 5 for details)

May: Meet the Lambs

July: Ecology Open House

September: Harvest Festival

October: Twilight on the Mountain merckforest.org•802-394-7836