About

Enjoying winter activities at the Nature Center

Established in 1985, the Nature Center at Robert Moses State Park in Massena marked its 25^th anniversary in 2010.   Starting as a single room for the public to donate/display findings from nature, the Nature Center evolved into a multi-use facility with over 100 mounted animal displays, 30 exhibit areas, and a number of live animals, all complemented by a variety of outdoor recreation programs and amenities including a handicap-accessible nature trail.  Until the March 2, 2010 fire that temporarily shut down this facility, the Nature Center was hosting over 200 school visits, more than 300 youth summer/vacation program participants, and over 10,000 visitors annually.

After the fire, a variety of displays and a reduced schedule of programs were offered at an interim location at the Beach Building at RMSP, while a location for a replacement facility was being determined by NYPA.

In December, 2010, our region of NYS Parks decided to lay-off Nature Center staff and permanently cut funding to the center. From that point forward, Friends and NYPA quickly began working on a plan to put the staff and programs back into action. The future now looks bright again!

About the Friends of the Nature Center:

Founded in 1999, the Friends of the Robert Moses State Park Nature Center is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization, formed to preserve, protect, and promote respect for nature through voluntary support of the activities of the Nature Center.  Specifically, the Friends work in four key areas:

• ADVOCACY - To raise awareness and support for the Nature Center and the natural environment.
• COMMUNICATIONS – To communicate effectively with our members and the community-at-large.
• FUNDING – To seek, receive and administer grants, donations and other support for our Nature Center.
• INVOLVEMENT – To encourage public participation in mutually beneficial Nature Center activities.

Under the leadership of a committed working Board, the Friends Group is supported by more than 175 Members, and has raised well over $500,000 for enhancements to the Nature Center ’s programs, staffing and facilities since its founding.

To mark the milestone years of the Friends Group’s 10^th anniversary in 2009, and the Nature Center’s 25^th in 2010, the Friends Board undertook an extensive, professionally facilitated strategic planning effort in 2008.  Community input was secured through a survey process.  The results of this survey can be seen here:

Results, 2009 Friends of the RMSP Nature Center Community & Member Survey