Rogers Environmental Education Center
Rogers Education Center is open Thursdays through Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The restrooms are open daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and the grounds and trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. If you would like to contact us, please leave a message at 607-674-4733 or email info@friendsofrogers.org.
Check the Friends of Rogers website (leaves DEC website) for program updates.
Reminder: No pets (including animals on or off leashes, or horses) allowed on the property or trails, except trained service dogs and miniature horses helping their companion.
New York and federal law require service dogs to be allowed in public places, but this does not include emotional support animals. A service dog is trained to do tasks for a person with a disability and the tasks must be directly related to the person's disability. Emotional support animals provide comfort, companionship, and a sense of safety for their owners, but are not trained to perform specific tasks for their owners and are not considered service animals. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York State law, public places are not required to allow emotional support animals. DEC regulations concerning the use of environmental education centers prohibit pets on center grounds except by written permission.
Friends of Rogers (FOR), a not-for-profit group affiliated with DEC's Rogers Environmental Education Center, has an agreement with the DEC to operate the Rogers Center in Sherburne. Under the agreement, Friends of Rogers will continue to offer educational activities and public programs at the Center. Please contact them by email at info@friendsofrogers.org or visit www.friendsofrogers.org for information on programs and events and to receive updates and announcements.
- Open for Recreation
- Facilities Hours
- Restrooms are open daily, 7:00 AM to 700 PM
- Education Center is open
- Thursdays thru Saturdays: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Sunday thru Wednesdays: Open limited hours, please call ahead or look for the open flag at the center
- Trails are open daily sunrise to sunset
**Please check the Friends of Rogers website to verify building hours over holiday periods and during inclement weather.
- Fee: Free
- Contact: Friends of Rogers 607-674-4733, or by email at info@friendsofrogers.org or visit the Friends of Rogers website (leaves DEC's website)
- Location: 2721 State Highway 80, Sherburne, Chenango County
- Map: Visitor Center Trail Map (PDF) II Google Earth II DECinfo Locator
Rogers Environmental Education Center is dedicated to enhancing environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural world. It offers 600 acres of a variety of habitats for the walker, bird watcher, photographer, snowshoer, or cross-country skier. Trails traverse woodlands, meadows, wetlands, plantations, and farm fields.
Featured Activities
Outdoor Exhibits
The trout ponds have been a part of Rogers Center since its inception. In these ponds. visitors can see several species of trout.
Other outdoor exhibits include information on predators, waterfowl, fish and pond life. Of course, the entire Rogers Center grounds offer opportunities to encounter the natural world. The careful observer is often rewarded with a view of wildlife interacting with its habitat.
Many species of wildlife make their home at Rogers Center. These animals are wild and are able to exist here without the assistance of people. They can find all their basic needs right here on the grounds: food, water, shelter, air, and space.
A picnic area is provided for the visitor's convenience.
Education
Rogers offers a wide variety of programs and events. Upcoming programs and events can be found at Friends of Rogers (leaves DEC website). Programs are free of charge unless otherwise noted. Dress for the weather!
Hiking
General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations
The trail system consists of six miles of labeled trails. A two-mile system begins at the Visitor Center traversing a variety of habitats. Another mile of trails, located across the street from the main parking lot, winds its way up to the Farm Tower where one can enjoy a wonderful view of the Chenango Valley. Two other trail systems are located at our Adams Farm (PDF) and Cush Hill (PDF) sites. Take time to explore these trails in every season.
Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules and regulations.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is only allowed when there is enough snow on the ground. Skis or snowshoe rentals available on a first-come, first-serve basis during Visitor Center hours or you can provide your own. There is a small fee for snowshoe and ski rentals. Please visit the Trails page (leaves DEC website) and scroll to the bottom for more information on rentals.
Accessible Features
General information on accessible recreation includes links to other locations with accessible recreation opportunities and information on permits for motorized access .
Rogers offers several accessible facilities and services such as the day use area, picnic tables, nature walk, and pavilion.
Naturalist Intern Program
The Naturalist Intern Program is a training internship available to those seeking professional experience in environmental education. Each intern will receive training in the mission and role of programs, the operations and activities of a center, principles of environmental interpretation, and natural history of New York.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
Practice Leave No Trace Principles (leave DEC website) when recreating on state land to enjoy the outdoors responsibly; minimize impact on the natural resources and avoid conflicts with other users.
All users of Rogers Environmental Education Center should follow all Outdoor Safety Practices for the safety of the user and protection of the resource.
Drone Use on DEC Managed Lands
Pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 623, both hobbyist and commercial use of drones is prohibited at DEC's four education centers except for research or training as permitted under an approved temporary revocable permit (TRP). Environmental education centers have their own TRP process. To inquire whether a TRP can be obtained, contact DEC's Bureau of Environmental Education at (518) 402-8043. For more information about DEC drone policies, visit Drone Use on DEC Managed Lands.
Special Regulations
Visitors to DEC's environmental education centers should become familiar with the regulations governing the use of the centers as found in the New York State Register and Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR). Go to the Use of Environmental Education Centers page (leaves DEC website) to see the regulations concerning the education centers.
Please remember that the following are prohibited:
- Bikes, skateboards, and motorized vehicles
- Collecting, releasing, disturbing or destroying plants or animals
- Collecting, disturbing or destroying cultural material
- Hunting, trapping, and fishing
- Firearms
- Pets and horses
- Alcoholic beverages
- Glass containers
- Camping and campfires
Please stay on designated trails to protect the environment for all visitors and dispose of trash and recyclables in the appropriate containers.
Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc.
The not-for-profit groups affiliated with Rogers Center is called Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc. (formerly called Mid-York Conservation Fund, Inc.).
A non-profit Board of Directors meets regularly throughout the year to provide input to Rogers Center staff and supports many of the programs at Rogers. If you are interested in becoming a member of Friends of Rogers, please contact the Friends Group.
Directions
Rogers Environmental Education Center is located in Sherburne, NY at 2721 State Highway 80, 1 mile west of the intersection of Routes 80 and 12. See Google Maps for step by step directions to Rogers Environmental Education Center (leaves DEC website).
From Utica Area Take NYS Route 12 south to Sherburne, turn right on Route 80.
From Binghamton Area Take Interstate 81 north to Route 12 north to Sherburne, turn left on Route 80.
From Syracuse Area Take Route 690 east to Route 481 south to Route 92 east to Cazenovia. Take Route 20 east to Route 46 south to Route 12B south to Route 12 south in Sherburne, turn right on Route 80.
