Tanglewood Nature Center to host animal education program

Tanglewood Nature Center, a nonprofit nature center and museum in Elmira, New York, is coming to the Newfield High School cafeteria with live animals on Tuesday, July 25 at 3:00 p.m.

Tanglewood Nature Center hosts indoor and outdoor animals, who live at the center due to injury or other non releasable living issues. The center’s mission is to educate and create an understanding of the natural environment, educating around 30,000 people each year about the critters and the nature that surround us.

Elaine Smith, Tanglewood’s executive director, said that this year’s visitations are inspired by the 2023 summer reading program and its slogan “All together now,” which focuses on themes of friendship, kindness, inclusion and diversity.

“We, every year, do a program specifically for the libraries on whatever the theme is. This year, it’s supposed to be about friendship and caring,” Smith said. 

Each year, Tanglewood chooses a book to fit the summer reading program’s theme. This year, the book is “Truman” by Jean Reidy.

“We always bring a book. … This year, the book is ‘Truman,’ about a box turtle named Truman, and so we’ll bring our very own box turtle,” Smith said. “The book is about Truman the box turtle and his friend Sarah, who takes good care of him, but then one day she leaves.”

Aside from the yearly summer reading program themes, Tanglewood also aims to teach general knowledge about the creatures that inhabit their organization.

“We talk about taking care of animals you might care for at home, but also taking care of animals in nature,” Smith said. “We also talk a little bit about the food web and what animals need in order to survive, so things they need to eat, what they need as far as temperature goes … all those sorts of things.”

The most important element of Tanglewood’s visit is the live animals, bringing people closer to animals to actualize the relationship between humans, animals and nature. 

“When you get people close to something like a live animal and you talk to them about what their place on the earth is and what they need, it makes people want to take care of the animals and the habitats they live in,” Smith said. “That’s our ultimate goal.”

If you can’t make it to Newfield High School on July 25, Tanglewood is open every day year-round and is free to visit, making it a great place for a day trip. Tanglewood welcomes donations to help fund its mission to educate and foster an appreciation for the animals and nature that surround us. For more information about Tanglewood Nature Center, visit its website.

For questions or information about the event, contact Newfield Public Library.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In Brief:

Fundraiser for Breeann Walker

A quarter auction fundraiser for Breeann Walker will take place on Thursday, July 20 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Newfield Fire Hall. Walker, a Newfield graduate, has had a hold put on her dreams of finishing college due to her battles with cardiac conditions, lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome and liver disease. Donations can also be made to her GoFundMe at gofund.me/632c3414.

History Center open

The Newfield History and Activity Center opens on Saturday, July 22 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m..

Coming up at the library

Movie night will feature “Mummies” Friday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Newfield Public Library. Three Egyptian mummies search for a stolen ring in London – with humorous results. “Mummies” is rated PG.

Yoga For Beginners will be held at Newfield Public Library Saturday, July 22 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The event will be hosted by Phyllis KuanYin Chi and is suitable for beginners and those with mobility issues.

Teen Takeover at the Newfield Public Library is on Monday, July 24 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. 

Family Story Time will be held at Newfield Public Library Tuesday, July 25 from 10:30-11:15 a.m. The event includes stories, songs and more for infants through age 5.