Annual Update 2025
Nature At Your Doorstep
Dear Friend,
Each year, more people discover what we’ve long known: nature has the power to connect us. At Friends of Rye Nature Center(FRNC), we’re proud to be a place where community is created.
As 2025 comes to a close, more than 51,000 people will have experienced our mission of environmental education, conservation, and access to nature. Some of these interactions will have been profound, such as walking into the forest’s depths to “speak” to a loved one who has passed on the Wind Phone. Some will be formative firsts like a toddler’s glee at touching a turtle at My Little Naturalist and Me or a high schooler’s first job on our camp team. Others will ensure that no child is left inside without nature, just as our after-school programs open the door to discovery for Carver Center students. Our forest does more than provide clean water, fresh air, and healthy habitats. These 47 acres offer a sanctuary where people of all ages and abilities find peace, learn, and build community.
FRNC’s conservation work ensures we all have this space to be and connect. Over the past five years, we have invested more than $1.56 million into the stewardship of the Nature Center’s forest, trails, and habitats. From large-scale initiatives, such as our Blind Brook Riparian Restoration Project to smaller revitalizations like the Parsons Estate Ruins, FRNC remains dedicated to
preserving and enhancing the natural beauty of this special place. These efforts honor the enduring legacy of our founder, Edith Read, whose vision for conservation continues to guide us 66 years later.
But the most powerful force behind these efforts is you.
Your support allows us to maintain vital ecosystems, offer enriching educational programs, and provide an accessible and welcoming space for all. Every tree planted, every child inspired, and every moment of connection reflect our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and a greener, thriving community.
Thank you for being an essential part of the Rye Nature Center. With your continued support, we can ensure that the beauty, wonder, and lessons of nature remain accessible to everyone.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Christine Siller
Executive Director
Keep us growing!
As the sole operator of the Nature Center through a license agreement with the City of Rye, our nonprofit depends on your donations and contributions to support the conservation and care of our forest. By simply supporting FRNC, you are keeping the “forest on” and the ecosystem services going!
We appreciate donations made by check to ensure 100% of your gift goes to support FRNC. Simply mail your check to:
873 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
or stop by the Nature Center today. If you wishto make a donation online, please use the quick links below or donate a custom amount by clicking here.
Donations of securities can be made by contacting Nicole Pennucci, Development Director, at nicole@ryenaturecenter.org
How Can I Double My Donation?
Many employers offer matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. All you need to do is complete your employer’s matching gift form and send it to:
873 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY 10580
We’ll take care of the rest!
Essential Ecosystem Services
Forty-seven acres of upland and floodplain forest is not just a “walk in the park.” The canopy, understory, plants, soil, and waterways we care for provide essential ecosystem services. From cleaning water and sequestering carbon to supporting habitat, our Nature Center is always at work.
Climate Regulation
Forests are “carbon sinks” removing and storing carbon
from the atmosphere, thus decreasing the greenhouse gas
load contributing to climate change.
Our forest annually removes 257 metric tons of
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.The soil and trees store an additional 7,500 metric
tons of carbon.The Nature Center produces 283 metric tons of oxygen — that’s breathing support.
Community Health
The Nature Center brings the community together and allows you to have much needed solo time.
Our reflection area and Wind Phone are places of refuge and support.
Our playground, trails, and natural alcoves bring new families together as children explore and connect.
The conservation of green space in the center of our busy city reduces stress and enhances mood.
Biodiversity & Habitat
Biodiversity helps ensure that drought, floods, and other natural disturbances do not threaten the stability of the ecosystem.
Over 100 species call the Nature Center home.
Our oldest known resident is an Eastern yellow box turtle who has been residing here for over three decades.
Four areas on the property are designated “pollinator pathways,” but the entire forest supports migrating insects and birds.
Water Purification & Flood Mitigation
Our forest filters pollutants, slows runoff, stores
flood water, and more.
45 million gallons of rain are captured and
filtered annually by our 47 acres.These trees, plants, and shrubs prevent up to 15,000 gallons of runoff for every inch of rain. In big storms, this is significant flood mitigation.
YOU are central to ensuring these ecosystems.
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Conservation Corner
This year, FRNC continued its commitment to forest stewardship through a series of tree-centered initiatives.
Live Staking
Volunteers from The Little Garden Club of Rye helped implement a natural erosion technique known as live staking to stabilize stream banks. Approximately 50 pruned Red Twig Dogwood and Elderberry cuttings were planted directly into the soil, where they will root and grow into mature plants, providing erosion control and vital wildlife habitat along waterways.
250 Acorns to Oaks
FRNC, Rye Sustainability Foundation, The Little Garden Club of Rye, Rye Sustainability Committee, Rye Garden Club, and others, launched an oak restoration project. More than 800 saplings were started, germinated from acorns collected from local trees. Planted throughout the city and at schools, residents will help the saplings grow into a new generation of trees.
Microforest Plantings
Interns planted 200 native trees, creating a microforest in an area dominated by invasives. Volunteers from Morgan Stanley planted 200 more shrubs within our deer exclosure to develop a healthy understory. More than 700 plants were donated by community partners to enrich the Nature Center’s landscape, advancing our goal of restoring native biodiversity.
Restoring Pollinator Populations
In 2025, the Rye Nature Center reestablished a vital part of our conservation efforts with the introduction of more than 20,000 honeybees who now call the park home. This initiative marks the return of managed hives to our preserve, reinforcing our commitment to supporting local pollinators that are essential to healthy ecosystems.
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Education and Community
Immersive programs and experiences have been the hallmark of FRNC’s growth over the last decade. Our educationalphilosophy and values ensure that environmental stewardship, nature connection, and scientific inquiry align, and thateveryone has access to nature, no matter their age, ability, or economic background.
Nature Access Fund
FRNC’s spring benefit raised over $160,000, allowing FRNC to provide nearly 10,000 hours of free and reduced programs and scholarships to more than 4,500 people representing 20 different partners, school districts, and individual families. By offering broad-reaching and deeply immersive programs, FRNC ensures lasting connections to nature for all.
Growing Opportunities
Bridging to a long day is one reason families use our Forest School. This spring, we added a new after-school program for Resurrection students so that they can also experience the benefits of outdoor learning. The program has quickly become a favorite, giving students extra time to explore, play, and connect with nature after the school day ends.
Celebrating Under the Starts
Oktoberfest got a refresh for its 14th year! From wreaths and brightly colored signage to a traditional oompah band, community members gathered in our biergarten to support environmental education and conservation.
Visitor Center Updates
Earlier this year, we gave our visitor center an exciting refresh. These updates reflect the rich history of our 47-acre preserve and nonprofit and feature rotating exhibits, an herbarium to teach you about the plants on the property, and everyone’s favorite resident animals. If you’ve missed meeting our resident animals, stop by to see their new enclosures.
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Our Financials
Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on December 31, marked the fifteenth consecutive year that FRNC has operated with a balanced budget. The year-end net income for 2024 was $121,926.
As fiduciary stewards of the organization's assets, the board and management staff of FRNC understand that responsible fiscal management is a critical obligation to the Nature Center, its donors, and the community. FRNC’s President, Treasurer, and Executive Director are committed to maintaining reliable and accurate internal control over financial reporting. This report was prepared after the FY 2024 annual audit process.
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Back to our Roots
In early September, FRNC revived a long-loved tradition by hosting its first Square Dance in nearly three decades. The community responded with enthusiasm, as more than 200 families gathered for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and togetherness.
The event encapsulated everything special about FRNC—neighbors of all ages dancing side by side, children learning their first do-si-dos, and friends old and new coming together to celebrate community spirit on our beautiful 47 acres. Even when a storm caused a brief power outage, the music and fun never stopped.
Adding even more sweetness to the celebration, guests sampled delicious treats during FRNC’s first annual Pie Baking Contest. From flaky crusts to creative touches of heat, the friendly competition showcased the incredible talent and heart of our community’s home bakers.
The return of the Square Dance not only brought back a cherished piece of FRNC history but also reaffirmed what lies at the heart of the organization’s mission: bringing people together through nature, joy, and shared experiences that last far beyond a single evening.
Making Space for Community
Late last winter, a thoughtful donor asked FRNC’s Executive Director what they could do to have an immediate, transformative impact on the Nature Center’s programs. The need for more teaching space is not new—program participation has grown by over 60% in the last five years. After further conversation with FRNC’s staff and board, a large anonymous grant was given to design and build a new pavilion.
Architectural firm Allen-Killcoyne helped identify a style that would complement the Nature Center’s aesthetic while minimizing impact on the surrounding landscape. The plans were approved by the City’s Planning Commission and Building Department in late August. In October, pavilion builders from Lancaster Backyards traveled to FRNC and, within just 72 hours, erected the entire structure. Rogliano Construction, Grandview Electric, and Scelia Plumbing completed the final touches—including the fireplace, lighting, and running water—by mid-November.
We are incredibly proud and grateful to now have a learning and gathering space that is both beautiful and highly functional. This new pavilion reflects the culture of our organization and the commitment our community has shown to the Nature Center since Edith Read first founded it. We look forward to sharing this space with our program participants and community members in the New Year.