Nicandri Nature Center

Nicandri Nature Center Beautiful nature center located in Robert Moses State Park and owned and funded by New York Power Authority.

Programming by not-for-profit Friends of the Nature Center.

Where did all the bees go??If you’ve noticed that our observation hive seems a little less busy than usual, many of the ...
06/21/2026

Where did all the bees go??

If you’ve noticed that our observation hive seems a little less busy than usual, many of the bees are now gathered in a nearby tree as part of a natural honeybee swarm!

Swarming is how a honeybee colony reproduces and expands. When a hive becomes crowded, the old queen leaves with thousands of worker bees to search for a new home, basically splitting the original colony into two separate colonies. Before moving on, they often gather together in a temporary cluster while scout bees explore potential nesting sites. 

Although a swarm may look alarming, honeybees in this stage are generally focused on protecting their queen and finding a new home rather than defending a hive.

It’s not every day you get to witness a honeybee swarm, and we’re excited to share this fascinating moment with our visitors! 🐝🍯🌳

Exciting programs coming up this week including our first of four “Nature Knowledge Summer Program Series,” stop by to l...
06/20/2026

Exciting programs coming up this week including our first of four “Nature Knowledge Summer Program Series,” stop by to learn and play!☀️🐢🐟

Here’s the schedule for the upcoming week! Make sure to stop in for some awesome nature filled programs!!🐢🦋🎨
06/13/2026

Here’s the schedule for the upcoming week! Make sure to stop in for some awesome nature filled programs!!🐢🦋🎨

We have lots of fun nature programs coming up this week! Feel free to stop by!!🦫🐞🐟
06/06/2026

We have lots of fun nature programs coming up this week! Feel free to stop by!!🦫🐞🐟

06/05/2026

With rain coming, we expect female turtles to be on the move this weekend to lay their eggs. Here is an oldie but a goodie to remind you all how to handle turtles in the road :)

Only stop if it is safe.
Move them in the direction they are going.
Don't move them if they are still laying.
Watch the video below for tips on moving them.

Stop to smell the flowers, you might just smell.... Grape kool-aid?The irises in bloom on the side of the building reall...
06/05/2026

Stop to smell the flowers, you might just smell.... Grape kool-aid?
The irises in bloom on the side of the building really do smell just like grape drink. Come check it out for yourself while they're in bloom.

Spring sunshine is worth the effort. 🌞🌞🌞Our Blanding's turtle, Jedi, using the plants as a comfy couch to get closer to ...
06/02/2026

Spring sunshine is worth the effort. 🌞🌞🌞
Our Blanding's turtle, Jedi, using the plants as a comfy couch to get closer to the sun spot.

Yesterday the staff said goodbye to Thing 2, one of our animal ambassadors.Thing 2 was a male painted turtle, the most c...
06/01/2026

Yesterday the staff said goodbye to Thing 2, one of our animal ambassadors.

Thing 2 was a male painted turtle, the most common turtle species in our area. They are known for their colorful red and yellow head and shell markings that give them their name.

Two was known for his bitey-ness (if you've ever met a painted turtle, you get it :)), his voracious appetite, and his love/hate relationship with all turtles in his space. He was a regular at programs, an uninterested participant in our turtle race activity, and liked visiting the backyard for some summer sun. If you've visited lately, Two lived in a tank in the classroom.

Thing 2 had no rear feet, cause unknown, which left him unable to survive in the wild and originally brought him to be a team member for the nature center in about 2008.

He also had some elements of metabolic bone disease, a condition that can affect reptile bone development. Good care can help with MBD, but can never truly cure it. In recent years, Thing 2 had begun to decline physically. Our veterinarian provided treatment and advice, but recently Two started a more serious decline. It is extremely hard to know if a turtle is in pain or even ill, so Two was humanely euthanized so that he wouldn't suffer as his health worsened.

While the story of a common turtle may seem unremarkable to some, in the years since the new nature center opened well over 200,000 people have had the opportunity to see a painted turtle up close and learn about this very cool species thanks to Two. Many more knew him from his time at the school and from attending events and field trips with the staff.

His life made a difference and we'll miss having him around biting at us.

Some spring photos from the trails for you to enjoy. The trails are a little muddy in spots but we have our board paths ...
05/31/2026

Some spring photos from the trails for you to enjoy.
The trails are a little muddy in spots but we have our board paths up and most areas are totally fine - it's beautiful out there so don't let a little spring weather deter you!
Trails are open dawn to dusk daily.

June Schedule is available
05/28/2026

June Schedule is available

Address

23 Robinson Bay Road
Massena, NY
13662

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13157055022

Website

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