RMSC Cumming Nature Center’s Heritage Maker Fair
by Chris Clemens
It’s tough to imagine anyone not enjoying the Finger Lakes Region during our fall season. Weather can be a little fickle, but even with a cold, grey, rainy sky, the rolling hills of gold, orange, green and brown make for a pretty majestic experience. Since the RMSC Cumming Nature Center in Naples chose to have their first ever Heritage Maker Food and Craft Fair on October 22, it ended up happening on the peak weekend for foliage in the region.
RMSC Cumming Nature Center
If you’re not already familiar with the nature center, it’s a 900 acre nature preserve nestled on the back roads between Honeoye and Canandaigua Lakes owned by the Rochester Museum and Science Center. The land in Bristol Hills was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cumming in 1973. Later in 1982, the RMSC completed the educational center building and the natural preserve began offering educational programs. Though it’s nearly an hour from the RMSC, the hands-on educational experience at Cumming Nature Center is perfectly akin to what families are accustomed to at the science museum in Rochester.
With six miles of hikes through accessible footpaths with educational signs identifying trees and greenery, it’s pretty easy to get absorbed in the experience of nature first hand, without the fear of getting lost on a poorly marked trail. Each path has a particular theme for learning, like the Beaver Trail which leads to a pond with plenty of animal life. The Haudenosaunee Trail takes visitors along a path of traditional native imagery and the Pioneer Trail offers a peek in to what 18th century settlers lives would’ve looked like when they first arrived. Each of the five themed trails leads back to a small series of buildings with a small theater, classroom spaces and exhibits.
Heritage Maker Craft and Food Fair
Cumming Nature Center has been hosting classes and providing educational experiences for decades, but they’re about to begin providing even more. With an effort to expand on their lineup, the Heritage Maker Craft and Food Fair was a quick glimpse in to a range of classes they’ll soon be offering.
A glimpse in to the world of Kombucha (fermented tea with an array of health benefits), and a table discussing the importance of responsible butchery rounded out the food tables. There was also a blacksmith, stained glass window making, felted wool sculpting, nature journalism, and probably one of the most popular tables allowed visitors to carve wooden spoons by hand.
If you weren’t able to checkout the Maker Fair in person, stay tuned to the RMSC Facebook page and website for announcements on each of the classes they’ll be offering soon! And, if you’re thinking “Real nice, Chris. Why didn’t you tell us about the event BEFORE it happened?” well, I did! Make sure you’re subscribed to the Exploring Upstate Facebook page for announcements about cool events in our region!
Chris Clemens is the Founder/Publisher of Exploring Upstate. From his hometown in Rochester, he spends as much time as possible connecting with the history, culture, and places that make Upstate New York a land of discovery. Follow him on Twitter at @cpclemens
