Skip to main content
Rice Creek Field Station building

SUNY Oswego's Living Laboratory

Rice Creek Field Station

Rice Creek Field Station at SUNY Oswego supports academic instruction, research, and public service in the natural sciences and environmental education.

Located one mile south of the main campus, our year-round facilities provide opportunities for field-oriented learning and research experiences. Our mission is to be a living laboratory for the advancement of knowledge through research, education, and stewardship of the natural world.

Explore our Science

Student-centered research is at the heart of Rice Creek's mission. Learn about current studies, meet our student researchers, explore our ecology and biodiversity, discover funding opportunities, and dive into weather station data.

 

Rice Creek Research

a wooden boardwalk that stretches through the trees and wetlands

Visit

Rice Creek is open to all visitors! We invite you to discover our trails (open daily), attend a program or event, arrange a field trip, or visit us online through our virtual visit portal.

 

Visit Programs Trails Virtual Visit

Get Involved

Support our mission through membership, volunteering, jobs and internships, research, and more.

 

Community Members Student Opportunities

Upcoming Events

Bird Feeder Webcam

Experience the vibrant world of birds at Rice Creek through our live bird feeder webcam. Whether you're a bird enthusiast or simply curious, view the beauty and diversity of our feathered friends in real-time from the comfort of your own home.

wooden platform trail in forest

Support Rice Creek

By becoming a Rice Creek Associates member, making a donation, or volunteering your time you can help support our educational programming, research, conservation projects, and so much more!

research

Research & Academics

There is a wealth of research opportunities for SUNY Oswego faculty, students and outside researchers. In addition to research, Rice Creek also supports courses and projects across a variety of disciplines including art, communication, computer sciences and natural sciences. Each year, over 100 students utilize Rice Creek facilities to conduct research, study our specimens and observe the natural history.

Canal Forest

Canal Forest Restoration Project

The Canal Forest Restoration Project (CFRP) is on a mission to restore the presence of white oak and white pine trees in New York State’s Canal Regions. For many generations, these trees were prized and over-exploited for building ships, barrels and structures and eventually were almost wiped out. This project aims to grow seedlings at Rice Creek and transplant them across the region.

weather data

Weather Station

Get the latest weather information from our station at Rice Creek. We record and archive minute-by-minute data on air temperature, precipitation, barometric pressure, wind speed/direction, and other metrics.

people walking a trail at Rice Creek

Rice Creek Trails

The Field Station provides public programs in nature education for groups and individuals, school-aged to adult. Four nature trails, open to the public, provide opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The Field Station building is open year-round for the public to explore our natural history and art displays, and view wildlife.

Rice Creek Field Station building

Top-notch Facilities

Rice Creek Field Station is a top-notch academic and research facility with an emphasis on sustainability. Facilities at the Field Station include a classroom, laboratories, a specimen collection room, and an observatory.

Get Involved

Membership

Love Rice Creek? Join us! Rice Creek Associates, our community friends' group, circulates a newsletter, hosts events, and uses membership and donation funds to support Rice Creek's mission. Memberships start at just $5.

Student Opportunities

There are so many ways for SUNY Oswego students to get involved at Rice Creek: jobs and internships, faculty-guided research, courses, and short- or long-term community service opportunities. Gain experience with us!

Volunteering

Rice Creek Field Station welcomes short- and long-term volunteers from SUNY Oswego and our surrounding community. We are also a volunteer station for the Oswego County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.).

Support

Donations support our programs and projects, including youth education, stewardship, student research, and trail and garden maintenance. There are no overhead fees, so 100% of your donation goes to support these activities.

Contact

193 Thompson Road
Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: 315.312.6677
Email: [email protected]

Hours

Building Hours
Monday–Friday, 8 am–4:30 pm
Saturday, 9 am–3 pm

Trail Hours
Dawn to dusk

Connect with us