Welcome to the Discovery Trail
Atoms to artifacts, foxes to fossils, robins to rhododendrons, sculpture to storytellers – Ithaca's Discovery Trail has something for everyone!
From peaceful walks to famous talks, from hands-on fun to genealogical research, there's so much to see and do along the Discovery Trail. These eight fascinating sites are an easy drive from downtown Ithaca, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Cayuga Lake and other Finger Lakes attractions.
The Discovery Trail Partnership is a group of educational organizations based in Ithaca, NY. The only organization of its kind, the Discovery Trail promotes awareness and understanding of the connections among art, history, literature, science, and the natural world.
Discovery Trail News
The Getaway Guy has visited Cayuga Nature Center and the Johnson Museum of Art. Click on the link and scroll to November 17 for the Museum Getaway and October 13 for the Tree-House Getaway to view the videos.
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Enroll today to learn all about birds of the Cayuga Lake region from Wednesday, March 21 to Sunday, May 13, 2012. The full class consists of lectures, weekend field trips and special overnight trips to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Cape May, NJ. To get an idea of what the course is like, you can visit the class website or watch the video.
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Ever wanted to know more about the Museum of the Earth's 44-foot long Right Whale? Now is your chance! Whales: From the Depths of the National Geographic Collection presents the best sea mammal photography from National Geographic's extensive archives. Paired with specimens from the Paleontological Research Institution's (PRI) collection, content from its scientists, and ocean sound recordings from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Bioacoustic Research Program, these dramatic photographs from renowned marine wildlife photographers' intimate and close whale encounters tell the long story of whales' life on Earth. From January 26 to June 4, meet Right Whale #2030's millions of ancestors that have lived in every one of the world's oceans.
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Artist Jenny Pope will explore printmaking techniques in this workshop for adults. Participants will make color reduction woodcuts, a great way to make colorful multiples. Tuesdays for 4 weeks: January 31, February 7, 14, and 21. Fees: $70 Johnson Museum Members and students/$80 nonmembers. PLUS $21 for materials ($15 payable to the Johnson Museum + $6 payable to the instructor). Pre-registration and payment. Call 607 255-6464.
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Upcoming Trail Events
This free program on water sustainability is co-organized by the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) and The History Center. Local experts will discuss and propose solutions to issues of water quality and pollution. The panel will feature experts in the field, including Dr. Janet E. Hawkes, Dr. Dan Karig, Dr. Niamh O'Leary, and Bill Foster. Water Quality is the last event of Sustainability Series, a year-long program on the history of local sustainability. For more information, please contact Paul Miller at education@thehistorycenter.net or 607.273.8284 ext. 3.
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Date: Thursday, January 26
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Place: Cayuga Nature Center
Library Playtime is an hour long unstructured play and social time for children and adults featuring a large enclosed environment with a beautifully painted fairytale mural, tables with coloring supplies, books, music, and a variety of toys to keep the children entertained.
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Date: Friday, January 27
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Place: Tompkins County Public Library, Thaler/Howell Room
Celebrate the opening of Lines of Control and Carl Ostendarp: Fat Cakes/Myopic Void at the first opening reception of the semester! A gallery talk about Lines of Control will take place before the reception at 4:30 pm.
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Date: Friday, January 27
Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Place: Johnson Museum of Art
Cayuga Nature Center
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cornell Plantations
The History Center
Johnson Museum of Art
Museum of the Earth
Sciencenter
Tompkins County Public Library
