Biweekly Thursday evening garden meet-up. Bring your garden gloves, snacks, and anything else you’d like to our evening garden meetup.

We’ll be pulling weeds, socializing, and more.

Hopefully, we’ll also be planting friendships!

Recommended for adults and families with children 12y and up.

No cost

Meet at the gazebo in the volunteer garden. Bring water or a reusable cup/bottle.

Weather permitting, check Facebook and/or website for cancellations.

Thursday 9/4 – 6pm-8pm

Thursday 9/18 – 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 10/2 – 5pm-6:30pm (last day)

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Discover the fascinating world of insects, butterflies, and their amazing relatives in this interactive homeschool program designed for curious young minds! Students will meet live creatures up close, explore the Butterfly Vivarium filled with fluttering butterflies, meet live animals and take a guided nature walk through our garden to search for insects in their natural habitat.

This program runs two age-specific sessions simultaneously, allowing content and activities to be tailored for each group. Please select the age group that best fits your child at registration.

🦋 Program Highlights:

• Meet live insects and related creatures

• Explore the Butterfly Vivarium with live butterflies

• Garden walk and insect discovery activity

• Hands-on, age-appropriate learning stations

📚 Age Groups:

• Ages 2–5y: Introductory, hands-on, and sensory-focused activities

• Ages 6–up: In-depth exploration, science-focused discussion, and discovery challenges

🎟 Pricing:

• Adults: $5 each (ticket required)

• Children (age 2+): $12 each

• Children under 2: Free (must stay with parent at all times)

👉 Please Note:

• Tickets are required for all adults and children over age 2

• Siblings under 2 may attend free, but must remain with a parent

• Programs may be combined or canceled for low enrollment (full refunds issued)

• No refunds for no-shows

• Please check your email and our website the day before the program for updates

Come join us for a buzzing adventure into the miniature world of insects and butterflies!

Visit Sweetbriar to meet and learn about some of our resident owls. We will embark on a walk into the darkness to enjoy the night and call some owls. Meet behind the main house and check in.   Wear bug spray and bring a flashlight just in case.

*Must have tickets to attend this event. Unfortunately, no walk ins permitted for this event*

Open to families with children ages 5y and up

$20.00 pp

Tips for attending an Owl Prowl:

1) Arrive at 62 Eckernkamp Dr, Smithtown, NY 11787 ** Gate will open between 7:15pm-7:30pm**

2) Proceed to park in either the roundabout in front of the house or make a left when entering the facility and park in the far-left parking lot

3) Walk up to the house's main door and then turn right and follow the sidewalk pathway to the back of the house. You will arrive at the back deck of the house surrounded by benches

4) Owl Prowl hosts will greet you at the backdoor to check-in

5) Event will proceed outside unless other circumstances arise

Biweekly Thursday evening garden meet-up. Bring your garden gloves, snacks, and whatever else to our evening garden meetup.

We’ll be pulling weeds, socializing, and more.

Hopefully, we’ll also be planting friendships!

Recommended for adults and families with children 12y and up.

No cost

Meet at the gazabo in the volunteer garden. Bring water or a reusable cup/bottle.

Weather permitting, check Facebook and/or website for cancellations.

Thursday 9/4 – 6pm-8pm

Thursday 9/18 – 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 10/2 – 5pm-6:30pm (last day)

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Join us at the brewery for some drinks and animal visits. Call the brewery for more information.

(631) 250-9545

At The St James Brewery

430 Route 25a, Saint James, NY 11780-1705

Enjoy eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails.

Great for ghouls 7 years and up.

Food Truck refreshments available for purchase!

10/17 Box Car Burgers, 10/18 Krazy Knish

Both days treats and coffee will be available too

6pm-9pm

No refunds - this is a fundraiser event. Rain Dates will be announced

🎃🕸️TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT🕸️🎃

Here are some tips for your visit…..

Load up your ticket email before you get to Sweetbriar, the service is spotty. Show your ticket(s) on your phone for entry. If you can’t find your email, we will also have a list.

This year as requested, we are opening early before sunset so you can see the animals in the enclosures. Gates will open at 5:45pm, you do not need to show up early. People usually spend about an hour and a half at this event.

Eerie trail and our new Mad Scientist Lab will open when it gets dark. They just wouldn’t be as great in the daylight.

Wear a costume, come see a staff member if you’d like to enter in our costume contest. Make sure to leave your phone number for us to call you if you win!

Bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car and drive slow please.

House will be closed, port-o-pottys and sinks are available.

Please carpool, it’s better for the environment and it will make it easier for our wonderful Sweetbriar Volunteers to park everyone. There is train station parking about a mile from the nature center.

We have vendors selling snacks and food. Bring your appetite! Sweetbriar takes cash, cards and apple pay.

Enjoy eerie animal presentations, a ghostly graveyard, creepy games, scary music, and spooky night trails.

Great for ghouls 7 years and up.

Food Truck refreshments available for purchase!

10/17 Box Car Burgers, 10/18 Krazy Knish

Both days treats and coffee will be available too

6pm-9pm

No refunds - this is a fundraiser event. Rain Dates will be announced

🎃🕸️TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT🕸️🎃

Here are some tips for your visit…..

Load up your ticket email before you get to Sweetbriar, the service is spotty. Show your ticket(s) on your phone for entry. If you can’t find your email, we will also have a list.

This year as requested, we are opening early before sunset so you can see the animals in the enclosures. Gates will open at 5:45pm, you do not need to show up early. People usually spend about an hour and a half at this event.

Eerie trail and our new Mad Scientist Lab will open when it gets dark. They just wouldn’t be as great in the daylight.

Wear a costume, come see a staff member if you’d like to enter in our costume contest. Make sure to leave your phone number for us to call you if you win!

Bring a flashlight for the walk back to your car and drive slow please.

House will be closed, port-o-pottys and sinks are available.

Please carpool, it’s better for the environment and it will make it easier for our wonderful Sweetbriar Volunteers to park everyone. There is train station parking about a mile from the nature center.

We have vendors selling snacks and food. Bring your appetite! Sweetbriar takes cash, cards and apple pay.

Join us for a Creatures of the Night event. Meet nighttime animals, play a game with prizes, and take a nighttime hike in the woods with us to see where creatures of the night make their homes.

Please bring a picnic blanket to watch the animal presentations. You may want to apply bug spray as well.

Cost: $20 per person

Ages: 7y and up

Limited tickets may be available at the door. We cannot give refunds for missing the event.

Join us for a fun outdoor tree adventure. Learn about local trees and the animals who live in them while doing a craft, going on a short walk, and participating in a fun treetivity.

Families Welcome. $15 child $5 Adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Take a walking tour with Jim while he feeds our Birds of Prey and tells you about their incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. You’ll be seeing and learning about our Bald Eagle, our Turkey Vultures, our owls, hawks and many more.

How much: $10 per adult / $5 per child (Under 12y)

Join us for a magical afternoon at Sweetbriar's Annual Holiday Party for Wildlife! 🎄✨ Get into the holiday spirit with music, festive decorations, and heartwarming activities.

Highlights include:
🐾 Fascinating animal presentations
📸 Photo ops with our special wildlife guests🎁
🎨 Fun holiday crafts for kids and adults alike

Plus, make this season even brighter by bringing a small gift from our Wildlife Wish List to place under our beautifully decorated tree—no wrapping needed!

We’ll also have our new Chupa Chups the Squirrel ornaments available for purchase in our gift shop

This is the perfect way to celebrate the season while giving back to nature. Don’t miss this unforgettable holiday event! 🌟

Flyer if you’d like to share our event

Families are welcome. $15 per child $5 per adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Join us for an adventure to the tropical rainforest. We’ll “fly” down to our location and meet some amazing tropical animals there.

Families are welcome. $15 per child $5 per adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Join us for a fun groundhog adventure. Meet some of our animal friends and do some fun activities while learning all about groundhogs and their friends.

Families Welcome. $15 child $5 Adult

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Join us for an afternoon of close encounters with wildlife.   Meet some of Sweetbriar’s cute and loveable animals, play an animal matching game for Valentine’s Day, and create a craft to remember the day.   There will be many photo opportunities including our “Animal Kissing Booth”

Families Welcome

Best for ages 2y-10y

How Much: $15/child and $5 for adults

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Slither on over to Sweetbriar to see a selection of several ssssensational serpents.  Participants will meet several snakes and learn about their unique adaptations through games and other participatory activities. Create a cool snake craft to take home.

Best for: Families with children over the age of 5y

How Much: $15/child and $5 for adults

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited

Come visit our center to learn about some local animals, make a green craft and learn ways to celebrate the Earth not just today but every day!

Celebrate the wonders of the natural world and living things that share the planet with us.   Children will meet resident animals, enjoy the natural world through their senses, and go on a scavenger hunt to find out some of the things they can do to help the natural world.   Come away with a craft to help reduce your impact on the Earth.

Best for: Families with children over the age of 4y

How Much: $15/child and $5 for adults

Tickets are Nonrefundable and cannot be credited