Upcoming events.
Frights in the Field!
Join OARS every Friday night in October for Frights in the Field, our outdoor double-feature movie series. We’ll kick off each evening with spooky cartoons and family-friendly chills for the kids — then, as the night deepens, settle in for campy, creepy B-rated horror flicks just for the grown-ups.
✨ When: The first four Fridays of October
✨ Where: Under the stars at OARS
✨ What: $2 popcorn, cozy blankets, and plenty of low-budget thrills
Bring your lawn chairs, bundle up, and enjoy autumn evenings filled with laughs, shrieks, and unforgettable atmosphere. Movies start at dusk — come early to claim your spot!
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Fright Hayride — Enter If You Dare!
As the sun goes down, OARS gets a little darker…
Join us for an evening of fright featuring creepy characters, unexpected surprises, and plenty of things that go bump in the night. This isn't your afternoon hayride — once darkness falls, the trails come alive.
Gather your bravest friends, bundle up, and prepare for a nighttime ride through the OARS property. You never know what — or who — you'll encounter along the way.
🎃 Fright Hayride: 5:30–7:30 PM
👻 Recommended for older kids, teens & adults
🕷️ Costumes are welcome — if you dare!
Proceeds benefit OARS, supporting our current goal of purchasing an all-terrain wheelchair for free use onsite.
The sun goes down. The woods wake up. Are you brave enough to ride?
Family Hay Rides - No Scares!
Bring the kids and enjoy an afternoon of fall fun at OARS! Climb aboard for a hayride through the property, take in the autumn scenery, and enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly day outdoors.
This is a kid-friendly hayride designed for families, with plenty of fall fun along the way. After your ride, stick around to enjoy the grounds, explore, and make some autumn memories together.
🍁 Hayrides: 2:00–4:00 PM
👻 Family-friendly — no scares!
🎃 Costumes are welcome!
Proceeds benefit Outdoor Arts & Recreation Society (OARS) and help support our current goal of purchasing an all-terrain wheelchair for free use onsite.
Come spend the afternoon with us and celebrate fall at OARS!
Frights in the Field!
Join OARS every Friday night in October for Frights in the Field, our outdoor double-feature movie series. We’ll kick off each evening with spooky cartoons and family-friendly chills for the kids — then, as the night deepens, settle in for campy, creepy B-rated horror flicks just for the grown-ups.
✨ When: The first four Fridays of October
✨ Where: Under the stars at OARS
✨ What: $2 popcorn, cozy blankets, and plenty of low-budget thrills
Bring your lawn chairs, bundle up, and enjoy autumn evenings filled with laughs, shrieks, and unforgettable atmosphere. Movies start at dusk — come early to claim your spot!
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Frights in the Field!
Join OARS every Friday night in October for Frights in the Field, our outdoor double-feature movie series. We’ll kick off each evening with spooky cartoons and family-friendly chills for the kids — then, as the night deepens, settle in for campy, creepy B-rated horror flicks just for the grown-ups.
✨ When: The first four Fridays of October
✨ Where: Under the stars at OARS
✨ What: $2 popcorn, cozy blankets, and plenty of low-budget thrills
Bring your lawn chairs, bundle up, and enjoy autumn evenings filled with laughs, shrieks, and unforgettable atmosphere. Movies start at dusk — come early to claim your spot!
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Frights in the Field!
Join OARS every Friday night in October for Frights in the Field, our outdoor double-feature movie series. We’ll kick off each evening with spooky cartoons and family-friendly chills for the kids — then, as the night deepens, settle in for campy, creepy B-rated horror flicks just for the grown-ups.
✨ When: The first four Fridays of October
✨ Where: Under the stars at OARS
✨ What: $2 popcorn, cozy blankets, and plenty of low-budget thrills
Bring your lawn chairs, bundle up, and enjoy autumn evenings filled with laughs, shrieks, and unforgettable atmosphere. Movies start at dusk — come early to claim your spot!
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Latern Hike
Nighttime Adventure
Ages 12+ only. Participants ages 12–17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Come along on a nighttime adventure as we explore the woods by lantern light. Listen for the sounds of nocturnal wildlife—including owls, coyotes, crickets, and frogs and hear stories about the natural and cultural history of Cuba and the Alleghany Highlands!
This program is designed for adventurers looking for a longer hike than our typical evening programs. The route is approximately 1 mile of moderately challenging natural-surface trail, with moderate uphill and downhill sections and areas of uneven terrain. Once the hike departs, participants must remain with the group for the duration of the hike for safety reasons (it gets quite dark up on the hill!).
Plan Ahead
Pack a dinner and arrive early to enjoy a picnic on the grounds before the program begins.
OARS is a pack-in/pack-out facility. Please plan to take all trash with you.
Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking are strongly recommended.
Lanterns will be provided. For the safety and comfort of the group, additional light sources—including flashlights and headlamps—are not permitted.
Important Arrival Information
The gate opens 30 minutes before the program start time. The program will begin promptly at the advertised time. No late entry is permitted and there are no exceptions.
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Latern Hike
Nighttime Adventure
Ages 12+ only. Participants ages 12–17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Come along on a nighttime adventure as we explore the woods by lantern light. Listen for the sounds of nocturnal wildlife—including owls, coyotes, crickets, and frogs and hear stories about the natural and cultural history of Cuba and the Alleghany Highlands!
This program is designed for adventurers looking for a longer hike than our typical evening programs. The route is approximately 1 mile of moderately challenging natural-surface trail, with moderate uphill and downhill sections and areas of uneven terrain. Once the hike departs, participants must remain with the group for the duration of the hike for safety reasons (it gets quite dark up on the hill!).
Plan Ahead
Pack a dinner and arrive early to enjoy a picnic on the grounds before the program begins.
OARS is a pack-in/pack-out facility. Please plan to take all trash with you.
Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking are strongly recommended.
Lanterns will be provided. For the safety and comfort of the group, additional light sources—including flashlights and headlamps—are not permitted.
Important Arrival Information
The gate opens 30 minutes before the program start time. The program will begin promptly at the advertised time. No late entry is permitted and there are no exceptions.
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Youth Learning Lab
OARS Learning Lab
Tuesdays • 9:00–11:00 AM:
YOUTH AGES 8 +
Looking for meaningful, hands-on learning beyond the kitchen table? The OARS Learning Lab invites homeschool students to explore science, nature, engineering, and the world around them through investigation and discovery.
Each Tuesday, students engage in hands-on experiments, outdoor exploration, nature study, mapping, engineering challenges, creative projects, and scientific inquiry connected to our year-long OARS Homeschool STEM & Nature Collective curriculum. Science leads the learning, with mathematics, reading and writing, social studies, and the arts naturally woven into each investigation.
Learning Labs are designed for homeschool families who want their children to learn by doing, ask questions, solve problems, and explore the natural world together.
Homeschool groups and co-ops are welcome! Participation is offered at a small cost to help cover materials and program expenses.
Tuesdays | 9:00–11:00 AM | OARS, Cuba, NY
Parents/Guardians of youth under 12 yo are required to remain on site. While we encourage children under 8 yo to visit OARS, this program is aimed at youth ages 8+
Come investigate, create, explore, and learn with us!
Catt Co. Dwyer Program Women's Day
Women’s Group meets Women Vets and Spouse for a day of gentle yoga, meditation, and a slow-paced and easy hike at OARS - led by Air Force Veteran, Amy Grace DEcker, and OARS CEO, Dr. Kim Meehan.
Yoga for Every Body : Floor • Stand • Sit
FREE! Under the certified instructor, Linda Botens: First and third Saturdays in June, July, August, and September 2026
This welcoming yoga class is designed for all experience levels and focuses on gentle, functional movement through three core positions: floor, standing, and seated. Each session builds strength, flexibility, and balance while encouraging mindful breathing and relaxation.
Participants will move through a sequence of accessible poses, with options and modifications offered throughout to support individual comfort and ability. Whether you’re looking to improve mobility, reduce stress, or simply take time to reconnect with your body, this class provides a supportive and inclusive environment to do so.
No prior yoga experience is needed. Just bring a mat (optional), comfortable clothing, and a willingness to move at your own pace.
Hike, Craft & Discover
Join Marsha for an evening of creativity and outdoor adventure! Each session includes a fun make-and-take craft inspired by nature, followed by a discovery hike where children explore local plants, animals, insects, and seasonal changes. Every program offers a new theme, making each visit a fresh adventure.
Parents or guardians are required to remain on-site for the duration of the program.
Earth to Color: Pigment, Pattern, and Transformation RESCHEDULED
Earth to Color: Pigment, Pattern, and Transformation is a week-long immersive painting and textile arts experience for teens that explores how color emerges from the natural world and is shaped through human creativity. Grounded in place-based making, this program invites participants to work directly with pigments and dyes derived from plants, soil, charcoal, and other natural materials.
Throughout the week, teens ethically gather and prepare natural pigments, experiment with extraction and fixation techniques, and explore painting and fabric dyeing on paper and textiles. Participants learn how color behaves across different surfaces, how patterns emerge through resist and bundle-dye techniques, and how cultural traditions have long used natural dyes to communicate identity, symbolism, and meaning.
Emphasizing experimentation and process, the program encourages curiosity, patience, and thoughtful risk-taking. Through studio practice, guided critiques, and reflective journaling, teens develop technical skills and artistic voice while deepening their understanding of nature as both source and collaborator. The week concludes with a shared exhibition of paintings and dyed textiles, accompanied by artist statements that reflect on transformation of materials, ideas, and self.
Scholarships available
Yoga for Every Body : Floor • Stand • Sit
FREE! Under the certified instructor, Linda Botens: First and third Saturdays in June, July, August, and September 2026
This welcoming yoga class is designed for all experience levels and focuses on gentle, functional movement through three core positions: floor, standing, and seated. Each session builds strength, flexibility, and balance while encouraging mindful breathing and relaxation.
Participants will move through a sequence of accessible poses, with options and modifications offered throughout to support individual comfort and ability. Whether you’re looking to improve mobility, reduce stress, or simply take time to reconnect with your body, this class provides a supportive and inclusive environment to do so.
No prior yoga experience is needed. Just bring a mat (optional), comfortable clothing, and a willingness to move at your own pace.
Leaf Casting & Painting (morning)
Cost: FREE. Registration REQUIRED. Limit 4 per order
Join OARS Resident Artist Danielle ("Danie") Kocher of Rushford, creator of Good Vibes Garden Art, for a summer series of free, hands-on art experiences that celebrate creativity, self-expression, and the beauty of the natural world.
Whether you're an experienced artist or have never picked up a paintbrush, these welcoming workshops are designed for all skill levels. Participants will explore a variety of garden-inspired and nature-themed art projects while learning techniques that can be continued at home. Each class encourages creativity, connection, and the simple joy of making something beautiful with your own hands.
Who Can Attend?
Ages 8–99+
Youth ages 8–12 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult participant.
No prior artistic experience required.
When?
Classes will be held on Thursdays throughout the summer, alternating between:
Morning sessions: 9:00 AM – 11:00+ AM
Evening sessions: 4:00 PM – 6:00+ PM
Each workshop will run for a minimum of two hours, allowing participants ample time to create, learn, and enjoy the OARS environment.
Come spend a summer morning or evening creating art, making new friends, and enjoying the outdoors at OARS. Whether you leave with a painted stone, garden decoration, or simply a renewed sense of creativity, you'll leave inspired.
Wild & Well
What if exercise felt less like a workout and more like play?
Join us for Wild & Well, a FREE outdoor wellness gathering for adults at OARS. We'll spend the evening in our beautiful meadow surrounded by woods, enjoying gentle movement, fresh air, and a chance to unwind from the stresses of daily life.
🥾 Easy nature walks
⭕ Hula hoops and playful movement
🧘 Gentle stretching and relaxation
🌲 Time to connect with nature
😊 Laughter, community, and fun
No gym. No pressure. No competition.
Just a welcoming space where adults can move, breathe, laugh, and recharge in the great outdoors.
Whether you're looking to improve your wellness, reduce stress, meet new people, or simply enjoy a peaceful evening outside, Wild & Well is for you.
📍 Outdoor Arts & Recreation Society (OARS), Cuba, NY
💲 FREE to attend
🎒 Bring comfortable clothing, water, and an open mind
Because sometimes the best medicine is a walk through the woods, a little movement, and a lot of fresh air.
#WildAndWell #OARS #CubaNY #OutdoorWellness #NatureHeals #CommunityWellness #GetOutside #MoveForJoy #OutdoorArtsAndRecreation #WesternNY #FreshAirTherapy 🌿✨
Adult Bushcraft: Cordage, Knots & Tool Making
Discover the timeless skills that have helped people work, travel, and thrive in the outdoors for centuries. In this hands-on, 2-hour Adult Bushcraft workshop, participants will learn the fundamentals of creating cordage, tying practical knots, and crafting simple tools using natural and modern materials.
Participants will explore how cordage and knots serve as the foundation for shelter building, equipment repair, camp setup, and countless other outdoor applications. The class also introduces basic tool-making concepts, emphasizing safe practices, resourcefulness, and traditional bushcraft techniques.
Topics include:
The history and uses of cordage in outdoor living
Creating simple cordage from natural materials
Essential knots for camping, hiking, and bushcraft
Lashings and bindings for structures and equipment
Rope care, selection, and maintenance
Basic tool-making principles and applications
Crafting simple bushcraft tools and camp implements
Safety considerations and responsible tool use
This workshop is designed for adults of all experience levels and provides practical skills that can be applied to camping, outdoor recreation, emergency preparedness, and traditional crafts.
Duration: 2 Hours
Age: 18+
Location: Outdoor Arts & Recreation (OARS)
What to Bring: Comfortable outdoor clothing, sturdy footwear, work gloves (optional), water, and weather-appropriate gear.
Build confidence, develop practical outdoor skills, and learn how a few simple materials and techniques can solve a wide range of challenges in the outdoors.
FREE: REGISTRATION REQUIRED: