Giving Rye: Meet the Friends of Rye Nature Center
Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Christine Siller of the Friends of Rye Nature Center.
Your Name: Christine Siller
Organization: Friends of Rye Nature Center
Your role: Executive Director
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Siller: Friends of Rye Nature Center is an independent, not-for-profit organization which offers programs to people of all ages and abilities. We encourage conservation, provide environmental education, and support our community’s access to nature. We preserve our 47-acre forest so that it can be enjoyed by all of Westchester. Our Nature Access Fund provides nature experiences to people who otherwise may not have these opportunities.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Siller: 65 years! The Nature Center was established as park land in 1959. In 1964, the Rye Conservation Society, the group now known as Friends of Rye Nature Center, was formed to care for the City’s preserve. FRNC has been the primary operator and funder of the Center since 2002.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Siller: FRNC is known for our educational programs and annual Oktoberfest. We are a community resource for outdoor recreation and year-round access to green space.
- Forest Preschool: The 5-, 3-, 2-, or 1-day program options are available in the morning and afternoon with optional walking component to Rye Presbyterian and Christ’s Church Nursery Schools if you are looking to extend your child’s day.
- Summer Camps: Our summer camp season begins in June with our June Bugs camp for preschoolers. We then run camp through August for students entering preschool through 11th grade. The older campers (grades 8 through 11) attend Paddle Adventure Camp which introduces the joys of kayaking and hiking throughout Westchester. Registration for these programs opens in January.
- Oktoberfest: This community-favorite fundraiser takes place each fall in late-September or early-October. Raising a glass to nature under starry skies is the perfect way to kick off fall.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Siller: We want to be the community’s go-to resource for conservation and environmental education.
- Provide programs for every generation: Ensure our programs reach all ages. Create segmented educational opportunities for senior citizens, teachers, adults, families, and students.
- Serve as the community’s conservation resource: Promote our 47-acres as the community’s space for recreation/conservation education through speaker workshops and informal learning experiences.
- Increase awareness about program offerings and mission: We want to serve a broader audience by effectively communicating our goals, programs, and conservation initiatives. With increased participation, we want to inspire all people to protect the forest and invest in its succession and health.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Siller: FRNC predominantly serves Rye and the surrounding communities. Our Nature Access Fund focuses on environmental justice and broadens our reach to other partner organizations in Westchester and New York City.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Siller: Yes.
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Siller: This year we continued furthering our current Strategic Plan. Some notable progress includes:
- Blind Brook Riparian Restoration: For the last two years, we have been working with an environmental engineering firm to design a streambank and floodplain restoration for our section of the Blind Brook. Working with the City of Rye’s leadership, we have progressed the designs and the permitting process. This work is possible through grants from National Fish and Wildlife Federation’s Long Island Sound Futures Fund, Westchester Community Foundation, and Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund.
- Creating the Next Generation of Leaders and Environmentalists: FRNC is proud to offer programs that train and inspire the next generation of conservation-minded individuals. Through seasonal jobs and internships, we provide high school and college students with hands-on opportunities to gain practical skills and environmental knowledge. Between May and August, in our conservation team and summer camp education staff, we employed 39 students, provided 15 volunteer experiences, and offered 10 internships.
- Making Nature Accessible: We were proud to offer four different speaker workshops throughout 2024 on key conservation topics like composting, pollinators, microforests, and flood resiliency. We also significantly increased financial assistance for local families, providing 42 weeks of camp for children from the Town of Rye. FRNC collaborated with 242 seventh graders from the Rye City School District participating in field studies on the migration patterns of the American eel.
How can local residents support your organization?
Siller: The best support is participation! Come to one of our educational programs, preschool, afterschool, My Naturalist and Me, weekend workshops, school’s out camps, speaker events, or summer camp.
Or just come and take a moment to enjoy nature whenever you need it.
Other ways to support include becoming a member, volunteering with our grounds, animals, or camps, making a direct donation, and attending one of our annual fundraisers.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Siller: Since the park was established in 1959, FRNC has long-standing relationships with The Little Garden Club of Rye and Rye Garden Club. Con Edison has been a generous funder of educational programs and conservation projects over the years. One of our other longest partnerships is with the Inner-City Scholarship Fund who we have partnered with since 2008 to bring low-income students from Manhattan and the Bronx to enjoy a free week of summer camp each year. We are also incredibly grateful to our volunteers, especially our board of directors.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Siller: I began my role as the Executive Director over fifteen years ago in the summer of 2009.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Siller: Full time.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Siller: Witty.
Where did you grow up?
Siller: I grew up in Putnam County and spent my summers lifeguarding at one of the many lakes.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Siller: My “luck” average is over 90% on Wordle.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Siller: This is most definitely the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” chapter.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Siller: I would empty the mousetraps at the Nature Center.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Siller: I have lived in Rye for over 20 years. I live close to Kelly’s.
Thanks Christine!
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