RAIN OR SHINE!

Join us for a hands-on conservation project to build three new vernal ponds at the Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary. Register below and sign in at the table indicated by the red tear drop below.

Get your hands dirty, help with the easy tasks, or just come and watch.

These ponds will provide essential breeding habitats for amphibians and support local biodiversity.

Event Details

• Dates: April 25, 26, and 27, 2025
• Time: Noon to 5 PM each day
• Location: Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary, Village Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534

World-renowned wetlands biologist Tom Biebighauser will lead the event, sharing his expertise in wetland restoration while guiding participants through the process of building sustainable vernal ponds. Volunteers will have the opportunity to dig, rake, plant, and lay eco-friendly liners to create lasting habitats for frogs and other wildlife.

This event is free and open to the public. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome—especially those willing to assist with laying pond liners (some hard hats provided).

Schedule

Friday, April 25, 20225 (Day 1)  Please arrive at noon

• Begin construction of Pond 1: Digging, raking, and laying eco-friendly liner.
• Excavator finishes work on Pond 2.

Saturday, April 26, 20225 (Day 2) Please arrive at 11

• Complete seeding and planting for Pond 1.
• Begin construction of Pond 2: Digging, raking, and laying eco-friendly liner.
• Excavator finishes work on Pond 3.

Special Bonus from The Village of Pittsford, Arbor Day Weekend from 11 AM – 2 PM   booths, giveaways and family-friendly activities. 

Opportunities for Community Groups

We’re inviting local organizations focused on ecosystem protection, green initiatives, and sustainability to:
✅ Host an interactive table at our Arbor Day Celebration (Saturday, April 26, 11 AM–2 PM)
✅ Share educational materials and lead kid-friendly crafts
✅ Network with like-minded groups and the wider community

If you’re not available, we’d love it if you could forward this invitation to others in your network!

👉 Community Partner Sign-Up: LINK

Sunday, April 27, 20225 (Day 3) Please arrive at 9.

• Complete seeding and planting for Pond 2.
• Digging, raking, and laying eco-friendly liner for Pond 3.
• Final tasks: Finish seeding and planting for Pond 3.
• Celebration: Ribbon-cutting ceremony to conclude the project.

Parking, Registration & Check-In

Parking is available behind the Renaissance Hotel and behind the Pickle Factory (Map).

Register below (Where it says “Yes! I’m In!” at the very bottom of the page) so we can plan name tags, assignments, tools, hard hats etc.

Check-In at the trail entrance on Village Lane west of the green roofed building just above the word Village on the map below.

Volunteers will direct you to your assigned location for the day.

Pond Building, Seeding and Planting and Other Tasks

Registration Table: Assignments, name tags, water, snacks (but bring your own if you can as well. Supplies limited.

We might have the following tables up all day all weekend, depending on the weather, but definitely on Saturday, be set up by 10:30 am in between the Pickle Factory Road and Village Lane, and plan to break down at 2.

• SAVE THE FROGS! table, where you might meet Michael Horton and Kelly Geer, visitors from Virginia, where they both worked in and taught Fish and Wildlife Conservation Services, and now are active entrepreneurs and community leaders.
• A Frog House Table Many of our core volunteers will rotate

Pond Building: You must be strong enough to do this and at least 18 years old, unless you are exceptionally fit. Wear heavy clothing, sturdy shoes, heavy gloves, and please bring your own hardhat, if you have one, although we have some to share. Also bring shovels and rakes.

Planting and Seeding: As soon as the first pond is ready, we will be spreading wheat seed, and a mixture of rye, grasses, bullrush, and sedge. We also have several hundred small plant plugs, including 10 native plant pollinators that love wetlands, and 36 buttonbush trees. Not all are available at this exact time, so we will be coming back. Once seeded and planted, we will be spreading straw mulch on the area to protect it. Bring trowels for the plant plugs, and hand held seeder spreaders, and a hand held cultivator.

Photography: any time, choose your times and locations!

Activities each day:

• Introductions
• Use rakes and shovels to landscape the basin dug by the excavator
• Pick up trash and rocks in and around the basin.
• Place the first layer of geotextile in the basin
• Place the aquatic safe liner
• Cover the aquatic safe liner with geotextile
• Anchor the top edge of the aquatic safe liner and geotextile using 12-inch landscape spikes and washers.
• Trim off the corners of the aquatic safe liner and geotextile.
• Use wire flags to mark the top edge of all three layers.
• Assist the excavator operator in covering all three layers with at least 6-inches of soil.
• Check the thickness of the soil covering and adjust by hand as needed with shovels and rakes.
• Add logs and branches.
• Seed using wheat and mixed seed from Laurie Broccolo; plant native plugs
• Mulch using straw.
• Place waste in dumpster.
• Take group photo

Please wear hard hats ((if available, some provided), boots, long pants, gloves; dress for the weather.

Bring rakes, shovels, planting and seeding tools, and especially enthusiasm for conservation work!

Volunteer Sign Up

We need at least 10 people each day to dig, rake, and lay eco-friendly liner for our 3 new vernal ponds.

April 25, 26 and 27
Noon to 5 pm, earlier on Sunday!

Robert C. Corby Arboretum and Wildlife Sanctuary.
Village Lane, Pittsford, NY 14534

Yes! I’m In!