CNC Rentals
are available for a variety of private functions. We like to think
of our lodge and nature center as a user-friendly place. Our
historic lodge, built in the 1930's, is surrounded by 120 acres
of woods, trails, gorges and waterfalls. It has been rented for
weddings, conferences, meetings, reunions, birthday parties and
much more. Renting rooms inside our lodge or the entire
lodge itself can be done for any period of time from two hours
to an entire weekend. Since we are a member-based organization,
please be aware that even if the facility is being rented, our
members are still free to use our trails, tree house, etc. from
dawn to dusk, 365 days per year.
Please see our rental rates here.
Weddings
Weddings at the nature center can
be very special. We have hosted many throughout the years, and
now community members who were married here years ago are holding
their children's weddings here. We are not an expensive, all-inclusive
wedding site with meals and all the equipment and entertainment
anyone might need, but we can help you build your event almost
any way you like.
Last year we had several parties
that rented our lodge for their wedding but also reserved the
facility overnight, so that guests could simply stay on the premises;
they enjoyed a campfire with music and left the following day
after breakfast.
The cost of renting the lodge for
a wedding is $600 for eight hours. (Set-up and clean-up time are included in this eight hour block.) This basic rental price is for approximately
100 people, but prices may vary with options. With that rental
comes the use of our facility, including the back courtyard, kitchen,
kids' room, trails, tree house, back fire pit, etc. We assign
a staff member to make sure your day goes as planned. CNC works
with all caterers.
Our lodge comfortably seats 100
people, and with an outside tent set up in the courtyard, we can
offer weddings of up to 150 people. Any party larger than 150
can only be scheduled with advanced permission and discussion
of issues such as the potential need for portable toilets, etc.
Options: There are other options
for the amount of time the facility can be rented, including eight
hours, a full twenty-four hours, or the entire weekend. For the
entire weekend, the lodge can be rented during the hours of 4 p.m. Friday -
1 p.m. Sunday. Please call for more details on the pricing of
these other increments.
Other Rentals
A single room at the nature center
or the entire lodge can also be rented for events or gatherings
besides weddings. Prices vary due to the length of time, number
of rooms, etc. A basic room rental [forty people] is a minimum
of two hours for a total of $70. Renting the Great Room is $100 for two hours.
Birthday Parties
are also enjoyable at the nature center. We offer a three-hour
event in one of our large rooms, and the rental includes an hour-long
program, (we have both animal and environmental programs),
with one of our educators. Kids enjoy everything from our animals
and kids' room to a hike up to our six-story tree house or our
seasonal butterfly house. Cost for party is $125 for up to twenty
children. The Great Room can be reserved for $175. Participants, including parents, do not need to pay
separate CNC admission. (CNC does not supply party supplies, food,
etc.)
TEAM Challenge
also offers special birthday parties for people age ten and up with a two-hour
ropes course experience and a one-hour room rental. Cost of program
is $260 and is limited to ten participants. If you would like to rent the entire Great Room during the one hour, the cost is $310. Larger groups can
be accommodated with advance planning.
Other Rental Rates
|
Basic
room rental [40 people] - minimum 2 hours at $70/hour
|
Birthday Party [up to 20 kids] - $125
|
TEAM Challenge Birthday
Party [up to 10 people] - $260
TEAM Challenge Birthday Party with Great Room - $310
|
CNC has a
limited number of chairs and tables on the premises. We are currently
looking to expand our own inventory. We will work with you to
identify your needs and help with rentals. CNC owns a set of green
and gold Syracuse China for approximately 100-125 people and rents
the dishes for $75 per event.
Other
Equipment Rentals - CNC also rents snow shoes, a cider
press and binoculars. A credit card is required for all equipment
taken off the premises. Binoculars can only be rented on the grounds
and are free of charge; they must simply be signed out.
|
Rental Equipment
Rates |
Snowshoes = $5 for onsite use, $10 for 24 hours
offsite.
|
Cider Press = $20 for 24 hours
or
$50 for a full weekend, Friday with return on Monday.
|
Dishes = $75
|
Deposits
A deposit is required
for booking any event. A cleaning deposit is also expected. Renters
must return the facility to its normal shape, but
you have the option of simply paying the $75, and CNC will assign
staff to do the follow-up cleaning, including taking down renter's
decorations, etc. Please advise us before the event if you choose
to pay for cleanup so we have staff available; occasionally another
event will be scheduled immediately following a rental.
Deposit Rates |
Minimum of $125 or 20% to hold reservation
|
|
(Renters may
simply pay $75 to have CNC staff clean after event, or can
clean themselves and have deposit returned.) |
Where to
start:
Send us an
email outlining your basic plan. Include potential date(s), hours
of event, space required, number of people attending, etc. We
will work with you! Once you know have what you want in mind,
email us at finance@cayuganaturecenter.org.
We will verify whether the date(s) you chose are open and will
respond as soon as we can with some basic rental costs.
We're glad you're considering CNC for the site for your special
event, and we look forward to helping meet your needs.
Also, feel
free to come check out the lodge in person! For further information contact us at
(607) 273-6260 or email finance@cayuganaturecenter.org.
