Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Summer Programs
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
About
Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Programs include hands-on activities such as Pollywog Adventures, Catch & Keep Fishing, Animal Track Detectives, Fish In Action, Hop Into Amphibians, and a Valentine's Day Craft & Card Making Station. Children can also take part in the Animal Passport Program, Hatching Turtle Day, an Egg Stripping program, and themed sessions like Fins and Jaws, Habitats and Life Cycles, Pond Life, and Freshwater Ecology. During a visit, participants can feed the hungry trout and tour two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Open daily 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours until 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays in June, July, and August; closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday
• Price: Admission: Members: FREE; Children ages 3–12: $5.00; ages 2 and under: FREE; General: $7.00; ages 65 and over: $6.00
The programs take place at a non-profit educational center that includes two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds supplied by spring water and six artesian wells. The Hatchery maintains the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fishes, and amphibians, and the water in the trout ponds stays at a constant 52°F all year long. No pumps are used to move water through the Hatchery, as springs and artesian wells flow naturally and a slight pitch on the grounds allows water to move freely through the trout ponds. A critter cam is used to spot nighttime animals.
The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery closed as a New York State fish hatchery on March 31, 1982, and reopened the next day as a non-profit educational center operated by the Friends of the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, Inc. Its mission is to operate as an environmental education center and public aquarium that continues to raise and stock trout. The Hatchery is led by Director Steve DeSimone. The Hatchery has not tested positive for any certifiable diseases.
With support from Hatchery members, government agencies, private organizations, and foundations, the Hatchery has expanded its programming with outreach options. Working with Trout in the Classroom, the Hatchery brings Egg Stripping programs into schools, and each year schools, scouts, and other groups visit to learn about the freshwater ecosystems of New York State. The Hatchery also delivers trout, ranging from a few dozen for backyard ponds to hundreds for sportsmen’s clubs, with orders placed in advance to secure preferred delivery dates.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
• Ages: 3–12 years old
• Schedule: Open daily 10 am to 5 pm, with extended hours until 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays in June, July, and August; closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday
• Price: Admission: Members: FREE; Children ages 3–12: $5.00; ages 2 and under: FREE; General: $7.00; ages 65 and over: $6.00
The programs take place at a non-profit educational center that includes two aquarium buildings and eight outdoor ponds supplied by spring water and six artesian wells. The Hatchery maintains the largest living collection of New York State freshwater reptiles, fishes, and amphibians, and the water in the trout ponds stays at a constant 52°F all year long. No pumps are used to move water through the Hatchery, as springs and artesian wells flow naturally and a slight pitch on the grounds allows water to move freely through the trout ponds. A critter cam is used to spot nighttime animals.
The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery closed as a New York State fish hatchery on March 31, 1982, and reopened the next day as a non-profit educational center operated by the Friends of the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery, Inc. Its mission is to operate as an environmental education center and public aquarium that continues to raise and stock trout. The Hatchery is led by Director Steve DeSimone. The Hatchery has not tested positive for any certifiable diseases.
With support from Hatchery members, government agencies, private organizations, and foundations, the Hatchery has expanded its programming with outreach options. Working with Trout in the Classroom, the Hatchery brings Egg Stripping programs into schools, and each year schools, scouts, and other groups visit to learn about the freshwater ecosystems of New York State. The Hatchery also delivers trout, ranging from a few dozen for backyard ponds to hundreds for sportsmen’s clubs, with orders placed in advance to secure preferred delivery dates.
Last updated February 6, 2026.
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