Saturday, November 14, 2026, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Hudson Highlands Nature Center invites you to the
Ponies Up! Carousel Dinner
Saturday, November 14, 2026
6pm
At The Carousel Pavilion
at Bear Mountain State Park
Event Co-chairs: Susan & Hank Christensen and Susan Maloney
Please join us for Ponies Up! an evening celebrating the Garden Club of Orange & Dutchess Counties
Fifteen years ago, HHNC broke ground on an ambitious new vision: a place where children could experience the wonder of nature through play, exploration, imagination, and discovery. With the generous support and commitment of the Garden Club of Orange and Duchess, that vision became Grasshopper Grove. Today, it is one of the most beloved features of the Hudson Highlands Nature Center’s Outdoor Discovery Campus. Thousands of children and families have climbed, crawled, built, balanced, dug, imagined, and played their way through this special place—developing confidence, curiosity, and a deeper connection to the natural world along the way. As we celebrate this important milestone, we are delighted to honor the Garden Club of Orange and Duchess and their lasting contribution to HHNC and to the children and families we serve.
We hope you will join us in celebrating their legacy by becoming a member of the Ponies Up! Benefit Committee. Benefit Committee members provide essential early support for the event, helping to underwrite the cost of the evening and ensuring that more of the funds raised can directly support HHNC’s mission.
Chipmunk Level: $250 per person
Raccoon Level: $500 per person
River Otter Level: $1,000.00 per person
Bobcat Level: $1,500.00 per person
Black Bear Level: $2,500 seating for two
Mountain Lion Level: $5000 seating for four
Ponies up! is a special evening featuring a cocktail reception, delicious dinner, open bar and silent auction, all in the unique setting of the Carousel Pavilion at Bear Mountain State Park! Your attendance will provide vital support to help us connect children and families to the beauty and transformative power of nature, as well as the care of our amazing Animal Ambassadors.
