Blueprint Geneva, a local nonprofit, organized an eclipse training session on February 3 at the Finger Lakes Welcome Center, where over 40 residents learned how to host eclipse-viewing events. Science educator Doug Reilly led the session, providing crucial information and resources for safely observing the solar eclipse set to darken Geneva’s skies on April 8. This rare event, last witnessed in the region in 1970, offers a unique opportunity for the community, with the next total eclipse not expected until 2143.
The training aimed to prepare eclipse guides for assisting residents in safe viewing practices, especially important given the brief window when it’s safe to view the eclipse without protective eyewear during totality. Blueprint Geneva plans to distribute 3,000 pairs of eclipse glasses free to residents, ensuring everyone can experience the eclipse safely. Volunteers are still welcomed to support the initiative, which includes documenting local reactions to the eclipse in collaboration with Historic Geneva and other partners.
Blueprint Geneva’s efforts to educate and equip the community for the eclipse are supported by partnerships, including with the Rochester Museum and Science Center, and funding from the Wyckoff Family Foundation. In addition to educational activities, a lakefront 5K fundraiser co-sponsored with the Geneva Family YMCA is scheduled for April 7, further engaging the community in this astronomical event.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].