September 8, 2010
- Coastal Cleanup
- Family Fun
- Upcoming DEC Events
- Hudson Valley - Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
- Capital District - Five Rivers Environmental Education Center and Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
- Central New York - Rogers Environmental Education Center
- Western New York - Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Coastal Cleanup
New York State's thousands of miles of beaches, rivers, lakes, streams and wetlands support our fish and wildlife species and provide recreational opportunities. Each year, thousands of New Yorkers get together on a Saturday afternoon in September to clean up these ecologically important coastlines. The International Coastal Cleanup, organized by the American Littoral Society (littoral means the physical area between low and high tide), is a volunteer, grassroots effort to remove and document debris and garbage from the shores of oceans, streams, lakes, rivers, ponds and canals throughout the world.
In 2009, more than 10,000 volunteers cleaned up 144,837 pounds of debris along 326 miles of New York State's shoreline. The effort isn't limited to our ocean coastline either. Volunteers help clean up numerous rivers, the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes, even creeks and bays. Nearly half of the state's counties had an organized event last year; you probably live within a few hours' drive of one of the locations.
Why participate?
-To clean the beach and learn what kind of garbage is out there
-To help scientists use your data to develop strategies for fighting pollution
-To get more people involved in solving the problem of pollution
-To learn to appreciate the environment
Send us an e-mail and tell us what you think about Outdoor Discovery.
Subscribe to Conservationist magazine New York's award-winning publication with astonishingly beautiful photography and captivating articles.
Learn the best places to view wildlife at DEC's Watchable Wildlife pages.
Family Fun
Coming to a Beach Near You
The International Coastal Cleanup is an event that the entire family can be a part of and a great way to introduce children to environmental stewardship. This year's event is scheduled for September 25, 2010. At each location, a "beach captain" chosen from local environmental groups, schools, scout leaders, corporations, divers and civic associations will lead the cleanup. Get your family, friends, schoolmates or team members together to spend a day helping to clean up our shorelines. Bring work gloves, a hat and sunscreen, and dress to get dirty. Make a contest out of who finds the most, largest, grossest or weirdest piece of garbage. Some of last year's finds included: a basketball hoop, a dog bed, a television and a hunter's tree stand, to name a few.
Cleanup sites for 2010 are listed on the American Littoral Society's website. You can also call the Beach Cleanup Hotline at 800-449-0790, or, for assistance in forming a cleanup team of your own, contact beach cleanup coordinator Barbara Cohen by e-mail, or call her at 718-471-2166.
For the Landlubbers
If you prefer dry land, September 25 is also National Public Lands Day, the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2009, 150,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, planted trees and restored our water resources. The National Public Lands Day website has a listing of cleanup events.
Read Conservationist for Kids for more information and activities!
Upcoming DEC Events
Hudson Valley
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center
Family Program: Open Barn
Saturday, September 11 and 18 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Woodland Trail Stroll for All Ages and Abilities (Hudson River Ramble Series)
Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 AM
Saturday Afternoon Guided Nature Walk
Saturday, September 11 and 18 at 2:00 PM
Watchable Wildlife along the Freedom Trail (Hudson River Ramble Series)
Saturday, September 18 at 10:00 AM
Event Descriptions at Stony Kill
Capital Region
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Evergreens
Saturday, September 11 at 2:00 PM
Family Fun: Give a Hoot!
Saturday, September 18 at 10:00 AM
Watchable Wildlife: Monarchs
Saturday, September 18 at 2:00 PM
Event Descriptions at Five Rivers
Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center
Legends and Lore of the Pine Bush
Sunday, September 12 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Call 518-456-0655 to register. Cost: $2.00/person, $5.00/family, children under 5 free.
More events at Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center
Central New York
Rogers Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 607-674-4017.
Rexford Falls Gorge Exploration
Saturday, September 11 from 10:00 AM to Noon
Watchable Wildlife: Getting Ready for Winter
Saturday, September 11 at 1:30 PM
Rogers on the Road: Whaupaunaucau State Forest Hike
Saturday, September 18 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Fall Flowers at Adams Farm
Saturday, September 18 at 1:30 PM
Western New York
Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center
Advance registration is required. Call 716-683-5959.
After-School Escape
Thursdays, September 9 and 16 at 4:30 PM
For children in grades K-5.
Scratch-and-Sniff Walk
Saturday, September 11 at 10:30 AM
10th Annual Fall Festival
Saturday, September 18 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM