Welcome to our new Newsletter! |
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Welcome to the first edition of the CCNY Outdoors Club’s monthly newsletter! We’re excited to bring you updates on upcoming club events, interesting outdoor history, and great ways to experience the city beyond the classroom. Whether we're exploring parks, attending outdoor events, or just making the most of NYC’s public spaces, there’s something for everyone. Stay tuned for exciting activities, tips, and fun ways to get outside! |
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Volunteering/Hiking @ Rockefeller State Park – Westchester, NY Sun 03/30 7AM to 4PM Join us as we spend the day helping with park projects, hiking the trails, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the preserve! Come and connect with your fellow club members and the staff at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. Train Ticket: $22.50 Limited 25 spots |
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Bronx Botanical Garden - Orchid Show – Bronx Park, Bronx, NY Sat 02/15 - Sun 04/27 10AM to 6PM Free for NYC Residents on Wednesdays Celebrate the beauty of orchids with The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism, set against the vibrant landscapes of Mexico. Immerse yourself in stunning displays where tradition meets contemporary artistry, inspired by the bold, multicolored designs of architect Luis Barragán. Wander through lush gardens filled with thousands of orchids, showcasing the rich diversity of tropical ecosystems. |
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Beginner Birding Workshop – Van Cortlandt, Bronx, NY Sat 03/08 10AM to 12PM Free Explore Van Cortlandt Park and learn how to ID common birds found throughout the city. Binoculars and field guides will be provided |
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Canarsie Beach Cleanup – Canarsie, Brooklyn, NY Sat 03/08 10AM to 12PM Free Join Council Member Mercedes Narcisse’s office for a volunteer cleanup at Canarsie Beach! The beach was once a small fishing village and remains a hotspot for marine wildlife and birds. Tools and materials will be provided. |
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Indoor Climbing @ Movement LIC – Long Island City, Queens, NY Sun 03/09 11AM to 1PM Non-Member Day Pass: $15 Shoe Rental: $6 Join the Appalachian Mountain Club at their monthly climbing event! |
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Governor’s Island Spring Cutback – Governor’s Island, Manhattan, NY Sat 03/15 9:30AM to 12PM $0-5 Ferry Ticket Join the Trust for Governors Island's horticulture team for a drop-in volunteer stewardship project in Hammock Grove. You'll work with the team to cut back and prune various plantings that have been left to grow all winter. Cutting these plantings back improves the health of our landscapes and allows for new growth during the spring season. |
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Urban Wildlife at South Jamaica Infinity Garden – Jamaica, Queens, NY Sat 03/15 1PM to 2PM Free Join the Urban Park Rangers for a guided walk through South Jamaica Infinity Garden and discover the wildlife thriving in NYC! Learn how community gardens, parks, and street trees support urban ecosystems while exploring taxidermy displays of local animals. |
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Prospect Park Hike – Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY Sun 03/16 11AM to 1PM Free Hike around one of New York’s greatest parks with Urban Park Rangers. Learn about the park's creation and the people who made it possible. Along with history, the Rangers will help identify the trees and animals that make Prospect Park an oasis from city life |
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Spring Bird Walk – East New York, Brooklyn, NY Sat 03/29 10AM to 12PM Free Join the NYC Parks Education Team for a morning of birdwatching! While hiking you’ll pay special attention to the signs of spring now visible at Shirley Chisholm State Park. |
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Hattie Carthan – A Champion of Urban Green Spaces |
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Hattie Carthan, affectionately known as The Tree Lady of Brooklyn, was a visionary environmental activist who transformed Bedford-Stuyvesant’s urban landscape. In the 1960s, she spearheaded a movement to restore the neighborhood’s dwindling tree population, leading to the planting of over 1,500 trees and the creation of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Beautification Committee. Her efforts resulted in the |
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|  | “We’ve already lost too many trees, houses, and people…your community – you owe something to it. I didn’t care to run.” |
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Magnolia grandiflora on Lafayette Avenue becoming the first living tree designated as a New York City landmark. Carthan’s passion for environmental education led to the founding of the Magnolia Tree Earth Center in 1972, providing a space for youth and community members to engage with nature and sustainability. Her legacy as The Tree Lady continues to inspire urban conservation efforts, reminding us of the power of grassroots activism in creating greener, healthier communities. |
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