Weekly Volunteer & Skill-Development Opportunities and Events (12/21/12-1/2/13)

Enjoy Winter Recess!

Volunteer Opportunities

1.       Cleaning Westerleigh Park (Staten Island)
Location: Westerleigh Park
Dates: Dec. 22^nd
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

2.       Roberto Clemente Park Volunteer Clean-up Day (Bronx)
Location: Roberto Clemente Plaza, East 138 Street at Melrose and Willis
Dates: Jan. 2^nd
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

Skill-Development Opportunities

1.       Orienteering (Manhattan)
Location: Belvedere Castle in Central Park, Mid-park about 79th Street
Dates: Dec. 23^rd
Time: 11:00 am

2.       Birding: Shorebirds (Brooklyn)
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, East 33rd Street and Avenue U
Dates: Dec. 23^rd
Time: 11:00 am

3.       Birding (Queens)
Location: Parking Lot on Hoyt Avenue and 19 Street in Astoria Park
Dates: Dec. 29^th
Time: 11:00 am

4.       Emergency Preparedness: Knot Tying and Map Reading (Manhattan)
Location: Dana Discovery Center in Central Park, 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues
Dates: Dec. 29^th
Time: 11:00 am

5.       Wilderness Survival (Bronx)
Location: Van Cortlandt Nature Center in Van Cortlandt Park, Enter the park at West 246 St. and Broadway
Dates: Dec. 29^th
Time: 1:00 pm

6.       Nature Exploration Hike in Prospect Park (Brooklyn)
Location: Prospect Park Picnic House in Prospect Park, West Drive and Third Street
Dates: Dec. 29^th
Time: 1:00 pm

7.       Birding: Winter Waterfowl (Brooklyn)
Location: Salt Marsh Nature Center in Marine Park, East 33rd Street and Avenue U
Dates: Dec. 30^th
Time: 11:00 am

8.       Wilderness Survival (Queens)
Location: Fort Totten Visitor's Center in Fort Totten Park
Dates: Dec. 30^th
Time: 1:00 pm

9.       Nature Exploration Hike: Hunter Island (Bronx)
Location: Orchard Beach Nature Center in Pelham Bay Park, Section 2 of Orchard Beach
Dates: Dec. 30^th
Time: 1:00 pm

10.   Nature Art (Manhattan)
Location: Belvedere Castle in Central Park, Mid-park about 79th Street
Dates: Dec. 30^th
Time: 2:00 pm

 

Events

1.       Winter Solstice Festival 2012 (Staten Island)
Location: Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, between Tysen Street and Snug Harbor Road
Dates: Dec. 21^st
Time: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

2.       Winter Solstice Stargazing in Central Park (Manhattan)
Location: Belvedere Castle in Central Park, Mid-park about 79th Street
Dates: Dec. 21^st
Time: 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

3.       Westerleigh Park Tree Lighting Ceremony (Staten Island)
Location: Westerleigh Park, Between Willard Avenue, Springfield Avenue, Neal Dow Avenue and Maine Avenue
Dates: Dec. 22^nd
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

4.       New Year's Eve Fireworks (Brooklyn)
Location: Grand Army Plaza
Dates: Dec. 31^st
Time: 11:00 pm – 12:30 am

Have a Wonderful & Green Holiday!!!



 



Weekly Volunteer Opportunities (12/14/12-12/20/12)

Natural Areas Volunteers

1.       Conference House Woodlands Storm Cleanup (Staten Island)
Location: Hylan Boulevard and Satterlee Street in Conference House Park
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

2.       Highland Park Invasive Removals (Queens)
Location: Elton Street and Jamaica Avenue in Highland Park
Dates: Dec. 18^th
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Other Opportunities

1.       Cleaning Westerleigh Park (Staten Island)
Location: Westerleigh Park
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

2.       Volunteer Cleanup at Rockaway Beach (Beach 32) (Queens)
Location: Beach 32 & the Boardwalk in Rockaway Beach
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

3.       Volunteer Cleanup at Kaiser Park (Coney Island)
Location: Kaiser Park Parkhouse
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

4.       Volunteer Cleanup at Inwood Hill Park (Manhattan)
Location: Inwood Hill Park
Dates: Dec. 15^th and 16^th
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

5.       MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop and Composting with Compost for Brooklyn (Brooklyn)
Location: East 8th Street and Newkirk Ave.
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

6.       MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop at Hunt's Point Library (Bronx)
Location: 877 Southern Blvd.
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

7.       Composting in Sherman Creek Park (Manhattan)
Location: Swindler Cove Park, Dyckman Street and 10th Avenue
Dates: Dec. 15^th
Time: 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

8.       Mulchfest 2013 Volunteer Orientation (Manhattan)
Location: The Arsenal in Central Park, 830 Fifth Avenue
Dates: Dec. 18^th
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

9.       Roberto Clemente Park Volunteer Clean-up Day (Bronx)
Location: Roberto Clemente Plaza, East 138 Street at Melrose and Willis
Dates: Dec. 19^th
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities and Events (12/7/12-12/13/12)

Natural Areas Volunteers

1.       Van Cortlandt Park Planting (Bronx)
Location: Van Cortlandt Park
Dates: Dec. 7^th and 8^th
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

2.       Wolfe's Pond Park Woodland Storm Cleanup (Staten Island)
Location: Wolfe's Pond Park
Dates: Dec. 12^th and 13^th
Time: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Other Opportunities

1.       Cleaning Westerleigh Park (Staten Island)
Location: Westerleigh Park
Dates: Dec. 8^th
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

2.       Volunteer Cleanup at Rockaway Beach (Beach 29) (Queens)
Location: B.28 Street and Boardwalk in Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk
Dates: Dec. 8^th
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

3.       Volunteer Cleanup at Astoria Park (Queens)
Location: Astoria Park Lawn in Astoria Park
Dates: Dec. 8^th
Time: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

4.       Volunteer Cleanup at Inwood Hill Park (Manhattan)
Location: Inwood Hill Park
Dates: Dec. 8^th
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

Event(s)

1.       Holiday Tree Lighting at Brookville Park (Queens)
Location: Brookville Blvd. and Mayda Road, Brookville, Queens
Dates: Dec. 8^th
Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities (11/30-12/6/12)

Natural Areas Volunteers

1.      Bronx River Island Invasive Removals (Bronx)
       Location: Bronx Park
        Dates: November 30^th
        Time: 9:00am-1:00pm
2.       Invasive Plant Removals (Manhattan)
        Location: Highbridge Park
        Dates: December 4^th
        Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

 

Other Opportunities

1.      MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop (Brooklyn)
        Location: Green Fitness Studio, 232 Varet Street, Brooklyn, NY
        Dates: December 2^nd
       Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm
*Register at http://www.nycgovparks.org/milliontrees/tree_stewardship_workshops

 

Green Teens at Recycling Competition on Oct. 20^th 

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities (11/22/12-11/29/12)

Natural Areas Volunteers

1. Reforestation Stewardship (Staten Island)
    Location: Clove Lakes Park
    Dates: Nov. 24^th
    Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

2. Tree Planting & Weeding (Bronx)
    Location: Ferry Point Park
    Dates: Nov. 27^th
    Time: 9:00am-1:00pm

 

Other Opportunities:

1. Cleaning Westerleigh Park (Staten Island)
    Location: Westerleigh Park
    Dates: Nov. 24^th
    Times: 9:00am-12:00pm
    Organizer(s): Friends of Westerleigh Park, 718-442-0336

 

 

Green Teens Moving Forward

Since Hurricane Sandy we have been striving to keep moving forward. A number of our AWESOME Green Teens have been reaching out to help with cleanup efforts, and others are already taking action. For those who are in the position and would like to help out, can swing by their local recreation center during their drop-in hours. Drop-In Hours are as follows:

1. Roy Wilkins
177th St. & Baisley Blvd. Jamaica 11434
(718) 276-8686
Saturday: 9am-5pm

2. Lost Battalion Hall
93-29 Queens Blvd., Rego Park 11374
(718) 263-1163
Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm

3. Sorrentino
18-48 Cornaga Avenue, Far Rockaway 11691
(718) 471-4818
Tuesday: 3:30pm-5pm

4. Al Oerter
131-40 Fowler Ave., Flushing 11355
(718) 353-7853
Monday – Friday: 2:30pm-8pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm

 

Now on to the good stuff…

On October 27^th Central Park hosted a Pumpkin Festival, and our Green Teens were in full effect! Green Teens from Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx participated in a Recycling Competition to see which borough could recycle the most and properly. And the winner was….

Manhattan (Congrats!) came in 1^st with 39 bags of recyclables. Queens came in 2^nd with an awesome total of 32 bags, and the Bronx was 3^rd with 11 bags (Nice Job!).

Kudos to all the Green Teens who participated!!!

 *Pictures coming soon…so check back*

Queens Green Teens on It’s My Park Day

As you may know this past Saturday, Oct. 20th, was the citywide ‘It’s My Park Day,’ where our Green Teens helped to improve their local parks. And I must say Queens Green Teens were getting it done! On Saturday alone, Green Teens collected 17 bags of garbage and 2 bags of recyclables (NICE!!!).

 Look at the photos below to see the Green Teens in action!!!

 

Roy Wilkins Recreation Center

 

Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorrentino Recreation Center

 

Job Well Done Green Teens!

 

Weekly Volunteer Opportunities (10/26/12– 11/1/12):

 Natural Areas Volunteers:

1.       Fresh Creek Planting (Brooklyn)
Location: Avenue L and East 108th Street
Dates: Nov. 1
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

2.       Van Cortlandt Park Planting (Bronx)
Location: Van Cortlandt House Museum near Broadway and West 246th Street
Dates: October 30
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Volunteer Opportunities Keeps Rolling In

This coming Saturday, the 20th, is It’s My Park Day. The following recreation centers in Queens will be taking part and providing activities for teens to get involved:


1. Roy Wilkins Recreation Center

2. Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center

3. Sorrentino Recreation Center

4. Al Oerter recreation Center


Please feel free to call or stop by the centers to see how you can help. Addresses and phone numbers are below.

If you cannot make it this Saturday, don’t fret. Each recreation center provides weekly opportunities for Green Teens to participate. Here are the drop-in hours for each center, when Green Teens can come by and volunteer:


1. Roy Wilkins
177th St. & Baisley Blvd. Jamaica 11434
(718) 276-8686
Saturday: 9am-5pm

2. Lost Battalion Hall
93-29 Queens Blvd., Rego Park 11374
(718) 263-1163
Monday – Friday: 10am-7pm
Saturday: 10am-2pm

3. Sorrentino
18-48 Cornaga Avenue, Far Rockaway 11691
(718) 471-4818
Tuesday: 3:30pm-5pm

4. Al Oerter
131-40 Fowler Ave., Flushing 11355
(718) 353-7853
Monday – Friday: 2:30pm-8pm
Saturday: 9am-4pm


So far Green Teens have collected 15 bags of garbage and 8 bags of recyclables, and cared for 7 trees. YAY!!! And plan on doing more!


There are other upcoming opportunities coming up with Natural Areas Volunteers across the city:

1. Hunter Island at Pelham Bay Park Reforestation Stewardship (Bronx)
Location: Northeast Corner of the Orchard Beach Parking Lot
Date: Saturday, October 20
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.


There are more opportunities with Natural Areas Volunteers in the coming weeks, so check back here weekly for more info.


Thumbs-Up Green Teens!!!

Queens Green Teens Getting Busy

There has been some great activity going on with the Queens Green Teens. They made a splash last week by not only discussing what they can do, but also by doing it. Some ideas discussed was improving the amount of litter picked up (especially by cleaning after yourself), cleaning parks and beaches, placing more trash cans along streets, and considering the idea of using electric buses to reduce air pollution.

In the TAKE-ACTION department, the Green Teens collected 7 bags of recyclables (AWESOME!), 6 bags of garbage, and cared for 1 tree (NICE!).

Well Done Green Teens! And keep up the good work!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Events

Volunteering Opportunities:
1. Coastal Cleanup
Sunday, October 14th
Fort Totten Park (meet at the front gate), Totten Road and Cross Island Parkway, Queens
11am - 1pm

2. MillionTreesNYC Tree Care Workshop in Queens with Build It Green!NYC
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Build It Green!NYC, Astoria: 3-17 26th Avenue, Queens
2pm–4pm
Register at: http://www.nycgovparks.org/milliontrees/tree_stewardship_workshops


Events:
1. It’s My Park Day
Saturday, October 20th
Contact Green Teens at: Green.Teens@parks.nyc.gov or Quanika.Stover@parks.nyc.gov for more information

Queens Green Teens Keep Streets Clean

On September 22nd, Queens Green Teens and Roy Wilkins Recreation Center helped beautify the area by cleaning the sidewalk islands on Merrick Blvd. The hard work and enthusiasm of these awesome youths resulted in the collection of 10-12 bags of garbage.


Keep Up the Good Work Green Teens!

Green Teens Keep Parks Clean with Spoken Word 

By: Diana Benlevy, Sustainability Initiatives Intern

Queens Green Teens Husain and Zahra Abd’Allah have been participating in Parks programs since they were six and eight years old, respectively. Currently, they are both members of the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center where the siblings learned how to swim and golf by participating in the NYC Parks Learn to Swim Program and the City Parks Foundation Golf program. In addition to their athleticism, Husain is a talented poet and Zahra is a spoken word artist. Together, the sibling duo participated in NYC Parks Spoken Word program at the Roy Wilkins Recreation Center. The Green Teens performed anti-litter poetry to creatively encourage the public not to litter. Watch their video here. Have you done anything creative to engage the public in environmental awareness? If so, tell us about it!

Green Teens Energy Workshops

Earlier this month the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation held Energy Workshops for our citywide Green Teens. The workshops were held at Recreation Centers in each borough, and were taught by an instructor from Solar1, an organization that offers programs promoting urban sustainability and education. The teens learned about the different ways we consume energy daily, where our energy comes from, and how it affects our environment.

 
Green Teens learning about their energy consumption.