River fun and events for 2013
There is plenty of opportunities to join in the outdoor recreation on the river and along the river trails this year. Here is a list of 2013 eco-recreation events, programs and river-related fun in the Twin Tiers, as compiled by River Friends.We will update the list as new events are scheduled. Enjoy our waterways, be safe and have fun. Note: The June 29 and Aug. 22 paddle trips are full and can not accept any more paddlers.
March 20, 6:30 to 9 p.m.: River Friends trail stewards and ambassadors organizational meeting, Steele Memorial Library, 101 E. Church St., Elmira, N.Y. Public meeting for people interested in volunteering to help maintain and promote recreation trails. Contact River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
May 14 – 19: West Branch Susquehanna Sojourn, Mahaffey Pa. to Keating, Pa. Paddle for a day or paddle the entire 97-mile trip. Meet lot of like-minded folks, camp and learn about the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. Contact www.susquehannagreenway.org.
May 17, 10 to- 11 a.m.: Nature’s Strollers hike on Elmira’s Lackawanna Trail. Meet in the Elmira city park and ride lot off of East Water Street, across from Kennedy Valve. The less-than-one-mile hike is on a paved recreation trail along Newtown Creek and the city’s urban areas. It’s an easy walk for parents/grandparents and toddlers in strollers. Free and sponsored by River Friends and the Horseheads Family Resource Center. Contact Joan at the Horseheads Family Resource Center, (607) 483-1067 or River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
May 31, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Elected officials paddle. Join our elected state, county and local municipal leaders in a paddle on the Chemung River from Toll Bridge Park in the town of Ashland to the White Wagon Boat Launch in the town of Chemung. Kayaks, equipment and transportation provided by River Friends and Southern Tier Kayak Tours. Space limited and by reservation only. Contact River Friends, riverfriends@stny.rr.com. (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
June 1, 8:30 a.m. to noon: Community volunteer river cleanup. Meet at Grove Street Boat Launch, Elmira, and ride a bus to boat launches to help clean trash from in and around the river. River Friends provides equipment, supervision, food and water. Contact River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
June 8, noon to 6 p.m.: Elmira River Fest, Grove Street Boat Launch, Elmira. Free beginners paddle lessons by River Friends and the AHWAGA Canoe & Kayak Club from noon to 3 p.m. Experienced canoeists will offer free canoe rides to the public as well as basic paddling lessons in the Chemung River near the boat launch. See a paddler demonstrate "Eskimo Roll" kayak maneuvers from 1-1:30 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Near Westside Neighborhood Association, includes live music, food, a beer tent and other activities. Contact the Near Westside Neighborhood Association, (607) 733-4924. Note: There will be no guided public paddle from Bottcher’s Landing to Grove Street Boat Launch, as in past years.
June 8 -15: Susquehanna Sojourn. Week-long guided paddle 93 miles on the Susquehanna River from Great Bend, Pa., to Wyalusing, Pa. Includes camping, food, transportation and entertainment. You may paddle in as many days of the sojourn as you wish. Shuttles available each day. Organized by the Headwaters River Trail Partnerships. Contact Erin Heard, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, (607) 346-2727 or hrtp@headwatersrivertrail.org. or www.headwatersrivertrail.org
June 21, 10 to 11 a.m.: Nature’s Strollers hike on river trails in West Elmira. Meet in parking lot behind the West Elmira Town Hall at 1255 W. Water St. Enjoy an easy less-than-one-mile hike on a hard-packed dirt nature trail through woods and meadows along the Chemung River. A great hike for parents and toddlers in strollers. Free and sponsored by River Friends and the Horseheads Family Resource Center. Contact Joan at the Horseheads Family Resource Center, (607) 483-1067, or River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
June 29, 1 to 3 p.m.: Guided River Rangers kayak paddle from Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in Big Flats to Fitch’s Bridge Boat Launch in Big Flats. Sponsored by River Friends. Includes kayak, life vest, paddles and transportation between boat launches. Free and open to first 20 people who sign up. Contact River Friends to participate, riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org.
Aug. 2, 10 to 11 a.m.: Nature’s Strollers hike along the Chemung River levee on Elmira’s Southside. Meet in parking area at Dunn Field. Enjoy some stone-turning fun in the river shallows and a less-than-one-mile along walk along the grassy levee with a visit to the water’s edge. A great hike for parents/grandparents and toddlers in strollers. Free and sponsored by River Friends and the Horseheads Family Resource Center. Contact Joan at the Horseheads Family Resource Center, (607) 483-1067 or River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org.
Aug. 3, 1 to 4 p.m.: Guided River Rangers free family paddle from Kinsella Park Boat Launch in Painted Post to the Cohocton Street Boat Launch in Corning. Corning YMCA summer camp students and parents will paddle. Free and sponsored by River Friends.Contact River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org.
Aug. 10, 8:30 a.m. to noon: Community volunteer river cleanup. Meet at Grove Street Boat Launch, Elmira, and ride a bus to boat launches to help clean trash from in and around the river. River Friends provides equipment, supervision, food and water. Contact River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org.
Aug. 17,9 a.m. to noon: River Friends Youth Fishing Derby at Eldridge Lake in Elmira. $5 registration,open to kids 16 and younger. Cash prizes for largest fish and gifts give-a-way. Pre-register at Nickle Creek Bait & Tackle Shop, 133 E. Hudson St., Elmira, 607-734-9233.
Aug. 22, 6 to 9 p.m.: Guided River Rangers evening river trip -- an easy 3-mile public kayak paddle on the Chemung River from Fitch's Bridge Boat Launch in Big Flats to the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira. Kayaks, equipment and transportation provided by River Friends and Southern Tier Kayak Tours. Free and sponsored by River Friends. Includes kayak, life vest, paddles and transportation between boat launches. Open to first 20 people who sign up. Contact River Friends (607) 846-2242 or riverfriends@stny.rr.com.
Oct. 4, 10 to 11 a.m.: Nature’s Strollers hike on the Lackawanna Trail in Elmira. Meet at the trail head parking lot (next to Wegmans on Clemens Center Parkway). Enjoy a flat and less-than-one-mile along walk along a paved recreation trail. Features unique railroad overpass views of Elmira’s urban and industrial areas. A great hike for parents/grandparents and toddlers in strollers. Free and sponsored by River Friends and the Horseheads Family Resource Center. Contact Joan at the Horseheads Family Resource Center, (607) 483-1067, or River Friends at riverfriends@stny.rr.com, (607) 846-2242 or www.chemungriverfriends.org
Nov. 19, 6:30 to 9 p.m.: River Friends annual meeting at the Chemung Valley History Museum, 415 E. Water St., Elmira. Open to the public. Learn about River Friends 2013 projects, programs and successes and our 2014 plans. The event includes a featured speaker, volunteer awards, River Friends PowerPoint presentation, food and beverages.
Below is a 2011 list of scheduled recreational, educational and river stewardship events for the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the Chemung River and its tributaries. The events, except the April 15 cleanup, are open to the public:
April 15, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Notre Dame High School Community Service: More than 250 students and staff from Notre Dame High School in Southport will clean trash along the river and clean and repair trails and boat launch picnic pavilions from Southport to Big Flats.
May 21, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., guided boat trip: River Friends will hold a guided 12-mile paddle on the Chemung River from the Toll Bridge Park Boat Launch in Wellsburg to the White Wagon Boat Launch in Chemung. Invited guests include Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning and other government officials. The trip includes bus transportation, river guides, interactive exhibit, breakfast snacks and a hot lunch and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new White Wagon launch site. Cost: $10 per person. Cosponsored by Haas Landscape Architects, Finger Lakes Land Trust and the town of Chemung. Our partner, Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, will present a “Pondering Water” fun with nature lecture, at the nature center from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the nature center. Participants will learn about water’s importance, visit the nature center’s vernal ponds, collect water samples and view microscopic pond life on a big screen.
June 4, 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., River Fest paddle: A guided nine-mile boat trip on the Chemung River from Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in Big Flats to Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira. Dr. Chris Kopf, professor of geology at Mansfield University will be at Bottcher’s Landing to provide information about the formation of the spectacular palisades which loom over the river corridor. Finger Lakes Land Trust staff member Kris West will join the paddle and provide information about the Land Trust’s local activities. There is a $2 parking fee. It is part of the 7th Annual River Fest and River Paddle Festival (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) at the Grove Street launch hosted by the Near Westside Neighborhood Association. Includes free bus transportation. Guided paddle provided by Chemung River Friends and Ahwaga Canoe & Kayak Club. The festival includes live music, food, vendors, activities and displays. For more festival information: 607-733-4924, e-mail nearwestside@stny.rr.com, www.nwnainc.com or find River Fest – Elmira, NY on Facebook! June 4, 8-10 a.m., on the water river cleanup: Boy Scout Troop 57 of Bath and River Friends boaters will remove trash and obstacles from the Chemung River above the Chase-Hibbard Dam in Elmira to West Elmira.
June 25, 8:30 a.m.-noon: Community river trash cleanup: The public is invited to help remove trash at boat launches and other sites along the river. Meet at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira and ride a bus to the cleanup sites.
June 16-19: Susquehanna Sojourn guided paddle: A 47-mile paddle trip and camping on the Susquehanna River from Bainbridge, N.Y., to Great Bend, Pa. Includes shuttle bus service, camping/showers, some meals, entertainment and educational programs at campsites and tours of art and history museums. Sponsored by the Upper Susquehanna Coalition. Cost: $180. For more information: Erin Heard, (607) 346-2727, eheardusc@gmail.com or www.headwatersrivertrail.org.
Aug. 27, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Community river trash cleanup: The public is invited to help remove trash at boat launches and other sites along the river. Meet at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira and ride a bus to the cleanup sites.
Sept. 10, 8:30 a.m.-noon, Riverside trash cleanup. Meet at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira and board a bus to travel to boat launches and fishing spots to cleanup trash from Big Flats to the town of Ashland.
Oct. 15, 2:30 p.m. : Hike at Tanglewood Nature Center in Big Flats to the Frenchman’s Bluff area, overlooking the Chemung River. Topics include: tree identification, fall leaf peeping and Chemung history and future.
Oct. 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m.:River Friends annual meeting, Chemung County Historical Society, 415 E. Water St., Elmira. Free and open to all River Friends members. Please RSVP: (607) 846-2242.
Nov. 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Tanglewood Nature Center, 443 Coleman Ave., Elmira; (607) 732-6060. See the scenic movie "Green Fire" and learn about Aldo Leopold, a giant in American conservation. Includes light beverages and a discussion. Free and open to public. Presented by River Friends and our partners Tanglewood Nature Center and the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
For more information and updates, contact the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, www.chemungriverfriends.org, or fingerlakesmountainbikeclub.com, or go to “chemungriverfriends” on Facebook. ...more>>
More information: Chemung River Friends 607-846-2242 or riverfriends@stny.rr.com