Volunteers needed!
Are you interested in getting outside, meeting new people, and connecting with nature right here in New York City? Join hundreds of volunteers planting over 17,750 trees and shrubs at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens in late October. The refuge is part of Gateway National Recreation Area—the country’s first urban national park.
Like many parts of the city, Jamaica Bay was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The Nature Conservancy, together with National Park Service and Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy, will help undo that damage, making the refuge more resilient to future floods while also restoring critical wildlife habitat. Some of the interesting animals that make their home in the refuge include diamondback terrapins, horseshoe crabs, and more than 330 species of migratory and native birds! The refuge is actually one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the Northeast—a birder’s paradise here in the Five Boroughs.
Last year, volunteers helped us plant more than 10,000 trees and shrubs. Now we need your help to get the job done! Come along and make a positive, lasting impact on one of New York City’s most special natural areas.
We look forward to seeing you there! To register, please click here: https://plantjamaicabay17.eventbrite.com
Dates:
Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location:
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
175-10 Cross Bay Boulevard
Broad Channel, New York 11693
For directions: https://goo.gl/maps/pUpadYp8ToA2
Registration:
Advance registration is required; space is limited to 50 volunteers per day. Please register anyone attending with you, including friends and family members. We ask that you please update your registration status in case your plans change prior to the event, so we can secure the necessary number of volunteers.
You will receive additional information, including volunteer waivers, prior to your selected volunteer day; however, if you have any additional questions, please email Christina Thorbourne, Program Coordinator at The Nature Conservancy, at cthorbourne@tnc.org.
Supplies & Clothing:
You will receive all the materials you need for planting, including shovels and gloves, as well as a boxed lunch and water refills. Please bring a refillable water bottle to help keep you hydrated.
Please dress comfortably. We recommend wearing sturdy shoes and long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect against poison ivy and ticks. We will have different forms of insect repellants as well as pre- and post-poison ivy contact treatment on-site.
Children & Youth:
This volunteer activity is appropriate for families and children over the age of 12. Youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have waivers signed by their parent or guardian.
Getting There:
Directions: Please use the following link for directions to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center: https://goo.gl/maps/pUpadYp8ToA2.
Public Transportation: You can take the A train to the Rockaway Blvd stop and transfer to the Q52 or Q53 bus (on the corner of Liberty Ave and Cross Bay Blvd) heading south. Get off at the Cross Bay Blvd/Wildlife Refuge stop. Alternatively, you make take the A train to Broad Channel and then walk 15 minutes north along Cross Bay Blvd to the Visitor Center.
Parking: There are spots available for parking directly outside the visitor center and additional spots at a nearby parking lot five minutes north of the event.