Events

@ Kingston Point Beach

Paddle the Hudson River during one of the most scenic times of the year. This paddle launches from Kingston Point Beach. The trip includes instruction, equipment and guide.

@ Hurds Family Farm: Meet at Historic Dutch Barn

Join us at a New York State Century Farm for an exciting family friendly 2 acre cornfield "Bring in the Pollinators" maze hike. Enjoy fresh air and exercise as you wander the pathways of this 2017 Farm Scene Investigation Mystery Adventure. Younger ramblers enjoy the Farm Animal Tracks Mystery Game, 2-8 yr. olds. Shhh....big kids will love it too! Come, make a day of it, discover the 25 fun & educational outdoor activities created for families on this Pride of New York Ulster County farm. Activities include a humongous jumping pillow, gem mining, farm pets, mini maze with an outdoor storybook, Jack and the Cornstalk, popular cow train, Kids Corral, and so much more!

@ Catskill Interpretive Center

Outdoor fun for families with kids of all ages! Enjoy storytime under the trees, hands-on science programs, and art activities as you explore the Catskill Interpretive Center's beautiful, fully accessible nature trail. Learn how to identify animal tracks (and make your own!), work together to complete our new interactive scavenger hunts, and lots more!

@ Corner of Wall and Main Streets

Following the street plan designed by Peter Stuyvesant in 1658, the tour walks the heart of the largest intact early Dutch settlement in New York State and the neighborhood where New York State was born in 1777. Walking tour highlights include viewing the many eighteenth century limestone houses still standing in the Stockade District, and visiting the site of the drafting of the New York State Constitution in 1777 and the gravesite of New York’s first elected governor, George Clinton, in the Old Dutch Church Burying Ground.

@ Historic Huguenot Street

Visit two historic house museums, a reconstructed 1717 French church, and replica Esopus Munsee wigwam on a guided tour of our 10-acre National Historic Landmark District. Discover over 300 years of history encompassing the Native American and Colonial experience, through the Gilded Age, and into the 20th century.

@ Rondout Creek and Hudson River

Take a guided tour of the Rondout Lighthouse which sits at the mouth of the Rondout Creek on the Hudson River. The Rondout Lighthouse is the last of three lighthouses marking the entrance to the Rondout Creek. Still fully operational as a navigational light, the Rondout lighthouse is one of only seven remaining on the Hudson River. This brick lighthouse, completed and lit in 1915, is accessible only by boat. Owned by the City of Kingston and operated by the Hudson River Maritime Museum, it is available for occasional public tours and for private group tours of up to 50 people. Explore this historic structure from the first floor all the way up to the observation deck around the light itself. All tours are led by our experienced and knowledgeable tour guides. The Rondout Lighthouse is also featured in our exhibit, "Lighthouses of the Hudson River."

@ John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary at Slabsides

Birds were the first love of literary naturalist John Burroughs when he was writing at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Then as now, the land surrounding his cabin Slabsides was abundant with bird life and at this time of year migrating songbirds en route to wintering grounds in South America are stopping off. Discover the richness of tree top bird life through sight and song with Mark DeDea, president of the John Burroughs Natural History Society. Beginning birders through advanced are welcome. Follow Path Through History signs on Rte 9W and Floyd Ackert Rd. Meet on Burroughs Drive at Slabsides entrance.

@ New Paltz Historic District

The trail consists of paved roads, sidewalks, and a dirt rail trail. There is a 5 k (3.1 miles) and a 10 k (6.2 miles) trail, and there are some hills. Not suitable for wheelchairs. The trails will take you: 1. through downtown New Paltz, past many interesting shops and eateries; 2. down the “oldest street in America” where you will see six original stone houses that were built by New Paltz’s first European settlers, the French Huguenots; 3. through the SUNY New Paltz campus; 4. through quaint residential areas; 5. You will also have many opportunities to view the Shawangunk Mountains, where the sport of mountain climbing is practiced by climbers from all over the world. Portions of the 5 k walk will include a guided tour leader as well. All participants receive a self-guided set of directions with a map and text.

@ Esopus Meadows Preserve

Come to Esopus Meadows and follow the Kline-Esopus Kill from its mouth to near its source. Become part of an exciting new citizen science movement by studying eight plant species on Scenic Hudson's Phenology Trail at Esopus Meadows Preserve. Data we collect while enjoying a pleasant hike through a dense forest will help scientists gauge the impacts of a changing climate. Afterwards, go seining (fishing with a net) with a Clearwater educator to collect and identify fish. We will have any willing participants put on chest waders to help us catch fish. Native and invasive species will be discussed, and we will shed light on the present challenges facing the wildlife of the HUdson River Estuary.

@ Hudson River Maritime Museum

"Hope on the Hudson: New Films from Jon Bowermaster" special film screening with panel discussion from representatives of organizations working toward a sustainable future for the Hudson Valley, moderated by filmmaker Jon Bowermaster. 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM in the Kingston Home Port and Education Center, suggested donation $5. If you missed “Hudson: A River at Risk” last year come early for an encore screening at 2:00 PM.

@ Historic Huguenot Street

In honor of the centennial of the ratification of women’s suffrage in New York, Historic Huguenot Street has developed “In Her Words,” a women’s history tour, which was launched this past March and has been running once a month, and will continue to do so through October. Developed by HHS’ Public Programming department with the assistance of SUNY New Paltz intern Allee Surgeary, the tour will follow the lives and stories of six women who played a role in local history. Visitors will be guided through four historic buildings and have the opportunity to discover figures from the past through a combination of factual, historical information and cleverly composed monologues written and recorded by HHS staff and volunteers. Visitors will hear the stories of Manveht, a Munsee women who signed the 1677 Indian Deed; Catherine Blanchan (b. 1629), one of the original New Paltz Huguenot settlers; enslaved Africans Rachel and Dinah; Wyntje Hasbrouck, a colonial woman who managed her own estate; Cornelia Markle VanWagenen (1775 – 1819), a widow who ran her own business in the early 1800s; Julia “Aunt Judy” Jackson (ca. 1809 – 1898), a freed slave; Eliza Varick Silvernail Ackert (1830 – 1916), the first female editor of the original New Paltz Times; Progressive-era artist Julia McEntee Dillon (1834 – 1919); and Mary Jane Snyder Freer (1862 – 1931), the first New Paltz woman to vote in 1918. The September tour will take place on Sunday, September 10th at 2:00 PM. Pre-registration is required and is available at huguenotstreet.org/inherwords. General admission $15; 10% discount for seniors, children under 12, military families, and those who have donated $50 or more within the calendar year.

@ Shawangunk Ridgeline (From High Point State Park, NJ to Rosendale, NY)

Registration now open for the SRT Run/Hike Come celebrate one of the Trail Conference's unique creations by participating in a special footrace along the Shawangunk Ridge Trail. This important connector trail starts at a junction with the Appalachian Trail in High Point State Park, New Jersey, and then heads north through forested hills, wetlands, and rare mountaintop pitch pine barrens, along the way passing through several state forests, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, and the Mohonk Preserve, before finishing on a restored railway trestle in Rosendale, New York high above the Rondout Creek. Experienced thru-hikers and ultra-runners can choose from 30 miles, 50 miles, or the entire 70-mile length of the SRT -- and there is also a 1/2 marathon option which is suitable for runners or hikers and has a very generous 13-hour time limit. More information and register at www.srtrunhike.com and please note the opportunity to make voluntary donations to the Trail Conference during the online registration process.

@ Catskill Center's Thorn Preserve

Join us for an exploration of the Thorn Preserve on Saturday September 16th at 10am. At this family event we’ll be walking the grounds as we learn about different habitats. We’ll play games that allow us to interact with one another and gain a better understanding of why habitat is important to animals. This program will be led by Matt Helffrich, 4-H Educator in Ulster County and longtime outdoor enthusiast.

@ Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Join us for a new workshop where we will debunk the mysteries of mushrooms and learn about how to grow your own! We will be exploring how native fungi function in the ecosystem and some of the unique characteristics of the forest at Sam’s Point. During the program we will take a walk to look for fungi along the trail and make spore prints from any fresh finds. Then, we will learn about and experience the process of growing mushrooms via log inoculation. The logs will be placed in our garden so visitors can return and watch them flourish. We will also have mushroom kits for you to take home. This program is open to all ages and levels of experience. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. This program is being offered at the Sam’s Point Area in Cragsmoor.

@ HRMM's Riverport Wooden Boat School

Carve your own canoe paddle! From the shape of the paddle blade, to its length, to the shape of the handle, the paddle you create will be made for you, by you. Choose either Otter Tail or Beaver Tail shaped blade for your paddle. Each participant in the class will be provided with paddle blank laminated of carefully selected woods. Using hand tools you will carve your paddle blade to the desired shape. Once the blade is shaped, you will custom fit your paddle, by carving the shape of the grip area to fit your hands and cutting the paddle shaft to the perfect length for you. Prior to the end of the first day, you will glue to your paddle the wood that will be carved into the paddle’s handle. On the second day you will carve the handle, complete the paddle’s final shaping prior to sanding and applying apply a hand rubbed oil finish. Students leave with a completed paddle. Beginners welcome.

@ Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Come to the Park Preserve to meet new friends, help improve trail conditions and learn about basic trail maintenance from experienced trail keepers in this stewardship project. Join members of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, a region wide volunteer organization devoted to maintaining and improving public trails, and Park Preserve staff to help improve one of the many scenic footpaths that meander through Minnewaska. Volunteers will use hand tools to clip back overgrown shrubs and tree roots, clear woodland debris, build bog bridges and improve the trail route. This event is also a great way for students in public school to accrue necessary community service hours for completion of their requirements. This program is recommended for adults and teenagers, who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Participants are encouraged to bring their own work gloves and tools including loppers, bow saws and clipping shears. The parking fee will be waived for participants volunteering for this program.

@ Ulster County Fairgrounds

Held rain or shine at the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz (exit 18 New York State Thruway), the ​Taste of New Paltz is the most unique business showcase of it's kind! ​The Hudson Valley’s renowned wine, cuisine and agricultural bounty will be on display with TASTE OF NEW PALTZ, the flavorful annual opportunity to sample some of the best mouth-watering fare from the region’s finest restaurants, caterers, farm markets, brew masters, and wineries, all in a single day. The adventurous gourmet will taste bold and appealing delicacies; the more traditional diner will be glad to hear that there is pizza, beer and cupcakes. More than just food, the Taste of New Paltz includes beautiful art, carefully crafted jewelry, health and wellness, stroll the business showcase, enjoy live music and demonstrations. Family Friendly-bring the family for a fun day outdoors featuring many children events. Pony rides, magicians, petting zoo, and face painting. ​Food - Area restaurants will prepare their specialties and sell taste-size portions of their best dishes. $3 and $5 "tastes" are offered at each of the food and beverage venues. Local farm markets entice tastebuds with delicious fresh-picked produce and homemade apple cider donuts, while our area wineries introduce tastes of our rich Hudson Valley grapes. Sip local cider made from apples grown right here in New Paltz. The TASTE OF NEW PALTZ is also proud to boast our green initiative, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices. Taste some more, sip again. Spend the day with us!

@ 23 Mohonk Road

Come to the D&H Canal Museum in High Falls and take a free guided tour of the national historic landmark Five Lock Walk. See five restored locks from the final 1852 enlargement of the D&H Canal, the first million dollar private enterprise in US history. The Canal ran for 108 miles from Honesdale PA to Rondout NY to bring coal from Carbondale PA to NYC, running from 1828 through 1898. The Canal fueled the industrial revolution in America and helped make NYC the world's largest city. It informed the 19C history of all the towns along its route. Approximately 1/2 mile.

@ Hurley, NY

Tour historic Hurley's old Burial Ground, located in this National Historic Landmark village founded in 1662. Hear the tales of Hurley's earliest residents who lived and died many years ago, and some say, never really left.Hear the legends of haunted happenings, and become acquainted with those bygone times through the lives represented here by their final memorials.

@ Saugerties United Methodist Church

The Boston Trio - piano, violin & cello - perform the opening concert for Saugerties Pro Musica's 2017/18 season. Follow the Boston Globe's advice: “Whenever this trio plays, drop everything and go hear them!”

@ HRMM's Riverport Wooden Boat School

Join RWBS Senior Instructor Andrew Willner and European-trained Master carver Georgette Kadgen in this unique course. Learn about the distinct styles of carving and choose your own path as Willner and Kadgen guide you in a custom carving project designed by you. Options include decorative pieces, marine signboards, or utilitarian objects such as bowls or spoons.

@ John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary at Slabsides

The rocks were one of literary naturalist John Burroughs' favorite aspects of the Slabsides location, but even he did not realize that the rocks represented sediments eroded from a Himalayan-scale mountain range nearly 400 million years ago. Since they were deposited in a shallow sea, the sediments were repeatedly caught in continental collisions which bent them and stood them literally on end. As if that wasn't enough, they were most recently scraped clean by a mile-thick sheet of glacial ice which melted a mere 14,000 years ago. Join Vassar College geology professor Jeff Walker for hike to read the many stories in the rocks of the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. The newly developed trails are part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System. Meet at Slabsides.

@ Kingston, NY

Art Walk Kingston is a celebration of the arts and the local community. Over the course of two days, visitors and local residents are invited to explore three distinct areas of the city of Kingston and immerse themselves in a range of art and events. Paintings, photographs, drawings and sculptures are just some of the mediums that will be on display at home studios and galleries across the city ­ performers are invited to schedule performances to include during the tour. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the event weekend will offer a broad range of art and activities for everyone.

@ Catskill Interpretive Center

Photographer Rudd Hubbell, who’s been documenting the natural beauty of the Catskills since the 1970s, will be in conversation with nature writer Leslie T. Sharpe. A descendent of the area’s first settlers, Hubbell has captured thousands of photographs of our spectacular wilderness. He enjoys looking closer than the broad view, and always tries to focus on the things most of us overlook or take for granted. “Every scene is constantly changing and transforming, and I strive to capture that,” Hubbell says. Sharpe is a writer, editor and educator. A member of PEN American Center, she is the author of Editing Fact and Fiction: A Concise Guide to Book Editing (Cambridge University Press, 1994), which is regarded as a “modern editing classic” and “On Writing Smart: Tips and Tidbits,” featured in The Business of Writing (Allworth, 2012). Her new book, The Quarry Fox and Other Critters of the Wild Catskills (The Overlook Press, 2017), is a lyric narrative look at the wild animals of the Catskill Mountains. Sharpe will read from this work and discuss the genre of nature writing as it relates to the Catskills.

@ I Paddle New York

We start with a quick lesson before launching into the calm waters of the Esopus Creek. We'll talk about some of the rich history as we paddle down to take a quick peek at the Cantine Falls before heading out by the Saugerties Lighthouse and into the Hudson River where we'll enjoy a snack as the sun sets behind the Catskill Mountains! We'll enjoy the birds, beaver and all of nature as we return by twilight.

@ Esopus Meadows Preserve

Join Clearwater at the "magic hour" around sunset, to fish the river with a net and find out what fish are living in our estuary. We will put willing participants in chest waders and seine. Native and invasive species, adaptations and diversity will be subjects of the discussion and we will focus on the present challenges the estuary faces. This will be followed by a "circle of song", musicians and participants will play instruments and sing river songs. Bring your own instrument and a picnic dinner.

@ Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Join local Holistic Health Educator and Culinary Herbalist, Amy Nielsen, for an introduction to wild herbs and edible plants local to Minnewaska State Park Preserve and surrounding areas. We will begin with a discussion on how local plants have been used to support the health and wellbeing of people living in this area for generations. After the discussion, we will ramble to a special spot brimming with the diversity of this amazing habitat, where we will learn to identify herbs and edibles in the field. There is nothing like a bit of five senses learning to seal the knowledge in your memory. We will touch on what constitutes an herb and how they are similar and different to food plants. As Minnewaska is ripe with natural edible plants, we will talk about which wild foods are abundant in our forests. We will also discuss ethical and sustainable foraging and collecting practices, which are prohibited in State Parks, and we’ll share some recipes for the bounty we will see, too.

@ D&HCanal

Join the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the D&H Canal Museum for a joint tour of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, from High Falls to Kingston. The tour begins at 10 am in High Falls at the D&H Canal Museum with a guided tour of the museum and the Five Lock Walk, led by D&H Canal Museum Historian & Curator Bill Merchant. At noon, the group will leave the museum and drive along Creek Locks Road with a guide to the locks that can be seen from the road and end at the Anchorage Restaurant in Eddyville. A buffet lunch at the Anchorage is included in the ticket price. After lunch, learn about Lock #1 in Eddyville (right outside the Anchorage!), then hop back in the car and head down Route 213 to the Rondout, where HRMM Curator Allynne Lange will lead a walking tour of the Rondout Waterfront, including a discussion of Island Dock and Company Hill Path. The tour ends at the Hudson River Maritime Museum, where participants can choose to take a self-guided tour through the museum. Museum admission is included in the ticket price. Tickets are $40 for HRMM and/or D&H Canal Museum members, $45 for non-members. Lunch and museum admissions are included in the ticket price. HRMM and/or D&H Canal Museum members must be current members. If registering with a name different than the primary member, please list their name in the notes field. Tour meets at: The D&H Canal Historical Society and Museum 23 Mohonk Road High Falls, NY 12440 Parking is somewhat limited, so if you are attending this tour with a group, please carpool! Your name and the number of tickets you purchased will be on the list at the D&H Canal Museum or you can print out your confirmation email. If you are purchasing for multiple people and arriving separately, please list their names in the notes field. This tour is limited to 30 people.

@ D&H Canal Museum, High Falls, NY and Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston, NY

Join the Hudson River Maritime Museum and the D&H Canal Museum for a joint tour of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, from High Falls to Kingston. The tour begins at 10 am in High Falls at the D&H Canal Museum with a guided tour of the museum and the Five Lock Walk, led by D&H Canal Museum Historian & Curator Bill Merchant. At noon, the group will leave the museum and drive along Creek Locks Road with a guide to the locks that can be seen from the road and end at the Anchorage Restaurant in Eddyville. A buffet lunch at the Anchorage is included in the ticket price. After lunch, learn about Lock #1 in Eddyville (right outside the Anchorage!), then hop back in the car and head down Route 213 to the Rondout, where HRMM educators will lead a walking tour of the Rondout Waterfront, including a discussion of Island Dock and Company Hill Path. The tour ends at the Hudson River Maritime Museum, where participants can choose to take a self-guided tour through the museum. Museum admission is included in the ticket price.

@ Sam's Point Area of Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Saturday, September 30, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Celebrate National Public Lands Day with Sam’s Point Area! We will have two projects geared towards different skill levels so that everyone can participate. Spend the day outdoors giving back by picking up trash or pulling invasive species to show appreciation for our public lands. Please bring water, snacks and a lunch, and sturdy hiking shoes. Volunteers interested in either project should contact Sam’s Point at 845-647-7989 to pre-register. Both projects will meet at 10:00 a.m. and will work until 1:00 p.m., but they will meet at different areas of the park. All National Public Lands Day volunteers will receive a free day pass to participating federal public lands. Trash Pickup Project 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. : Do you often see water bottles, candy wrappers, or other litter when you walk the trails at Sam’s Point? We need your help to change that! Meet at the Sam’s Point Visitor Center at 10 a.m. where you will be given garbage bags and gloves before ranging the park for litter. This event is recommended for ages 8 and up, all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18. Barberry Pull Project 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. : Japanese barberry is a prickly invasive species that is quickly spreading in forests and fields around the country. Help Sam’s Point control its spread on National Public Lands Day. Interested volunteers will meet at Mt. Meenagha Rd (GPS address 172 Mt. Meenagha Road or GPS point 41.689097 N, -74.371475 W) at 10:00 a.m. where they will be met by park staff. We will work on pulling barberry in this area until 1:00 pm. Barberry pulling involves some strenuous pulling, and it is highly recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants and to treat your work clothes with bug spray or permethrin. This event is recommended for ages 16 and up, all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over the age of 18.

@ Ulster County Heritage Area Visitors Center

Hear how Kingston's historic waterfront district mushroomed from farmland into a prosperous maritime village and major Hudson River port during the heydays of the Delaware and Hudson Canal (1828-1898). View the legacy of residential, commercial and ecclesiastical architecture built by the "melting pot" of nationalities that emigrated to Rondout in the nineteenth century.

@ Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Join Annie Mardiney, wildlife rehabilitator for Wild Mountain Birds, for an up-close and personal look at some of the raptors common to the Shawangunk Ridge. Live education birds may include red-tailed hawk, broad-winged hawk, American kestrel, barred owl, screech owl and great horned owl. Stop by the Nature Center to meet these amazing and beautiful animals in person!