Glossy ibis flock in Jamaica Bay. Photo by Don Riepe, American Littoral Society.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 22!

This is a wonderful chance to share a day of fun and learning with Hour Children, a nonprofit dedicated to help families get on a positive, healthy, and productive track after a mother’s incarceration. Many of the kids were born in prison, or are being mentored while their mothers are incarcerated. Hour Children also provide neighborhood services, like summer and after school programs, a food pantry, educational aid, job search and training, and thrift shops. Hour Children’s LIC neighborhood includes three large NYCHA residences.

Here are photos from the last time our volunteers took the kids paddling.

Here’s our Facebook event page for this outing.

8AM: We’ll meet outside My Mother’s House, Hour Children’s supportive housing program (3630 12th St, Long Island City, NY).

830AM: Drive to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

930AM: Arrive at the Mill Basin Launch:

http://nyharborparks.org/0pdfs/tour_kayak.pdf

10AM: LAUNCH!

Paddle to explore the bay with mature teens and enjoy walk-up paddles for the younger kids.

1PM: Lunch.

130PM: Go to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (http://www.nyharborparks.org/visit/flbe.html). Jamaica Bay is Grand Central for birds migrating through our city, and home to diamondback terrapin turtles, horseshoe crabs, all manner of fish, and more! You’ll be giving the kids a great experience and maybe scoring some amazing nature photos to boot! Banner photo by Don Riepe of the American Littoral Society.

Thanks to a new sponsor we expect to soon announce, and with whom we plan to visit Jamaica Bay, we purchased a boat trailer to get our fleet to the site! We’re also grateful to Jersey Paddler for the considerable discount it is offering on our trailer.

For Orchard Beach Lagoon fans, no worries — we’ll go there soon too!

Jamaica Bay. Photo by Don Riepe, American Littoral Society.