As we hold a steady course through waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect a more active public paddling season in 2022. This is thanks to vaccines, therapeutic advances, and good public health policies produced by the same philosophical method that undergirds environmental stewardship: science.

Please understand that at this early date our event schedule — based on NOAA‘s astronomical tidal current calculations — is incomplete and tentative pending permits, partners, pandemic conditions, and the usual weather and water quality concerns. We will be adding and amending events bit-by-bit over the coming months. Please keep checking our Facebook Events Page and the Calendar tab here to keep up, and email volunteer@harborlab.org to be added to our periodic outreach.

Our public paddles and educational programs are FREE and we gratefully accept donations and information about potential sponsors and donors. Events marked as “Volunteer Reward Paddle” are special invitation adventures to hone staff skills and to thank those who labor with us to provide wonderful experiences for all.

Before we even hit the water for public events, this spring we’ll be scheduling safety training, planting trees and native flower seeds, gardening at our Newtown Creek site on Vernon Boulevard, and making upcycled shelters for indigenous animals on dates to be determined in discussions with park administrators. Some volunteers may paddle year-round with cold water safety gear for stewardship work and habitat and pollution documentation.

Recurring Events

First Mondays monthly at the Neversink Reservoir for NYC Public Schools and other youth groups, often preceded by Sunday events.

Wednesdays and Fridays, July and August at Gantry Plaza State Park and/or Governors Island: Harbor Camp introductory embayment paddles for NYCHA resident youth groups referred by United Neighborhood Houses.

Thursday morning water sampling at the Hunters Point South Park kayak launch and the Gantry Plaza State Park dock for quality testing at CUNY LaGuardia Community College’s lab.

Monthly second Thursday evening Green Drinks Queens environmental happy hours organized by HarborLAB.

Friday evenings from June 24 to September 2 at Hunters Point South Park: Friday Night Chill Paddles for all who want an introduction to the estuary through a mellow skyline-viewing East River tour.

May
5/7 Newtown Creek Sweep with Riverkeeper (WEATHER AND WATER QUALITY CANCELATION)
5/22 Newtown Creek Sweep with Riverkeeper and CUNY LaGuardia Community College.

June
6/4 Family Fun Day Paddling at MacNeil Park with Coastal Preservation Network.
6/4: Guardians of Flushing Bay tour.
6/11 Pride Paddle at Gantry Plaza State Park.
6/19 Juneteenth Paddle at Gantry Plaza State Park.

July
7/2 Green Energy Independence Paddle at Gantry Plaza State Park.
7/4 Volunteer Reward Paddle to view fireworks, launching from Hunters Point South.
7/30 Randalls Island Park Waterfront Festival.

August
8/4 Hudson Guild River Day
8/13 Paddle the Bay at Little Bay Park
8/20 Community Paddle (theme TBD) at Gantry Plaza State Park.

September
9/10: South Brother Island Cleanup, launching from Hunters Point South.
9/17 Peace Lanterns Festival and Community Paddle at Gantry Plaza State Park.
9/24 Guardians of Flushing Bay.

October
10/1 Wisdom Day Paddle honoring environmental elders and teachers at Gantry Plaza State Park.
10/8 Guardians of Flushing Bay tour.
10/10 Algonquin history canoe tour of Newtown Creek.