Minnewaska State Park Preserve May 2009 Public Programs

Gertrude's Nose

Palisades Interstate Park Commission

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

May 2009 Public Programs 

The following public programs will be offered in May:

Pre-registration is required for all programs as space is limited. For outings, please wear appropriate clothing and footwear and bring snacks and water. A parent or guardian over the age of 18 years must accompany children wishing to participate in any programs. 

All programs meet at the Nature Center, unless otherwise noted.

Early Birders Series 
This series of outings will be offered every Tuesday at 8:00 a.m. Designed for birding enthusiasts, or those just looking to learn the basics, the series will offer various outings led by experienced birding volunteers and park naturalists. Participants will meet at the main entrance and should come prepared with binoculars and a field guide. Outing destinations will be determined the day of the program. 

Wellness Walks Series 
This series of outings will be offered every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. Designed for people who are home during the week, such as retirees, stay-at-home Moms and Dads or people with weekdays off from work, the series will offer modest outings led by a park naturalist.

Sunday, May 3, 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: Rainbow Falls Hike 
Join park environmental educator Renee Jones for an interpretive nine-mile round-trip hike to one of Minnewaska's favorite waterfalls. Renee will lead you along Castle Point carriageway to Blueberry Run footpath, returning along Upper Awosting carriageway. Bring plenty of water and snacks or lunch.

Tuesday, May 12, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Wellness Walk – Why the Rocks Are Spotted
Join naturalist Eric Van Deusen on a guided walk to learn about the many species of lichens found on the rocks all over Minnewaska. It's easy to take these amazing organisms for granted, but Eric will teach you just how interesting and how prevalent they really are! Meet at the Peter's Kill parking area.

Sunday, May 17, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Nature Journaling for Children at the Gardiner Library
You and your children can join environmental educator Laura Conner and Gardiner children's librarian Nicole Lane for a lesson in book making. After completing their own nature journal, children will explore the bike path behind the library to learn about nature and put their own creative responses to the experience in their nature journal.

Saturday, May 23, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Gertrude's Nose Hike
Jillian Koehnken, park environmental educator, will lead this adventurous eight mile long hike to Gertrude's Nose. On a clear day, the views from this prominent cliff are truly breathtaking, making this challenging hike particularly rewarding.

Sunday, May 24, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.: Wildflower Walk 
Join environmental educator Laura Conner for a leisurely walk to look for spring wildflowers. These short-lived beauties of the forest floor are exciting to find and fun to learn about. If you have a wildflower field guide, please bring it with you. Location to be determined.

Monday, May 25, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Ponds, Creatures, Fun!
Come explore the ponds and lake edges of Minnewaska as they come alive in spring. Kids will learn about invertebrates, salamanders, and get hands-on opportunities to discover the secret world of pond life. This program is recommended for children aged eight to twelve and their parents. Remember to bring waterproof boots!

Monday, May 25, 1:30 p.m. –3:30 p.m.: Patterson's Pellet Hike
Start your holiday with a moderate hike along the Lake Minnewaska and Millbrook Carriageways. We'll also explore the beginning of the Gertrude's Nose Footpath, which follows along the scenic edge of the cliff overlooking the Palmaghatt Ravine. The total distance walked will be 3.5 miles.

Tuesday, May 26, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Wellness Walk through the Overlook Forest Fire
On this four mile long hike, a park environmental educator will lead you to a section of forest that burned in the forest fire in April 2008. Along the way, the hike will follow the Mossy Glen footpath to the Blueberry Run footpath, eventually leading to a section of the Long Path, where we will witness charred trees surrounded by an abundance of new growth. Meet at the Awosting parking area.

The fee for parking at Minnewaska is $6 per car. There are no additional fees for public programs, unless noted otherwise. For the month of May, the Park will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Minnewaska State Park Preserve consists of approximately 20,000 acres of wild and scenic land located on Route 44/55, five miles west of the intersection with Route 299 in Gardiner, New York.

For more information and to register for programs, please call the Park Office at 845-255-0752.

Minnewaska State Park Preserve is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, which administers 29 parks, parkways, and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and parkway in New Jersey. For more information about New York State parks and historic sites, please visit www.nysparks.com and for more information about the Palisades Parks Conservancy and the Palisades Interstate Park parks and historic sites, please visit www.palisadesparksconservancy.org.

The Palisades Parks Conservancy, Inc., (dba Friends of the Palisades, Inc.), the charitable partner of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is a free-standing federally registered non-profit corporation exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations may be made over our secure Web site at palisades.exhibit-e.com/donate/ or by mailing to Palisades Parks Conservancy, Bear Mountain State Park, Administration Building, Bear Mountain, NY 10911. For more information, please call us at 845-786-2701 or send an email to[email protected].

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The Palisades Parks Conservancy
Administration Building
Bear Mountain, NY 10911
T.845.786.2701
F.845.786.2776
[email protected]
www.palisadesparksconservancy.org