Who: You
What: Kayaking
When: 11:00am – 2:00pm on Sunday August 2nd 2015
Where: The Arthur Kill in Fresh Kills Park
Why: Because it’s Awesome (especial if you have never tried it before)
Fresh Kills Park:
More commonly referred to as “The Dump” Fresh Kills Park is three times the size of Central Park, the largest park in New York City, and when fully open in a few years will be the world’s largest “developed park”. This is the site of the former Staten Island Landfill, the largest man mad structure in the world… Parts of the park are starting to open up to the public but with limited access. In addition to providing a wide range of recreational opportunities, including many uncommon in the city, the park’s design, ecological restoration and cultural and educational programming will emphasize environmental sustainability and a renewed public concern for our human impact on the earth. So far the park is only open on select weekends. The park is also open for many special event including the Tour de Staten Island Bike Tour. So far the Park allows Hiking, Road Biking, Kayaking, Bird Watching, bus tours and other ecology programs.
Sunday August 2nd the park will be open to the public! Besides this Geocaching event, spend some time exploring this huge new park.
The Event:
I have been kayaking in NYC for several years now and the idea of doing a kayaking event came to me last year. There are hundreds of awesome places to kayak in NYC but in order to make this event accessible to everyone; I chose to do this event near a public boathouse. This means not only can you borrow one of the Free Kayaks; there will also be volunteers to assist you with life jacket fitting and basic Kayak skills if you are a newbie.
I chose this boathouse due to the awesomeness of it being in a park that most people have not been in yet! The Park does not allow cars and therefore you are not allowed to bring your own private Kayaks in yet… so everyone will have to use one of the park's boats.
The Kayaks are free and you can borrow a boat and take it out yourself for a short spin around the Kill, normally about (15-20 min). If there is no line you can stay out longer. I will have a Geocaching flag on the back of my boat as i will be out in the water as a life guard, and I will have a free gift for all who find me.
Near the Boat house I got permission to set up a separate tent for the day just for Geocachers! I will have a cooler with some snacks and drink. So feel free to hang out near the tent and catch up with fellow cachers while you’re not out on the water.
Getting to the Event:
You can drive to the parking waypoint, parking is free and ample
Or take city bus, the S62 from the Staten Island Ferry. Or ask at the SI Ferry Terminal if there is a Shuttle Bus to Fresh Kills!
Once at the gate of the park, you can hike, bike or wait for a shuttle bus. You are allowed to bring your personal bikes into the park.
Geocaching in Fresh Kills:
The park does not want traditional Geocaches yet due to the limited access and constant construction. But they seemed very willing to allow this geocaching event since it is not a permanent item or permanent destination. This Event will be the first Geocache in the park, if you want to be part of NYC geocaching history, this event is a must for you! Hopefully this event will start a long history of Geocaching in Fresh Kills.
Don’t know How to Kayak?
Don’t worry about it. These free boat houses are all around the city and they deal with newbies all the time, it’s how I started kayaking! It is easy; they provide life-jackets, paddles and instructions. There are sit on top boats so even if you fall out, it takes two seconds to get back in. There is also water support to help you if needed. The water in the Kill is as still as a lake and even with dealing with newbies i have not seen anyone fall in yet
There is a Park waver you will need to sign, and if you are under 18 years old a guardian must sign, but they do not need to go out on the water with you.
What Special Tools to bring?
As I said before you cannot bring your own boat : (, but you may bring your own life jacket if you wish, otherwise they will be provided.
You do need to be ready to get wet! Water shoes are a must! And a towel and change of clothes for after might be in order. Bathing suit is always a good idea too.
Looking for more to do on Staten Island on Aug 2nd? Check out www.nycgeocaching.com for all the events and activities happening the same day!
The Special Gift for the Kayak event is in! You can check it out on the NYC geocaching website. I only did a run of 50 and am holding 10 back as gifts for people who help put the cache cluster together, need to make sure they get one even if they don’t kayak. So I will have them for the first 40 cachers to find me in my kayak! If there are any leftover I will have out the remaining at the Brewery later.
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RECAP
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Thank you to all who came put to the Cache Cluster! The turnout was much better than I could have expected! As for a kayaking when I apologies that the water front was shut down early due to tidal and mud condition, I myself ended up needed a tow line to get back on land at about 2:15pm, that’s how bad it got fast. Still had over 50 Geocacher make it out to water and it was awesome meeting all of you. I included a group photo we too later in the day at Pouch camp and a photo of the official Log boog for this event! Hope to see you all soon.
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