Conservation Groups New York

Turtle Back Rock w/ Donna ~5 miles

Meet at Turtle Back Rock parking lot. 9:30. Moderate hike 5 -6 miles ups and downs and some rocky sections. Bug spray water needed and snack. **Leader**: Donna Burkat- 973-454-5635 call or text if you need to cancel. \*\*\* In registering for this or any other South Mountain Conservancy (SMC) programs in 2026 online, I hereby release and agree to hold the SMC, its volunteers, staff and Board of Trustees, harmless from and waive on behalf of myself, my heirs, and any personal representatives any and all causes of action, claims, demands, damages, costs, expenses and compensation for damage or loss to myself and/or property that may be caused by any act, or failure to act, in this SMC activity, or that may otherwise arise in any way in connection with any other SMC activity. I understand that this release discharges the SMC from any liability or claim that I, my heirs, or any personal representatives, may have against the SMC with respect to any bodily injury, illness, death, medical treatment, or property damage that may arise from, or in connection to, any SMC program. This liability waiver and release extends to the SMC along with Essex County and its staff and any other affiliated organization or SMC partner. I also understand that by signing below I approve the possible use of photos of me at this SMC event on social media or in promotional materials. **BY REGISTERING FOR THIS HIKE I attest I am in good health and attest that I: Am not experiencing any symptoms of illness such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.** **Am following all CDC recommended guidelines, above, and limiting my exposure to the novel coronavirus/COVID-19.** \# Arrival\, Weather\, & Cancellations Please come to the starting point 10 minutes ahead of time so the hike can start promptly. Times are our best estimates; they can vary depending on conditions, and the size and pace of a group. If you have any questions, call the leader. **Temperatures above 90 degrees and steady rain cancels, but intermittent drizzle does not. You will *not* be notified.** **Bring water. Wear hiking boots, preferably waterproof with good soles and traction devices and bring poles (optional).** Dogs are not allowed on hikes unless specified. These hikes are publicized first to SMC members and then advertised to the public one week before a hike. There is a limit of 25 participants, so pre-registration is required at least two days before a hike to sign the liability waiver online and allow lists to be sent to hike leaders. If you have registered and then find you cannot attend, please cancel your order online. **Repeated no shows without prior cancellation will result in removal from list.** **To become a current member visit [[https://www.somocon.org/membership/](https://www.somocon.org/membership/)]([https://www.somocon.org/membership/](https://www.somocon.org/membership/)).**

Historic Riverside Park Volunteer Service & Lunch Under The Trees

Central Park Bird & Nature Walk

Nature & Bird walk with an experienced naturalist and bird guide, Debbie Becker. We will be walking and observing birds, butterflies, fungi, plants, trees and waterways in the Park that are part of this beautiful environment. $15 per person for 1.5 hour walk. To register please send $15 via Venmo to @Deb-becker-8 or $16 via Paypal to editconsul@aol.com Location will be posted by 10am on the day of the walk. We always meet at a major entrance to Central Park off 5th Avenue.

General Meeting

\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* FYI: Just to give you an idea, because there's no need to RSVP, there are usually between two and ten people at this meetup. PLEASE NOTE: We sometimes need to move to a new location at the last minute if our room at the restaurant is unavailable. If you can't find us, our secondary location is STARBUCKS, 10 Metro Blvd, Clifton, NJ 07014 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UzsiXKQJBGXTdcZ47 \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* There is NO NEED TO RSVP. Just show up. This meeting is for getting to know people and discussing strategies to deal with the mass psychosis happening around us. We want to build a community that will act as a support system as we battle the Zombie Apocalypse. It won't last forever, but we still have to survive it. If there is a topic you want to talk about just bring it up. We will talk all together unless the group gets large, then we generally split up and bounce around between discussions. Please purchase something to support our host - just coffee, a roll, a pastry, or bread. The restaurant opens at noon, so sometimes a few of us will remain for lunch. When purchasing, we try to use cash whenever possible. Please don't bring outside food or drink. We can sometimes head to other locations, so try to come on time just in case!

Central Park Bird Walk

Bird walk with an experienced naturalist and bird guide. $20 per person for 2- hour walk.To register please send $25 via Venmo to @Deb-becker-8 or $26 via Paypal to editconsul@aol.com See hawks, eagles, ducks and spring birds. Location will be posted by 10am on the day of the walk. We always meet at a major entrance to Central Park off 5th Avenue.

Pride Month Central Park Guided Queer History Tour

Reading the Landscape; Identifying Trees & Plants

**Reading the Landscape : Wild Tree & Plant Identification-** *Learn the Ecological History of Prospect Park & the Eastern North American continent.* *Going from 40,000 years ago to the present.* Using the patterns of nature and geological time, to guide your understanding of how to participate in meaningful ways with Natural Succession. What are the inexorable elements of evolution and how can we engage with them wisely? Learn about this Temperate Deciduous Forest and how to be an ally, for all that trees can bring to our world. Come on out to take a walk with Andrew Faust ,your NYC Permaculture scholar & world renowned Bioregional Educator , 17 years in NYC and Brooklyn teaching this class here at Prospect park. We will discuss and explore the many useful gifts that forests and healthy ecologies provide. Andrew will go more in depth into the process of reading the landscape. Covering the geological history of Prospect park and the this part of the continent. Describing the anthropogenic forests of indigenous people’s of the region. The eco-social impacts of colonialism and industrialization and how to address them with a socially just and ecological ethic of care. Bring a lunch for this informative and inspiring event!

You're Invited! AMC Open House - New Members Welcome!

**[>> REGISTER HERE <<](https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000016fj32AA/act00020515)** **Curious about AMC? Come on in!** Join us for a welcoming, community-centered Open House where you can learn more about the Appalachian Mountain Club and how we connect people to the outdoors. Whether you’re a lifelong hiker, a weekend wanderer, or just beginning your outdoor journey, there’s a place for you here. For 150 years, AMC has been fostering the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the outdoors. At our Open House, you’ll discover how we bring that mission to life through recreation, conservation, education, and advocacy across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. **What to Expect** * Meet AMC staff, volunteers, and members * Learn about local trips, programs, and volunteer opportunities * Explore how our conservation work protects the landscapes we all love * Get the inside scoop on lodging, outdoor experiences, and ways to get involved * Ask questions and find your next adventure **Why Attend?** Because the outdoors is for all of us. And the more we come together, the more we can do to protect it. You don’t need experience. You don’t need gear. You just need the desire to step outside and connect. So bring a friend, your curiosity, and your love for the outdoors. Everyone is welcome to attend, whether you are new to the AMC, a long-time member, or just curious about us. We can’t wait to welcome you! **Where to Meet** Meet us in Community Room 1 at the Capital One Cafe Columbus Circle! Come for information sharing, and community starting at 5:30pm.

Backpackers Book Club: Night of the Grizzlies

This month we’re reading Night of the Grizzlies by Jack Olsen, a nonfiction account of a tragic night in Glacier National Park that explores the intersection of people, wilderness, and unpredictable danger. The book looks at what happens when human expectations meet a place that doesn’t follow human rules. **Note:** Location for discussion is TBD. This book can be a bit harder to find in print, so most people may need to use an ebook or audiobook version. --- *Night of the Grizzlies* by Jack Olsen **1. The Illusion of Safety** * What responsibility do visitors have versus park authorities? * Can wilderness ever really be “managed”? **2. Confidence in the Outdoors** * Why do humans tend to become more comfortable around risk over time? * How might familiarity with nature shift how people judge danger? * Where do you see overconfidence show up in outdoor settings? **3. The Attraction of Danger** * Is risk part of what makes wilderness meaningful or memorable? * Do stories like this change how you think about nature?

World Environment Day + DJ Alok - Celebration Flashmob

Hey Dancing Friends! We are creating a fabulous [World Environment Day](https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/) Flashmob in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)*! **Held annually on June 5th, World Environment Day is the largest global moment for the planet and this year the focus is on climate action.*** We are thrilled to bring some climate-wise energy to the streets of NYC by using dance to put energy back into the conversation! We will use the limbo as a symbol for how we can all put in the effort to bring temperatures and risks back down – “how low can you go?” We will be dancing to world-famous DJ Alok’s (@alok) track *[Deep Down](https://youtu.be/RQQY_zjjLxo?si=MUso4eMEIHxPwN4M).* Together we can make our voices heard - through dance - sending a clear, joyful and unified message to world leaders: protect our planet for this generation and the next. **[PLEASE RSVP HERE](https://forms.gle/oXheQ5Z6s2yfau2E6) FOR REHEARSAL DETAILS** **COLOR SCHEME** Blue, Green, White, Burgundy, Orange, Cream Melissa, Andrea and Ryan are using choreography created for UNEP by Rudi Smit and breaking it down into fun movement for all dance levels. A teaching video will be sent out via email and posted here for all RSVP's <3 This is an instructional video that you can use anywhere, anytime to get a jump start or a refresher on the dance moves. Question? Ask us, we'll help sort it out! Can't wait to be dancing for the planet with you! Share with friends! Melissa

BMW Hike

Bufo & Kambo, Mexico