National Park Service U. S. Department of the Interior

Gateway National Recreation Area Gateway New Jersey / New York Visitor Programs and Events, Winter 2011 - 2012 Unit

Gateway - Jamaica Bay Partner Programs Visit our partner's websites, to find out what programs they're offering this season!

Floyd Bennett Garden Association Have a "Green Thumb?" Learn at public gardening workshops. Find out about the Floyd Bennett Garden Association www.fbga.net/

Rockaway Artist Alliance Enjoy artist exhibitions and events. See the 2011 Calendar: www.rockawayartistsalliance.org

Rockaway Theatre Company Have a night at the theater in Fort Tilden. See the 2011 Calendar: www.rockawaytheatrecompanv.org/

Discover Gateway During Touch Table for the Curious What's With The r? Winter Break! Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Saturdays, 10 a.m. — 10:30 a.m. Gateway's programs are wonderful Just because the weather has gotten Sundays, 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. ways to stimulate your mind and your colder, that doesn't mean that you can't Touch and explore shells, feathers and senses, but did you know that many enjoy your national park. Gateway's other curious stuff. Is it food? Is it of them provide fantastic Jamaica Bay Unit offers four seasons of armor? How does it move? This family opportunities to get some exercise? discovery and fun, for the whole family! friendly program is good for newcomers Our hikes and volunteer projects are While the children are out of school, to Jamaica Bay. great ways to get your heart going, they can discover nature all around while you enjoy the natural beauty them, with the Touch Table at the Junior Ranger Programs and historic treasures that surround you. Just look for the • next to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, or by Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge program listing for programs that taking part in the Junior Ranger Tuesday, December 27 require walks of a mile or more, or Program. When the snow falls, cross Tuesday, February 21 moderate physical exertion. Let country skiing is available at Floyd 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Gateway pump you up! Bennett Field. Or, just enjoy a hike During the break from school, kids ages along the park's many trails. 7-12 can join a park ranger to have fun discovering the wonders of Jamaica Bay, All park visitor centers and offices will be This winter, take a break...at Gateway's and earn their junior ranger badge! closed on December 25, and January 1. Jamaica Bay! Park grounds will be open.

Winter 2011 -2012 Gateway NRA. Public Programs-Jamaica Bay December Be ready for Spring paddling. Prepare Paddling Trip Leader your chart so you can navigate easily In-Class Training from your kayak deck. Space is Star Gazing limited; please call (718) 338 - 3799 Building 69 Floyd Bennett Field to make a reservation. Monday, January 16 Radio Control Flying Field 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Friday, December 2 Experience the Year's Learn paddling best practices for trip 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Lowest Tide ¥ plarrning and group management. Come gaze at the wonders of the night Fort Tilden sky over Floyd Bennett Field with the Building 1 Amateur Astronomers Association. Explore Dead Horse Bay ¥ Saturday, December 24 Weather permitting; clear or partly Floyd Bennett Field I p.m.-3 p.m. clear skies. Telescopes will be Main Entrance Ranger Station The sun, moon and earth are in provided. Sunday, January 22 position to create one of the year's 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Paddling Trip Leader In- lowest tides, often referred to as Hike the trails and beach at Dead "King Tides." Explore the intertidal Class Training Horse Bay with American Littoral zone and walk the sea floor with Society naturalist, Mickey Maxwell Floyd Bennett Field American Littoral Society naturalist, Cohen, author of Exploring the Building 69 Mickey Maxwell Cohen. 2 miles Monday, December 5 Trails of Dead Horse Bay. Wear 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. sturdy footwear. 2 miles Learn paddling best practices for trip Junior Ranger Program planning and group management. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Snow Birds in a Tuesday, December 27 Winter Wonderland ¥ Whither the Grasslands 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Floyd Bennett Field During the break from school, kids Visitor Center Main Entrance Ranger Station ages 7-12 can join a park ranger to Saturday, January 28 Saturday, December 10 have fun discovering the wonders of 2 p.m.— 4 p.m. 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Jamaica Bay, and earn their junior Photography workshop with Johann At the very center of Floyd Bennett ranger badge! Schumacher. Discover how the soft Field, lies rare natural habitat in New light of winter illuminates Jamaica York City; the Grassland Restoration January Bay. Look for song birds and and Management Project Area, a waterfowl in the winter landscape habitat for many open-land birds. This Annual New Year's Day while you explore the West Pond trail. open country also provides Beach Walk ¥ opportunities for birders to spot birds Fort Tilden Flag Pole flying between the wooded areas of Sunday, January 1 February Floyd Bennett Field. We hope to see II a.m. — 1 p.m. American Kestrels, Northern Harriers, Start off 2012 with a brisk hike along "Craftsmen of Black Meadowlarks and Homed Larks Fort Tilden's beach and woods with among other birds. The trip leader ' Wings" African - the American Littoral Society. Enjoy carries a scope on tripod for closer Americans in Aviation in refreshments afterwards at the views of birds. Easy walking on open Rockaway Artist's Alliance, Studio 7. the1930's runways of the Field; dress warmly. 2 Floyd Bennett Field miles Hangar B Give Me Shelter: Sunday, February 12 Winter Birds in Winter Waterfowl in 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Jamaica Bay ¥ Dead Horse Bay ¥ Join a park ranger for this Black Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Floyd Bennett Field History Month talk and slide show on Sunday, December 11 Main Entrance Ranger Station the pioneering African — American pilots of the 1930's. Afterwards, visit 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Sunday, January 8 the aircraft being restored by the Take a hike around the West Pond and 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Historic Aircraft Restoration Project gardens with naturalist Don Riepe, to Dead Horse Bay provides sheltered in the hangar. The hangar is not look for winter birds and other waters for winter waterfowl. In the heated, so dress warmly. wildlife. To reserve, call past, up to 40,000 Greater Scaup have (718)318-4340. wintered in the bay. Raptors may be spotted in the upland areas on the trail to the bay. The trip leader carries a Navigation for Beginners scope on tripod for closer views of Floyd Bennett Field birds. Dress for the weather, and Building 69 All park visitor centers and offices will be moderately difficult walking if there closed on December 25, and January 1. Monday, December 12 is snow and ice on the trail. Rugged Park grounds will be open. 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. footwear is recommended. 2.25 miles

2 Gateway NRA Public Programs - Jamaica Bay Ocean Waterfowl Call (718) 338-3799 for more Exhibits information. and Loons V Abstract Point of View Fort Tilden - Flag Pole Historic Aircraft Fort Tilden Saturday, February 18 Building T-6 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Restoration Project From January 15 — February 19 Layers of insulation enable waterfowl Floyd Bennett Field Saturdays and Sundays to ply our ocean front in winter, Hangar B 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. impervious to the frigid water and air. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday We will be looking for long-tailed 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Weather permitting, bring the family Second Annual ducks, surf, black and white-winged Rockaway Artist Alliance scoters, common and red-throated and observe park volunteers as they loons. The trip leader carries a scope restore vintage aircraft. People with on Jamaica Bay on tripod for closer views of birds. an interest in aviation or history are Visitor Center Dress warmly. 2 miles encouraged to join in this volunteer Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge effort. Call (718) 338-3799 for more Through February 5,2012 information or to schedule a group This exhibit celebrates Jamaica Bay in Junior Ranger Program tour. various media and features an eclectic Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge group of local artists. Open daily, 9 Tuesday, February 21 P.A.R.C.S. Model Aircraft a.m. - 5 p.m. 1:30 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. Floyd Bennett Field During the break from school, kids Radio Controlled Flying Field Channel View School for ages 7-12 can join a park ranger to Open Daily Research Presents - have fun discovering the wonders of Join the Pennsylvania Avenue Radio Jamaica Bay Wildlife Jamaica Bay, and earn their junior Control Society at their "mini-airport Refuge: The Natural World ranger badge! in an airport." Enjoy the antics of these pilots as they show off their Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor The Winter Woods in the flying skills with model planes, jets Center and helicopters. November 17, 2011 - North Forty Natural Area Y January 16, 2012 Floyd Bennett Field Open daily, 9 p.m. — 5 p.m. Main Entrance Ranger Station Touch Table for the Curious The Channel View School for Saturday, February 25 Research's Environmental Science Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge 9 a.m.- 11 a.m. Team has visited the Jamaica Bay Saturdays, 10 a.m. -10:30 a.m. The North Forty Natural Area can Wildlife Refuge for two years Sundays, 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. become a Winter Wonderland. Fallen documenting the wildlife and changes Touch and explore shells, feathers and leaves expose World War II era of the seasons. They have come to military bunkers, and lairs of urban other curious stuff. Is it food? Is it appreciate the quiet beauty of this wildlife. Search for wintering birds on armor? How does it move? This urban oasis and hope others will too. the freshwater pond and along the family friendly program is good for This work was produced under the shore of Mill Basin. Meet American newcomers to Jamaica Bay. guidance of teacher/mentor Marianne Littoral Society naturalist, Mickey Williams by Channel View School for Maxwell Cohen and carpool to the Rockaway Artists Research's Environmental Science site. 2 miles Alliance Team: Ivonne Aguiar, Christopher Carr, Heather Cirulnick, Catherine Montalvo, Ravin Pahladsingh and Continuing Programs kidsmART Ronney Rozario. Cross Country Skiing After - School Program Fort Tilden Floyd Bennett Field Aviator Sports "Naturalmente" Building T-149 First Snowfall November 7, 2011 - May 4,2012 New York Follow the cross country ski trail Mondays - Thursdays Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor through the North 40. A National Park 2:30 p.m. -5:30 p.m. Center Service Ranger will cut a track at first A typical day at kidsmART features February 11 - April 29, 2012 snow. Call (718) 338 - 3799 for trail academic assistance; a snack; and a 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. conditions. choice of hands-on visual and "A Study in Contrasts," a photo­ graphic exhibit that explores the GeoCache performing art workshops, games and more. Workshops begin with relationship of people, urban life and Floyd Bennett Field discussion of the medium and subject; flie natural world in Gateway, works Ranger Station introduction to supplies and materials; by Italian Intern, Francesca Shnondi Daily examples of completed projects and and Sebastiano Privitera will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. demonstration of technique. A project shown. Meet the artists at the exhibit Use a GPS to discover off the beaten can be confined to one session or it opening on Wednesday, February 11, path historic sites. Figure out site may span several sessions. 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. specific answers and receive a Gateway memento. Gateway NRA Public Programs - Jamaica Bay Unit 3 Getting to Jamaica Bay

Floyd Bennett Field By Mass Transit: IRT #2 (also #5 at rush By Car: From the north (.) hours) subway to Flatbush Avenue. Transfer to Take the Belt Parkway to Exit 1 IS; Rockaway Park - bound Q - 35 bus. Ask driver follow Flatbush Avenue south to main to let you off at the park entrance. entrance, which is at the 4th traffic light. Turn left into the park.

FortTilden and By Mass Transit: IRT #2 (also #5 at rush By Car: Belt parkway to Exit 1 IS; take Jacob Riis Park hours) subway to Flatbush Avenue. Transfer to Flatbush Avenue south across the Rockaway Park - bound Q - 3 5 bus. Or take Marine Parkway Bridge. Follow signs to END A subway to Rockaway Park, then transfer either Fort Tilden or Jacob Riis Park. Or to Q - 35 or Q-22 bus. use the Cross Bay Bridge to Beach Channel Drive west.

Jamaica Bay By Mass Transit: Subway: IND "A" to Broad By Car: Belt Parkway to Exit 17 S; take Wildlife Refuge Channel Station. Proceed by walking west on Cross Bay Boulevard south across the Noel Road to Cross Bay Boulevard, where you Congressman Joseph A. Addabbo (North can transfer to a northbound Q - 21, or Q - 53 Channel) Bridge. The Refuge entrance is bus, which will take to the refuge entrance. Or, approximately 1 1/2 miles past the bridge when you reach Cross Bay Boulevard, turn on the right. Or, take the Cross Bay Bridge right and walk north about three quarters of a from Rockaway to Cross Bay Boulevard. Proceed north through Broad Channel. mile to the Refuge Visitor Center. The Refuge entrance is approximately 1 1/2 miles from the bridge on the left. Bus: Q - 21 from Liberty Avenue (Queens) or Beach 116th Street (Rockaway) to the Refuge, or the Q - 53 bus from 61st Street & Roosevelt Avenue. (Queens) to the refuge.

4 Gateway NRA Public Programs - Jamaica Bay Unit