Upcoming Events

River Kayak Rentals: Boats and Afternoon Lunch at Finger Lakes House

9:00am | Trip to Bottchers Landing (9-mile Trip) | Register

This Guided River Kayak Rental event will meet at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira, where our partners at Endless Mountain Outfitters bring you to your launch site of Bottcher's Landing (9-mile Trip) to begin your guided kayak trip. We will end by traveling to the Finger Lakes House for a late afternoon lunch and refreshments - with a special treat provided by our friends at the Finger Lakes House!

Lunch and refreshments are not covered in the cost of the trip. Pre-registration is required.

River Kayak Rental

• 9:00am | Trip to Fitch's Bridge (3-mile Trip) | Register
• 1:00pm | River & Bike Tour of Elmira! | Register
  • For this Trip we will be meeting at the Grove Street Boat launch. Please arrive a a few minutes early, the shuttle will not wait if you are late. After a safety talk and getting everything loaded up we will go to the Fitch's Bridge Launch. From there you will enjoy your paddle and the beauty of the area. You will be finishing your trip at the Grove Street Launch where you started. There we will meet Elmira Community Cycle and you will take a leisurely bike trip around Elmira. You can rent a kayak or bring your own to shuttle, and you must bring your own bike for the road trip after the kayak tour. Individuals must pre-register for this event prior to trip.

Knowledge Under the Pines: The Amazing Timber Rattlesnake

Chemung River Friends is announcing a series of unique nature education programs featuring presentations held in the middle of shady and tall stand of pine trees in Big Flats, NY.

Called Knowledge Under the Pines, the outdoor classroom provides enough room for people to stay socially distanced in lawn chairs on a thick carpet of fragrant pine needles. The stand of Eastern Pines grows in the eastern section of the Big Flats Community Park near the intersection of State Route 352 and Winters Road.

These programs will be held throughout the Spring and Summer on select Monday evenings from 7-8:30PM. Topics will include local wildlife, plants, rivers, and nature; and will be presented by our co-founder, former executive director, and current volunteer: Jim Pfiffer! A reduced event fee of $10 for members and $20 for non-members is made possible by the Anderson Foundation and will help River Friends continue its environmental education programs. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR OUR LAWN CHAIRS!

Purchase tickets here.

Knowledge Under the Pines is a continuation of the pre-pandemic River Friends public presentations held at the Finger Lakes House in Elmira.

To become a member, please visit our Membership page. Thank you for your support of our mission to promote, protect, and preserve the Chemung River Watershed.

This program will provide the opportunity to observe a familiar location with fresh eyes, and improve your overall sense of wellness through mindfulness practice. We will gather in the parking lot behind the West Elmira Fire Department (1255 W. Water Street, Elmira) and head to the trailhead behind Pirozzolo Park on Saturday, September 25, to do a walking meditation and yoga series in the woods from 9AM - 11AM, while paying close attention to the sensory experience of being in a forest environment. Integrating the traditions of "Forest Bathing" and yoga to guide our walks will help participants to cultivate an appreciation for the natural space around them.

Class will focus on a “forest invitation” and will be taught by certified Yoga Instructor and Environmental Anthropologist - Dr. Katherine Fultz; these invitations are themes to guide our walking meditations and observations. Participants will pause periodically as a group to do a series of yoga poses, followed by the opportunity to sit in contemplative stillness and observe the space around them. Following our walk, participants will have the opportunity to journal or sketch their experiences before sharing with the group. We will close with tea or lemonade, snacks, and casual conversation.

Dress appropriately for walking and yoga movement. DON'T FORGET TO PACK a sketch book or journal and pencil or pen, a blanket or towel that can be placed on the ground, and a bottle of water.

This class will have a Member and Non-member rate, and you MUST pre-register using this link. Participants from our July class will receive half-off to attend!

River Kayak Rentals

• 9:00am | Trip to Fitch's Bridge (3-mile Trip) | Register
• 1:00pm | Trip to Fitch's Bridge (3-mile Trip) | Register

Annual Meeting & Jim Pfiffer's Retirement Celebration at the Grove Street Boat Launch

We invite you to join us for an evening of reflection, celebration, and community on the Chemung River! Our Annual Meeting and Jim Pfiffer's Retirement Celebration will take place on Saturday, October 2, 2021 starting at 3:00 PM at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira. An RSVP is required.

3:00 - 4:00PM - Registration & Social Hour: Please register upon arrival, and enjoy music by Gerard Burke. We accept cash or checks. Tickets are $10 each at the door.

4:00 - 5:00PM - Dinner is Served & Program Begins: Boxed dinner is provided by Golden Glow Fire Department. Find yourself a seat and enjoy your delicious Chicken BBQ dinner as the evening's events begin!

5:00 - 6:00PM - Dessert is Served & Roast and Toast Begins: Dessert is provided by Cheesy Dreams. Don't forget to bring your cash ($5 for 3 minutes on the mic) to "Roast" or "Toast" Jim Pfiffer, while we enjoy decadent cheesecake cupcakes!

6:00PM - Live Music & Kayak Raffle Drawing: We'll be drawing the winner for this year's Kayak Raffle Bundle at 6PM! If you would like to purchase raffle tickets before the event, please visit our friends at the Finger Lakes House or Swarthout's Bait and Tackle Shop. You can also purchase raffle tickets in-person at the event, but you must RSVP to attend! Take Two performs LIVE at the Grove Street Boat Launch Pavilion. Dance, listen, and be merry!

**Please RSVP by September, 30, 2021 by providing your name(s) and the number of meals you’d like to reserve either by email: RiverFriendsRSVP@gmail.com or by calling (607) 846-2242. If we don't answer, please leave a message and we will return your call to confirm.**

We hope to see you there!

We would also like to thank our event sponsors and supporters:

Osprey Tier - Hilliard Corporation & Casella

Dragonfly Tier - Chemung Canal Trust Company

Supporters Tier - CopyExpress, The Finger Lakes House, Swarthout's Bait & Tackle Shop, Wallin Insurance, and Warner's Way Real Property Services

Thank you for your continued support of our mission and of our community's natural resources!

Remember - Tickets are $10 at the door, you MUST RSVP, and please bring extra cash to "Roast" or "Toast" Jim! It should be a great evening of fun and celebration! We hope to see you there!