Family Program: Winter Scavenger Hunt
2023-12-04 13:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for a family-friendly Winter Scavenger Hunt at the Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira, NY, USA. Get ready to explore the beautiful outdoors and discover hidden treasures as plants and animals get ready for winter. This in-person event promises excitement and adventure for all ages. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to connect with nature!
Please register your child(ren) only. We have 20 children’s spots available, and you are encouraged to join your child during the session.
This free program is sponsored by The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed https://www.ChemungRiverFriends.org and funded through grants from the Anderson Foundation, the Hilliard Foundation, & Casella. A suggested, but not at all required, donation is $10.

Coffee with Friends: Proven Health Benefits of Being in Nature
2024-01-13 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

The Proven Health Benefits of Being in Nature
Peggy Hurley, D.O., Master Naturalist, will discuss the health benefits of being in nature and the science to prove that you can boost your mental, physical, and emotional health through the simple act of being in nature.

Coffee with Friends: Fun & Adventure on the River
2024-02-10 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

Fun & Adventure on the River

Jim Pfiffer, co-founder and former executive director of Friends of the Chemung River Watershed, has paddled the Chemung River and other waterways for more than 50 years and enjoyed every trip. Jim writes, “I want to share that joy with you… If you have never canoed, kayaked or paddle-boarded a river or haven’t done so in a long time, this talk is for you. Through videos, photos, stories and personal experiences you’ll discover how paddling a river improves your health, mind and spirit.
“Here’s how:

It’s a great way to escape the stresses of life, have a fun-filled time in the peace and beauty of nature and rejuvenate.
You see a zoo full of wildlife, beautiful tree-lined cliffs and wild-flower meadows. Along the shore, you see people fishing, farming, walking their dogs and jogging the river trails.
Paddling is great aerobic and strength-developing fresh-air exercise through self-propelled transportation that’s easy, quiet and doesn’t burn fossil fuels.
You share and enjoy an intimate and educational visit with nature and leave with a greater respect and understanding of how rivers work and why we need to protect them.

Best of all, you see and experience all of this while sitting down.”

Coffee with Friends: Injured Wildlife and How to Help
2024-03-09 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

Injured Wildlife and How to Help
Lori Wheeler, NYS Class II licensed wildlife rehabilitator, will teach you about the kinds of wildlife you may find in our area, common injuries you’ll come across, and what to do if you find an injured animal.

Coffee with Friends: Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
2024-03-23 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is not required.

Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
Chemung County Master Gardener Melanie Beach will provide information for growing a beautiful garden that also supports the local wildlife that pollinate plants and support our local ecosystem. She will talk about the importance of pollinators and choosing the plants these important creatures need to do their work.
Our doors will open at 8:30 a.m. and a light breakfast and beverages will be provided. Our speaker will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. so you can head out to enjoy your weekend.
This program is sponsored by The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed and funded through grants from the Anderson Foundation, the Hilliard Foundation, The Community Foundation, and Casella. A suggested, but not at all required, donation is $10.

Coffee with Friends: Composting: Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Scraps Into Soil
2024-04-13 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

Composting: Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Scraps Into Soil

Heather Gilbert, owner/operator of Finger Lakes Compost, will teach you everything you need to know to turn common household litter into nutrient-rich soil you can use to grow all kinds of plants, including a very productive vegetable garden. She’ll also address common misconceptions about composting, which, when done right, will produce no unpleasant smell and takes very little effort to produce great results!

Earth Day Clean Up at Wisner Park
2024-04-20 09:00 - 12:00
Please join us on Saturday, April 20, at 9:00AM at Wisner Park in Elmira, NY, for our Earth Day Cleanup! We’ve partnered with First Presbyterian Church of Elmira and Bethany Lutheran Church to bring our community together to clean up trash in parts of downtown Elmira as well as along the river.
Children are welcome to join, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Wear sturdy closed-toed shoes, sunscreen, and bug spray. Please bring a refillabile water bottle to stay hydrated! We will have snacks for you and a limited supply of free clean-up kits that you can keep for your future earth-lovin’ cleanups. Kits include bags, gloves, a first-aid kit, a sharps container, reflectors, a hand shovel, and more! This program is made possible through sponsorships and a generous donation from Upper Susquehanna Coalition.
No registration is required, but a waiver is mandatory. We will have waivers at the event, but you can save time by completing the waiver before the event.

Girl Scouts [Daisy] Nature Buddies! Earn the Eco Learner Badge
2024-04-27 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-11 10:00 - 11:00
Click Here to Register
Calling all Daisies! Please join us on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 10am – 11am to learn about how we can protect nature. We will learn how to be prepared to protect nature before we go outdoors, how to keep living things safe when we walk in nature, and how to protect nature from trash.
The activity will take place at The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed headquarters, The Midtown Mall, 111 N. Main Street, Suite 8, Elmira, NY, and include a walk through Riverfront Park. Please dress for the weather and bring a water bottle.
The cost per girl is $7 and will include the Eco Learner badge. Registration is limited to 20 scouts, a minimum of 5 scouts is needed to do the program. Girl Scout Leaders and Co-Leaders are free. Please contact us at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org with any questions.

Coffee with Friends: Recycling: Are You Doing It Correctly?
2024-05-04 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

Recycling: Are You Doing It Correctly?

Toni Gardner, a natural resources and solid waste educator from Cornell Cooperative Extension Chemung County, will discuss the kinds of items that are recycling, where and when to recycle them, and how you can make a positive impact on the health of our watershed through proper recycling.

Park Rangers: Pirozzolo Park in West Elmira
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00
Join Horseheads Family Resource Center, Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum, and Chemung River Friends for our Park Rangers program this summer! Fridays throughout the summer, we will lead a walk through some of our beautiful local parks. This FREE program includes a snack and all children participating will receive an explorer’s vest and a button for each location! Please bring sun screen, bug spray, and a water bottle. All ages are welcome! Follow Horseheads Family Resource Center on Facebook for updates. All walks start at 10:00AM. Get some local nature knowledge, visit with live animals, and so much more as we explore local nature spots in Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler counties. No registration is required.
May 24: Pirozzolo Park
June 7: Sperr Park
June 21: Lackawanna Trail I
June 28: Thorne St. Park
July 5: Tanglewood
July 12: Spencer Crest
July 19: Havana Glen
July 26: Thorne St. Park
August 2: Pirozzolo Park
August 9: Holding Point
August 16: Catharine Valley Trail
August 23: Kinsella Park
August 30: Denison Park
September 6: Lackawanna Trail II
October 4: Bradley Farms

Girl Scouts [Brownie] WOW! Wonders of Water Journey in a Day
2024-05-25 09:30 - 15:00
Click Here to Register
Calling all Brownies! Please join us on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 9:30am – 3:00pm (rain date: Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 9:30am – 3:00pm) to learn all about water and complete your Wonders of Water Journey in a day! We will explore the wonders of water by finding out more about its importance and how it’s used around the world. Activities will include games, crafts, hands-on experiments and snacks.
The activity will take place at The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed headquarters, The Midtown Mall, 111 N. Main Street, Suite 8, Elmira, NY, and include a 15-minute walk to the Grove Street Boat Launch to do some activities. Please dress for the weather and bring a water bottle and a bagged lunch.
The cost per girl is $25 and will include the WOW! Wonders of Water Brownie Journey Award Set. Registration is limited to 20 scouts, a minimum of 8 scouts is required to do the program. Girl Scout Leaders and Co-Leaders are free. Please contact us at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org with any questions.

Coffee with Friends: Intro to Paddling on the River
2024-06-01 09:00 - 10:00
Want to learn more about how spending time in nature can improve your health? Have you ever wondered what to do if you come across an injured wild animal? Maybe you are ready to get on the river or to learn how to kayak? You are in luck! Chemung River friends coffee talks will cover all of these topics and more!
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 111 N. Main Street, Suite #8. A light breakfast, tea, and (of course) coffee will be served. Doors will open at 8:30am, and the talk will begin promptly at 9am and end at 10am to get you out and on your way to enjoying your weekend.
A few more topics are in the works, so keep checking back for updates. Please register
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
Registration is required so we have enough seating and refreshments. Please register here.

Intro to Paddling on the River

Jim Pfiffer, co-founder and former executive director of Friends of the Chemung River, will give a presentation about introductory paddling and river safety. Jim has been paddling for decades and is a master paddler. This is a wonderful opportunity for folks of all ages to learn about how to have fun on the Chemung without compromising safety.

Girl Scouts [Brownie] Stream Bugs of the Chemung River - Earn the Bug Badge
2024-06-01 13:00 - 15:00
Click Here to Register
Calling all Brownies! Please join us on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 1pm – 3pm at Pirozzolo Park in Elmira, to learn about all the cool bugs that live in the Chemung River. These bugs, called macroinvertebrates, are not only cool to look at, they also can tell us a lot about our water quality!
The activity will take place at Pirozzolo Park in Elmira, NY. We will meet at the picnic pavilion next to the playground to do some bug crafts and education, then we will head down to the boat launch to catch some stream bugs! If the temperature is less than 50F or there is rain, we will meet at the Friends of the Chemung River headquarters, the Midtown Mall, 111 N. Main Street, Suite 8, Elmira, NY to complete the activities.
The cost per girl is $7 and will include the Bug Badge. Registration is limited to 20 scouts. Girl Scout Leaders and Co-Leaders are free. Please contact us at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org with any questions.

Park Rangers: Sperr Park in Big Flats
2024-06-07 10:00 - 11:00

Clean Up: Denison Park, Corning
2024-06-12 17:30 - 19:00
Help clean up the watershed! All materials are provided, including gloves, pickers, bags, sharps containers, etc. You just need to bring a snack and a water bottle. All ages are welcome, but we ask that children be accompanied by their caregiver. All participants to our cleanups are required to sign the Liability Waiver, but registration is not required. Questions about our cleanups? Please contact our outreach coordinator: outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.

Guided River Tour: Chemung River: Bottcher's to Grove
2024-06-15 09:00 - 14:00
Join us on June 15th from 9am-2pm – Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in Big Flats, NY, to Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira, NY (9-mile Paddle). Range of paddle time will be from 10am-1pm. Cost for this guided river tour starts at just $25 if you have your own kayak! Both single and tandem kayak rentals are available.
WHAT TO PACK:

Proper water shoes (not flip flops)
Snacks
Water
Sunscreen
Bug Spray

Register for this paddle through Endless Mountain Outfitters.

Clean Up: Wyncoop Creek Boat Launch, Town of Chemung
2024-06-19 16:00 - 19:00

Park Rangers: Location Change! Eldridge Park in Elmira
2024-06-21 10:00 - 11:00
Join Horseheads Family Resource Center, Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum, and Chemung River Friends for our Park Rangers program this summer! Fridays throughout the summer, we will lead a walk through some of our beautiful local parks. This FREE program includes a snack and all children participating will receive an explorer’s vest and a button for each location! Please bring sun screen, bug spray, and a water bottle. All ages are welcome! Follow Horseheads Family Resource Center on Facebook for updates. All walks start at 10:00AM. Get some local nature knowledge, visit with live animals, and so much more as we explore local nature spots in Chemung, Steuben, and Schuyler counties. No registration is required.
May 24: Pirozzolo Park
June 7: Sperr Park
June 21: Eldridge Park! (Changed from Lackawanna Trail I)
June 28: Thorne St. Park
July 5: Tanglewood
July 12: Spencer Crest
July 19: Havana Glen
July 26: Thorne St. Park
August 2: Pirozzolo Park
August 9: Holding Point
August 16: Catharine Valley Trail
August 23: Kinsella Park
August 30: Denison Park
September 6: Lackawanna Trail II
October 4: Bradley Farms

Clean Up: Miller Pond Park
2024-06-26 17:30 - 19:00

Park Rangers: Thorne St. Park in Horseheads
2024-06-28 10:00 - 11:00

Beginner Paddle Class: Learn to Kayak with Confidence
2024-07-03 17:30 - 19:00
Come join us for a FREE beginner kayak paddle lessons from 5:30PM – 6:30PM at Grove Street Boat Launch. Jim Pfiffer will be teaching you how easy, safe, and fun it can be to paddle on the river!
A sheet pizza dinner will be provided for participants.
Instructions will be provided within sight of the boat launch and life jackets (provided or you can bring your own) are mandatory. You may bring your own craft or you may borrow one of ours.
Children are welcome and encouraged to participate! You must remain with your child. Children under age 8 must accompany you in a tandem kayak (we have 2 available). Children older than 8 may use a single kayak.
Meet at the concrete boat launch in the parking area at the Grove Street Boat Launch. Pre-registration is required and donations, while very appreciated, are completely optional.
Register Here

Clean Up: Hathorn Park, Elmira
2024-07-03 17:30 - 19:00

Park Rangers: Tanglewood Nature Center
2024-07-05 10:00 - 11:00

Art Workshop: Watercolor by the River
2024-07-06 13:00 - 15:00
This outdoor painting program will be held at the Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in the Town of Big Flats. The workshop will take place in the shaded area under the pavilion, or participants can bring their own camping chairs and move around the property. This class is limited to the first 20 people who sign up.
Participants will be supplied with a variety of high-quality brushes, 140lb. cold-press watercolor paper, Wisner & Newton watercolor paints, palates, drawing boards, and filtered water from the river. Students will also receive instruction from a locally renowned artist and instructor – Bridget Bossart van Otterloo (http://bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com/), and the artist will demonstrate different watercolor painting techniques for landscape painting.
This program will have a member and non-member rate.* To become a member, please visit our website, ChemungRiverFriends.org. Please bring your own water bottle to reduce plastic waste and feel free to bring a lawn chair if you’d like to sit outside the pavilion while you paint. We will provide tables, snacks, refreshments, and all of the necessary art supplies.
*Thanks to a grant from the Arts Council, this workshop , taught by a master watercolor artist, is available to our community for a discounted rate of just $5 per child and $10 per adult!

Register Here

Clean Up: ALDIs, Elmira Southside
2024-07-10 17:30 - 19:00

Park Rangers: Spencer Crest in Corning
2024-07-12 10:00 - 11:00

Guided River Tour
2024-07-13 10:30 - 12:30
Join expert paddler Jim Pfiffer as he leads you on an educational tour of the Chemung River from Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in Big Flats, NY, to Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira (9-mile Float). The price includes the tour and the kayak rental (if you need one).
Please park on Grove Street, as the entrance to the boat launch will be closed to non-emergency vehicular traffic from 12pm – 6pm for Chemung River Fest. We will meet at the boat launch at 9:30AM to load kayaks onto the trailer and go over safety.
We will shuttle you and your kayak to Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch and then paddle back to Grove Street. Please dress for the weather and wear water shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a life jacket if you have one (we will have life jackets available). A water bottle and snack are also recommended.

Register Here

2024 River Fest
2024-07-13 12:00 - 18:00
Chemung River Fest is Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 12pm – 6pm at the Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira, NY. We will have a bounce house, face painting, kayaking, an ice cream truck, food vendors, and fun! Please join us for this free community event–parking is available on the street or you can use the bus service to get dropped off right around the corner. The boat launch will be closed to non-emergency vehicles for the duration of the event. If you have a kayak or other outdoor equipment to swap/sell/trade at this event, please e-mail director@chemungriverfriends.org for more information.

Clean Up: McKinnon Park, Elmira
2024-07-17 17:30 - 19:00
