Friends of the Chemung River Watershed

Chemung River & Watershed Cleanup
2025-04-19 10:30 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
E-mail us for more information. Contact our outreach coordinator, Karen, at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org for more information and check out our Facebook page for location details and additional scheduled cleanups!

River Talk at Ill Eagle Taphouse
2025-04-28 20:00, 2025-05-26 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-30 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-25 18:00 - 20:00
Join us in the 200 Lounge upstairs for a brew, a specialty cocktail, and some great food at Ill Eagle Taphouse while we chat about a wide range of topics surrounding our beautiful river. One free drink token will be given with each ticket sale to be used during the event!

Riverside Watercolor Painting Workshop
2025-05-10 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-06 13:00 - 15:00
Riverside Watercolor Painting Workshop will be a plein-air painting workshop featuring local artist and instructor – Bridget Bossart van Otterloo!
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. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required.
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, and the artist will demonstrate different watercolor painting techniques for landscape painting.
Please bring a water bottle to reduce plastic waste. We will provide tables, snacks, refreshments, and all of the necessary art supplies.

Cookies with Friends
2025-05-14 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-04 15:30 - 16:30
Join us at our downtown Elmira office for our fun, free program for kids: Cookies with Friends! This program is a kid-friendly version of our Coffee with Friends series and features a book, a craft, and of course, cookies! The program is free and no registration is required. Please dress for the weather, as we do sometimes take a nature walk as part of the program. We meet at 3:30PM at 109 N. Main Street, Elmira, NY, on Wednesdays the week of our Coffee with Friends programs.

Coffee with Friends: Fun & Adventure on the River
2025-05-17 09:00 - 10:00 | Chemung River Friends, 109 North Main St., Elmira, New York, 14901, United States
Get ready for paddling season with this lively presentation by the co-founder of Chemung River Friends and hilarious story-teller, Jim Pfiffer. New and seasoned paddlers will enjoy Jim’s stories and benefit from his vast information.
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 109 N. Main Street, Elmira, NY. 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.
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
A $10 per person donation is suggested, but not required. Donations can be made in person or through our online donation portal.

Chemung River & Watershed Clean-Up
2025-05-17 10:30 - 12:00, 2025-06-13 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-23 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-09-20 09:00 - 11:00

Beginner Paddle Safety Workshop & Pizza!
2025-06-04 17:30 - 19:30
Join our certified kayak instructor at Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira, NY, to learn the basics of kayaking, including:

How to enter and exit a kayak;
How to enter your kayak if you are in deep water;
How to use a paddle and get the right size paddle;
How to use your paddle to communicate with other paddlers;
How to fit a life jacket;
How to prepare for a kayak trip;
And more!

Afterwards, you will be able to borrow one of our kayaks (or bring your own) and join our instructor in the water. The Chemung River at Grove Street Boat Launch is very calm thanks to the downstream dam. You will be paddling upstream and have plenty of help. You do not need to enter the water if you don’t want to, though!
Since this is a weeknight workshop, pizza is provided for all registrants at no cost.
There is no minimum age to participate and no previous kayaking or paddling experience is required. We will have two tandem kayaks available for caregivers who want to paddle with their child(ren). The tandem kayak will hold two adults, or one adult and two children.
Life jackets of various sizes will also be available, and participants are able to take their life jacket with them (while supplies last) after the program. Thanks to generous support from Hesselson’s, life jackets are free.
This program is free, but registration is required and you must sign the liability waiver to participate. When registration opens, the link will be posted here. Be the first one to know about registration by signing up for our newsletter!

Coffee with Friends: Macroinvertebrates or Stream Bugs
2025-06-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Chemung River Friends, 109 North Main St., Elmira, New York, 14901, United States
Macroinvertebrates are fascinating creatures that help maintain rivers and signal water quality. Liz Zilinski will share the why these “bugs” are so important to our waterways and how you can get your whole family involved in water quality monitoring with critter collection and some citizen science.
The talks will be held at the Friends of the Chemung River office at 109 N. Main Street, Elmira, NY. 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.
For more information, please contact our outreach coordinator at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org.
A $10 per person donation is suggested, but not required. Donations can be made in person or through our online donation portal.

Guided River Paddle: Big Flats to Elmira
2025-06-14 09:00 - 13:00
River Fest Kick-Off!
This is a great introduction to paddling the beautiful Chemung River! Our certified kayak instructor will teach you basic safety and paddle signs and then guide you along the river while telling you about the history of the river and pointing out interesting flora and fauna you’ll find on the trip.
Guided paddles have a limited amount of kayaks available for rent, and are for paddlers of all abilities. You are welcome to bring your own kayak, too. All paddlers must sign our liability waiver in order to participate.
A shuttle service is provided as part of the trip.
Guided river paddles require registration. When registration opens, a link will be posted here. Be the first to know when registration opens by signing up for our newsletter.

Beginner Paddle Safety Workshop & Pizza!
2025-07-02 17:30 - 19:30
Join our certified kayak instructor at Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira, NY, to learn the basics of kayaking, including:

How to enter and exit a kayak;
How to enter your kayak if you are in deep water;
How to use a paddle and get the right size paddle;
How to use your paddle to communicate with other paddlers;
How to fit a life jacket;
How to prepare for a kayak trip;
And more!

Afterwards, you will be able to borrow one of our kayaks (or bring your own) and join our instructor in the water. The Chemung River at Grove Street Boat Launch is very calm thanks to the downstream dam. You will be paddling upstream and have plenty of help. You do not need to enter the water if you don’t want to, though!
Pizza is provided for all registrants. There is no minimum age to participate and no previous kayaking or paddling experience is required. We will have two tandem kayaks available for caregivers who want to paddle with their child(ren). The tandem kayak will hold two adults, or one adult and two children.
Life jackets of various sizes will also be available, and participants are able to take their life jacket with them (while supplies last) after the program, thanks to generous support from Hesselson’s.
This program is free, but registration is required and you must sign the liability waiver to participate. When registration opens, the link will be posted here. Be the first one to know about registration by signing up for our newsletter!

Guided River Paddle: Elmira Southside to Wellsburg
2025-07-12 09:00 - 13:00
This is a great introduction to paddling the beautiful Chemung River! Our certified kayak instructor will teach you basic safety and paddle signs and then guide you along the river while telling you about the history of the river and pointing out interesting flora and fauna you’ll find on the trip.
Guided paddles have a limited amount of kayaks available for rent, and are for paddlers of all abilities. You are welcome to bring your own kayak, too. All paddlers must sign our liability waiver in order to participate.
A shuttle service is provided as part of the trip.
Guided river paddles require registration. When registration opens, a link will be posted here. Be the first to know when registration opens by signing up for our newsletter.

Riverside Watercolor Painting Workshop
2025-07-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Bottcher’s Landing Boat Lauch, 51 Old River Road, Corning, NY, 14830, United States
Take a moment to slow down, allow your creative juices to flow, and let nature work it’s magic. This outdoor painting program is held at the Bottcher’s Landing Boat Launch in the Town of Big Flats. We’ll set up in the shaded area under the pavilion, and participants can bring their own camping chairs and move around the property.
If you don’t have paints or brushes, don’t worry! Participants will be supplied with a variety of high-quality brushes, 140lb. cold-press watercolor paper, Winsor & Newton watercolor paints, palates, drawing boards, and rainwater from our on-site rain barrels. Using these materials, locally renowned artist and instructor Bridget Bossart van Otterloo will demonstrate different watercolor painting techniques for landscape painting.
FREE snacks will be provided while you paint, but please bring your own water bottle to reduce plastic waste. Some other suggested items to bring include a lawn chair if you’d like to sit outside the pavilion while you paint, a sun hat and/or sunglasses, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Check out Bridget’s beautiful paintings on her website: http://bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com/ and stop by our office to see one of her paintings in person!
Please note that space is limited to 12 participants per class, if you have attended one of our watercolor workshops this year, please consider waiting to purchase tickets until closer to the event to allow others a chance to learn! Registration is required, please reserve your spot here! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/riverside-watercolor-painting-workshop-at-bottchers-landing-tickets-1234938517349?aff=oddtdtcreator

Chemung River & Watershed Clean-Up
2025-07-19 09:00 - 11:00 | Grove Street Boat Launch, 36 Grove Street, Elmira, NY, 14905, United States
Join us on Saturday July 19th as we clean-up along the Chemung River. Meet at Grove Street Boat Launch and pick up a clean-up kit and a short safety talk before we embark at the boat launch and the Riverfront Levee Trail to clean up the river. All materials will be provided, all you need is yourself dressed in weather appropriate clothes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, and maybe a friend to help out too!

Registration is not required for this FREE event but is greatly appreciated so we know how many folks to expect. You can register on our Eventbrite page here!

Check out our Facebook page for more info!

Our clean-ups are funded through various grants and sponsorships. Individual donations are not required but are greatly appreciated!

Be the first to know about upcoming programs and events, sign up for our newsletter here!

River Talk
2025-07-28 18:00 - 20:00
We’re moving our evening speaker series outside! And they are FREE throughout the summer!

This month’s speaker is Simone White of Cornell Cooperative Extension – Chemung County, and longtime River Friends volunteer Paul DiPietro. Simone is chair of the Chemung County/Elmira Urban Green Equity Project and Paul is the Town of Elmira Tree Board Founder & Chairman and also sits on the Town of Elmira Planning Board. These two are sure to be a dynamic duo in teaching us about local tree identification! We’ll have a short presentation at the Town of Elmira Community Center, then we’ll head out on one of the many trails near the Chemung River for an educational tree walk!

Please dress accordingly and bring a refillable water bottle with you!

Registration is not required for this free event but is very helpful for us! Register Here!

Beginner Paddle Safety Workshop
2025-08-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Grove Street Boat Launch, 36 Grove Street, Elmira, NY, 14905, United States
UPDATE: This class is full, please email Karen at outreachcoordinator@chemungriverfriends.org to be added to our waitlist.
Come join us for a FREE beginner kayak paddle lesson from 5:30 – 7:30pm at Grove Street Boat Launch in Elmira. Certified instructor and co-founder of Chemung River Friends, Jim Pfiffer, will teach you how easy, safe, and fun it can be to paddle on the river! No experience is necessary, and all equipment will be provided, including snacks and water for all participants. This fun, hands-on class is perfect for first-timers and curious beginners. You’ll learn the basics of paddling, including:
· Loading and transporting boats
· Identifying the parts of a kayak and a canoe
· Proper paddle strokes
· Safety tips and river etiquette
· How to get in and out of a boat smoothly
· Planning a river trip
· What to wear and pack for weather and water conditions
· How to handle changing river and weather conditions
· Rescues and what to do in an emergency on the water
· Environmental ethics
Meet us at the concrete boat launch in the parking area near the pavilion. Instructions will be provided within sight of the boat launch and life jackets are mandatory. We will provide life jackets and kayaks, or you can bring your own if you have them!
Children are welcome and encouraged to participate! Parents/guardians must remain with their child at all times. Any children under age 8 must accompany you in a tandem kayak (we have 2 available). Children older than 8 may use a single kayak.
Pre-registration is required and donations, while very appreciated, are completely optional.

Guided River Paddle: Toll Bridge Park Boat Launch to White Wagon Boat Launch
2025-08-09 09:00 - 13:00
Join expert paddler Jim Pfiffer for an educational guided paddle of the Chemung River. As we paddle from Toll Bridge Park Boat Launch in Wellsburg, NY to White Wagon Boat Launch in Chemung, NY we’ll learn about the Seneca Native Americans and the river’s importance to their lives and culture for the educational component to our paddle.
Please dress for the weather and wear water shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a life jacket if you have one. LIFE JACKETS ARE REQUIRED. We will have life jackets available if you don’t have one. A water bottle and snacks are also recommended.
The FCRW Kayak Rental price includes the guided river tour and a kayak rental (if you need one, we have a very limited number of kayaks available). We will meet at White Wagon Boat Launch at 9AM . Paddlers will leave their vehicles at White Wagon, FCRW will shuttle paddlers to Toll Bridge for a safety talk and then launch our watercraft by 10:30AM.
The BYOK (Bring your own kayak) price includes the guided river tour. Paddlers bringing their own craft will drop them off at the start of the paddle at Toll Bridge where an FRCW Staff will watch over them, then travel to White Wagon Boat Launch to meet Jim and the rest of the paddlers at 9AM. Paddlers will leave their vehicles at White Wagon, FCRW will shuttle paddlers to Toll Bridge for a safety talk and then launch our watercraft by 10:30AM.
Toll Bridge Boat Launch – 420 Lowman Crossover Rd, Lowman, NY 14861
White Wagon Boat Launch – 153 White Wagon Road, Waverly, NY 14892
Registration is required, buy your tickets here!
Be the first to know about upcoming programs and events, sign up for our newsletter here!

Summer Camp: Session I
2025-08-11 09:00 - 2025-08-15 13:00
Our summer camp session is Monday – Friday from 9am – 1pm (later for those staying to swim), at the Town of Elmira Community Center. Children will explore the nature trails, collect macroinvertebrates and frogs, make crafts, play games, learn to paddle, swim in the town pool, and more! This camp sells out quickly–sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when registration opens!
Ages 6 – 12.
Bring a pack lunch and water bottle.
Have sunscreen, bug spray, and dress for the weather! Most of our activities are outdoors, so a hat is recommended.
Pack a bathing suit and towel if your child will be swimming!

Summer Camp: Session II
2025-08-18 09:00 - 2025-08-22 13:00

Beginner Paddle Safety Workshop
2025-09-03 17:30 - 19:30

Guided River Tour: Erwin to Corning
2025-09-13 09:00 - 13:00
