July Newsletter 2023
Ahoy, welcome back mateys!
The season is off to a flying start. After a few practice trips to make sure their skills were in tip-top shape, our canoe and kayak trip leaders ran at least three trips a week during June. Big thanks to all our trip leaders and trip assistants - we literally couldn't do it without you. Check out the July calendar and come back often as trips get added throughout the month.
Read on for news and upcoming events.
Education. We partnered with Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) to give students from LaGuardia Community College's Environmental Science department an ecological tour of Newtown Creek. Educating our local community about the history, ecology, and sustainability of our waterways is core to NBCB’s mission.
Nautical Skills. The first event in our 2023 NBCB Nautical Skills Series, Nautical Knots, was fully booked within 24 hours! A big thank you to Monica for teaching us the bowline, clove hitch, gasket hitch, lark's foot and cleat hitch as demonstrated here by Melanie - nice one!
Join Monica's next one on Jul 10th: Marine Radio and Weather for Paddlers.
Proposed changes to NYC Water Quality. Thanks to those who wrote letters and signed the petition demanding that NY State DEC preserve water quality standards in NY Harbor. The proposal would significantly limit the City’s ability to achieve the Clean Water Act goals of fishable and swimmable waters. To learn more, check out our news blog or Riverkeeper's Background blog. We'll keep you updated on developments.
NYC flood protection. This extensive opinion piece from the New York Times is an informative deep dive into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' recent proposal to protect New York from the next superstorm flood. Their plan includes dozens of miles of flood walls that would result in less public access to the city's waterfront. But, as the authors point out, it doesn't have to. They specifically talk about the plan's impact on Greenpoint and Newtown Creek.
Launch location. While we’re still ‘in exile’ during construction, our Public Paddles, canoe and kayak trips are launching from our container at Manhattan Avenue Street End Park (next to 1205 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222). Learn more and sign up on our calendar.
Support us. (Re)join as a member and tag us on social media.
Upcoming Events:
Public Paddle City of Water Day Edition. Now in its 16th year, City of Water Day celebrates the importance of a resilient and equitably shared waterfront. On Saturday July 15th, NBCB will be commemorating the day with another Free Public Paddle in partnership with environmental education programs provided by the Newtown Creek Alliance and Hunters Point Parks Conservancy.
Join us to celebrate City of Water Day with friends and neighbors. Enjoy free tours in our 29' Langley canoes, city views, and tasty beverages and snacks.
Our Free Public Paddle will run from 12-4pm, and will take place at Hunter's Point South Kayak Ramp, a boat launch in LIC across the creek from our usual location. Check our social media accounts and keep an eye on your inbox for updates. Our calendar event will be updated with all the details.
NBCB Art & Science Series. What creature can survive -300°F? Reanimate after being dehydrated for 100 years? And acts as a vacuum in outer space? Microscopic tardigrades of course!
On July 20th, from 6-8:30pm, join scientist Mary Lopez and scientific illustrator Monica Schroeder for their monthly NBCB environmental science-themed art workshop. They'll present fascinating facts about tardigrades, a.k.a. moss piglets (!), and then guide us as we make shadowboxes. All supplies are included, but bring your own markers or watercolors if you have a preference.
The event is free to NBCB members, and will be held at Focal Point Beer in LIC. More details and sign up here. Space is limited.
Kingsland Wildflowers Festival. Our friends at Kingsland Wildflowers are holding their annual festival, and NBCB will have table at the event. Did you know that despite Newtown Creek being a superfund site, all sorts of wildlife make a home in the creek, its salt marshes, and tributaries? Drop by and learn about the local habitat, and take part in some quiet coloring with NBCB coloring pages.
Read more about the event here.
NBCB Calendar:
Paddling. Robert’s Friday beginner kayak trips are back! Celebrate the end of the work week by jumping on his J. Peterman Reality Tour on July 7th. Or join Dewey on July 11th for Go With the Flow.
On July 13th, intermediate kayakers can take a Sunset Paddle around Roosevelt Island, and we're offering a beginner paddler for our WFT and nonbinary community on July 21st.
Trips are added often! Check your inbox and our calendar for more canoe and kayak trips during July.
