Grace and friends at Marshland Conservancy, Rye

Inspired by mild, sunny days and the last golden foliage of fall, Grace and I have gone trekking twice this month. Trekking seems the right word to encompass both a gentle walk through the woods and a longer, more strenuous hike that involved climbing hills and rocks and fording (an admittedly small) stream. Much as Grace loves playing soccer, and I enjoy watching her games, it’s been a relief to reclaim our weekends before the snow falls…again. Every weekend that’s not rainy feels like a gift at this time of year, an offering just begging to be taken. 

The winter woods, draped in snow, have their own pleasures. But, it’s harder then to get motivated, to brave the cold and wet and the slippery trails, to get out of the house early to avoid the quickly darkening skies at the other end of the day. In Harriman State Park, in late fall, the brittle brown leaves flatten underfoot with a pleasing crunch, the trees are stripped bare, opening the woods in all directions, and a lone woodpecker raps high and far away in quick, hard bursts of sound.

At Marshland Conservancy in Rye, wild turkeys, having escaped the fate of their domesticated meal-bound brethren, cross the parking lot. The trail is flat and mostly even, though muddy in spots, and leads through the woods, alongside a tall-grass meadow and across marshy flats, where you begin to smell the sea in the brine-scented air. The trail ends at the beach—Long Island Sound—where, no matter the season, children entertain themselves by throwing sticks in the water, skipping stones and climbing rocks until the sun weakens and drops.

Back at Marshland Conservancy’s trailhead, the one room nature center is open and welcoming. There’s a naturalist on hand, a beautiful photo exhibit of the animals, birds and insects that inhabit the property, a three-dimensional map, horseshoe crab shells and most, importantly, bathrooms. But this may not be the case for long. So here comes the advocacy part.

According to our friends at Beczak Environmental Education Center and Sustainable Hastings, the proposed Westchester County budget calls for the closure of several county-funded nature centers, including Marshlands Conservancy, Lenoir Preserve, Cranberry Lake Preserve and three others.

In an e-mail message posted on the Westmoreland Sanctuary website, Michael Gabino, Director of the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, outlined the implications of these closures:

• All Westchester County nature centers will be shut down and in some cases the parks themselves will be closed and gated.
• There will be no rehiring in the foreseeable future for these parks…without staff  on site to maintain the nature centers and the acreage of the parks, decades of progress has the potential to deteriorate in short order. Storms and careless visitors will erode the trails. Buildings will fall into disrepair.
• There will be no educational programs, no interpretive experts at the parks, no summer ecology programs.

Personally, I can’t imagine not being able to walk the trails at Marshland Conservancy with my daughter. I can’t imagine the good that will come from denying Westchester residents, especially children, a trek in the woods, a glimpse of a turkey, the chance to learn about ecosystems and rocks and fish and tidal pools. In these days of holiday shopping and multi-plex movies, perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves and our children is the gift of going outdoors, where it’s silent and free.

So, I urge you to write to your county legislators a.s.a.p.  According to Gambino, a final vote is expected by the end of December, if not sooner. For contact information, visit http://westchesterlegislators.com/contact-us.html

On behalf of trekker everywhere, thank you for your action and concern.

Joelle, Grace and Daniel at Little Stony Point, Cold Spring

Last weekend, on a breezy, sun-dappled fall afternoon, I met the mother of one of my daughter Grace’s soccer teammates. Elizabeth, her husband and two children had moved to the Rivertowns from New York Cityonly a few weeks earlier and I was happy to tell her about some of Westchester’s great outdoor spaces. After referring her to the Rivertown Kids blog, I realized that she would have to read through several postings to find concrete information about local (and not so local) nature centers, hiking trails, campsites and bike paths. So, Grace and I have compiled a completely subjective list of our favorite things related to outdoor adventure. We’d love to learn about your favorite things, so please comment!

1)   Best Nature Centers: Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale and Beczak Environmental Education Center,Yonkers

Greenburgh Nature Center’s trails and outdoor animals offer the perfect nature outing for children of every age. Even toddlers can manage the gentle slopes and uneven paths and will delight in seeing bald eagles, turkeys, sheep, ducks and prarie dogs in their enclosures. On rainy days, the animal museum in the Manor House is a great place to visit, and perhaps touch, snakes, turtles, a chincilla and ferrets. GNC hosts family events year-round, as well as birthday parties and school break camps.  Grace has attended both the week-long summer camp and a winter break camp and has loved the hands-on activities. But GNC is not just for children. Last winter, with spring still weeks away and longing for a dose of nature, I tramped through the snow, alone in the quiet woods. For more information, visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org

Located on a semi-industrial street along the Yonkers waterfront, Beczak is an environmental education facility with a focus on the ecosystems that make up the Hudson River and its shoreline. Grace has created small treasures at Beczak’s weekend eco-art actvities, we have kayaked during the summer celebration, and I have enjoyed affordable concerts as part of the Urban H2O series.  Check out Beczak’s River Explorers program for 5-10 year olds, Fish Tales story time for ages 3-5 or Rivertalks, a lecture series for adults. Beczak also hosts birthday parties and summer camps. To find out what’s going on, visit www.beczak.org

2)    Best Place to Wade in the Hudson River: Little Stony Point Park, Cold Spring.

When you still your mind and reach deep for a vision of your most peaceful place, where is it? For me, it’s the memory of floating on my back in the Hudson River at Little Stony Point, the thin branches of shoreline trees reaching toward the water, a clear blue sky overhead and Storm KingMountain rising up on the western bank. Obviously, this was pre-parenthood, but last June, my friend Jackelien, her two kids, Grace and I packed a picnic lunch and headed upstate.

Little Stony Point lies just north of the village of Cold Spring on Route 9D, about 70 minutes north of the Rivertowns.  Park on the left side of the road near the entrance, or across 9D in a small unpaved lot and follow the trail across the railroad bridge and through the woods. Don’t let the word “park” fool you. There is a beach, the river and a couple trash cans, and that’s it. There are “No Swimming” signs, but people do, and there’s no harm (in my mind) in letting the kids wade in the river. Use your own judgment (but keep in mind the river’s current). Even without the wading, Grace and her friends had a wonderful time enhancing a fort other children had created from a bent-over tree. It’s one of the loveliest spots I know on the river; a perfect place for a picnic, at the very least. Be forewarned: Little Stony Point is popular with the locals, so go on a weekday if you can.  For more information, visit www.littlestonypoint.org

3)   Best Place to Walk Across the Hudson River: Walkway Over the Hudson, Poughkeepsie.

Spanning the Hudson just north of the Mid-Hudson Bridge in Poughkeepsie, Walkway Over the Hudson is one of New York State’s newest public parks. The transformation of a historic railroad bridge into a pedestrian walkway was spearheaded by a grassroots non-profit organization, proving yet again, to paraphrase Margaret Mead, that a small group of thoughtful citizens can indeed change the world. Or at least the way we view it.

Now you can view the Hudson River and its shoreline from 212 feet above the water. If this sounds scary, it’s not. The Walkway is broad, smooth and motionless, with high barriers strong enough to keep everyone safe, but built to allow amazing views. At 1.28 miles each way, it’s just long enough to feel that you’ve exercised, but not too long for a small child. For more information, including parking locations, visit www.walkway.org.

4)    Best Bike Path: The Old Croton Aqueduct Trail

Popular with joggers, dog walkers and cyclists, the Aqueduct Trail runs for over 26 miles from Van Cortlandt Park at the Yonkers/Bronx border north to the Croton Dam, following the historic aqueduct that once brought water to New York City. The path is ever changing: wide and gravelly, narrow and smooth with packed dirt, pockmarked with small stones and scarred with tree roots. The scenery is often surprising as well: patches of deep woods opening to suburban back yards, grand homes, tennis courts and the parking lots of small towns. On the ride from Dobbs Ferry to Tarrytown alone, you will cross the campus of Mercy College and Main Street in Irvington before arriving at Lyndhurst, a national historic site overlooking the Hudson River.

Earlier this month, village officials and Friends of the Old Croton Aqueduct celebrated the completion of a new trail entrance at Cedar Street in Dobbs Ferry. If you’ve ever struggled to carry your bike over the uneven concrete slabs that marked the former entrance, you’ll love the new paved ramp that slopes in a gracious curve to meet the dirt trail.  For more information, visit: www.aqueduct.org

5)    Best Mountain Climb for Children: Sugarloaf  Mountain, Garrison

O.K, so Sugarloaf is really a large hill, but to the 5-10 year old set, it’s a mountain. Grace and I climbed Sugarloaf for the first time two months after she turned five and we’ve done it twice since. The trail ascends gently for most of the hike, though the terrain is rugged in spots and you’ll have to climb over trees felled by recent storms. Toward the summit, the climb is steeper and may involve some scrambling.  When you reach the top, keep walking along the ridge until you see a rocky outcropping that overlooks the Hudson River and the Bear Mountain Bridge. At 890 feet, the view is beautiful, but the scenery is also lovely at lower elevations, where one can gaze across fields of high grasses to West Point looming across the river. The adjacent hill is topped by Osborn Castle, a privately owned fairy tale home.

For directions, visit www.nynjtc.org/hike/east-hudson-highlands-5. The hike up Sugarloaf (one way) takes about 1.5 hours. While light-weight hiking boots are ideal, we find that sturdy sneakers do just fine.

Stay tuned for Part II of Our Favorite Things, where we’ll cover Grace’s and my favorite campground, pick-your-own apple orchard and more.

Little Stony Point Park, Route 9D in Cold Spring, NY

When I was still driving to Albany three or four times a year, first from Long Island and later from southern Westchester, friends thought I was crazy for following Route 9 along the river rather than jumping on the Thruway as soon as possible. The more polite ones would lift an eyebrow just slightly, while others would blurt out “why?” In their minds, the meandering road involved too many stop lights, low speed zones, and a longer, more exasperating trip.

Inexplicably, I felt compelled to defend my choice of routes. Sometimes I would simply say “I prefer the scenic route.” Other times, I would go into more detail. “I find the Thruway mind-numbingly boring. If my child, who is prone to car-sickness, feels nauseous, I have to drive 30 miles (give or take) to the next rest stop before she can get out of the car.”

On Route 9 (or 9D, 9W, 9H, 9G or 9J), I can pull over at almost anytime, not just for her, but for me. It gives me time to make a cell phone call, stretch my legs, reach for a snack or change the CD of whatever audio book we’re listening to. Things no-one should be doing while driving 70 miles an hour on the Thruway.

And being on the “skinny road,” as my father calls it, actually involves, at least in some stretches, some driving skill. I love hugging the mountainside as Route 6/Route 202 narrowly snakes over Anthony’s Nose, linking Route 9 in Peekskill with 9D, which leads north to Garrison, Cold Spring and Beacon. Sometimes, especially if we are with friends, tourists to the mountaintop, we stop at the scenic overlook at the summit and take photographs of the river and the Bear Mountain Bridge.

Following the 9s also involves choices; the longer the trip, the more choices. “Which bridge should we cross this time?” I ask my daughter Grace. There’s the Bear Mountain, Beacon-Newburgh, Mid-Hudson, Kingston-Rhinecliff, Rip Van Winkle. Never the Tappan Zee, with its high toll and city traffic. Most times, we take one bridge crossing from east to west, and another on the way home, just to mix things up. High above the river, I sneak glances at the broad expanse of water, hoping to glimpse the sloop Clearwater under sail.

I can explain all this. What I can’t explain is the gravitational pull toward the small towns and their businesses, the historic markers and roadside oddities that are now as familiar to me as my own village block. To be sure, there are stretches of big box stores and traffic lights (most notably on Route 9 in Fishkill and Poughkeepsie), and run-down city streets. But these are part of the character of the Hudson Valley as much as the hills, quaint downtowns and river views.

There are memories here too, experiences shared with a companion, many years ago, who loved exploring the back roads as much as I did and the time spent aboard the Clearwater as we sailed from one port to another. When I adopted my daughter, bringing her home from China just before Christmas 2002, our first road trip together was to Albany along various 9s. Over the years, we have hiked Mt. Beacon and Sugarloaf Mountain on Route 9D, explored the shops of Cold Spring, eaten picnic lunches in the gazebo at the Garrison waterfront, toured the Saugerties lighthouse, and stopped for snacks and smalls gifts at Black Horse Farm stand on 9W in Athens.

My parents moved from Albany to North Carolina four years ago, so Grace and I rarely travel that far north anymore. But this weekend, we will go apple picking upstate, following the 9s to another adventure.

Catching minnows at North-South Lake in the Catskills

When my daughter was young, on the cusp of an active social life, I vowed that we wouldn’t become one of those over-scheduled families, rushing from music lessons to sports to playdates (arranged weeks in advance), gobbling 20-minute dinners and lamenting the “craziness” of our life.

To some degree, I’ve stuck to that promise. With rare exceptions, Grace and I eat evening meals together every night. Now nine years old, she loves soccer, so for the past three years has faithfully and happily attended practices on Saturdays and games on Sundays. When Grace expressed an interest in learning Chinese, I told her that I could investigate language classes, but she would have to choose between soccer and Chinese lessons. Soccer won, hands down.

Even so, the precious weekend hours have become increasingly crowded with errands, birthday parties, church services and meetings, sports and playdates. I added free-lance reporting to my schedule, on top of a full-time job. The hike up Anthony’s Nose, or the bike ride along the Aqueduct Trail keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the “To Do” list. It’s too hot (summer excuse), too cold (winter excuse), we’re too busy (spring and fall excuses) and we’re just too tired.

Three years ago, I started Rivertown Kids for the Environment. At the time, I was a newly minted graduate of Leadership Westchester, an intensive 10-month personal and professional development course that helped me peel back layers of indecision and craft a vision for my life. Thanks to David Severance, our amazing facilitator, and my classmates, I was able to stand up and say “the things that matter most to me are community, children and nature.” At our graduation ceremony, I boldly and excitedly told the audience about my new organization—Rivertown Kids—that would “foster a love of nature and stewardship of the earth in young children.”

It was a good idea—all my friends told me so, and I believed it myself. So what happened? It turned out that most of the parents I know, even the ones who try desperately not to over-schedule, are in fact overscheduled. And if you don’t know about the view from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, or the hidden gem of Hudson River beach across from Storm King, or the supplies needed for a successful camping trip, well… then it becomes easier to stay home.

Perhaps more importantly, I have lost just a little of my own inspiration. I have not carved out the time; I have not made being in nature, on a regular basis, a priority. I am not blaming myself, or excusing myself: it is just the reality.

But if I am in need of inspiration, I pull up the memory of a recent afternoon in the woods that will remain forever imprinted in my, and hopefully my daughter’s consciousness. On the mossy banks of the creek that ran behind our Catskills campsite, Grace had discovered a patch of delicate white flower petals and miniature pine cones. She carefully placed the pine cones in a half dozen petal cups and launched the tiny boats downstream, delighted when they remained intact through dangerous (to a flower petal vessel) eddies and dismayed when they shipwrecked. No movie, no video game, no activity can top that.

I may never find the time to climb mountains every weekend, but surely Grace and I can scale small hills just a little more often.

Hiking along Mary's Glen Trail

After the car is filled, leaving room only for me to drive and Grace in the back seat, I mount the bike rack, secure our bikes—one blue adult hybrid and one small pink bike with a horn. We pull away from the house singing Willie Nelson’s “On the Road Again”.

II. Mornings I am awakened by a cacophony of birds–chirping, whistling, chortling–surrounding our small tent with sound. The sun has not yet risen above the pines and birches that ring the rocky hard-packed dirt of the campsite, but once I emerge, stiffly, into the day, I see that the sky is flawless, the air hinting of warmth, and light infused green everywhere.

III. New this year: when I check into the campground, the park ranger asks me to sign a piece of paper acknowledging the rules relating to bears. Black bears share this forest land with campers and hikers and the number one rule is: “Under no circumstances, feed the bears.” I tell the ranger, “Under no circumstances would I feed the bears”. She informs me that there have been no bear incidents this season, leaving me wondering “what exactly is an incident?”

I am half in, half out of the tent when a man stops at the edge of our campsite and tells my friend Amy Jo that a bear is heading our way. A small bear, he notes, but since we have children he wanted to let us know. “Is it a cub?” I ask. I know a thing or two about bears. One is that you can’t outrun or out climb them. The second is that bears generally won’t bother humans unless they are looking for food left out by careless campers, or if their cub is threatened.

With a mix of fear and curiosity, all four of us—two eight-year olds and their moms—peer around the corner of our site. Indeed, there is a not quite grown black bear lumbering down the road in our direction. I order the kids into the car. Grace and I are safely in ours, no she scrambles out—she wants to be with her friend Maya. Just get in the car! Then we wait. After a few minutes, I begin to feel foolish. How long should we stay locked up? The bear seems to have disappeared into the woods. We all climb out, glance nervously into the trees and resume our day.

Later, I report the sighting to the ranger at the front gate. She gives me a half smile and says simply “I’m not surprised.” I ask her for the second time if a bear happened to be nosing around our tents at night, would it be best to lie quietly terrified in our sleeping bags or make a lot of noise. For the second time, she tells me that as long as we lock all food, garbage and scented toiletries in the car, the bears will leave us alone. Although I am somewhat reassured, I keep the remote car alarm nearby as I sleep that night.

IV. To Grace’s delight, I am not bugging her about showering this weekend. So she is happily dirty, wild-haired and wearing the same baggy rainbow striped leggings with the hole in the knee, day in and day out, regardless of the weather.

V. Even in a fully equiped kitchen, cooking is not my forte. However, I’m game, with Amy Jo’s help, to put together a three-course meal over a campfire. Thanks to the kindness of the previous campers who left a pile of kindling behind, and several days without rain, we easily manage a respectable fire. I wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and place them in the fire. We place corn on the cob, still in their husks, on the grill. Each of us spears our hotdogs and cooks them like marshmallows over the flames. The aluminum foil falls away in the heat, leaving the potatoes ashy and burnt around the edges. The corn is not completely cooked and the hot dogs not quite hot. Nevertheless, it’s not bad, and washed down with some red wine (grown-ups only!), it tastes like a real meal.

VI. The long weekend slips away in languorous days spent hiking, bicycling and lounging at the edge of the lake. The afternoons are hot, the water cold and refreshing, as mountain lakes should be. The nights are cool, though there is no need for jackets. We crush hot marshmallows between graham crackers and chocolate, lick our sticky fingers, add more wood to the fire. We marvel at a perfect sky, studded with a thousand stars. We don’t want to leave.

North-South Lake (http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24487.html) is located in Haines Falls, NY, about 3 hours north of the Rivertowns. It is a popular state campground and tends to be crowded during holiday weekends. For any weekend, plan to make your reservation as far in advance as possible.

The festival runs all day on Saturday, June 19th and Sunday, June 20th. For those who are attending for the first time, here are a few tips:

• Don’t expect to see everything. There’s just too much going on: music, dance, storytelling, crafts, food, boats, environmental exhibits and activist booths. Use the program book to pick and choose.

• If your children are beyond the stroller age, but younger than, say 10, it helps to bring a sturdy wagon. Last year, my daughter Grace and I brought a wagon for the first time. We used it to carry our water bottles, foldable, lightweight chairs, sunblock, extra clothes, program book, etc., making it much easier to lug stuff around. When Grace got too tired, I indulged her in a ride. When it rained, I covered the whole thing with a piece of plastic, keeping our things dry.

• Prepare for the weather. Bring rain gear if there’s even the slightest chance of rain. Bring sun block and a hat no matter what. There is shade, but many of the performances take place in large sunny fields. Bring bug repellant for those evening hours when the mosquitoes emerge. Remember, this is an outdoor festival.

• Bring your own snacks and water. There’s some great food for sale and you should sample some, but there will be times when you’re far away from the food area, or just don’t feel like standing in line, and you’ll be glad you have refreshments handy.

• Obey the rules. Leave the dog at home. Recycle everything you can. Pay attention to the signs. Listen to the volunteers.

• Enjoy! Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival is the oldest and one of the largest music and environmental festivals in the country. And if you think you might like to volunteer next year, contact me for the inside scoop. You’ll make new friends and have a great time, all while supporting Clearwater’s work to protect and preserve the Hudson River and its surrounding watershed.

For more information about the 2010 Revival, including the list of performers, visit clearwaterfestival.org.

Scene I: a glorious Saturday afternoon in spring. Blue skies, green grass, children kicking soccer balls. Mild, but not too warm. And a silver mini-van idling in the parking lot at the edge of the playing field, its owner nowhere to be seen.

Scene II: Another beautiful day in early spring. Grace and I are taking a leisurely bike ride along the country-like roads that wind through the Lyndhurst estate. We pass a car left at the side of the road, running. There is no-one within 200 feet of the vehicle.

Scene III: A gas station on Central Avenue in Scarsdale. A woman jumps out of her SUV and begins pumping gas. Heedless of the signs forbidding it, she leaves the engine running the whole time.

Why?

I’m going to assume for a moment that the drivers were unaware of the pollutants they were spewing into the air. But why would you waste expensive gas in that way? (As Grace pointed out, gas was leaving the gas station lady’s car as she was pumping it in! She was also hedging her bets that she wouldn’t blow herself and everyone else sky high.)

In the movie “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, the hero Atticus Potts gallantly, albeit grudgingly, helps the lovely Miss Truly Scrumptious with the arduous task of cranking up her car. But we don’t live in the early 20th century when cars were newfangled contraptions and women wore ankle-length white dresses to go out driving. It doesn’t take any effort at all to turn your car on and off. Really. Most cars start right up with just the turn of a key.

I can understand, though I don’t agree with, the people who sit in a warm running car in the winter while waiting for the school bus with their kids. (Though when did our children, or we, become so fragile that we couldn’t just send them out bundled in hats, scarves and mittens?) Or sitting in an air-conditioned car on a brutally hot July day. But when we do that, we are making a statement. And that statement is: our own comfort is more important that the air that we breathe.

There are several good reasons to turn off your engine when you’re not going anywhere:

1) It’s the law in Westchester County.
Westchester County’s anti-idling law went into effect on February 10, 2009. It reads, in part: “The county’s anti-idling law limits the time any motor vehicle in Westchester County
may idle, when the vehicle is not in motion, to three consecutive minutes.”

2) Idling has a negative impact on the air that we all breathe. According to the California Energy Commission’s Consumer Energy Center, “idling is linked to increases in asthma, allergies, heart and lung disease and cancer.” In its “State of the Air” Report 2010, the American Lung Association gives Westchester County an “F” grade for ozone levels and a “C” for particles pollution. The report notes that air pollution is more dangerous for children because their lungs are still developing and kids are so active.

3) On it’s website, the Consumer Energy Center notes, “idling gets ZERO miles to the gallon. For every two minutes a car is idling, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to go about one mile… Even in winter, you don’t need to let your car sit and idle for five minutes to “warm it up” when 30 seconds will do just fine.”

The Consumer Energy Center also dispels these myths about idling:

Myth: Idling is good for your engine. Reality: Excessive idling can actually damage your engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs, and exhaust systems. Fuel is only partially combusted when idling because an engine does not operate at its peak temperature. This leads to the build up of fuel residues on cylinder walls that can damage engine components and increase fuel consumption.

Myth: Shutting off and restarting your vehicle is hard on the engine and uses more gas than if you leave it running. Reality: Frequent restarting has little impact on engine components like the battery and the starter motor. Component wear caused by restarting the engine is estimated to add $10 per year to the cost of driving, money that will likely be recovered several times over in fuel savings from reduced idling. The bottom line is that more than ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

So, the next time you are picking someone up, waiting for your child to emerge from school or pulled over to use your cell phone, turn off your engine. You’ll be saving gas and protecting the health of your children, my child and the thousands of kids who depend on us adults to keep them safe.

Westchester’s Anti-Idling Law:www.bedfordny.info/html/pdf/green/2009%20WC%20Anti-Idling%20Law.pdf

California Consumer Energy Center:
www.consumerenergycenter.org/myths/idling.html

State of the Air report: www.stateoftheair.org/2010/states/new-york/westchester-36119.html.

North-South Lake Campground in the Catskills

Last summer, thanks to my friend Hatti, we discovered North-South Lake, a state campground in Haines Falls (near Saugerties) in the Catskill Mountains. (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24487.html). Hatti is a naturalist and fairly intrepid outdoors-person. She and her 8-year old daughter Emma have hiked, canoed and camped in the Adirondacks for several years and she is perfectly willing, with the right equipment and companions, to leave the car behind and trek into the woods for a few days. I, on the other hand, prefer a campground that has flush toilets and space for my car, if for no other reason than it’s a secure place to store food away from prying paws.

In June, Grace and I set off for the Catskills, taking the slower scenic route along Route 9/9W that we favor over the Thruway. I was excited about the bike rack I had just purchased and was looking forward to seeing Hatti and Emma. Grace couldn’t wait to practice her newly acquired skill of riding a 2-wheeler. Although the weather was cool and wet the first day, there was much to enjoy.

I loved that the sites were large, wooded, and fairly private. I loved that there was an indoor nature program on a rainy afternoon and that we could rent a kayak, canoe, peddle or rowboat for a very reasonable price the next day when the sun emerged. I loved how clean the bathrooms were!

Grace and I returned to North-South Lake over Labor Day weekend, this time with our good friends James and Viera. The nights in early September were cold, but the days sunny and warm, if not hot enough for swimming. The campground is surrounded by wonderful hiking trails, from the short, easy trek to the site of the former Catskill Mountain House to the more difficult, but doable-for-children hike alongside Kaaterskill Falls. The Falls’ two tiers, at 85’ and 175’, are the highest in New York State and are definitely worth experiencing.

North-South Lake is one of the most popular campgrounds in the New York State parks system and fills up fast. If you’re thinking about camping this summer, or even Labor Day weekend, you may want to reserve now. A little tip on the side: our favorite place to buy camping equipment is Campmor.com. This company sells quality products, and our orders have been accurate and delivered on time.

If you want to check out other campgrounds in the Catskills, our friend Craig recommends Little Pond State Campground near Andes, New York (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24478.html). He has camped there with his wife and two daughters. He reports that “it’s very beautiful, has a small lake for canoeing with a designated swimming area, and lots of bullfrogs.”

Craig notes that there are also trails for hiking, and the only downside is the presence of bears in the area. However, there have been bear sightings at North-South Lake too, and if you lock away all your food as well as anything scented (toothpaste, deodorant, hair products, etc), the bears and other creatures will likely keep their distance.

In August, Grace and I will be off on another adventure: a road trip to North Carolina where we will camp with my parents near Ashville. Summer is not long off, and we are looking forward to languid days and starry nights in our little home away from home.

We picked up the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail (www.aqueduct.org) where Cedar meets Main in Dobbs Ferry. Popular with joggers, dog walkers and cyclists, the Aqueduct Trail runs for over 26 miles from Van Cortlandt Park at the Yonkers/Bronx border north to the Croton Dam, following the historic aqueduct that once brought precious water to New York City. The path is ever changing: wide and gravelly, narrow and smooth with packed dirt, pockmarked with small stones and scarred with tree roots. The scenery is often surprising as well: patches of deep woods opening to suburban back yards, grand homes, tennis courts and the parking lots of small towns. On the ride to Tarrytown alone, you will cross the campus of Mercy College and Main Street in Irvington before arriving at
Lyndhurst, a national historic site overlooking the Hudson River.

Lyndhurst (www.lyndhurst.org) is a wonderful place to take a break. On Easter Sunday, we cycled up to the front door of this spectacular gothic-style mansion and peered in the windows from the veranda. Tours are available, but it’s also nice to just walk around the 67 acres of grounds, where massive curling trees straight out of Narnia or the Land of Oz beckon young would-be climbers. Alas, there is a sign prohibiting tree climbing, so we dutifully admired the low and twisted branches from the ground.

Grace and I have also cycled the South County Trail, which you can access from Lawrence Street in Dobbs Ferry, just east of the Saw Mill River Parkway, among other points. The advantage of this trail is that it’s paved and relatively smooth. A nice stopping point on this ride is the duck pond at V.E. Macy Park. The disadvantage is that, for at least the stretch we’ve done, the traffic on the Saw Mill is never completely out of sight or earshot. For more information on this and other county trails, visit www.westchester.gov.

As I’ve mentioned in previous postings, there’s so much to do in Westchester County (see below for a highly subjective listing), but Grace and I now have a goal: she wants to ride all the way to the end of the Aqueduct Trail in Croton. So, pump up your tires and dust off your helmets and join us on the trails!

Beczak Environmental Education Center, Yonkers (www.beczak.org)
April 24
Earth Day at Beczak
Join Beczak’s staff in giving back to the earth.
Snacks and gloves provided.
Folk/bluegrass concert at 11:00 AM.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Greenburgh Nature Center, Scarsdale (greenburghnaturecenter.org)
Sunday, April 18, 1:00 – 3:30 PM – EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
It’s the 40th anniversary of Earth Day! Show your appreciation of the natural world by joining us for a fun, earth-friendly afternoon as we spruce up our grounds, prepare our garden beds, clear our trails, and more. Then learn about sustainability practices from our naturalist staff. Free visit to our Animal Museum included for all Earth Day volunteers. Groups welcome but please pre-register. Free.

Westchester County Parks
4/17/10
EARTH DAY SHORE CLEAN-UP
Details: You can make a difference by pitching in to keep our shorelines free of trash. Work gloves and trash bags provided. Refreshments served. Meet at the nature center.
Hours: Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Croton Point Nature Center
Croton Point Park
Croton-on-Hudson, NY

BIRDS OF PREY PROGRAM
Details: Meet master falconer James Eyring from the Pace University Environmental Center. James will introduce you to his feathered friends while you learn all about these amazing birds.
Hours: Saturday 1 p.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Lenoir Preserve
Dudley Street
Yonkers, NY 10701

For additional information: (914) 968-5851

4/24/10
FIRST SPRING MIGRATION BIRD WALK
Details: This is the first in a series of early morning bird walks on alternate Saturdays and Sundays during the spring migration. Birds tend to arrive in an area on almost the same date each year depending on their species. Bring binoculars and watch the birds as they come back from points south.
Hours: Saturday 7:30 a.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Marshlands Conservancy
Route 1
Rye, NY 10580

For additional information: (914) 835-4466

4/24/10
SPRING ADVENTURES FOR KIDS: ARROWHEADS FLINT-KNAPPING WORKSHOP
Details: Learn to transform lumps of stone into elegant Native American tools in the Lenape Lifeways tradition. Tools and protective gear provided.
Hours: Saturday 1 p.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Croton Point Nature Center
Croton Point Park
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

For additional information: (914) 862-5792

4/24/10
HOW TO THINK LIKE A TRACKER
Details: Tracking skills open up the world of nature like nothing else. Learn to see animal tracks and clues as we investigate nearby fields and forests. Discover how the landscape influences animals and how animals impact the land. Note: This ia an intermediate level program. For ages 12 and up.
Hours: Saturday 1 p.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Read Sanctuary
Playland Park
Playland Parkway
Rye, NY 10580

For additional information: (914) 967-8720

4/24/10
I DO, I DO, I DO BELIEVE IN FAIRIES
Details: Let nature be your guide. Join the naturalist for an amazing afternoon of fairy houses. This fun-filled program will allow children to explore their imagination and creativity while building their own unique fairy homes.
Hours: Saturday 2 p.m.
Cost: Free

Location: Lenoir Preserve
Dudley Street
Yonkers, NY 10701

For additional information: (914) 968-5851

Beczak was founded in 1989, but only opened its own interpretive center at 35 Alexander Street in 2004. (Grace and I attended the ribbon cutting, inaugurating our own Beczak experience.) When we first started attending weekend programs about three years ago, we were delighted to find inexpensive ($5 a session) eco-art activities that were perfect for a child who loves art and nature. Even in winter, the activities often involved a walk across the lawn to the edge of the river, where the children would comb the sandy beach for materials to use in their art projects. Sticks, rocks, feathers, “devil’s heads” and sea glass were glued or tied to make shadow boxes, mobiles and collages to take home.

Beczak today is more active than ever. Programs that once drew a few families now sell out. The weekend Young Explorers program always starts with a lesson about Hudson River basics (picture Dorene Sukup, an enthusiastic young instructor, reaching her arms high as if pointing north to fresh water, then reaching “south” to salt water and then rapidly rolling her arms to show how fresh water and salt water become brackish. Fresh. Salt. Brackish!) Thanks to a grant from Con Edison, the River Explorer programs are free for the time-being, but even at $5, they’re a great way to spend a couple hours on a Saturday afternoon. River Explorers is suitable for kids aged 5 to 12. For the younger set, Beczak has started Fish Tales for 3-5 year olds. There’s also Rivertalks, a Saturday evening lecture series; and Urban H2O, a concert series.

Really, there’s too much going on for me to describe in one posting. Last weekend, Grace and I enjoyed a performance by Irish Step Dancers, and this weekend we’re bringing a friend from Boston to the Urban H2O concert. So, check it out yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

Footnote: A couple weeks ago, after enjoying a delicious pancake brunch at Greenberg Nature Center, Grace and I tramped through the woods, snow crunching under our feet. We had fun climbing some very big rocks and as we turned back to the trail, we saw, nestled amid the dead wet leaves, an extraordinary plant. It was burgundy colored, with two sections curling outward like ram’s horns and rubbery to the touch. Back at the Manor House, we ran into Anne Jaffe-Holmes, who told us that the plant is Skunk Cabbage, one of the first plants of spring. And we were the first to report a sighting! Oh, the joys of late winter tramping in the woods!