Sunday, January 08, 2012 from 11:00 am- 3:00 pm, the Taconic Outdoor Education Center opens its doors once again to the public for its annual Winterfest. Come alone or with family and friends and be part of the National Winter Trails Day.

Enjoy a winter day outdoors. As part of National Winter Trails Day we will have Tubbs snowshoes available for use courtesy of Hudson Valley Outfitters, of Cold Spring, NY.On a first come, first served basis, participants will have a chance to use a pair of snowshoes for a short period of time. Garrison Fish & Game Club will be ice fishing on Duck Pond, come join them and learn about this fun way to fish in the winter. REI will also be on hand. Let the Instructors from REI’s Outdoor School show you how to set up a comfortable Winter Camp site, as well as an Emergency Backcountry Shelter.

The back hill will be open for tubing, the lake open for skating (bring your own skates or “boot” skate). In the Lodge, food will be available along with crafts, Putnam Highland Audubon and Guiding Eyes for the Blind. REI will also offer mini clinics covering: Winter clothing, XC Skiing and Ice Climbing. We will finish the day with a wildlife presentation at 3:00 by Bill Robinson.

Winterfest is a rain or shine (snow, or no snow) event. Activities will be adjusted to fit the weather. Please call: (845) 265-3773

Watch the video from 2010 and see all the fun.. Don’t miss out on another activity in Putnam County, sign up for our FREE “Things to do Guide” weekly e-newsletter.

The Conservation Advisory Committee of the Town of Kent hopes you can join us on a walk through the Fred Dill Wildlife Sanctuary with wood craftsman Ralph Szur and naturalist Beth Herr. Learn the different uses, growth habits, and identifiers of oaks, maples, ashes and dogwoods.

The group will assemble at the Sanctuary’s parking area on the south side of Fair Street between Carmel High School and De Colores Drive at 1pm. The hike will take approximately two hours. Be sure to dress warmly. If weather forces us to cancel the hike, we’ll let everyone who subscribes to the CAC hikes email list know by e-mail and post the news on kentcac.info. For further details contact David Ehnebuske by phone at 878-7592 or by e-mail.

Hope to see you there!

Dave Ehnebuske

All members of the group must be amateur musicians between the ages of 15 and 20. Submit samples on CD. They can be either original compositions or unique interpretations of the music of other artists. The overall winner will win a grand prize.

Music samples on CD must be received at the County Parks Department by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29. Music samples can be mailed or delivered to Westchester County Parks, 25 Moore Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY 10549, attention Battle of the Bands.

Send a sample of your band’s best music and win a spot to perform live at the Music Tower Theater during Playland’s eighth annual Battle of the Bands on July 22.

All samples must include a separate sheet of paper with the band’s name; members’ names, addresses and ages; the name of the song or songs played on the CD; and daytime and evening telephone numbers of the member who will act as the contact person.

For more information, go to westchestergov.com/parks or call Kevin Cook at 914-864-7064 or e-mail kdc2@westchestergov.com.

Please join the Putnam County Government, Town of Carmel, NYC DEP, area businesses and residents in celebrating the official opening of the Lake Gleneida Walking Trail on Tuesday, May 24 (rain date May 25) at 10:00am.

After short opening remarks, all are invited to enjoy a walk along the unpaved trail (map is attached).

This is the first designated walking trail approved by our good partners at NYC Environmental Protection.

Walking trails have been linked to many important social benefits, e.g., community health benefits, community partnerships and economic improvements.

Parking will be along Rte. 301 & Fowler Avenues or behind the Historic Putnam County Courthouse.

Please let us know if you will be attending by calling Walt Thompson at 845-808-1390 ext. 43155

WHEN:
Saturday, June 11th (campout ends 11:00am June13th)
Doors open at 4:00pm
BBQ at 5:30pm

WHERE:
The Claudio Marzollo Community Center of Philipstown
(aka Philipstown Recreation Center)
107 Glenclyffe Drive, Garrison, NY

GOOD FOOD:
Burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, potato salad, cole slaw, fresh organic green salad (with lettuce from Second Wind CSA), hummus and pita, watermelon, lemonade, iced tea, water

Campout breakfast will include juice, coffee, tea, bagels & spreads, cereals, fruit and yogurt

GOOD MUSIC:
Headline Bands and a mish mash of Philipstown’s finest campout musicians leading the sing-along at the Sleep Over Under the Stars!

GOOD FUN:
Lots of fun outdoor activities including soccer, hula hooping with Judy, a wildlife presentation, and giant bubbles, as well as a raffle with great prizes including:

•a family pack of tickets to a West Point Football game,
•kid’s summer programs at Bear Mt. Trailside Museum & Zoo
•a one of a kind Greenbox Studio from Habitat for Artists
Festival admission (inc. BBQ dinner) is:

•$10 in advance / $15 at the door per individual
•$25 in advance / $30 at the door per family
•$50 per family for Sleep Over Under the Stars admission (includes the Festival, BBQ dinner & breakfast)

Stay for a Sleep Over Under the Stars!
Immediately following the festival, families are invited to campout, enjoy a good old-fashioned sing-along that evening, breakfast in the morning and a few fun surprises along the way including a night time Owl Prowl hike with birders from the Putnam-Highlands Audubon Society. All camping families must pre-register. Please download the campout information flyer for more details.

These events are sponsored by Turner Construction Company and generously supported by U.S. Military Academy Football Program, Bear Mountain Trailside Museum & Zoo, Habitat for Artists, and the Putnam-Highlands Audubon Society.

These events are graciously hosted by the Philipstown Recreation Department and Open Space Institute.

For more information, please contact HHLT at: 845-424-3358 or http://www.info@hhlt.org.

Stonecrop Gardens

 Just a short drive from Cold Spring on Route 301, the 12-acre garden offers quite walking paths, including woodland and water gardens, a grass garden, raised alpine stone beds, cliff rock gardens, an enclosed English-style flower garden, gorgeous Hudson Valley views, and secret landscape surprises. 

Stonecrop was originally the home of Anne and Frank Cabot and became a public garden in 1992 under the direction of Caroline Burgess.  With a windswept elevation of 1,100 feet in the Hudson Highlands, Stonecrop enjoys a Zone 5 climate making the area very hardy for many species of plants.  Stonecrop is the perfect place to inspire amateur and professional gardeners alike.  There are plenty of quite places to sit back and relax.  Be respectful of the garden and take all of your garbage with you.

Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm
The 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month (April to October)
Starting May 1, the gardens stay open until dusk every Friday.

Admission: $5.00 per person
More info:  845-265-2000 or www.stonecrop.org
Address:  81 Stonecrop Lane, Cold Spring, NY 10516

Want to know what else is going on in Putnam County? [CLICK HERE]

Typical Bloom Calendar at Stonecrop Gardens:

February/March
Indoor Display
Outdoor (Early spring bulbs, Galanthus, Eranthis)
April/May
Bulb display throughout the Garden
Rock Ledge, Raised Beds, Trough Display (Alpines, Saxifraga, Draba, Alyssum, Phlox)
Himalayan Slope, Gus’s Slope (Deciduous Rhododendron, Native Shadblow)
Wisteria Pavilion
Woodland Garden
June/July
Rock Ledge, Raised Beds, Rock Walls (Alpines, Campanulas, Dianthus)
August/September
Pond Garden, Rock Ledge (Aquatic Display)
Autumn Bulbs
Indoor/Outdoor
Flower Garden (Asters, Dahlias, Salvias, Tropicals)
Grass Garden
Systematic Order Beds  
October/November
Autumn foliage and fruit displays throughout the Garden

Spring at Stonecrop

PARENT / GUARDIAN PARTICIPATION REQUIRED.

Non-Refundable Registration Fee: $85.00 Non 4-H Members; $65.00 for 4-H Members  (includes enrollment & workbook materials).

Paid registration reserves your spot – Prior Participants not eligible

Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program,
in partnership with the Whipple Foundation and Tilly Foster Farm.
4-H Junior Farmer Registration Form — First Come, First Serve — Due with payment before April 1, 2011

========================================================================

Child’s Name:______________________________________________ Age:________
Parent / Guardian’s Name:_________________________________
Address:______________________________________________

City:______________________ Zip:____________

Phone Number:______________________ Alt. #:______________

Email: _______________________________________________

(Please Print) : _________________________________________

Please make check payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County
Send to: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County
Terravest Corporate Park—1 Geneva Rd. * Brewster, NY 10509

For additional information on how to enroll your child in 4-H please call Cornell Cooperative Extension (845) 278-6738 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/putnam

The Taconic Outdoor Education Center will have Tubbs snowshoes available for use courtesy of Hudson Valley Outfitters, of Cold Spring, NY.  On a first come, first served basis, participants will have a chance to use a pair ofsnowshoes for a short period of time. The back hill will be open for tubing, the lake open for skating (bring your own skates or”boot” skate).  In the Lodge, food will be available along with crafts, Putnam Highland Audubon and Guiding Eyes for the Blind.  We will finish the day with a wild life presentation at 3:00 by Bill Robinson.

The Winterfest is a rain or shine (snow, or no snow) event.  Activities will be adjusted to fit the weather.  Food and beverages will be available in Highland Lodge. Sorry,no pets.   Suggested Donation is $2 for Adults  and $1 for Kids.

Watch last year’s video and see all the fun..  Don’t miss out on another activity in Putnam County, sign up for our FREE  “Things to do Guide”  weekly e-newsletter.

What happens is this: you decide which style and size you want, and tell me. I order the kits, which come with ash frames already bent, and many yards of nylon tubular lacing. (The bindings are not included, but cost only $25 – $35 depending on the style you choose. I have the details on your options.) Then, I’ll hold classes, say three evenings for a couple of hours each evening (or whatever it takes), to help guide you through the process. (I remember lacing my first shoe took considerably longer than the second; after a while you get the hang of it. You do NOT have to be particularly handy to do this; I am living proof.) When you’re done lacing, take them home and put 3-4 coats of exterior gloss polyurethane on them, let them dry for a bit, and hit the trails! Much like carving canoe paddles, I got a real sense of satisfaction from making something that I could then actually use.

Many folks prefer a model with long “tails” which act like a rudder and help keep the shoes pointed straight. Lacking a tail, Bearpaws don’t track as well, so they may not be as good for longer hikes but would work for hanging around a campsite. I LOVE the Ojibwa style (the pointed tips make it easy to navigate through brush and undergrowth), but I have used Hurons as well and they’re fine. The Alaskan model is quite long and probably not suitable for hiking around here. Your choice.

Why traditional instead of modern shoes made of metal and plastic? I own both (and we will be selling Tubbs shoes this year, but my heart belongs to my wood shoes. First, I admit I like “old style” gear. If you’ve been in the shop you’ve seen my 1915 wood/canvas canoe (and I have another one in the barn, and two more at our cottage). I like the look and feel of natural materials. But there’s more. Wood is quiet and grippier; metal is loud and slippery. Modern shoes mostly have solid “decking” rather than lacing, so snow doesn’t have a way to fall back through. Traditional shoes have more flotation (bigger surface area) so you don’t sink down into the snow as much. However, that bigger area, combined with the long tails, can make them harder to transport if space is an issue; think airplane luggage and overhead compartments. Last but not least by any means: wood shoes just look COOL. I mean really, would you hang a pair of metal snowshoes over your fireplace?

Cost:  $150 covers the cost of the kit and bindings, plus as much class instruction and time as needed. (Varnish is NOT included; you supply and apply.) By comparison, a pair of modern shoes can run from $120 to $250+++  and you won’t get the satisfaction of having made them yourself.

When: Call 845-319-6172 or e-mail me with questions or to order a kit. Class size will be limited to ensure you get plenty of hands-on attention, and I’ll need a minimum group size of 3-4, so let me know by NOVEMBER 7^th . Once I have folks signed up we’ll settle on days/evenings that work for everyone. If a lot of folks are interested, I’ll hold another class. As a former teacher, I’m a big believer in small class size. Give it a try!

Snowshoe Rentals and Tubbs Sales This Winter

On the other hand—if you want to get out on snowshoes but don’t want to buy (or make) some, we will again be offering RENTALS. I have a variety of sizes to fit everyone from young to not so young, and they come with trekking poles if you’d like. Cost for shoes and poles is around $20 for the day. Hopefully we’ll have more snow than last winter. (I realize not everyone may agree with that sentiment!)

And—after all my talk about “traditional” vs “modern” shoes—I am pleased to say that GBO will shortly be a Tubbs Snowshoe dealer. Tubbs is arguably the leading brand of “modern” snowshoes and offers a wide range of models—more than I can carry. So, I have decided to stock a handul of models that I think will best fit the needs of the vast majority of local winter hikers. Prices will be very reasonable (starting around $120), so if you’re in the market, or if you rent a time or two and enjoy the sport, you might want to seriously consider buying a pair. Snowshoes last many, many years, and they’re a good investment in outdoor gear. I should have them (along with trekking poles and gaiters, to keep the snow out of your boots) in the store by late November, so come on by and take a look. I got my first pair of snowshoes as a Christmas present from a crazy aunt when I was in high school—and I still have them! Guess she was on to something after all. (And now I think they’d make a great present for someone you know!)

Progress Report—Appalachian Trail Boardwalk in Pawling

Man, I love this project. Fantastic progress has been made over the course of this summer/early fall on the boardwalk crossing the Swamp River wetlands near the train stop on Rt 22. It’s right before Native Landscaping on the north side of Pawling; there’s a small parking lot by the train stop. Park there, cross the tracks (carefully!) and walk maybe 100 yards to the start. If you haven’t seen it yet, or if it has been a while, do yourself a favor and go check it out; you’ll be amazed at how far the boardwalk now extends. Groups of AT volunteers from out of state, joined by several “locals”, have come to Pawling to work on this; the last group for this season just left earlier this week, though we will do a bit more work in the next month and hopefully finish it next spring. There is even a pair of benches out toward the end where you can soak up the quiet, or watch the abundant bird life. Check it out!     

Again, let me know by Sunday, November 7^th if you’re interested in the snowshoe class. Call with any questions, or better yet come by the store and see for yourself.  Thank you all for your continued support of Great Blue Outfitters!

Mac Rand
Great Blue Outfitters
3198 Route 22
Patterson, NY 12563
845-319-6172
info@greatblueoutfitters.com

Regristration fee is $10 per dog or $15 for a family of dogs.  People admission and parking are free.  Rain date is September 26, 2010.  There will be several dog contests such as longest hair, sloppiest kisser, softest coat, cutest puppy, mid-aged wonders, pet tricks, and more.  Over 200 raffle pizes will be given away.  There will also be an animal blessing, dog demonstrations, live music, and many vendors offering discounts. 

All proceeds benefit the Putnam Humane Society.  Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a nice day with your dog friends.

Watch last year’s video and see what the doggie excitment is all about