Overview
New York's Get Outdoors & Get Together Day coincides with National Get Outdoors Day, an annual event to encourage healthy, active outdoor fun.
Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a partnership between the NYS Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services, the Office of Mental Health, the Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
At events across the state, participants are encouraged to try new skills and enjoy a range of free introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, camping demonstrations, paddling, and more. Each event will highlight ways to enjoy the outdoors safely and sustainably.
Activities
All locations will offer a selection of accessible activities, and use of adaptive equipment and demonstrations will be provided at many sites free of cost, including trail and beach mobility aids, archery assist stands, arm supports for fishing, adaptive birding equipment, and more.
Certain sites will also feature sample assistive technology device loans from New York’s regional TRAID centers.
Some of the activities may include:
Fishing: Participate in free catch-and-release fishing clinics for everyone! Learn about fishing equipment, techniques, regulations, consumption advisories, and good places to fish. Participants may bring their own gear, but rods and reels will also be available for loan.
Camping 101: Try your hand at camping basics by pitching a tent on the lawn and learning how to pack for a camping trip. When the day is complete, you’ll be prepared to plan your next outdoor adventure.
Paddling: Learn the basics of this fun fast-growing sport and try getting out on the water.
Archery: Try hitting a bullseye with a bow and arrow and learn about important archery safety tips.
Birding: Learn how easy and fun it is to enjoy birdwatching almost anywhere.
Hiking: Take a short hike and learn the basics of finding the perfect trails on your own.
Outdoor safety: Learn the basics of being prepared and safe, so all outdoor adventures are good ones.
Accessible outdoor recreation: Experience and learn about accessible outdoor recreation opportunities on state lands, including hiking, camping, birding, fishing, and boating.
Arts and Crafts: Engage in arts and crafts, like making pinecone bird-feeders to take home.
Lawn Games: Try your hand at games like ladderball, ring toss and tic tac toe as you enjoy the outdoors.
Photos: Have your photo taken in our Get Outdoors & Get Together Day oversized photo frame.
Event Locations
The following locations will host Get Outdoors & Get Together Day in 2026:
View all of the participating event locations on an interactive map.
Long Island
- Hempstead Lake State Park in partnership with DEC (Nassau County)**
- Sunken Meadow State Park (Suffolk County)**
New York City
- College of Staten Island (Richmond County)** *
- Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (New York County)**
Hudson Valley
- Sterling Forest State Park (Orange County)
- Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County)
- Lake Taghkanic State Park (Columbia County)
Catskills
- Kenneth L. Wilson Campground (Ulster County)
- Catskills Visitor Center (Ulster County)
- North-South Lake Campground (Greene County)
Capital Region
Adirondacks
Thousand Islands
Central New York
- Chenango Valley State Park (Chenango County)
- NYSDEC’s Onondaga Lake Visitors Center (Onondaga County)
Finger Lakes/Rochester
- Taughannock Falls State Park (Tompkins County)
- Mendon Ponds Park in conjunction with the ADK Outdoor Expo (Monroe County)
Western New York
- Allegany State Park (Cattaraugus County)
- Darien Lakes State Park (Genesee County)
- Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center in partnership with State Parks (Erie County)
All locations offer wheelchair-accessible features and activities, including restrooms and select recreation opportunities. Adaptive equipment will be available for select activities across participating sites. Please contact each site directly for specifics on available adaptive equipment, accessible features, and programs offered.
For details about visitor amenities offered at State Parks, visit https://parks.ny.gov All accessibility-related inquiries should be directed to [email protected]
For details about DEC sites, visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/outdoors-day. For more information on accessibility at DEC locations, check out DEC’s Accessible Recreation Destinations Map, or reach out to the assigned ADA Accessibility Coordinator at that location.
*For details about the event at the College of Staten Island, please contact OPWDD at [email protected]
** The large vehicle/van registration form is required for those parking vans/large vehicles at these locations.
Van and Large Vehicle Registration for Downstate Locations
For those parking large vehicles and vans at Riverbank State Park, Hempstead Lake State Park, the College of Staten Island and Sunken Meadow State Park, registration is required as parking is limited for vans and large, oversized vehicles.
Please fill out the Downstate Van and Oversized Vehicle Parking Registration Form below.
You DO NOT need to fill out this form if you are driving a passenger car and attending the event. This is ONLY for large vehicles.
What to Bring
Guests visiting all sites are encouraged to bring their own water, snacks and sunscreen. Concession stands or food trucks selling food may may be available at some locations, but please check directly with the location to confirm. Guests should plan to pack a picnic lunch if they have not confirmed the availability of food and beverage.