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 will be encouraged to discover 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.
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, and more.
Certain sites will also feature sample assistive technology device loans from New York’s regional TRAID centers.
Activities
Some of the activities 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.
DEC Facilities
The following DEC Facilities are participating in Get Outdoors & Get Together Day:
- Hempstead Lake State Park in partnership with NYS Parks (Nassau County)
- Mount Loretto Unique Area (Richmond County)
- Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County)
- Norrie Point Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County)
- Kenneth L. Wilson Campground (Ulster County)
- Catskills Visitor Center (Ulster County)
- North-South Lake Campground (Greene County)
- Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (Albany County)
- Scaroon Manor Campground and Day Use Area (Warren County)
- Lowville Forestry Demonstration Area (Lewis County)
- Kenneth P. Lynch Boat Launch/Onondaga Lake (Onondaga County)
- Mendon Ponds Park in conjunction with the ADK Outdoor Expo (Monroe County)
- Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center in partnership with NYS Parks (Erie County)
All locations offer wheelchair-accessible features and activities, including restrooms and select recreation opportunities. Please contact each site directly for specifics on available adaptive equipment and accessible features.
Visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/outdoors-day for detailed activity lists offered at DEC sites. Activities at DEC facilities will vary across sites, so make sure to check your specific location’s offerings.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own water, snacks and sunscreen.
For large vehicles and vans attending at Mount Loretto Unique Area, registration is required. Please fill out the Downstate Van and Oversized Vehicle Parking Registration Form.
New York State Parks
The following New York State Parks locations are participating in Get Outdoors & Get Together Day:
- Hempstead Lake State Park in partnership with DEC (Nassau County)
- Sunken Meadow State Park (Suffolk County)
- Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (New York County)
- Sterling Forest State Park (Orange County)
- Lake Taghkanic State Park (Columbia County)
- Saratoga Spa State Park (Saratoga County)
- Darien Lakes State Park (Genesee County)
- Allegany State Park (Cattaraugus County)
- Chenango Valley State Park (Chenango County)
- Taughannock Falls State Park (Tompkins County)
- Southwick Beach State Park (Jefferson County)
- Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center in partnership with DEC (Erie County)
Adaptive equipment will be available for select activities across participating sites. Please direct questions to individual participating sites for equipment availability and programs offered. All other accessibility-related inquiries should be directed to [email protected].
For details about visitor amenities at each location, visit https://parks.ny.gov.
For large vehicles and vans attending at Riverbank State Park, Hempstead Lake State Park or Sunken Meadow State Park, registration is required. Please fill out the Downstate Van and Oversized Vehicle Parking Registration Form.
Downstate Van and Oversized Vehicle Parking Reservations
For New York City, Staten Island and Long Island locations only:
Parking for oversized vans is FILLED at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, Mount Loretto Unique Area and Hempstead State Park.
Parking for oversized vans is AVAILABLE at Sunken Meadow State Park. To ensure parking is available for your bus, van or oversized vehicle, you must register in advance. Registration is NOT required for passenger vehicles.
Please complete the form linked below as soon as you know your plans.
Get Outdoors & Get Together Day Van and Large Vehicle Registration