School is back in session and the Fall will be here shortly! So let’s get out and enjoy our parks before the cold weather is upon us by checking out some events and activities that will be taking place this month. There are multiple opportunities to volunteer and get the kids the community service they need. Attend any of the upcoming workshops and webinars to give you the skills you need to get involved in your local parks.

 

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

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MOBILE RECREATION VANS APPLICATION

Description: Permit applications are now available online for the Mobile Recreation Program which offers organized activities at events that are free and open to the public. Teams of trained Parks staff travel throughout the five boroughs in our Play Mobiles and Fitness Mobiles that are stocked with games, toys, and exercise equipment.

Date/Time: Available May through October

Link: About the Mobile Recreation Program

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

IT’S MY PARK PROGRAM -Applications are due October 1ST for November projects!

Description: Partnerships for Parks invites you to get involved in It’s My Park hands-on service projects in all five boroughs. Our It’s My Park program offers year-round volunteer opportunities — from painting benches and planting bulbs, to weeding and cleaning, and much more!

Deadlines: Applications are due the first day of the month before the proposed project date.

Link: http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/partnerships-for-parks/its-my-park-day/

 

For other volunteer opportunities please check the NYC Parks website or contact your local Outreach Coordinator.

 

STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS | NYC PARKS STEWARDSHIP

Description: Volunteers can help with forest and wetland restoration, planting and pruning street trees, harvesting and propagating native seed and monitoring local wildlife. By becoming a steward of NYC’s green spaces, you can help ensure that our city’s natural resources are kept safe for future generations.

Link: NYC Parks Stewardship

Upcoming Events:

  • North Shore Green Neighborhood TreeLC: Wednesday Sept. 14, 9 AM – 1 PMLocation: Broad St. and Tompkins Ave.
  • Greenbelt Trail Restoration: Saturday Sept. 17, 9 AM-1 PM Location: Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave.

 

 

NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Description:  Volunteers needed for the Start of the TCS NYC Marathon

Date/Time: Sunday, Nov. 6, 4 – 11 AM

Location: Fort Wadsworth, free off-site parking,

Cost: Free

Link: http://www.tcsnycmarathon.org/volunteers

 

TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS

 

Getting Started with Ioby | Ioby

Anyone with an awesome idea for their neighborhood or their city can collect tax-deductible donations and recruit volunteers on ioby.org. In this webinar, you will learn how to get started, give some fundraising tips, and share some exciting news about how ioby’s growing in your backyard.

Date/Time: Friday, Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, 1 – 1:30 PM

Location: Webinar

Cost: Free; RSVP

 

Making Compost Work for You

Your compost has cured all summer long, now you can learn how to use the finished product! Compost is an important soil amendment that helps to improve soil structure and health. In this hands-on workshop, learn the many benefits of compost. We will be discussing how to measure the maturity of your compost and the different ways to use compost for flowers, vegetables, house plants and trees.

Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 6 – 7 PM

Location: 6th & B Garden, Corner of East 6th Street and Avenue B in the East Village

Cost: Free; but please RSVP here.

 

Green Thumb Workshop Healthy Trees

This workshop will discuss multiple topics including tree identification, how to choose the right tree for the right site, and how the palette of street trees is selected for its tolerance of rough urban conditions, as well as ways to keep your trees healthy and vigorous.

Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 5:30 – 7 PM

Location: This is a walking tour, meet at corner of East Seventh Street and Avenue B in Tompkins Square Park, Manhattan

Cost: Free; but please RSVP here.

 

The Seven Habits of Highly Successful IOBY Leaders

Thinking about running a crowdfunding campaign for a great local project and wondering where to start? This webinar covers seven top practices taken from our most successful ioby Leaders to date. We’ll cover tips on what you should do now to prepare for an awesome campaign, including building your fundraising team, donor prospecting, turning donors into fundraisers, and telling a great story.

Date/Time: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 12:30 – 1:15 PM

Location: Webinar

Cost: Free; but must register.

 

Telling Your Story

Successfully marketing your work or pitching yourself to donors often depends on your skills as a storyteller. In this webinar, we’ll discuss how to put your talents as an artist to good use in crafting the best possible story to present yourself to the public.

Date/Time: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2 – 3 PM

Location: Webinar

Cost: Free; but must register.

 

Crowdfunding Webinar

This webinar will explore the benefits and tools of crowdfunding sites. Find out how to make crowdfunding an effective fundraising tool, and how to turn your donors into your audience. We will also explore how these resources can be used in conjunction with fiscal sponsorship.

Date/Time: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7- 8 PM

Location: Webinar

Cost: Free; but  must register.

 

Citizens Committee Neighborhood Leadership Institute

We host free community workshops on great ways to mobilize your neighbors, raise funds (beyond our own grants), navigate city government, and more. We share stories, tools, and tips custom-tailored to meet the needs of grassroots groups—and listen to your experiences.

Cost: Free but RSVP is required to Imani at ibrown@citizensnyc.org or 212-822-9567

Upcoming Workshops:

  • Basics of Community Organizing-Saturday Sept. 24
  •  Group Structure-Saturday Oct.1
  • Navigating City Government-Saturday Oct. 15
  • Media Tools-Saturday Oct.22
  • Grassroots Fundraising-Saturday Oct. 29

 

GRANTS & OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

 

CAPACITY FUND GRANT

Description: Grants up to $5,000 to strengthen outreach, membership, and program-planning capacity of citywide community groups who care for their neighborhood parks. Please contact your local Outreach Coordinator if you are interested in applying for the Capacity Fund Grant.

Deadline: Saturday, Oct. 1 at 11:59 PM

Link: About the Capacity Fund Grant

 

IOBY’S PARTNERSHIPS FOR PARKS MATCHING GRANT

Description: Anyone with a great idea to improve their local park or strengthen the capacity of their park group is invited to apply for $500-$2000 in matching funds. Groups will be notified of their award by Monday October 10. Groups can begin campaigning at any point after they are awarded and fundraise up until the end of the year 2016. In addition, all participating groups will receive crowdfunding training materials and receive customized, one-on-one support from one of IOBY’s experienced crowdfunding coaches. The IOBY coach will help plan and implement campaigns to raise funds and engage their neighbors more deeply in their work.

Deadline: Monday Oct. 3

Link: https://www.ioby.org/partnershipsforparks

 

 

EXTERNAL GRANTS

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education

This year the grant is seeking ways to provide the tools to help educators and parent groups through educational challenges by providing the greatest impact with basic necessities being the priority. Please keep this focus in mind as you apply for a Lowe’s Toolbox for education grant in 2016-2017 academic year. There is a preference for funding requests that have a permanent impact such as facility enhancement (both indoor and outdoor) as well as landscaping/clean up type projects. Projects that encourage parent involvement and build strong community spirit will be favored.

Deadline: Sept. 26

 

Captain Planet Foundation

Grants are made for activities that conform to the mission of the Captain Planet Foundation, which is: To give the next generation of environmental stewards an active understanding and love for the natural workd in which they live. The program of funding and supporting hands-on environmental projects is designed to encourage innovative initiatives that inspire and empower children and youth around the workd as they work individually and collectively creating environmental solutions in their homes, school and communities.

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30

 

Programmatic Grant | Finish Line Foundation

Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded to non-profit organizations for community-based athletic programs and camps that teach active lifestyle and team-building skills.

Deadline: Friday, Sept. 30

 

Target Field Trip Grant

Apply for the Target Field Grant to give your students a learning experience outside of the classroom walls. Eager to take your students to a local communtiy garden, science center, or botanical gardens? Start envisioning an engaging field trip for your students and apply no later than October 1, 2016 to receive up to a $700 grant!

Deadline: Saturday Oct. 1

 

Ben and Jerry’s Foundation Grant

While our broad goals are to further social and environmental justice and support sustainable and just food systems, we focus on the types of activities and strategies an organization uses for crating social change rather than on the specifi issues the organization is addressing.

Deadline: Friday, Oct. 14

 

Daily Impact Grants | The Pollination Project

Seed grants of $1,000 are awarded to projects in early stages of development, including those that promote compassion toward all life (people, planet, animals), environmental sustainability, justice in all its forms, community health and wellness, and social change-oriented arts and culture.

Deadline: RFPs are accepted on a rolling basis.

 

Gardens for the City | New York Restoration Project

Apply for help from NYRP to transform a community space in your neighborhood.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

 

Home Depot Communtiy Impact Grants Program

Description: Planting trees, community gardens, and or landscaping community facilities that serve veterans.

Deadline: Rolling

 

Sign-up and check the Grants and Resources box to receive trainings and other grant-related information each month.

 

PROGRAMMING & EVENTS

 

THEATER IN THE PARK

Description: The public mobile unit presents Hamlet by William Shakespeare. (see attached flyer)

Date/Time: Saturday Sept. 17, 1 PM

Location: Faber Park Field House, 2175 Richmond Terrace

Link: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2016/09/17/arts-culture-fun-the-public-theater-presents-hamlet

Cost: Free but space is limited. Please RSVP by email to jennifer.jennings@parks.nyc.gov to reserve your seat.

 

GREEN THUMB HARVEST FAIR

Description: Join GreenThumb for our annual celebration that honors thousands of community gardeners and greening professionals across New York City for their work during the season and gives them the opportunity to show off their harvests! Bring your best harvest from your GreenThumb Community Garden to win prizes and join us as we celebrate the close of the growing season.

Date/Time: Saturday Sept. 17, 12-4 PM (Registration begins at 11 AM)

Location: Diamante Garden in Manhattan

Link: http://www.greenthumbnyc.org/gardenevents.html?qs=2016/09/17/greenthumb-harvest-fair

Cost: Free

 

NYRP TREE GIVEAWAY

Description: This fall we will partner with H.E.A.L.T.H. 4 Youths at our Westervelt Community Garden in Staten Island. Saturday morning come meet the youth who have been cleaning, weeding and planting all over the island and take home one of seven beautiful trees! We’re offering Witchhazel, Serviceberry, Magnolia and more!

Date/Time: Sunday Sept. 25, 9-11 AM

Location: Westervelt Community Garden in Staten Island

Link: https://www.nyrp.org/green-spaces/events/tree-giveaway-h.e.a.l.t.h.-4-youths/

Cost: Free, but must register for trees

 

 

PUPPETMOBILE: PUSS IN BOOTS

Description: The CityParks PuppetMobile presents the classic “Puss in Boots” tale, with a twist.

Cost: Free

Link: http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/events/category/puppetmobile/

Staten Island Locations:

  • Saturday Sept.17, 4-5 PM: Silver Lake Park
  • Friday Oct. 14, 9-10 AM: P.S. 57

 

MOVIES UNDER THE STARS

Description: Join NYC Parks and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment for a free film. All movies begin at 8 PM, therefore you should plan to arrive earlier to get your spot. Feel free to bring a blanket to sit on; there will be a limited supply of chairs available. Bottled water is OK, but no glass. Reservations are not taken; space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All are welcome!

Locations:

 

URBAN PARK RANGER PROGRAMMING

For over 30 years the Urban Park Rangers have helped New Yorkers of all ages to discover the great outdoors, uncovering the natural wonders that exist right here in their own backyard. To find information about FREE hikes, campouts, canoe outings, fishing outings, bird tours, and workshops that enhance your outdoor skills, all offered in your neighborhood and across the city, check out the Urban Park Rangers Weekend Adventures.

 

NEW YORK ROAD RUNNERS OPEN RUN:

Description: Join New York Road Runners for free weekly runs in your neighborhood! Open to all ages and experience levels. Walkers, strollers, and dogs on leash are welcome.

Cost: Free, no advance registration required.

Link: http://openrun.nyrr.org/

 

  • SILVER LAKE PARK

Date/Time: Tuesdays, 7 PM

Location: Silver Lake Park, Staten Island, meet at the lake bridge, down the hill from the intersection of Victory Blvd. and Eddy St.

 

  • CONFERENCE HOUSE PARK

Date/Time: Sundays, 9 am

Location: Conference House Park, Staten Island, meet off Hylan Blvd., next to theparking lot, on the path that leads to the water

 

One thought on “School is back in session and the Fall will be here shortly! So let’s get out and enjoy our parks”
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