Gateway National Park Service U. S. Department of the Interior

Gateway

National Park Service U. S. Department of the Interior

Visitor Programs and Events

Fall 2019

Staten Island, New York

There are several programs and special events that we wish to highlight for this fall. On Staten Island the International Coastal Cleanup at Great Kills will happen on Sunday, September 21. Join the American Littoral Society for the Annual New York State Beach Cleanup, who have sponsored this activity for more than 30 years. Also on Staten the Annual Greenbelt to Great Kills Hike to Willowbrook Park- 1 Eton Place, Sunday, October 6. Join us and our friends from NYC Greenbelt Educators to travel (one way!) from Willowbrook Park to Great Kills Park, a distance of six miles!

Monarch Butterflies begin their migration south in the fall. The Monarch and Pollinator Festival will occur on Saturday, September 28 at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Sandy Hook has slated a Monarch Butterfly Walk on Saturday, October 5.

Every Kid in a Park Adventure Day will be pr esented at Sandy Hook's Fort Hancock and at For t Tilden, Sunday, October 6. Every Kid in a Park is a national initiative that provides fourth graders with a free National Park Pass for themselves and their families to visit all of our federally managed public lands, waters, and shores. Come and pick up your pass, good for one year, and join us for a day filled with adventure. Learn about the special changes taking place in the fall season at Jamaica Bay, such as bird migration (live birds and hawks), fall equinox, hibernation (both plants and animals), fish migration, and weather.

Can you dig dirt? Join us for the Urban Soils Festival, Floyd Bennett Field ? Ecology Village Saturday, October 12, with partner Urban Soils Institute for workshops, art-science exhibits, food, music, harvest festival with local urban farms, and games. Experience the world of soils in our city and how they secretly support our city and daily lives. This is an event for all ages. Jamaica Bay Raptorama, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, Sunday, October 20. Activities include indoor slide programs, a presentation of live hawks and owls provided by a local rehabilitation center, and more. Also the Winter Waterfowl Workshop, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Saturday, November 16. Learn about biology and behavior and how to identify the many species of ducks and geese in the field. Leader: Don Riepe.

At Sandy Hook plan to join us for the FORT HANCOCK DAYS WEEKEND Mark the anniversary of the 1895 establishment of Fort Hancock and discover the fort's role in the defense of our nation. There is the World War II Harbor Defense Lantern Tour Fort Hancock Museum/ Post Guardhouse, Friday, October 11. And join us for Fort Hancock Day Battery Gunnison/New Peck, Sunday, October 13.

Join us as we commemorate the renaming of the "Fortifications at Sandy Hook" to "Fort Hancock" in October 1895. As part of this commemoration, volunteers from the Army Ground Forces Association uniformed as World War II era Coast Artillery soldiers will bring Battery Gunnison/New Peck and its 6-inch guns to life as they were in October 1943.

The details of these events and many more are found in these program guides. -- C. Markis

New York City Marathon, has been run since 1970 and begins at Fort Wadsworth. Last year some 50,000 people participated. Photo by Francesca Simondi.

If you would like to be on our mailing list to receive notifications of events and this Program Guide, Please send a message with `program guide' in the subject line to Charles Markis@.

The symbol indicates a program of moderate exercise. Pump up your heart as you enjoy the park .

Visitor Center Hours Wed? Sunday Hours

Recurring Programs

Discover Fort Tompkins Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Daily, Wednesday-Sunday, 11AM and 2PM Explore the little known areas of this historic structure with a park ranger and learn about coastal fortifications and life in the 1800's. Wear sturdy footwear.

Fort Wadsworth: The Guardian of the Narrows Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Saturdays, through September 28 11AM ? 12:30PM Have you ever spotted Battery Weed from the Verrazano Bridge, or hiked by its gates during a morning walk? Take this rare opportunity to go inside and hear more about the history of this structure that has stood guard over the harbor for 150 years. Learn about the rest of Fort Wadsworth on this weekly walking tour.

Volunteer Opportunities

Sunday Volunteer Program Every Sunday starting September 8 through November, Gateway wants you and your family to come out and spend two and a half hours with a Park Ranger to learn about the coastal habitat while also doing your part to protect an area that many species call their home. Come out after breakfast and bring food for lunch so you can work up an appetite volunteering. Schedule: All Sundays 10:00AM ? 12:30PM September 8, Beach Cleanup

Miller Field September 15, Beach Cleanup

Fort Wadsworth September 22, Asiatic Sand Sedge Removal Great Kills Park September 29, Asiatic Sand Sedge Removal Great Kills Park October 6, Beach Cleanup

Miller Field October 13, 2019 Beach Cleanup

Fort Wadsworth October 20, Beach Cleanup

Great Kills Park October 27, 2019 Asiatic Sand Sedge Removal Great Kills Park November 3, NO PROGRAM November 10, Beach Cleanup

Fort Wadsworth

November 17, Beach Cleanup Great Kills Park

November 24, 2019 Asiatic Sand Sedge Removal Great Kills Park Please Register Pr ior to Event to Receive Important Updates & Volunteer Waiver. All persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult or in possession of the signed Volunteer Agreement Form with the signature of their parent or legal guardian. To register call or email Par k Ranger , Joseph Roth:(718) 819-7574 | Joseph_Roth@ What to Bring: Water to stay hydrated and your own reusable water bottle ; Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (preferably hiking boots or durable shoes) ; Clothing that can get dirty (preferably long pants and socks to keep you protected); Sun & Insect Protection: hat, sunblock, long sleeves, insect repellent; Snacks to keep you going! Meeting Locations: Great Kills Park: Ranger Station Miller Field: Playground Parking Lot Fort Wadsworth: Lower Campground Parking Lot For Additional Volunteer Opportunities in Gateway National Recreation Area visit: volunteer.htm

September

Maritime New York Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, September 1 1PM - 2PM Dive into New York's seafaring history with a park ranger. Learn about the importance of the city's shipping channels and waterways since the Lenape era, and hear the fascinating stories of sailors in the port city throughout the 1800s. Sloops, schooners, clippers, and brigs, oh my! For information call 718-354-4500.

Arts & Crafts Miller Field Ranger Station Saturday, September 7 10 AM Interested in creating your own special arts & crafts project? Then join a park ranger and others from the community to design your own masterpiece. All ages are welcome. Materials will be provided. Call 718-351-6970 to reserve a spot.

"Brave men I must this day lose:" The Revolutionary Battlefields of New York City

Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Saturday, September 7 6 PM ? 7:30 PM Before New York became the iconic modern city we know today, it was one of the bloody battlegrounds in the fight for American independence. Join our historians at the Fort Wadsworth Harbor Overlook to learn more about the Revolutionary War and its toll on New York City. Please bring a lawn chair, insect repellent and a flashlight! For information call 718-354-4500.

Stargazing Amateur Astronomers Association of New York Great Kills Park Lot A Saturday, September 7 7:30 PM - 11 PM The Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer's Association hosts public stargazing at the main parking area, Lot A. Inclement weather will cancel the program.

RICHARD III by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Fort Wadsworth, Battery Weed Saturday & Sunday, September 14 & 15, 21 & 22 3:00 PM The Staten Island Shakespearean Theater Company returns with the bard's haunting tale of murder and intrigue as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, vies for the Crown. Tickets are FREE and can be obtained at the door before each performance, or to reserve tickets in advance go to https://

events/1247? fbclid=IwAR0F5E5PAth5BM8xQG4vSNR5 8o9TLQYwe3cnWbr_qHXXxNFfv-

bXpNrOuoA or the SIST website: . Chairs for this open-air performance will be provided, or bring a comfortable lawn chair. A shuttle bus will leave from the Visitor Center down to the performance site.

International Coastal Cleanup Great Kills Park Beach Center ? Lot G Saturday, September 21 10:30 AM -12 PM Join us for the Annual New York State Beach Cleanup, locally sponsored by the American Littoral Society. For more than 30 years volunteers have been documenting the type and amount of debris littering our shores.

Wear closed shoes and bring water. Contact 718 354-4655 for questions and reservations.

Design an Autumn Wreath Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Saturday, September 21 1:00PM Make a lovely small wreath to take home. Materials will be provided. For information and reservations call: Earnestine 718 351-6970 or email Diane_Wulff@

RICHARD III by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Fort Wadsworth, Battery Weed Saturday & Sunday, September 21 & 22 3:00 PM Program details above.

October

"Nature Keeper" Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Saturday, October 5 1:00 ? 3:00 PM Decorate and fill a small tin honoring the positive qualities of nature. Make a pocket-sized treasure box, a desk companion, or your own easy-tocarry shrine. Open to all ages, crafting experience not required. Materials supplied free of charge. For information call 718-354-4500 or email Diane_Wulff@

Annual Greenbelt to Great Kills Hike Willowbrook Park- 1 Eton Place Sunday, October 6 11AM ? 2 PM Join us and our friends from NYC Greenbelt Educators to travel (one way!) from Willowbrook Park to Great Kills Park. Meet at the flagpole in Willowbrook Park. This briskpaced hike is approximately 6 miles one way (#FindYourWay). Bring water, a snack, and insect repellent. Registration required. Call (718) 3513450 or email naturecenter@. 6 miles.

Don't Fuhgeddaboudit: The Italian Services Unit at Fort Wadsworth Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, October 6 and October 13

1PM - 2PM Did you know that Fort Wadsworth was a POW camp during WWII? Come celebrate Italian Heritage Month and learn about the Italian Services Unit, a group of prisoners, turned allies, who lived and worked on Staten Island during the war. Hear about the top secret work these prisoners completed for the Allies, and about their lives at Fort Wadsworth.

Dried Flower Art Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Saturday, October 19 1:00PM The Victorians made dried flowers into an art. Join us at Mont Sec House to learn about this craft and construct your own picture from dried plants and flowers. For information and reservations call 718-354 -4500 or email Diane_Wulff@

"I Was A Teenage Werewolf" Fort Tompkins Saturday, October 19 7:30PM The Alice Austen House and Don's Place (a NYC based club that brings together LGBTQ horror movie fans for scary screenings and spirited discussions) present "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" (1957, 1:16 mins), followed by a Q&A on the world of coded horror classics. Advanced registration required at .

Open House New York Fort Wadsworth Meet at the Visitor Center Sunday, October 20 10:00 A M? 2:00 PM Special behind-the-scenes tours of Fort Wadsworth and Battery Weed for the annual Open House New York.

"Mouse's First Autumn" Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Thursday, October 24 10:30-11:30 AM Parents and young children join us for an autumn story and then design your own collage using fabric fall leaves for a picture to take home. For information call 718-354-4500 or email Diane_Wulff@

Halloween Arts & Crafts Miller Field Ranger Station Saturday, October 26 6:30 PM Join us for the annual Halloween arts and

crafts night. All ages are welcome. Materials will be provided.

Stargazing Amateur Astronomers Association of New York Great Kills Park Lot A Saturday, October 26 7:30 PM - 11 PM The Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer's Association hosts public stargazing at the main parking area, Lot A. Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Monthly Beach Cleanup Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, October 27 11AM- 12:30 PM Help clean the beach and dune areas. Wear closed shoes and bring water. For reservations contact 718 3544655.

Tragedies in Granite: A Walk Along the Narrows Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, October 27 2PM ? 3PM Enjoy a spooky autumn walking tour of the abandoned granite structures of the park. Hear about some of the mysteries, misfortunes, and mishaps that have occurred throughout Fort Wadsworth's long career. Bring a flashlight, we'll also explore the tunnel-like galleries in the fort. For information call 718-354-4500

November

Stargazing Amateur Astronomers Association of New York Under the Hunters Moon Great Kills Park Lot A Saturday, November 2 7:30 PM ? 9:30:00 PM Learn about the sights and sounds of the night by join the Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer's Association for stargazing in the park. Inclement weather will cancel the program. Call 718 354-4655 for details.

Crazy Quilt Stocking Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Saturday November 16 Time 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Get into the holiday spirit and handmake a beautiful stocking in the Victorian crazy quilt style. Open to all ages; crafting experience not required. Materials supplied free of charge. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own fabric scraps and trim to add a personal touch. For information call 718-354-4500 or email Diane_Wulff@

Fall Hike and Fort Tour Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, November 17 11 AM -1 PM Hike the overlook loop, along the paths at Fort Wadsworth. Bring binoculars, and comfortable shoes. Call 718 354-4655 for reservations. 2 miles.

Thanksgiving Story at Mont Sec House Mont Sec House, Officer's Row 112A Mont Sec Avenue, Fort Wadsworth Saturday November 23 Time 10:00 ? 11:30 AM Parents and young children are invited to join a ranger in the Victorian parlour at Mont Sec House to listen to a Victorian Thanksgiving story. Complete your visit with a craft to take home. For information call 718354-4500 or email Diane_Wulff@nps.go

Stargazing Amateur Astronomers Association of New York Great Kills Park Lot A Saturday, November 23 7:30 PM - 11 PM The Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomer's Association hosts public stargazing at the main parking area, lot A. Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Arts & Crafts Miller Field Ranger Station Sunday, November 24 10 AM Join a park ranger for this fun, family activity. All supplies will be provided and all ages are welcome. Call 718-351-6970 to reserve a spot.

Fall Hike and Fort Tour Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center Sunday, November 24 11 PM -1 PM Hike the overlook loop and the paths at Fort Wadsworth. Bring binoculars, and comfortable shoes. Call 718 354-4655 for reservations. 2 miles.

Monthly Beach Cleanup Great Kills Park Beach Center?Lot G Sunday, November 24 3 PM - 4 PM Help clean the beach and dune areas... Wear closed shoes and bring water. For reservations contact 718 354-4655.

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