By Barbara Morris
Many upcoming events of interest emanated from the Going Green in Queens meeting last month at the Al Oerter Recreational Center in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, but I must first tell you about the NYPD’s sixth-annual Patrol Borough Queens South Talent Show.
This show is scheduled to take place May 5 at 7 p.m. at York College at 94-45 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica. The show and parking are free. Many of us have attended all five previous talent shows. We can tell you that every show was at least as good as any professional show we have seen. Every performer has talent galore: drummers and other musicians, singers, dancers and special events such as the little old ventriloquist dummy — which is much cuter and funnier than Charlie McCarthy.
It is too good to miss, so I just had to try to put your foot in the door. Try to get there early because it is a popular event and they usually do something interesting before the actual start time. We hope to see you there and hear a lot of clapping.
Now for more from the March 27 event. The NY-NJ Trail Conference has willing and able volunteers ready to accept new members to help rebuild hiking trails — some are as old as 20 years — damaged by recent heavy rains. Members receive a number of various discounts. Those interested should visit nynite.org or call 1-201-512-9348.
You may care to celebrate National Trails Day June 5 with the reconstruction of the original section of the Appalachian Trail on Bear Mountain and learn about “hiking without pain.”
Find out about our Forever Wild Idlewild Park by visiting easternqueensalliance.org or call 718-723-6186 or 1-866-372-4255. These folks are offering a summer series of environmental science workshops Mondays and Wednesdays from July 5 to Aug. 11 for children in grades two to 10. Individual children, summer schools, child care agencies and summer day camps may have children registered.
Workshops include Bodies of Water: Oceans, Rivers, Lakes and Streams; The Wonders of Water; Nature CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) — i.e., following animal tracks, etc.; The Watershed We Live In; Microbes in the Salt Marsh; Animal Life Cycles; a parent workshop for learning about environmental hazards and toxins; and more.
Big and little kids love the Wildlife Conservation Society Queens Zoo (queenszoo.com, 718-271-7361). The zoo has school programs from pre-K through high school to encourage diverse community appreciation of the wonderful wildlife of the Americas. Main exhibits are on mountain lions, bison, elk, South American spectacled bears, lynx and friendly farm animals and a walk-through aviary and daily sea lion feedings.
Volunteer positions are available. Although registration for their summer camps started in January, you may want to inquire about the following camps:
• Eco Adventures: ages 5 to 7. Session I: July 5 to 9, Session II: July 19 to 23 and Session III: Aug. 16 to 20. Fees per session: $250 for members; $285 for non-members.
• Junior Naturalist: ages 8 to 12. Session I: July 12 to 16, Session II: July 26 to 30 and Session III: Aug. 23 to 27. All are held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fees per session: $250 for members, $285 for non-members.
• Teens for Wildlife: ages 12 to 17 from Aug. 2 to 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost: $500 for members, $550 for non-members. Register by phone by calling Monica Cottle at 718-271-7361 or e-mail a request to qzeducation@wcs.org.
Transportation Alternatives is a group of biking advocates. Contact them by visiting transalt.org/join. These folks are biking advocates who monitor the politics of transportation and try to ensure safer and cleaner future travel.
Still more to come.
