Queens Out of Doors

Queens Out of Doors

Besides being the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, Queens offers tens of thousands of open acres with an array of landscapes and outdoor activities. Join me as we explore the 178 square miles of this great New York City borough! Who am I? My name is Shari and after being raised in northwest Indiana, I headed to NYC in 1988 and haven’t looked back! I first lived in Manhattan (as most transplants do!), then Brooklyn, and since 1998 I’ve been a proud Queens resident. It’s home. It’s also where I began exploring urban nature. I was always that kid digging in the garden or watching insects in the backyard, but after moving to Queens, I became more and more fascinated with the outdoors in urban areas. Join me as we explore the wealth of outdoor opportunities and adventures in this great county! Questions? Suggestions? I’m all ears! Contact me at shari@queensoutofdoors.com

  1. Jun 5

    Episode 84 - Beach Fun in the Sun...and Etiquette!

    Be a safe and considerate while visiting our lovely beaches! NYC Plover Project Outdoor Highlights: Clean ups, Restoration Projects and It’s My Park Days: Forest Park Young Tree Care Juneteenth Clean Up at Old Towne of Flushing Burial Ground National Trails Day: Alley Pond Park Trail Work National Trails Day Restoration at Forest Park It’s My Park at Hermon A. MacNeil Park Volunteer at Paradise Community Garden It’s My Park at Hunters Point South Park Restoration Fridays at Highland Park Forest Park Hike and Pick of the Yellow Trail It’s My Park at Forest Park It’s the season of outdoor movies. Learn more. Family Fun Days: Pomonock Playground Mauro Playground/Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Real Good Playground Rochdale Park Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto Park Haggerty Park Hoover-Manton Playground Other Outdoor Highlights: Astoria Park Carnival Silent Disco Dance Party at Athens Square Silent Disco Dance Party at Roy Wilkins Park Summertime Rocket Show at Little Bay Park with Mad Science Windmill Community Garden Open House Spring Kids Art in the Park: Cyanotype National Trails Day Hike at Idlewild Park Learn to Sail Series at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park National Trails Day Natural Areas Conservancy and the NY Mycological Society LIC Community Garden Open House National Trails Day: Birding at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Summer Camp Expo at Queens Farm Museum Food Forest Tour and Stewardship Event at Smiling Hogshead Ranch Queens Night Market Project Eden Open House Adventure Course Free Sunday Public Program at Alley Pond Park “Rangers Choice” Guided Walk at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge LBGTQ+ Pride Month: Pride in Nature Exploration Hike at Forest Park Interactive Nature Lab: Bees, Butterflies and Worms at Smiling Hogshead Ranch All the Queens Gardens Photo Book/Exhibition at Volker Orth Museum Domingo World at Edgemere Farm Rockaway Cove Paddle at Riis Landing Tot Time at Gantry State Plaza Pretty Pigeon Day at Gantry State Plaza NY Philharmonic at Cunningham Park Strawberry Festival at Queen Farm Museum Birding: Shorebird Families at the Rockaways Historic New York: Black History of Flushing Rose Watercolor Workshop at Queens Botanical Garden The Moth Storytelling Workshop at Queens Botanical Garden Jamaica Bay: Refuge for Wildlife, Refuge for People Birding: Hawk Watch at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Pollinator Explorers Family Program at Edgemere Farm Tea and Culture at Discovery Community Garden 1 Historic New York: The General Slocum Disaster at Astoria Park Juneteenth Observation at Old Towne of Flushing Burial Ground The Moth Story Slam at Queens Botanical Garden Independence Day Celebration at Fort Totten

    1h 30m
  2. May 22

    Episode 83 - Golden Earthworm Farm and the Forest Hills CSA

    Get on the water — or just admire it from land — along the New York City Water Trail! The New York City Water Trail - NYC Parks New York City Water Trail Association Long Island City Community Boathouse Gateway Bike and Boathouse HarborLab Birding by Canoe at Hook Creek Gateway National Recreation Area calendar Outdoor Highlights: Powell’s Cove Forest Restoration Restoration Fridays at Forest Park Joe Michael’s Mile Plug Planting Birding Big Day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge North Channel Bridge Beach Clean Up Birding Wellness Walk at Gantry Plaza State Park Rockaway Community Park Super Steward: Pathkeeper Training Forest Park Hike and Pick at the Yellow Trail Vernal Pond Restoration at Highland Park Pollinator Festival at Beach 43rd Street Waterfront Park Mother’s Day Birding at Forest Park Mother’s Day Rose Garden Volunteering at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Plant ID Hike and Removal at Fort Totten Mother Nature Mammals Exploration at Kissena Park Mother’s Day at the Volker Orth Museum Pages by the Pond at Roy Wilkins Park Farm Stand Opening Day at Queens Farm Museum It’s My Park at Hunters Point South Park Restoration Fridays at Highland Park Roller Skating Party at Rochdale Park Sheep Shearing Festival at Queens Farm Museum Love a Tree Day at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Gravestone Preservation Workshop at Lawrence Cemetery Solar Observing with the Amateur Astronomers Association/New York Hall of Science Community Celebration Puerto Rican Herbalism Tour at Queens Botanical Garden Historic Fort Totten Tour Family Fun Day at Playground 75 Family Fun Day at Judge Moses Weinstein Playground Papermaking at Queens Botanical Garden Horseshoe Crab Festival at Sunset Cove Park Intro to Botany Hike at Cunningham Park Victorian Lawn Tea Party at Volker Orth Museum World Bee Day Insect Exploration at Juniper Valley Park

    1h 24m
  3. May 7

    Episode 82 - The New York City Water Trail

    Get on the water — or just admire it from land — along the New York City Water Trail! The New York City Water Trail - NYC Parks New York City Water Trail Association Long Island City Community Boathouse Gateway Bike and Boathouse HarborLab Birding by Canoe at Hook Creek Gateway National Recreation Area calendar Outdoor Highlights: Powell’s Cove Forest Restoration Restoration Fridays at Forest Park Joe Michael’s Mile Plug Planting Birding Big Day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge North Channel Bridge Beach Clean Up Birding Wellness Walk at Gantry Plaza State Park Rockaway Community Park Super Steward: Pathkeeper Training Forest Park Hike and Pick at the Yellow Trail Vernal Pond Restoration at Highland Park Pollinator Festival at Beach 43rd Street Waterfront Park Mother’s Day Birding at Forest Park Mother’s Day Rose Garden Volunteering at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Plant ID Hike and Removal at Fort Totten Mother Nature Mammals Exploration at Kissena Park Mother’s Day at the Volker Orth Museum Pages by the Pond at Roy Wilkins Park Farm Stand Opening Day at Queens Farm Museum It’s My Park at Hunters Point South Park Restoration Fridays at Highland Park Roller Skating Party at Rochdale Park Sheep Shearing Festival at Queens Farm Museum Love a Tree Day at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Gravestone Preservation Workshop at Lawrence Cemetery Solar Observing with the Amateur Astronomers Association/New York Hall of Science Community Celebration Puerto Rican Herbalism Tour at Queens Botanical Garden Historic Fort Totten Tour Family Fun Day at Playground 75 Family Fun Day at Judge Moses Weinstein Playground Papermaking at Queens Botanical Garden Horseshoe Crab Festival at Sunset Cove Park Intro to Botany Hike at Cunningham Park Victorian Lawn Tea Party at Volker Orth Museum World Bee Day Insect Exploration at Juniper Valley Park

    1h 4m
  4. Apr 16

    Episode 81 - Bowne Park

    Explore Bowne Park with me! Bowne Park on NYC Parks website Bowne Park History Swamp Oak at Bowne Park - Great Trees Bowne Park on Tree Survey Map Outdoor Highlights: Creatures of the Night: Bat Appreciation Hike at Forest Park Waking Up the Garden at Garden by the Bay Birding: Spring Migration at Rockaway Community Park Meet the Beekeeper at Queens Botanical Garden Springfest Family Fun Day at Archie Spigner Park Highland Park Earth Day Celebration Night Hike at Crocheron Park Birding with The Queens County Bird Club at Forest Park Pollinator Garden Planting Day at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Birding for Beginners at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Forest Park Earth Day Celebration Spring Cherry Blossom Walk at Flushing Meadows Corona Park Discovery Hike: Vernal Pools at Night at Cunningham Park Trees of Life & Gotham Greens Volunteer Day Bee-A-Pollinator Workday at Queens Farm Museum Earth Day Hike and Clean Up at Powells Cove Park Green Garden/Green Planet at Volker Orth Museum It’s My Park at Hunters Point South Park Sunset Birding at Gantry Plaza State Park Kissena Park Forest Restoration and Nature Walk Arbor Day at Little Bay Park City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Idlewild Park City Nature Challenge: Fungi Walk at Udall’s Park Preserve Arbor Day: Celebrate the Trees at Hermon A. MacNeil Park City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Alley Pond Park Idlewild Tree and Shrub Planting It’s My Park at College Point Fields It’s My Park at Udall’s Park Preserve Earth Month Cleanup at American Park City Nature Challenge: Forest Park Hike It’s My Park at Springfield Park City Nature Challenge: Bio-marathon and Invertebrate Identification at Alley Pond Park Earth Month Volunteer Day at Two Coves Community Garden Arbor Day Planting at Forest Park Spring Kids Art in the Park: Mini Canvas Painting at Forest Park Spring Garden Tour at Queens Botanical Garden Fort and Dunes Hike at Fort Tilden City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Alley Pond Park Idlewild Park Education Tour Spring Wildflower Walk at Alley Pond Park City Nature Challenge: Biodiversity Hike at Roy Wilkins Park City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Forest Park City Nature Challenge: Spring Flowering Tree ID at Astoria Park Spring Migration Birding Hike at Oakland Lake City Nature Challenge: Bioblitz at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Cunningham Park City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemeral Flowers at Idlewild Park It’s My Park at Gorman Playground I Love My Park Day at Gantry Plaza State Park Rockaway Beach and Jamaica Bay Bike Tour It’s My Park at Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Magnificent Street Trees of Flushing Birding: Warbler Watch at Forest Park Fantastic Fungi Mushroom ID Hike at Alley Pond Park Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Evergreen Cemetery

    1h 5m
  5. Apr 3

    Episode 80 - Species Deep Dive: Tree Swallows

    Species Deep Dive: Tree Swallows Tree Swallows on All About Birds from Cornell Lab of Ornithology Outdoor Highlights: Restoration Fridays at Forest Park Udalls Cove Super Steward: Pathkeeper Training Alley Pond Forest Restoration It’s My Park at Glenwood Landing Idlewild Park Forest Restoration Volunteer Day at Arverne Gardens Spring Kids Arts in the Park: Faux Stained Glass Nature Exploration Hike at Alley Pond Environmental Center A History of Queens Through Plants at Queens Botanical Garden Signs of Spring Hike at Highland Park Beginner Fishing at Brookville Park It’s My Park at Sitting Area/Astoria Park Spring Has Sprung Wildlife Walk at Springfield Park Nature Trivia: Disc-Golfering Your Park at Highland Park Earth Week Events at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Kids Week: Earth Month Native Plant Party at Captain Tilly Park Yoga with Ambeka in Crocheron Park Highland Park Horticulture Helpers Kids Week: Animal Habitats at Forest Park Kids Week: Nature Puppet Show at Fort Tilden Tot Time at Gantry State Plaza Park Kids Week: Earth Month Eco-Crafts at Travers Park Kids Week: Nature Color Hunt at Rufus King Park It’s My Park at Margaret I. Carmen Green - Weeping Beech near John Bowne House Estuary Fair at Gantry State Plaza Park Apple Blossom Carnival at Queens Farm Museum Magnetic Archery and Foam Axe Throwing At Astoria Heights Playground It’s My Park at Little Bay Park E-waste, Textiles, Paint Collection Event at Queens Botanical Garden Historic New York: Fort Totten at Fort Totten Park Pages by the Pond at Roy Wilkins Park Puppets at the Park: Tina the Terrified Turtle at Gantry Plaza State Park

    57 min

About

Besides being the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, Queens offers tens of thousands of open acres with an array of landscapes and outdoor activities. Join me as we explore the 178 square miles of this great New York City borough! Who am I? My name is Shari and after being raised in northwest Indiana, I headed to NYC in 1988 and haven’t looked back! I first lived in Manhattan (as most transplants do!), then Brooklyn, and since 1998 I’ve been a proud Queens resident. It’s home. It’s also where I began exploring urban nature. I was always that kid digging in the garden or watching insects in the backyard, but after moving to Queens, I became more and more fascinated with the outdoors in urban areas. Join me as we explore the wealth of outdoor opportunities and adventures in this great county! Questions? Suggestions? I’m all ears! Contact me at shari@queensoutofdoors.com