OPWDD is partnering with NYS State Parks, DEC, and the Department of Veterans Services this year on Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, happening on Saturday, June 8. Fun and accessible outdoor events will be held at select parks and DEC sites across the state! They are sharing a general flyer with you about the event to use to spread the word and encourage people with and without developmental disabilities to attend and join in on the fun. Everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic lunch with them as concession is not available at every location.

At DEC sites, attendees can discover new skills and enjoy a range of introductory-level outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, nature walks and hikes, birding, archery, camping, paddling, and more. Activities will vary at State Parks and range from lawn games to accessible hikes to arts and crafts. Most events will run from 10 am until 2 pm. Events running at slightly different times are noted below.

State Park Event Locations

All State Parks-hosted events run from 10 am until 2 pm

• Sunken Meadow State Park (Suffolk County)

• Buffalo Harbor State Park (Erie County)

• Darien Lakes State Park (Genesee County)

• Allegany State Park (Cattaraugus County)

• Chenango Valley State Park (Chenango County)

• Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site (Montgomery County)

• Taughannock Falls State Park (Tompkins County)

• Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park (New York County)

• Lake Taghkanic State Park (Columbia County)

• Sterling Forest State Park (Orange County)

DEC Event Locations

Most DEC-hosted events run from 10 am until 2 pm, *exceptions noted below

• Hempstead Lake State Park (Nassau County)

• Mount Loretto Unique Area (Richmond County)

• Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County) *Event time is 9 am until 2 pm

• Norrie Point Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County) *Event time is 11 am until 1 pm

• Kenneth L. Wilson Campground (Ulster County)

• Catskills Visitor Center (Ulster County) *Event time is 10 am until 4 pm • North-South Lake Campground (Greene County)

• Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (Albany County)

• Ausable Point Campground (Clinton County)

• Lowville Forestry Demonstration Area (Lewis County)

• Mendon Ponds Park In conjunction with the ADK Outdoor Expo (Monroe County) *Event time is from 9:30 am until 3:30 pm

• Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center (Erie County)

OPWDD hopes to see you at Get Outdoors & Get Together Day! For the most up-to-date information about the event, click here to visit their website.

If you have questions about the event or wish to be put in touch with the local event coordinator in your region, email OPWDD at communications.office@opwdd.ny.gov.