FINAL REPORT Sebago Canoe Clubs All Club Invitational July 17, NEI Code: Project Code:

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Claire Arnold
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1 FINAL REPORT Sebago Canoe Clubs All Club Invitational July 17, 2010 NEI Code: Project Code: Sebago would like to thank New England Water Pollution Control Commission and New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program for awarding Sebago this grant of $3,000 and of being the main sponsors of this human powered boating event. Sebago is very pleased with how the event turned out and hopefully the new board of directors will give the thumbs up to hold the event next year. SUMMARY: The event was very successful; we had just over 150 human powered boaters on the water in boats ranging from canoes and kayaks to laser and sunfish sailboats. In addition, there were inflatable boats to 6 man wooden gigs along with rowing sculls. Guests also were seen on the water in homemade boats and fold-boats that held three people not to mention hybrid kayaks that had outriggers and sails. (see photos below). The majority of the participants had never been to Jamaica Bay before and were very receptive to the information we provided about the health of the Bay and how it was part of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary system. Besides Sebago guides who gave information while escorting guests to different parts of the Bay, the Jamaica Bay Bay-keeper and members of the New York Audubon Society offered insights on the trips that were specially tailored to bird-watching. Sebago had three designated landing sites in different parts of Jamaica Bay where tables manned by Gateway National Park Rangers offered water and environmental information to participants as they enjoyed the day in the Bay. Every guest was given a detailed chart of Jamaica Bay with the three landing sites indicated. Guests could take part in one of our guided trips or explore the Bay on their own (chart attached). At the tables, literature about the New York City Water Trail, Sebago Canoe Club, Gateway National Recreation Area, NY/NJ Harbor Estuary, NYC DEP and NYS DEC was available to those who wanted it. Water was donated by Green Planet Bottling of Chicago and consisted of bio-degradable bottles made from plants and water that was vapor distilled and free from any type of chemicals. While the event went smoothly, there were lessons to be learned that will be implemented if we hold the event again. 1

2 GOAL: To make this event the largest gathering of human powered boaters on Jamaica Bay. Unfortunately, we fell well short of this goal but not for lack of trying. Sebago, along with one of our partners, National Park Service at Gateway National Recreational Area, Jamaica Bay division implemented a full fledged publicity campaign. Sebago started an campaign at the beginning of May which included posting on our website, as well as on NYCkayaer, on the Jamaica Bay list-serve, and on the American Canoe Association Atlantic Division website. These combined lists reach over 20,000 people in the tri-state area. Our event was also featured in the Hudson River newsletter and newsletters of Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance and NYC Swim foundation that reaches over 30,000 New York City residents. Once the event was four weeks away, individual invitations were sent to the human powered boating clubs that we wanted to have participate. Invitations were sent out to over 85 human powered boating organizations from Maine to Washington D.C. (sample invite attached). About two weeks before the event, details about guided trips into the bay was sent out on all the above mentioned list-serves and notices to invited groups were sent suggesting they download trip information from our website. (List of guided trips attached). Full color posters about the event were posted at Sebago and at two of the kayak launch sites in Jamaica Bay. (Poster attached) Our other partner, New York City Water Trail Association, contacted the 30 plus member groups to inform them about this event. GOAL: To educate guests on the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary and specifically Jamaica Bay We feel that this aspect of the event was very successful. A majority of the guests had never been to Jamaica Bay before and did not know that it was part of the NY/NJ Harbor Estuary system and one of the main birding areas in New York. Every guest was given a detailed map of Jamaica Bay with designated landing sites clearly marked on the chart. At these sites, there were tables set up with local waterway information, information about Sebago, Gateway National Recreation Area, copies of NYC Water Trail maps and brochures and handouts about the environment from New York City Department of Environmental Protection and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Sebago members who acted as guides pointed out the different areas of the bay and explained that almost half of the marshes have been lost in the last few decades and explained the reconstruction work that is currently taking place to restore marshland and fortify the remaining marshes in the Bay. Some of the guided trips had local environmental activists along who spoke to the paddlers about the health of Jamaica Bay. These activists included the Jamaica Bay Bay-keeper and members of the American Littoral Society and New York Audubon Society. 2

3 Lessons Learned: With any event and especially the first year of an event there are problems that arise that need to be handled. First off the logistics of how many club members were needed to make sure that the event went smoothly was underestimated. Two weeks before the event a detailed master list of jobs was created and club members were encouraged to sign up for a 2 hour slot. That way everyone helped and still got out on the water. The only area that did not run as smoothly as we would have liked is boat unloading and parking. Since the club had a very limited area to unload boats (only 3 cars at a time) when the crowd came at 10am, it did take a little time to unload boats and then get the guests to move their cars to the street. In the end, everything was handled but we will have to look into how we can off load more than 3 boats at a time. The second area that had a few hiccups was in food. Sebago provided food to our guests all day long, in the morning, there were bagels, coffee and light snacks, from about noon to 5 pm we had the gas grill fired up and hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the goodies kept rolling off the grill. We ran out of food and had to send a member to the store so that when the last trips came back and people were hungry there would be food for them. There were two problems, as much as we asked people to RSVP, we only had 60 confirmations the day before the event. Secondly, many people came back from trips early and just hung out on the grounds and ate 2 complete meals over the 5 hour time span. If we run the event again, guests will be given a certain number of tickets to get food. Additional tickets will be able to be purchased helping to defray the cost of the event. The third area where things went slightly off course was in our guided trips. Sebago created a list of guided trips at different times and different skill levels that our guests could join. The main problem we found was that many of the guests overstated their skills and some struggled on the longer trips. Some of our intermediate trips also suffered from having guests with a wide range of skills. The other problem was timing, many guests arrived after the trip that they wanted to go on had left and so joined the next trip out. We are not sure how to remedy either of these problems if the event is held again but will discuss it with our coaches in the off season to see if we can come up with a plan. 3

4 PHOTOS FROM EVENT Setting up outside the club Keep flipping those burgers Safety first, sign in and fill out insurance forms How do I get from here to there? 4

5 A boatload of boats kids, canoes and bug spray, let s get on the water First one to the dock wins a free hat and t-shirt 5

6 Sailors are the first away to catch the wind And where there are sailors there ARE PIRATES in their wooden boats LET S NOT FORGET ALL THE KAYAKERS 6

7 And a few different types of boats 7

8 He has the right idea after a long paddle PLEASE BE SURE TO SEE AN EXTENDED SLIDESHOW ON OUR WEBSITE IN A FEW WEEKS, GIVING CREDIT TO NEIWPCC AND HEP THANKS TO GREEN PLANET BOTTLING FOR DONATING 12 CASES OF WATER 8

9 CANOE C L GO GUIDED TRIPS FREE PARKING UB I T A O L CL NA AL L S SE B UB A DAY OF FUN, FOOD, & EDUCATION A The Sebago Canoe Club a 501c3 all volunteer-run not-for-profit announces... INVIT Make this the largest gathering of human powered boats on Jamaica Bay! individuals & groups kayaks canoes outriggers sunfish lasers rowboats sculls dragon boats Sat July 17, am 5pm A FREE EVENT Details on our website: For additional information contact: allclub@sebagocanoeclub.org Sponsored by the Sebago Canoe Club and the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program in association with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. In cooperation with Gateway National Recreation Area and the New York City Water Trail Association 9

10 SEBAGO CANOE CLUB 10

11 SEBAGO S ALL CLUB INVITATIONAL Saturday July 17 th 10am 5pm Rain or Shine Explore the Bay on your own (CHARTS PROVIDED) or join Sebago members on a guided tour of the Bay. (ALL HUMAN POWERED BOATERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY) GUIDED TRIPS 10:30 AM Kayaking intermediate kayakers. Take a tour of the far reaches of the Bay, North Channel, Broad Channel and around. Approx 4 6 hours 15 miles 10:45Am Sailing ( Laser, Sunfish) Ride the wind out towards Elders Marsh and see the Bay as you glide on the currents. Approx 3 4 hours 11:00 AM Kayaking Beginners, Take a look at the first island in the Bay by going around Canarsie Pol. Approx 2 hours 5 miles 11:00am Rowing, Tour the bay by rowing your Whitehall or rowing skull 11:30AM Kayaking, Advanced Beginners, Cross the channel and go around Ruffle Bar as you see the airport and the Rockaways. Approx 3 4 hours 8 miles 11:45 AM Kayaking, Advanced Beginners Take a tour towards the East Side of the Bay and see the marshes behind Canarsie Pol and Ruffle Bar. Approx 3 4 hours 8 miles 11

12 Noon: Canoeing, Beginners, Explore the bay in your canoe as you leisurely look at the birdlife, Wonderful photo opportunity. Approx 3 hours 8 miles 12:30PM Kayaking, intermediate, Take a tour of the West end of the Bay, See NYC Helicopter station, Go to where the currents hit the sea wall and come at you from 3 directions. Approx 3.5 hours 8 miles 1pm kayaking, beginners, Take a slow tour of the salt marshes as one of bird experts shows you the bird life in the bay. Approx 3 hours 4 miles 1:15pm Sailing, ( Laser, Sunfish) Ride the wind out towards Elders Marsh and see the Bay as you glide on the currents. Approx 3 4 hours 12

Increasing public access and accessibility to the Brooklyn waterfront A Sebago Canoe Club Project

Increasing public access and accessibility to the Brooklyn waterfront A Sebago Canoe Club Project SUMMARY GOALS: The goal of this phase of Sebago s multi-year capital improvement plan was to design and