Solar Fest, Pirates Festival And Enviromedia Mobile At Ikea Erie Basin Park This Summer

Mark these dates on your calendar, because you don't want to miss these fun events this summer. The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy and its Enviromedia Mobile, a traveling Nature and Maritime Museum on wheels, will be down at Ikea Erie Basin Park this summer and fall with great events for the entire family. Neat stuff from a great organization. Read on:

The Enviromedia Mobile Summer Family Fun at Ikea Erie Basin Park Fun

SAT JUNE 25th - 11am- 5pm- SOLAR FEST "Green Mobile"- join us and tour various mobile architectures that brings ,environmental education and sustainability directly to our communities. Live Music on our theme stage, Environmental workshops and more. Public tour of the mobile NATURE and MARITIME Museum on wheels and others' too. Oppt for free NPO Tabling, OPPT for VENDORS and ARTISANS, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS and SPONSORS.
Details at- http://parkslope.patch.com/events/the-enviromedia-mobiles-springsummerfall-children-and-families-program-series-at-ikea-erie-basin-park

SAT JULY 30th - 11am- 5pm- Brooklyn's TREASURE COVE MARITIME BACCHANAL and Red Hook PIRATES FESTIVAL- visit our maritime stories tent and meet a couple of Local explorers from 1000 days at Sea Odyssey, The Organization of Black Maritime Graduates and more. Get on aboard for a Pirates Ecocruise aboard The Urban Divers 32ft indian shipping canoe that accommodates 21 paddlers at time, Live music, Dj, Environmental recreation activities, Public tours of the Mobile Nature and Maritime Museum on wheels. Oppt for free NPO Tabling, OPPT for VENDORS and ARTISANS, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS and SPONSORS.
Details at > http://parkslope.patch.com/events/the-enviromedia-mobile-brooklyns-treasure-cove-maritime-bacchanal-red-hook-pirates-fest-at-ikea-erie-basin-park

SAT AUG 20th, 3pm- 10pm- Sunset Concert and Movie Screening with The LEGENDARY MELVIN VAN PEEBLES and THE LAXATIVE ORCHESTRA, Title of Movies screening TBA. Plus Public tours of the Mobile NATURE and MARITIME Museum on wheels. Oppt for free NPO Tabling, OPPT for VENDORS and ARTISANS, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS and SPONSORS.

SAT SEPT 24th 11am- 5pm- FESTIVAL OF THE AGES...Wild About The Estuary- A Journey back into the future, during a time...well.. where "going green" was simply a way of life. Activities include a Medieval Falconry/Birds of Prey Education and Appreciation, Medieval Archery Demo and Workshops for kids and parents, Live Traditional Folklore, Ethnic music on our theme stage, featuring a Japanese Taiko Drum Youth Performance by NY Suwa Taiko Association, a 4000 yr lineage African Mask Dance and Drumming Troupe, Irish Step Dance Band and more. All aboard for an Heritage Ecocruise above The Urban Divers 32ft Indian shipping canoe that accommodate 21 paddlers at a time, plus Public Tours of the Mobile NATURE and MARITIME Museum on wheels.

Location: One Beard Street, Red Hook

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Celebrate Earth Day 2010 With The Urban Divers And Their Enviromedia Mobile

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy, a not-for-profit environmental and cultural organization, has a fun filled series of events planned in the neighborhood for the 2010 Earth Day Celebration . Activities starts on April 18th with a "Gowanus Earth Day Spring Clean-up" event. Here is a great opportunity to volunteer and to give back to your community.

Read on:

URBAN DIVERS EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS:

April 18th- 11th Annual Gowanus Earth Day Flotilla Spring Clean-up

FOLLOW THE ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE

April 25th- Earth Day Celebrations at IKEA/Erie Basin Park- Ceremonial Launch of Giant Floating Earth Ball

SPRING/SUMMER EARH FEST KICK OFF

June 5th- at IKEA/Erie Basin Park - In conjunction with American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life"

June 6th- at Washington Square Park- In conjunction with WORLD SCIENCE DAY.

more at http://enviromediamobile.blogspot.com

EVENTS Details:

Just a brief reminder that we will be continuing with our tradition of the Annual Gowanus Earth Day Spring Clean-up

as we have we now going on 11yrs as part of the EARTH DAY CELEBRATIONS. The event will be held on SUNDAY APRIL 18th

at 11am- 3pm. We have been getting alot of interesting questions about the Superfund and its impact on the community.

I hoping that some of you would come out to share and help educate and inspire.

We will be hosting an educational ecocruise aboard our 32ft indian shipping canoe that accommodates 21 paddlers at a time.

This event follows with an EARTH DAY CELEBRATION with the ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE at Erie Basin Park in Red Hook, next to IKEA.

On SUNDAY APRIL 25th, 1PM. A wonderful day for a little nature appreciation , waterfront recreation, environmental literacy and maritime cultural enrichment at a most beautiful community waterfront park, on the historic Erie Basin. Come vision a future of family fun experiences at a clean and ecologically restored Gowanus Canal.

We are inviting you to walk, bike, hike, jog, paddle, swim or dive ( the latter two at your own risk) downstream to Erie Basin. Maybe risk free 12 yrs down the line.

PS ( WE NEED A COMMUNITY DOCK IN THE AREA FOR HUMAN POWERED WATERCRAFTS...food for thought).

Activities will include

a) public tours of the mobile museum,

b) a Recycling event- we will be collecting old junk electronics ( carry-by-hand items only) and ready to throw away sneakers ( ps there are very cool things being done with recycled sneakers)- lots of reusable materials in a sneaker.

c) the CEREMONIAL LAUNCH OF THE GIANT FLOATING EARTH BALL- Come help float a Giant Floating Earth Ball to 100ft in the air- signifying 100% commitment to mitigation

of impacts on Climate Change, Ocean Acidification and Fostering a New Green Generation in Brooklyn...bring the entire family for this historic event.

This activity is in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day Celebrations. That is 40 Millenia for some of us...right?

d) half a dozen environmental literacy activity stations for parents and children to enjoy ( catch and release fishing and biodiversity monitoring, live underwater video observation station, estuary wildlife marine touch tank, aquatic ecology lab, falconry and birds of prey display station, solar scoping

e) mobile museum gift shop

f) refreshments

g) A Raffle with a Chance to Win an IKEA Prize. Last year's winners won solar powered lamps, and the lucky grand prize winner won an IKEA office design and furnishing.

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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UPDATE: Large Section Of Eroded Whole Foods Bulkhead Floating In Gowanus Canal?

photo credit: From the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy

This just in from Ludger K. Balan, Executive and Environmental Program Director of the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy, a non-for-profit organization dedicated restoration, revitalization, restoration, protection for our waterways and watersheds.

Ludger has spent countless hours not only boating in the Gowanus Canal but also diving in its waters, studying and observing the changes along the heavily polluted waterway.

His organization just alerted to the fact that a huge section of the bulkhead along the Whole Foods section has broken off. Here is his email:

Whole Food for Thought!

"A large section of bulkhead ( approximately 20-25ft span) broke off Whole Foods site and is floating in the Gowanus Canal. The on-going erosion and this level of exposure, which has been occurring for over a year, is contributing to further migration of  toxins between the Gowanus Canal and the uplands section at Whole Foods site."

Ludger K Balan, Executive, Environmental Program Director

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy

WWW.URBANDIVERS.ORG

***UPDATE***

On Friday, I received the email below from Josh Verleun, Chief Investigator for Riverkeeper, New York's #1 clean water advocacy group.

Josh, who, like Ludger, spends many hours investigating the Gowanus Canal in a Riverkeeper boat, reported to me that Ludger is mistaken. Apparently, the big floating object in the Gowanus is a boat that sank.
Josh writes:
"What is floating in the canal is not a piece of bulkhead, but is in fact the sunken remains of a houseboat that was once tied up close to the Carroll St. bridge.

I have been working on investigating the circumstances of this boat’s sinking for a number of months. The sinking of this vessel has been passed on to the Department of Environmental Conservation and other law enforcement entities as well. Here are some photos of the boat before it sunk, after it was sunk and the top was chopped off, and after it floated to where it is now.

The large piece labeled A1 (on Ludger's Photos) is the sunken boat. The other pictures of the Whole Foods bulkhead/shoreline look very similar to how they have looked the 8 or so times I was in front of the property in a Riverkeeper boat over the course of the summer and fall. The shoreline in that area is very unstable looking—dirt has eroded from underneath concrete that hangs out over the edge, so I certainly could imagine chunks of debris falling into the canal. But as far as I can tell nothing major appears to have changed since I was last there in November.

The bulkhead situation as well as the sunken boat will certainly be addressed at Monday night's meeting with Executives from Whole Foods.

Information about the meeting here.  I hope you will be able to attend."

(photo credit: Josh Verleun, Riverkeeper)

Houseboat before it sank

partly submerged houseboat

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Official Unveiling Of 'The Urban Divers' Enviromedia Mobile

I just received this from the Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy. They are about to unveil their Enviromedia Mobile, a traveling Nature and Maritime Museum on wheels. Neat stuff from a great organization. Read on:

From Urban Divers After 11 years of continuing dedication, including eight years in conception and design, and three years of intense hard work. The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy has conceived a unique learning and cultural tool to help increase environmental literacy, youth development and maritime cultural enrichment in our community, in our schools, on the waterfront in Brooklyn.

Please accept this invitation to join us on :

October 21, 2009 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza Park

for the OFFICIAL UNVEILING of our remarkable “ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE”—a traveling urban nature and maritime museum on wheels. If a teacher and class are interested in participating, the mobile museum will be on exhibit from 9 AM.

Local schools are invited to bring one class for a complimentary visit and workshop. Advance registration is required. We will also be honoring Assemblymember William Colton, Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Hudson River Foundation, IKEA, other sponsors and YOU for the support in helping us move the idea of the Enviromedia Mobile from conception into reality. This mobile environmental center/museum travels to schools, community fairs/events, as well as host waterfront environmental awareness activities (e.g. eco-cruises, live underwater video exploration, birds of prey, clean-ups), in order to encourage Brooklyn residents and the general public to engage in environmental education, environmental stewardship, and maritime as to raise awareness about the ecological significance of the Gowanus Canal and the environmental impact that challenges it as well other waterways in New York’s estuarine ecosystem and urban watershed—where we live, work, play, learn and worship.

To accept this invitation, please call us and RSVP at (347) 224-5687, 347-224-5828 or send email confirmation to enviromediamobile.udec@gmail.com. We look forward to sharing this tool our our resources with you. Your participation is important to us. Thank you for continuing support and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy is 501 c3 not for profit environmental and cultural organization. Please give generously. Your contribution is how we are able to continue to bring quality and innovative programs to the community.

Ludger K. Balan,

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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The Urban Divers Celebrate Their 10th Year With Series Of Cool Events

To enlarge schedule, click here

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy are going all out for their 10th Anniversary with a full schedule of events involving their Enviromedia Mobile in various parks in Brooklyn and on Governors Island.
The Urban Divers is a not-for-profit environmental & cultural organization committed to active participation in the restoration, revitalization, restoration, protection of the natural resources of the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary.
These events sound incredible, so make sure you check them out throughout the summer. Here is more info from UDEC:

It is with a great pleasure and enthusiasm that I take this opportunity to introduce you to The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy's ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE- The traveling
urban nature and maritime museum on wheels.

This summer starting on July 18th, UDEC ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE will emerge at a Brooklyn Waterfront
near you with The Urban Trekker' Tour 2009- a fun filled summer weekends of Environmental Education through Recreation, Environmental Stewardship, Cultural Enrichment, and maritime activities, in conjunction with the organization's 10th Anniversary Celebration in providing its resources and services to various communities along NY Harbor.

Please see attached summer e-calendar: JOIN US, FOLLOW IT, Please post, list and HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

Twit @ twitter/urbanoutdoors.

The Urban Divers ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE " Urban Trekker Tour 2009

(Designated Official Quadricentennial Ambassador by the State of New York).

Activities include:

• 10th Annula Submerge Art & Environment Festival Exhibition- with artists- Mara Haselstine, Rik Davis, Charles Denson, Water Martin ( Video Installation), Special guest international artists, Photography of Gustavo " Coyote" Vilchis, High Bridge Children's Art Show ( High Bridge Community Life Center & High Bridge Coalition)
• Get On the Water NYC- Urban Rivers Tour- Ecocruise aboard a unique 32ft indian shipping canoe that accomodate 21 paddlers at a time.
• GoFiSh n Seine- family catch and release fishing
• Urban Wings Over Water- birds of prey education and demonstration
• Live! Beneath The Urban Estuary- Live underwater video exploration
• Under Da BiG TiPi
• Diving Heritage Museum
• GoGreen Workshop

and much more.

@ Governors Island- "Celebrate the Hudson River Series"-

Sat July 18th (In conjunction with City of Water Day),

Sun Aug 30th
Sun Sept 27th.

11am- 5pm

@ Valentino Park- "Nature at the Beach Series"

Sun Aug 16th,

Sat Sept 26th-

11am-5pm

@ Ikea/Erie Basin Park- " International Bay Fest Series"-
WIN A CHANCE TO RECEIVE a FREW HOME OFFICE DESIGN and FURNISHING.

Sat July 19th,

Sat Aug 15th,

Sun Sept 13th,

Sat Oct 10th-

11am-5pm

@ Bensonhurst Park ( Bay Parkway/Next to Tennis House Bubble)- "International Bay Fest Series"-

Sun July 26th,

Sat Sept 5th,

Sat Sept 19th-

11am- 5pm

Program is subject to changes, please confirm, More dates may added later. For more info call 347-224-5828, or email enviromediamobile.udec@gmail.com.

OTHER-

COME EXPLORE THE RICHNESS and CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF NYC's WATERFRONT.

ENJOY A DAY ON THE SCENIC HARLEM RIVER.

The 4th ANNUAL HARLEM RIVER REVIVAL and FAMILY & KIDS DAY FESTIVAL- SAT JULY 11th , 11am-5PM

" The Nature in the Hood Serie"

Activities Include:

The Great Muscoota River Paddle- Ecocruise on the Harlem River aboard our unique 32ft Indian shipping canoe that accomodates 21 paddlers at time.

Western Performance and Horse Handling by the Federation of Black Cowboys

Performance Stage

Birds of Prey

Archery

...and more

@ The Harlem River Ecology Center located upstream at the Bronx, Harlem River Waterfront, at the southern end of Roberto Clemente State Park , NYC Bridge Park and River Park Towers, just north of the historic High Bridge, now in restoration

TAKE THE METRO NORTH - HUDSON RIVER LINE TO MORRIS HEIGHTS STOPS RIGHT AT THE STATE PARK.

See you there...

The Urban Divers Estuary Conservancy

ENVIROMEDIA MOBILE

www.urbandivers.org

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

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