NY/NJ Baykeeper to Host Summer Kayak Program

NY/NJ Baykeeper will be hosting a summer kayak program open the public. Trips include free paddles in the Keyport Harbor on select Thursday evenings in June and July. Free paddle Thursday dates include June 5, July 12, June 19, June 26, July 17, July 24, and July 31 from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.

In addition, two paddle trips on the Navesink River will be held in conjunction with Monmouth County Parks on Sunday July 20 from 2:45-4:45pm and Saturday August 16 from 12:30-2:30pm. Navesink paddle trips are $30 per person which include a kayak, PFD and paddle rental. To register for the Navesink River Paddles, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com and use Code IND43A for the July trip, and Code INE43A for the August trip.

 For beginners, a Perth Amboy paddle is available on Saturday, August 9, 2:00 - 4:00pm. To close out the summer, a sunset Matawan Creek Paddle will be available Saturday, September 6, from 5:00-7:00pm. Cost is $25 person or $35 per person including the kayak, PFD and paddle rental. Register online at www.nynjbaykeeper/events.

 Joe Reynolds, Senior Park Naturalist at the Monmouth County Parks explained that kayakers can expect to see a diversity of wildlife including blue herons, diamondback terrapins (turtles), and hundreds of plant species, which experience tour guides will gladly point out.

 Participants are recommended to bring water, snack, sunscreen, bug repellent, rain gear, hat, at towel to sit on, a dry sack or plastic bag to store personal items, a polypropylene cord to tie the bag to the kayak, a spare car key, and a camera.

 About Baykeeper:

 NY/NJ Baykeeper is the citizen guardian of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Founded in 1989, Baykeeper's mission is to protect, preserve, and restore the environment of one of the most urban estuaries on Earth - benefiting its natural and human communities. Through Estuary-wide programs Baykeeper seeks to end pollution, improve public ac­cess, conserve and restore public lands, restore aquatic habitats, encourage ap­propriate and discourage inappropriate development, carry out public education, and work with federal and NY/NJ state regulators and citizen groups as partners in planning for a sustainable future.

Reynolds said, "Thanks to the Baykeeper and its volunteers, the estuary is cleaner than it has been in 50 years, but there is still more work to be done. As pollution continues to plague our waters and climate change proceeds, changes to the estuary will have implications unless we all work together to become better stewards of our environment." 

 Registration questions can be directed to Heather Macchia at 732-999-9870 ext 1 or Heather@nynjbaykeeper.org

Protecting, preserving, and restoring the Hudson-Raritan Estuary since 1989.

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