Events
Events
Check out RISE's calendar of events, and join family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors in strengthening the resilience of the Rockaway community! Events are free to all and intended to actively engage local residents.
Foraging Tour with "Wildman" Steve Brill
Sunday, October 4, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
"Wildman" Steve Brill will lead a FREE session on plant identification, the natural habitat of the Rockaways, and all the best wild foods of the seashore. The sandy soil limits tree and grass growth, but it benefits other species that can take advantage of the sun and nutrient-poor soil. Wild greens and dozens of species thrive here.
This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is required.
Wine-Tasting Fundraiser
Saturday, October 3, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
RISE Educational Garden, 190 Beach 44th Street
Are you in a New York State of Wine?
The New York Times Chief Wine Critic Eric Asimov will take us through some great wines from the Empire State, the most underrated state for wine in the country. The price of admission is $200 per person, and it is a fundraiser for RISE! All proceeds will support the one-acre, community-owned and operated RISE Native Plant Nursery, Seed Bank, and Educational Garden.
REGISTER today.
RESCHEDULED: Climate Week NYC Dune Planting
Saturday, October 3, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th & the Boardwalk
All hands on deck for dune restoration, part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan during Climate Week NYC!
This initiative, led by RISE and supported by Surfrider Foundation's Climate Action Program, focuses on long-term enhancement and maintenance of coastal dunes. All are welcome to help put in native plants and shrubs, to build and restore a natural protective buffer along the east end of the Rockaways. Students may receive community service hours. Join us for lunch afterward, to catch up on progress and connect.
This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
Monday, September 28, to Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Stop & Shop, 70-20 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Arverne, NY 11692
Tuesday, September 1, 2026, is launch day for Stop & Shop Community Bag Program. For the entire month of September, when you purchase a $2.50 reusable community bag at Stop & Shop on 70-20 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, $1.00 is donated to RISE (Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity).
The community bags are located on displays around the store and at the checkout. For more information about the program, please visit https://stopandshop.2givelocal.com/program/community-bag/.
Thanks for your support!
Shoreline Cleanup
Saturday, September 19, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
NEW LOCATION: Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, De Costa Avenue & Beach 65th Street
Join RISE, NYC H2O, and New York Sea Grant for a shoreline cleanup. Local residents and children of all ages are encouraged to participate in this stewardship event. As members of the Rockaway community, we need to do our best to keep the shorelines clean for all, including wildlife!
Students may receive community service hours for their efforts. This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged.
Special thanks to National Sea Grant Marine Debris Community Action Coalition.
16th Annual NYC Honey Fest
Saturday, September 12, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Boardwalk at Beach 106th Street
Rockaway Honeyworks, a RISE initiative, will table at 16th Annual NYC Honey Fest. Student interns from Shore Corps helped to do hive inspections and harvest honey, which will be on sale.
All proceeds support RISE's youth programs: Living Classroom, Environmentor, Shore Corps. Drop by to say hello and taste of some of the best honey in New York City!
RISE on the Radio
Sunday, August 30, 10:30 pm to 11:00 pm
95.5 K-LOVE and 96.7 Air1
Tune in, if you can! Jeanne DuPont, RISE executive director, will be on the radio on Sunday, August 30, 2026, 10:30 p.m. Closer Look, a locally focused public affairs program, highlights nonprofit organizations making a positive impact in their communities. Peter Kaye interviewed her earlier this year, and it will be broadcast on 95.5 K-LOVE and 96.7 Air1.
Rockaway/Nassau County Bayside Plan Workshop
Tuesday, August 11, 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Over the past few months, the RISE and Cornell University team has been meeting with residents, businesses, and government agencies to compile updated information and findings for the Rockaway/Nassau County Bayside Plan. This workshop is an opportunity for the community to see the concepts and priorities that came out of the stakeholder input and to give feedback before the final plan is released to the general public.
Food and refreshments will be served. Registration is encouraged.
Rockaway Bayside Community Design Charette
Wednesday, June 24, 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Coladas for a Cause
Friday, June 5, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Connolly's, 155 Beach 95th Street
Kick-start summer with the third annual "Coladas for a Cause," a fundraiser hosted by Connolly's for RISE's youth educational programs: Environmentor, Living Classroom, and Shore Corps. There will be a 50/50! $5 per chance; $20 for five chances. CLICK HERE to purchase your $20 entry, which includes one FREE drink! You must be at least twenty-one-years-old to participate.
Artists Talking
Thursday, June 4, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Andrea Belag, painter and RISE board of director, will moderate a talk by three artists: Julian Kreimer, Mark Sheinkman, and Robin Tewes. The image shown here is a partial view of Tewes's triptych oil painting "Not My Eyes" (1997). Please register to join us for the first of two "Artists Talking about Their Work."
Come Play!
Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 7, 2026
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
RISE is partnering with Public Art Fund this summer, and we would love for you to be a part of it! The exhibition "Between Tides" at Beach 67th Street on the beach will feature six newly commissioned sculptural Ping-Pong tables created by artists.
We invite you to craft a fabric flag that will be included in Amalia Pica’s installation "Fair Play," a colorful multiplayer Ping-Pong table inspired by maritime communication systems.
Click on this link to participate, by making one of these flags! Each participant will receive a $100 stipend.
Shore Corps Year-End Celebration
Saturday, May 30, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Mother's Day Foraging Tour with "Wildman" Steve Brill
Sunday, May 10, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Join RISE for a FREE Mother's Day foraging tour with America's go-to guy for foraging, "Wildman" Steve Brill. We will be exploring Arverne East Nature Preserve, which has an abundance of wild plants and wildlife. The sandy soil of the Rockaways is poor, limiting tree and grass growth, but it benefits other species that can take advantage of the sun and nutrient-poor soil. Wild greens grow great here, and there are dozens of species that thrive. Field garlic is a very tasty relative of onions and garlic.
This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is required.
Community Dune Planting
Saturday, May 9, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th Street & the Boardwalk
Join RISE for a community volunteer day, culminating in a celebration of the land and the water. We will be cleaning the shoreline and planting native plants and shrubs as part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan, to create a natural protective buffer of dunes along the east end of the Rockaways.
All are welcome to participate, and students may receive community service hours for their efforts! Please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged.
Special thanks to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
20th Annual Earth Day Rockaway
Saturday, May 2, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Enjoy a day of fun in the Rockaways with FREE activities and programs for children of all ages!
This year's event includes live music, face painting, free giveaways, plantings, fire safety, and arts and crafts. All activities are intended to raise awareness of the natural resources along the Rockaway shoreline and to learn how to appreciate and conserve Earth's resources.
Hip-Hop Garden Volunteer Planting
Tuesday, April 28, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Join RISE in planting and beautifying the Hip-Hop Community Garden. Help us refresh and care for this vibrant space for the season. All tools and materials will be provided, and volunteers of all ages are welcome!
Registration is encouraged. In case of inclement weather or other change of plans, we will communicate via e-mail.
Tree Giveaway
Saturday, April 18, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
RISE is excited to partner with New York Restoration Project to host a FREE tree giveaway! Native tree species to be distributed at this location include:
Tree sizes vary, and be prepared to transport up to a two-gallon pot size. A reservation is required to guarantee yourself a tree! A limited number of trees will be made available to walk-ins while supplies last.
Click here to reserve your tree!
PLEASE NOTE: After you submit the registration form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with a ticket number and two reminder e-mails when the event gets closer. If you do not receive these e-mails, you are not registered! Please contact community@nyrp.org for your status. Thank you.
Community Dune Planting
Saturday, April 11, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th Street & the Boardwalk
Join RISE for a community planting of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan. To strengthen our natural protective buffer of dunes, we are establishing native grasses and shrubs along the east end of the Rockaways.
All are welcome to participate, and students may receive community service hours for their efforts! Please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged.
Special thanks to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
RISE Raffle!
Monday, April 6, to Friday, April 10, 2026
100 percent of all proceeds will support RISE's youth programs: SHORE CORPS, a service learning program for high school students, focused on environmental stewardship, food justice, community planning, and civic engagement; LIVING CLASSROOM, a pre-K to sixth-grade STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) program that brings the great outdoors into the classroom, utilizing the natural shoreline for hands-on experiential learning; ENVIRONMENTOR, a
RAFFLE TICKETS: $25 each or $100 for five (5)
DRAWING: Friday, April 10, 2026, 10:00 a.m. (EDT)
PRIZES:
- Vino By the Sea Gift Card + Specially Selected Bottle
- Skudin Surf Week of Half-Day Surf Camp
- Kennedy’s $100 Gift Card
- JetBlue 2 Round-Trip Travel Certificates between any JetBlue-served cities
Thanks to Vino By the Sea, Skudin Surf, Kennedy's, and JetBlue for their generosity!
CLICK HERE to purchase your lucky chance at winning! Check the box for Add note/comment and type Raffle! Only persons eighteen years or older may participate.
Spring Migration Bird Walk
Saturday, April 4, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Join RISE, NYC Plover Project, and NYC Bird Alliance for a FREE guided birding tour along the Rockaway shoreline! Explore the beach with expert guides and discover a wide variety of coastal birds, while learning about their habitats and conservation.
Binoculars will be provided first come, first served, though you may bring your own. Please dress accordingly and bring a water bottle.
Registration is encouraged. In case of inclement weather, we will communicate change of plans via e-mail.
Jamaica Bay Community Cleanup
Saturday, March 21, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Dubos Point Wildlife Sanctuary, De Costa Avenue & Beach 65th Street
Join RISE for a cleanup along Jamaica Bay. Local residents and visitors (adults and children) are encouraged to participate in this stewardship event. As appreciative citizens of the Rockaways, we need to do our part to keep the bay clean for us and for all the wildlife.
Everyone is welcome to participate, and students may receive community service hours for their efforts! Please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged.
Special thanks to National Sea Grant Marine Debris Community Action Coalition.
Chair Movement with Weights
Tuesday, March 3, 11:00 am to 11:45 am
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Christine Walker, breath facilitator, licensed massage therapist, and certified yoga instructor, will teach a FREE class on chair movement with weights. You will be seated and standing. All are welcome!
Winter Bird Walk with NYC Plover Project
Sunday, January 11, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Join RISE and NYC Plover Project for a FREE winter birding tour of Edgemere, the first of the 2026 season! Come and see sea ducks, grebes, common and red-throated loons, Northern gannets, and other winter birds on the shoreline. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, all levels of birders are welcome.
Please dress with plenty of warm layers and have a water bottle. Binoculars will be provided first come, first served, though you may bring your own.
Registration is highly recommended. In case of inclement weather and other changes, we will be communicating via e-mail.
RISE 20th Anniversary Alumni Luncheon
Saturday, October 18, 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm
RISE Native Plant Nursery, 190 Beach 44th Street
Are you an alum of Shore Corps or Environmentor, RISE's internship programs for high school students, from the years 2010 to 2022? Then join us for this special luncheon mixer, at the new RISE Native Plant Nursery, to celebrate our twentieth anniversary!
You must register individually; no additional guests. RSVP before Thursday, October 16, 2025.
Also, please consider signing up for RISE's Sandy Anniversary Planting, taking place on the same day, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with current Shore Corps students and the community!
Sandy Anniversary Planting
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th Street and the Boardwalk
For the thirteenth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, RISE is bringing people of all ages together to care for our shoreline and create a natural protective barrier for the Rockaway community.
As we learned from the hurricane, the natural vegetation and dunes that exist off our shores serve as a buffer to the homes and businesses in the area. Many of these dunes are compromised by storms, shoreline erosion, and human disturbance, including marine debris and trash, so they need to be cared for to be effective.
Families, friends, and neighbors are welcome to participate in this shoreline cleanup and beach grass dune planting. Students can receive community service hours. This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged, in case of changes.
Special thanks to National Sea Grant Marine Debris Community Action Coalition, City Parks Foundation NYC Green Fund, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
NYC Climate Week Planting with Surfrider
Sunday, September 21, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th Street & Edgemere Avenue
Join RISE for hands-on dune restoration as part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan during Climate Week NYC. The initiative focuses on long-term enhancement and maintenance of coastal dunes to mitigate climate impacts.
Families, friends, and neighbors are welcome to help plant native plants and shrubs to build and restore a natural protective buffer along the east end of the Rockaways. Students can receive community service hours and are encouraged to bring paperwork from their schools.
This event is rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. Registration is encouraged, in case of changes on the day.
Special thanks to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Surfrider Foundation.
AMSEAS Necropsy Volunteer Training
Sunday, June 22, 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
Do you want to be part of Atlantic Marine Conservation Society (AMSEAS) stranding response team? Are you interested in assisting with necropsies? Join AMSEAS at RISE for a volunteer training session! This session is open to AMSEAS volunteers. To become a volunteer, e-mail volunteers@amseas.org and join AMSEAS for a virtual volunteer orientation on Thursday, May 29, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. To register for the volunteer orientation, visit https://tinyurl.com/2s4c4mpx
Barbara Hillary Day
Thursday, June 12, 10:30 am to 11:30 am
190 Beach 44th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
Join us for a celebratory gathering at the Barbara Hillary sculpture rock in RISE Educational Garden and "Honor Walk Way," to honor and remember Hillary's contributions to the Rockaways.
"Who is Barbara Hillary?" you might ask. She was the first African American woman to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole. A resident of Arverne, she was a dedicated community activist and advocate for improving life in her neighborhood and others throughout the peninsula.
RISE petitioned local elected officials to dedicate June 12, her birthday, as “Barbara Hillary Day.”
All are welcome to attend the reception and festivities!
Project Underway
Saturday, May 17, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Beach 60th Street under the Elevated
Join RISE and Living City Project in this student-led community event. We will be painting Seaside Strong, a permanent mural on the roadbed, under the A-train's elevated tracks. All are welcome!
RISE Spring Hoppy Hour!
Wednesday, April 2, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Rockaway Brewing Company, Long Island City Taproom, 46-01 5th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101
RISE to the occasion, make a toast to our twentieth anniversary, and support our youth programs: Shore Corps, Living Classroom, and Environmentor! Board member Christian Capasso is hosting this off-the-peninsula fundraiser for friends, familiar and new. Ethan Long of Rockaway Brewing Company created an exclusive brand-new craft beer to mark the occasion.
Cheers!
Rockaway Honeyworks
Monday, December 16, to Thursday, December 19, 2024
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
An Andrew Jackson will not only get you an eight-ounce bottle of local, raw honey, but it also supports programming at RISE. Purchase Rockaway Honeyworks for holiday gifting! You may pay for it online and pick it up at RISE, Monday through Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., or we can ship it to you at an additional cost. Thank you.
#GivingTuesday
Tuesday, December 3, All day
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard
It will be RISE's twentieth anniversary in 2025, and we want to thank you for being a part of the movement: Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity. Take a look at these beautiful faces. They are the reason we have our heels dug in to the ground, to make sure that the ocean, the sand, the sky, the wildlife, and even the not-so-wildlife are accessible to them as a playground and a learning field. Please donate to keep our mission going and thriving.
Native Plant Nursery Planting
Saturday, September 21, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Arverne East Welcome Center, 190 Beach 44th Street
Join RISE for this special event establishing the new Native Plant Nursery at Arverne East.
Participants will learn to collect seeds from the native coastal plants and help to set up and plant the raised beds for the inaugural season.
People of all ages are invited to participate. Students seeking community service hours are welcome to attend. Dress accordingly for outdoor conditions. Registration is encouraged.
Special thanks to Booth Ferris Foundation, City Parks Foundation NYC Green Fund, and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Rockaway Stop 'N' Swap
Saturday, May 11, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Beach 60th Street & Rockaway Freeway, under the A-train's elevated tracks
It's FREE! Give away items you no longer need or take home something new-to-you! You don't have to bring something to take something.
What to Bring
YES: Clean, reusable, portable items such as clothing, housewares, electronics, books, and toys.
NO: Furniture, large items, expired or open food, unsealed personal care products, medicine, dirty or ripped clothing, fabric scraps, incomplete toys and games, nonworking electronics, tube TVs, magazines, and sharp objects.
This event is brought to you by GrowNYC. Stop 'N' Swap is funded by New York City Department of Sanitation.