February 2018
Barnabas McHenry, Chair Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area
Kevin M. Burke, Acting Chairman, Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Acting Co-Chair National Heritage Area
Scott Keller, Acting Executive Director Greenway,
Acting Director National Heritage Area 
Monthly News, Events, & Grant
Opportunities
National Rivers Project Features Hudson River Greenway Water Trail
The Hudson River Greenway Water Trail is being featured in February on the website of the National Rivers Project, an online resource where you can discover interactive maps, paddling and access information, and local managers for 949 rivers in the United States. There is information on National Water Trails, whitewater rivers, and wild and scenic rivers. The National Rivers Project is a collaborative effort of the River Management Society, in partnership with organizations like the National Park Service, and the US Geological Survey. Visit the page here .
Student Writers Win Trips to Hudson Valley Locations
The Teaching the Hudson Valley Program has announced the winners of the annual Writing About Place contest, where students in grades K-12 choose a location in the Hudson Valley that they would like to share with their classmates, and write a poem or essay that expresses their interest. One student each from an elementary, middle, and high school is awarded first place and up to $900 for a trip to the place written about. This year's winners include Alice Rosi-Marshall from Millbrook High, and Redwan Arosh from Newburgh Free Academy. Read more about the winners here .
2017 Hudson River Estuary Coordinator's Report
2017 was the 30th year of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Hudson River Estuary Program. The Hudson River Estuary Program helps people enjoy, protect, and revitalize the Hudson River and its valley. The 2017 Annual Hudson River Estuary Coordinator's Report details all that the program has accomplished for the year 2017, including providing $3,005,925 for 37 projects in 69 locations throughout the Estuary. Other highlights include providing science based training to more than 1,000 municipal officials, agency staff, and conservation groups. Read the 2017 report here .
National Endowment for the Humanities Announces New Grant Program
The National Endowment for the Humanities has just announced a new grant program to support humanities infrastructures. Cultural institutions, such as libraries, museums, archives, colleges and universities, and historic sites, are eligible to apply for grants of up to $750,000. This NEH Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Challenge Grant may be used toward capital expenditures such as construction and renovation projects, purchase of equipment and software, sharing of humanities collections between institutions, documentation of lost or imperiled cultural heritage, sustaining digital scholarly infrastructure, and preservation and conservation of humanities collections. The application deadline for the first NEH Infrastructure and Capacity-Building Challenge Grants is March 15, 2018. Interested applicants should direct questions about grant proposals to challenge@neh.gov or 202-606-8309. Access the grant application and guidelines here .
Register Now for 2018 Path Through History Weekends
There will be two 2018 Path Through History Weekends: 
Spring - Father's Day weekend (June 16-17, 2018) 
Fall - Columbus Day weekend (October 6-8, 2018)
Host sites can participate in one or both of the weekends; there is no obligation to participate in both. Registration is now open here , so register your event today!
Youth Boating Organization to End 20-Year Run
After a 20-year run teaching students about boat building and maintenance, rowing and sailing, and Hudson River ecology; Building Bridges Building Boats (BBBB) is quietly ending their river run. This small non-profit located in Cold Spring was an integral part of the Great Hudson River Paddle (GHRP) from 2005 to 2010. Over the years, BBBB leader David Hardy educated dozens of students, participated in all six of the GHRP trips, and then continued to run multi-day trips after GHRP ended. The experiences the young adults (14-18+) had on these trips led all of them to a love of the Hudson, and some of them to careers in environmental/education fields. While GHRP was often referred to as summer camp for adults, these wonderful teenagers reminded all of us what it meant to be a kid. Thank you David and the BBBBers and good luck! For more information about this wonderful program see http://buildingboats.org/ and to read an article about BBBB click here . 
Upcoming Events

Ice Fishing Season Open at Some State Parks
Ice fishing season is open at the following New York State Parks; Lake Taghkanic State Park in Ancram, Taconic State Park at Rudd Pond in Millerton, Canopus Lake (Kent, NY) at Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park in Yorktown Heights. The season will remain open as weather conditions permits. A DEC fishing license is required, more information on fishing licenses is here . Visit www.nys.parks.gov for more information.

Feisty Fishers, Albany Pine Bush Preserve, Albany, NY
February 11 : Are fishers cats? Do they really eat fish? Come find answers to these questions and more at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. Start inside with a short talk about the history and biology of the fisher. Then continue outside for a walk in the preserve as we look for signs of the fisher. Read more here .

Love Light at the Park, Hudson Crossing Park, Schuylerville, NY
Luminaries will light the way to and from the Dix Bridge on Wednesday, February 14th from 5-7pm. Celebrate the day with your partner, your pup, your friends, or your family - Love Light at the Park is for everyone. Read more here .

Science Lecture Series: The History of the Rapp Road Community, Albany, NY
February 15 : Celebrate Black History Month with a lecture by the Rapp Road Historical Society detailing the history of this New York State and National Historic District.  Read more here.

Washington's Birthday Celebration at the New Windsor Cantonment, New Windsor, NY
February 17 : At 11:00 Am, 1:30 PM & 3:30 PM musket and cannon firings. Following the demonstrations children enlist in the Continental Army, drill with wooden muskets and get paid for their service in paper notes. Admission is free. Read more here .

George Washington's Birthday, Washington's Headquarters, Newburgh, NY
February 17, 18, 19 : There will be music, military demonstrations, historical presentations, and a take-home craft every day. Join us in singing "Happy Birthday" to The General, eat a piece of his birthday cake and enjoy all that each day has to offer. Please call (845) 562-1195 for further details. 

Cunning Coyotes, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 17 : Did you ever hear a coyote howl? Do you wonder where they are going or what they might be doing? Come find answers to these questions and more at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. Read more here .

Mapping the Patent at Historic Huguenot Street, New Paltz, NY
February 17 : A presentation of the first land survey of the New Paltz patent and its early divisions.Read more here .

President's Day at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum, Hyde Park, NY
February 18 : Gary Stamm has portrayed FDR for over 10 years nationwide. The public will hear from the "man himself" talking about things not learned in history class. Read more here .

Build a Bird, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 19 : Learn about how birds’ bodies are built for the places they live, the things they eat and more! We will use some local Pine Bush birds as examples of how birds are different from each other. Then, use your knowledge and imagination to design your own Pine Bush bird from a variety of materials. All ages. Read more here .

Build a Bird Nest, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 20 : Birds build their nests out of all kinds of materials including sticks, grass, mud, moss and animal hair! Join us as we explore a variety of nest designs used by birds in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. After a brief indoor presentation, we’ll go for a short hike and search for last year’s nests and then close with a craft that will prove useful for nesting birds this spring. All ages. Read more here .

Pine Bush Family Trivia Night, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 20 :  Come test your knowledge at our first-ever Family Pine Bush Trivia Night! Join us for fun, food and some family friendly competition. Light refreshments will be provided. Families with children 8+. Read more here .

Winter Wildlife Survival, Fort Montgomery SHS, Fort Montgomery, NY
February 20 : How is it that deer, wood frogs, or even praying mantis survive the winter? Come to Fort Montgomery State Historic Site and discover how our backyard neighbors endure the winter with no clothing, grocery stores, or furnaces! Read more here .

Build a Bird Feeder, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 21 :  In this program we will discuss ways to attract birds to your backyard, explore different types of bird feeders and bird seed, and each build a bird feeder to take home. Ages 6+. Read more here .

Winter’s Eve Nature Sketching, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 21 : During this indoor, evening program we will focus on improving our drawing skills while we spend time appreciating living and once-living objects and photographs of the Pine Bush Preserve. Read more here .

Build a Birdhouse, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 22 : Join us as we learn about a few bird species that live in the Pine Bush Preserve, what they may need for their homes, and then build your own birdhouse. Ages 8+. Read more here .

Eleanor Roosevelt and Civil Rights, Home of FDR National Historic Site, Hyde Park, NY
February 22: The Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Speaker Series will include lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and performances presented by historians, park rangers, activists, artists, and entrepreneurs. Read more here .

Snowshoeing in the Barrens, Albany Pine Bush, Albany, NY
February 24 : The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is a great place to get started with this fun sport. Join us for a 0.9-mile hike on snowshoes. Read more here .

World War I & the End of the Gilded Age, Staatsburgh SHS, Staatsburg, NY
February 24 : Commemorating the centennial years of World War I, this special tour explores how Gilded Age extravagance withered away in the cataclysm of the Great War. Reservations required. Read more here .

A Sugaring Off Celebration, Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Cornwall, NY
Join the Museum to celebrate the opening of Maple Sugaring Season on Saturday, February 24 , from 11:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. and help kick off a month of Maple Sugar Tours. On opening day, visitors can experience expanded maple festivities along with their tour and taste test, including a tree tapping demonstration, special crafts and games, Native American story telling around a camp fire and Journey Cake tastings. Read more here .

Teaching with Citizen Science Projects, Home of FDR and Presidential Library, Hyde Park, NY
February 24 : Register by February 17 for this professional development course that is open to all — pre-k, environmental and park educators, and the public, as well as ES teachers. Read more here .



Washington's Headquarters
Heritage Spotlight: Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
General George Washington established his headquarters at Jonathan and Tryntje Hasbrouck’s fieldstone farmhouse
from April 1, 1782, to August 19, 1783—his longest stay at any building during the Revolution. Here he welcomed a
steady stream of guests, negotiated with Congress, oversaw troops, rejected the suggestion of an American monarchy,
and ordered a “cessation of hostilities” in April 1783. Acquired and opened by the State of New York in 1850, the property is the first publicly acquired and operated historic site in the United States. In the 1880s, a limestone monument was constructed to commemorate the peaceful disbandment of the Continental Army from Newburgh. Above the gates of this “Tower of Victory” stand bronze statues of soldiers, officers and Washington. In 1910, an adjacent museum was built to display a growing number of artifacts. Plan your trip here .
Project Spotlight: Tower of Victory Interpretive Sign
The Palisades Park Conservancy was awarded a Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Development Grant to create an interpretive sign for the Tower of Victory at Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh. The Tower of Victory, one of the Hudson
Valley’s most significant historic landmarks, was erected in 1887 to commemorate the centennial of the end of the Revolutionary War. The interpretive sign gives contextual information to the site’s more than 30,000 annual visitors, and complements information inside the museum. The Palisades Park Conservancy was also able to produce an accompanying brochure with the funds from the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area.
Green Tip of the Month: Turn Out the Lights!
Many species of insects, birds, sea turtles, bats, nocturnal rodents, snakes, fish, and even plants are harmed by nighttime lighting. Use lower wattage outdoor lights, motion-sensitive lights and fixtures with shields that direct light downward. Learn more about how you can help wildlife here .
Grant and Funding Opportunities  

Hudson River Valley Greenway Grant Program
Matching grants available for Greenway Communities and Greenway Compact Communities. Deadline: May 4 . More  here .

National Heritage Area Sponsorships Available
The Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area (HRVNHA) will partner with various organizations to sponsor programs and events that reinforce the Heritage Area’s mission. While complementing the mission of the Heritage Area, cultural, heritage and recreational events deliver significant tourism and economic benefits to communities, and encourage local and regional partnerships. Municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations located within the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area are eligible to apply. For more information, please contact Dan Jeanson at daniel.jeanson@hudsongreenway.ny.gov or 518-473-3835.

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards
These matching grants are intended to create opportunities for students to explore the history, environment, and culture of the Hudson River Valley, connecting their studies to significant places. They encourage students’ appreciation for and stewardship of their communities and cultures, and connect teachers with site educators and place-based learning. Eligible expenses include transportation and admission fees to eligible Hudson Valley locations for school groups. Read more here .

National Trust Preservation Funds
Grants from National Trust Preservation Funds (NTPF) are intended to encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for preservation projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private sector. Application deadlines are February 1, June 1 and October 1.  Read more here .

Erie Canalway Event Sponsorships Available
The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, in partnership with NYS Canal Corporation is offering a limited number of sponsorships of up to $500 for events or festivals taking place in the National Heritage Corridor from May through November 2018. Eligible applicants include municipalities and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. Applications are due by February 16, 2018 . Qualifying events must promote or celebrate the distinctive historic, cultural, scenic, or recreational assets of the canal corridor. Read more here .

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors
With grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000, the purpose of the fund is to assist in the preservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic interiors. Application deadline is March 1 . Read more here .

Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation
The fund aims to save historic environments in order to foster an appreciation of our nation’s diverse cultural heritage and to preserve and revitalize communities. Grant funding ranges from $2,500 to $15,000. Application deadline is March 1 . Read more here .

NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program Funding Opportunities:
Tributary Restoration and Resiliency : Funding for projects to help restore free-flowing waters to benefit water quality, conserve and restore habitat, and increase flood resiliency for communities in the Hudson River estuary watershed. The information below provides details about applying for projects in the Hudson River estuary watershed. Due April 18. Read more here .

Restoration of Watershed Connectivity :The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), in cooperation with the Hudson River Estuary Program, is inviting proposals for projects that will help restore aquatic habitat connectivity for herring and eel, reduce localized flood risks, and improve conditions on Hudson River Estuary tributaries. This Request for Proposals will fund road-stream crossing assessments, prioritizing the mitigation of these crossings at a municipal scale, using existing assessments and designs for correcting inadequate road-stream crossings (culverts and bridges). Due March 30. Read more here .

Watershed Flood Mitigation Assessment : The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) in cooperation with DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program is soliciting proposals for a study that will assess flooding vulnerabilities in a Hudson River watershed or sub-watershed, and propose flood mitigation solutions that consider both engineering (e.g. roads, bridges, culverts) and natural system solutions (e.g. conservation or restoration of wetlands, forests). Due March 16. Read more here .

Erie Canalway Seeks Development and Communications Manager
The Erie Canalway Heritage Fund, Inc. seeks to expand its impact by hiring a talented individual to carry out fundraising/development and communications activities. The individual will assist with integration of fundraising/development and communications functions, where appropriate, while helping to maximize the reach and effectiveness of both. Read more here .

Conservation Treatment Grant Program
Greater Hudson Heritage Network through a partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) will award funds for conservation treatment of paintings, works on paper, textiles, furniture, frames, sculptures, historical, ethnographic, and decorative objects owned by eligible organizations. Due June 1. Read more here .

New York State Assembly Grants Action News 
State, federal, and private grant information from the New York State Assembly. More  here . 

National Park Service Rails and Trails Program Seeks Volunteers
If you love history and trains, the National Park Service is seeking volunteers for the Trails and Rails program which is locally presented aboard Amtrak's Adirondack traveling up the Hudson River Valley from New York to Montreal. Trails and Rails brings the National Parks aboard Amtrak trains. Volunteers present programs on board the train about the history of the region and cultural and natural resources of the route. Volunteers are provided with training about the history and a uniform. These programs are presented in partnership with the Saratoga National Historical Park and the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. Additional information about Trails and Rails can be found here . If you are interested in volunteering, contact Joe LaLumia here .
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