Liz Garcia's Great Outdoors Information

Great outdoors information is always good to have, you can never have too much of it, here you'll find some of that.

CAMP STOVE
If you are into backpacking because you love going out in nature and getting away from civilization for a while than the Stratus Trailstove is for you, it's a light weight wood stove that sells for about 20 bucks, it'll make you feel like an old time explorer.

MEDICAL KIT
Better safe than sorry, bring a first aid kit.

STEELWIRE
Steel wire may save you a lot of trouble, it can be used to temporarily fix almost anything.

BACK PACK
You have to try several different backpacks before you find one that fits you.

Pick a spot where animals have an easy time passing by surrounded by natural obstacles where they would have a hard time passing through and where there is a small tree.

Find a piece of wood about an inch in diameter and a few inches long, cut a notch in it.

Find another piece of wood also about an inch in diameter but about a foot long. Cut a notch in this piece of wood too close to one end. Sharpen the other end of this stick, the notches on the two pieces should be such that they fit in each other and can take a good amount of pull along their axis but let go easily if the smaller stick is pushed sideways.

Make a lasso type knot on the string you will use and tie the string to the shorter stick in such a way that the lasso reaches the stick when open.
Bang the sharp end of the longer stick into the ground with a rock.

Tie the rope to the tree at an appropriate height and with an appropriate length of string. You may need to adjust this later to get it right.
Hook the notch of the short stick to the notch of the long stick.

Check your snares often since an animal may be able to escape, if you want you can attach some type of noise maker that goes off when an animal gets pulled up in the air. It's very important that you beat the animal to death before you take it out of the snare since they will bite you if they get a chance.

Gateway National Recreation Area

Gateway NRA is a 26,000 acre recreation area located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area. The park extends through three New York City boroughs and into northern New Jersey.

Park sites offer a variety of recreation opportunities, along with a chance to explore many significant cultural and natural resources.

Phone
Park Police--24 hours - (718) 338-3988
Public Affairs Office - (718) 354-4606
Jamaica Bay Unit - (718) 338-3799
Staten Island Unit - (718) 354-4500
Sandy Hook Unit - (732) 872-5970

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Park sites are open all year from dawn to dusk. Most areas have extended hours during the summer season.

Getting There
PLANE - Gateway NRA is accessible by the three New York metropolitan airports: Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark (NJ).

Weather & Climate
Temperatures range from the eighties and nineties during the summer, to the teens and twenties in winter.

Accessibility
Many Gateway NRA sites are accessible, some historic structures and natural areas are not. Please check with your area of interest.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
PARKING FEE

GATEWAY HAS NO ENTRANCE FEES. However, Beach Parking Fees are charged at Sandy Hook and Jacob Riis Park during the summer. Annual passes are available for Sandy Hook.

Activity Fee
FISHING PERMIT
$25 for Annual
There are fees for parking in fishing lots at all Gateway sites. Permits are available at Gateway Visitor Centers/Ranger Stations.

Permits
USE PERMITS
$25 for One Time
Permit fees for: athletic field use, picnicking, community garden plots, the boat launch area and some nature study areas. Permits are available at Gateway visitor centers/ranger stations.

Special Use Permits
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
$25 for One Time
Some activities require a Special Use Permit. Inquire with your area of interest.

CAMPING

Floyd Bennett Field Campgrounds
seasonal
Organized campground in a natural area located in the middle of New York City. Camp Tamarack and Camp Goldenrod are available to the general public on a seasonal basis. Permits must be obtained at least two weeks in advance. The Ecology Village Campground is available for organized groups (school groups, scouts, etc.) Reservations for this area must also be made in advance.
For More Information on this campground please call (718) 338-4306

Sandy Hook Campground
Organized campground in a natural area located in a wooded area of the Sandy Hook Peninsula. Camping is limited to organized groups (school groups, scouts, etc.)and is on a reservation basis only.
For More Information on this campground please call (732) 872-5970

LODGING

Navy Lodge at Fort Wadsworth
Open All Year
Lodging for Navy veterans and active duty personnel. The Navy Lodge is not open to the general public.
For More Information on this lodging please call (800) 628-9466

FACILITIES

Ranger Stations
CANARSIE PIER CONTACT STATION
Open All Year 9 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.
Phone - (718)763-2202
Location - Canarsie Pier Belt Parkway Exit 13 Brooklyn, New York
Available Facilities - Restrooms, visitor information.

GREAT KILLS PARK RANGER STATION
Open All Year 9 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m., Friday --Monday
Phone - (718) 987-6790
Location - Great Kills Park Hylan Boulevard Staten Island, New York
Closures - The ranger station is closed on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1.
Special Programs - Some ranger-led programs start at the station. Call for details.
Available Facilities - Restrooms are not available at the ranger station, but are located throughout Great Kills Park.

MILLER FIELD RANGER STATION
Open All Year 8:30 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Phone - (718) 351-6970
Location - Miller Field New Dorp Lane Staten Island, New York
Special Programs - Ranger-led programs start from the ranger station.
Available Facilities - Restrooms.

RIIS PARK VISITOR CONTACT STATION
Open From Memorial Day to Labor Day 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Phone - (718) 318-4300
Location - Jacob Riis Park Rockaway, New York
Available Facilities - Restrooms, visitor information, first aid.

Visitor Centers
FORT WADSWORTH VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m., Wednesday--Sunday
Phone - (718) 354-4500
Location - Fort Wadsworth, Bay Street, Staten Island, New York
Special Programs - Ranger-led programs start from the visitor center.
Exhibits - Exhibits and 12-minute film on the history of New York's harbor defense system.
Available Facilities - Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

JAMAICA BAY WILDLIFE REFUGE VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 8: 30 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Phone - (718) 318-4304
Location - Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Cross Bay Boulevard Queens, New York
Exhibits - Exhibits on the natural history of the area and an explanation of how this bird sanctuary was created in the 1950's.
Available Facilities - Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

RYAN VISITOR CENTER, FLOYD BENNETT FIELD
Open All Year 8:30 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Phone - (718) 338-3799
Location - Floyd Bennett Field Flatbush Avenue South Brooklyn, New York
Special Programs - Most guided visitor program start from the Ryan Visitor Center. Special use permits are also available here.
Available Facilities - Restrooms.

SANDY HOOK VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 10 a.m. -- 5 p.m.
Phone - (732) 872-5970
Location - Sandy Hook Visitor Center Sandy Hook, New Jersey
Exhibits - Exhibits on the natural history of the area, and exhibits on the history of the U.S. Life Saving Service (later became the US Coast Guard.)
Available Facilities - Bookstore, restrooms, visitor information.

CAMP STOVE If you are into backpacking because you love going out in nature and getting away from civilization for a while than the Stratus Trailstove is for you, it's a light weight wood stove that sells for about 20 bucks, it'll make you feel like an old time explorer.
MEDICAL KIT Better safe than sorry, bring a first aid kit.
STEELWIRE Steel wire may save you a lot of trouble, it can be used to temporarily fix almost anything.
BACK PACK You have to try several different backpacks before you find one that fits you.