Our Spring 2025 Paddle and Hiking schedule and other upcoming FrOGS events are listed below.
Plein Air Art events are listed in a separate post here.
For more information on outdoor events, please contact Ken at frogspaddle22@gmail.com.
For other questions, please contact us via our main email: info@frogs-ny.org.
Link to Facebook Events for more details about individual events (access is public, you do not need a Facebook account): (3) Friends of the Great Swamp | Facebook
Registration for Paddles here:
Past events:
February 23 (Sunday) – Gordon Douglas Reserve East Hike at 10:00 am.
March 9 (Sunday) – Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area Hike at 10:00 am
March 23 (Sunday) – Pawling Nature Preserve Hike at 10:00 am
April 6 (Sunday) – Laurel Ledges Hike at 10:00 am – CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN
April 13 (Sunday) – First Paddle on the North Flow at 8:00 and 10:00 am – CANCELLED DUE TO LOW TEMPERATURES AND HIGH WINDS
April 20 (Sunday) – Spring Paddle at Patterson Environmental Park – CANCELLED DUE TO EQUIPMENT ISSUES (UNABLE TO TRANSPORT CANOES)
April 27 (Sunday) – Gordon Douglas Reserve – West Hike & Trail Cam Class
May 3 (Saturday) – FrOGS table at the Patterson Recreation Center Earth Day Event
May 4 (Sunday) – Checking on the Rookery Paddle on the North Flow.
May 17 (Saturday) – Green Chimneys Paddle on the South Flow
May 18 (Sunday) – Green Chimneys Paddle on the South Flow
Upcoming Events:
June 1 (Sunday), 2pm – FrOGS co-sponsoring with The Spark Presents a presentation by terrestrial ecologist Tom Wessels at Trinity Pawling School Gardiner Theater.
Tom Wessels returns to the Gardiner Theater at Trinity-Pawling School for a unique presentation where he will interpret photos sent in advance by the audience and the event’s sponsors. Send a photo of anything you have encountered while in the woods that you find intriguing and would like to learn more about. This could be an unusually shaped tree, a tree with above-ground roots, unique stumps, stone wall construction, a diseased tree, pretty much anything that piques your curiosity. Send images to thesparkpresents@gmail.com, and we will arrange to project them on the large screen.
Tom Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist and professor emeritus at Antioch University, where he founded the master’s degree program in Conservation Biology. He is author of numerous books, including “Forest Forensics” and “The Myth of Progress”. His most recent book is “New England’s Roadside Ecology: Explore 30 of the Region’s Unique Natural Areas”. Tom will bring books to sell (and sign) after the event.
All are welcome and registration is not required but will help us get an approximate head count in advance. Registration link. This is a pay-what-you-wish event, but a suggested donation of $10 or more at the door will help us continue such programming.
Location: Gardiner Theater at the Trinity-Pawling School, 700 Route 22, Pawling, NY 12564
This event is sponsored by the Dutchess Land Conservancy, the Oblong Land Conservancy, & Friends of the Great Swamp
June 8 (Sunday) – Late Spring North Flow Paddle at 10:00 am.
Highlights: Approximately 2 hours on the water. We will paddle south (upriver) and then back downriver to the great blue heron rookery.
Fees (includes Canoes, Paddles and Life vests, Insurance & FrOGS Donation):
• Adult Member: $15
• Adult Non-Member: $25
June 1st – July 31st 2025 – FrOGS co-sponsoring with Hudson Valley InterArts “Living Water: Wet Land” art exhibition. Deadline for submissions May 23rd. More information here: Living Water: Wet Land – Hudson Valley InterArts
Art Show Submission deadline: May 23
Summer Solstice Reception: June 21, Saturday at 3:00 to 7:00 pm with refreshments and live music
Closing Reception: July 27, Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: 40 Jon Barrett Rd, Patterson, NY 12563
Saturday, June 28, 2025 – arteast Plein Air Paint-out and Auction to benefit FrOGS
Check-in and canvas-stamping 7 am – noon at Lakeside Park
Completed work, framed and ready for hanging, handed in by 4 pm at Lakeside Park
Reception at 5 pm.
Auction at 6 pm.
More information: Plein Air 2025 – ArtEast Open Studio Tour
October 18 & 19 – Annual Fall Art Show and Celebration
Stay tuned for further details – more events will be added as they are scheduled. Come on out and enjoy the beauty of the Great Swamp!
