DAVETREK ADVENTURES

Sunset at Haleakala Crater—January 2005 © David Brotsky

I am pleased to invite you to our 9th Semi -Annual Governor's Island Outing! This year they have opened nearly all of the island and you can now walk/ bike for about 2 miles around the perimeter of the island and see some stunning views of NY Harbor. This event is suitable for all ages, and is great for families. hope you can come!

Any substantive chance of rain the forecast will cancel the event, but as of now the weather looks to be great for this date - as we get closer I will update this page and those coming on the weather.

Governors Island has some of the best real estate in NYC - it was a former coast guard base until a few years ago, and has recently been turned over to NY city and been opened up to public access only in the last few years. It has stunning views of lower manhattan, roller blading and biking opportunities, and tours and walks on the island , including in some of the buildings of the former coast guard base. They also have various music and art festivals during the summer.

They also have a newer area called the Hills, which has one manmade hill 65ft high that has stunning views of ny harbor!

There is also other new options such as Adventures at Governors Island, with a maze, ziplines and an tower climb, all at additional cost.... see below for details

 

There are many activities on the island - here is a site with pictures and details

https://govisland.com/things-to-do

Here are some highlights:

** https://www.nps.gov/gois/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

** See the sheep in hammock grove!

** Earth Matters Composting area to learn about composting

** New Park areas, including over 50 hammocks!

** Slides for adults and kids!

** Adventures at Governors Island - maze, zipline and tower climbing challenge, all at additional cost

** Lavendar Festival and Jubilee!

** Bike Rentals - there are 2 miles of waterfront trails and you can bike around the buildings as well - its very fun!


** Various Indoor and Outdoor Art Installations - here is
link to all of the activities for when we are going

** Various Weekend Events


** Stunning views of lower manhattan and the NY harbor.

*** Free, one-hour walking tours of the Island led by Friends of Governors Island volunteer tour guides begin at the Welcome Center at Soissons Landing. All tours are weather permitting and have a limited capacity of 10 individuals max on a first-come, first-served basis.


Biking info - You can bring your own bike and take it on the ferry or rent one on the island.

Bike rentals cost $20 for 2 hours, and you can bring your own bike on the ferry if you like...there are also kid bikes , group surreys you can rent for families and multiple adults and other types of bike rentals - see this link for more info

https://govisland.com/things-to-do/activities/biking

For more details of Governor's Island, visit the island's main website at:

https://www.govisland.com


We will be having a picnic, and I will supply some food and nash for the event, but please bring your own lunch! You can buy some food (ice cream, drinks) on the island...

KEY DETAILS


COST:

$5 per adult—Early Bird, RSVP by June 16

$10 per adult - Standard RSVP until June 18

 

Families -  $15 per family with up to 4 kids - Early Bird, RSVP by June 16

$25 per family with up to 4 kids  - Standard RSVP until June 18

This is our standard, per event fee. These fees go towards general expenses and materials for events, such as the snacks and equipment I am bringing for all to use. The fee includes some nash I will bring for lunch, BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH!

 

Covid 19 Details - In order to make this event comfortable for all to attend, the standard we seek at our events is for people to be fully vaccinated, which means 2 weeks after their last vaccine dose. Therefore we ask your vaccine status on the rsvp form. Given the nature of the group and the fact that activities are outdoors  we are using the honor system and we hope that people will be accurate in their answers. We also ask that everyone follow the current NY State, NY city and CDC guidelines which apply to  their situation.

Since not everyone will or can be vaccinated, such as younger children, we ask that anyone who is not vaccinated please maintain social distancing and wear a mask during the event, per NY and CDC guidelines.

We also ask that if anyone has any symptoms for covid –19 such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell,  etc they not come to the event . We also ask you not to attend if you aren't fully vaccinated and have traveled internationally or to areas of the US that are highly impacted by Covid-19 within the last 14 days.  We also ask you not to attend if you have been exposed to someone who has a suspected or confirmed case of Covid-19 and of course we don't want you to come if you suspect or have a confirmed diagnosis of covid-19.

If any of these reasons preclude your attendance after you have RSVPed, we will refund your fee after the event as long as you let us know before the event that this is the reason you are not attending the event. 

In light of covid-19, the rsvp form also has a waiver we ask you to sign as part of attending this event. Thank you for your cooperation in these matters.

 

NEW FERRY INFORMATION—Due to covid-19, last year and this year Governor Island run Ferries have instituted a new system for rsvping in advance  for ferry spots to the island, with lower numbers of people allowed on the boats - if you don't rsvp for a Governors Island run ferry in advance you likely wont be able to get on the normal governors island ferry and will need to walk 5 minutes over to Pier 11 and take an NYC Ferry, which costs $2.75 each way and fills up less quickly...see details below

 

NEW PROCEDURE  - YOU MUST MAKE A FERRY RSVP

WHICH FILL UP DAYS IN ADVANCE  - FREE BEFORE NOON

DO THIS BEFORE RSVPING ON OUR SITE

 

The ferry to the island from Brooklyn and lower Manhattan is free until 11:20am from Manhattan and 11:15 from Brooklyn, after that its $3 per adult and child 12 and over. Ferry spots fill quickly in advance even for paid ferry rides, so rsvp first for a ferry before completing the RSVP for the event….you also have to select a return time but don't worry about that - they never check to see if you are on the boat you rscvp’ed for except the last ferries they run around 6 to 7pm and then they only check if they are overloaded….

NYC Ferry - from Manhattan, if you cant get a governors island ferry, there are NYC ferries that run every 30 minutes to Governors Island from Pier 11—that’s about a 5 minute walk away, along the path that hugs the shoreline and goes past the governors island ferry towards and past the helicopter landing strip next to the ferry, towards south sea seaport and away from the staten island ferry. Just make sure to buy a ticket in advance usually via their app or via the machines /personnel they have onsite at Pier 11.

 

DATE: Sunday June 20

TIME: 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM

MEET ON THE ISLAND - 11:30 AT THE Building 110: LMCC's Art Center on Governor's Island, right next to where the Manhattan Ferry leaves people off....

RSVP DEADLINE - Midnight Saturday June 19, 2021

WHERE: Governors Island

FERRY MEETING LOCATION/MANHATTAN:

We will meet on Governors Island, where the Manhattan Ferry lets out, next to the Main office and the LMCC Art Building 110 at 11:15.

The ferrys until 11:30 are free, but to ensure you get on the ferry ( which are at 10, and 11 from Manhattan and 11 and 11:30 from Brooklyn) you need to come early - so come no later than 10:30 for the 11:00 am ferry.... after 11:30 they are $3 per person, just on the way over - no charge to go home!

 


CAN I COME LATER THAN 11:30? HOW CAN I MEET UP WITH YOU?

If you choose to come later but while I am still there, you can try TEXTING ME on my cell and see where we are. Let me know your name in the text. Lunch will probably be 1:00 to 2pm. We will determine the lunch location while on the island - hopefully we will be in the middle of the island near the fort or on the far side of the island in a shady spot! We will stay until the ferry that leaves to go back at 3:00 PM, but you can stay as long as you like


BROOKLYN - you can also choose to come via the brooklyn ferry and meet us - I would take a ferry near the same time as people are taking in Manhattan, 11:15 AM - you will arrive a few moments before us at the Brooklyn dock, which is a 2 minute walk from the main dock area - we will meet at the main building next to the park offices and the bathrooms which is called Building 110: LMCC's Art Center, if you get there before us!

 

I intend to take the 4:00 PM ferry back to Manhattan. For those COMING BY CAR, its easy to park in lower manhattan on a Sunday (just no other time during the week!) However, READ THE SIGNS CAREFULLY WHERE YOU PARK, as they do have no parking areas even on Sundays in the lower manhattan area near the ferry.


ACTIVITIES ON THE ISLAND

Stunning views of lower manhattan, biking, roller blading, picnicing, walks,free kayaking and free tours of the island. I hope to bring some food and a bike over, take a tour and then have lunch with people who come. I will have some nash for all, but you can only take what you can wheel onto a ferry and carry.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING!

LUNCH, water, hat, suntan lotion, good walkings shoes for the urban hike - you may also bring roller blades, a BIKE, a sheet/cloth to sit on, games like bananagrams and frisbees along.


WEATHER - TBD - any significant chance of rain will cancel but as of now, the weather looks to be in the low 70s and partly cloudy...its too soon to know for sure...I will be updating those who RSVP with the weather as of the end of next week...

YOU MUST PAY IN ADVANCE FOR THIS EVENT

 

VIA PAYPAL AT THE END OF THE RSVP FORM

OR BY CHECK.

  

GIVEN THE SIZE OF THIS EVENT,

PEOPLE WHO DO NOT REGISTER PROPERLY,

DO NOT PAY IN ADVANCE, OR SUPPLY ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION

BY THE DEADLINES ABOVE WILL BE REJECTED.

 point I will close this out. It could be as large! Register QUICKLY, so you don’t get closed out!

 

 

 

ADVANCE PAYMENT REQUIREMENT TO RSVP:

 

In order to complete your reservation, you must pay for the event in advance either  via check (postmarked by the deadline) or via paypal by the deadline at the top of this page. Failure to pay may result in your being unable to attend the event.

 

PAYMENT METHODS - CHECK OR PAYPAL

 

You may pay in one of two ways, via check or via paypal.    Via Check:

please send the payment/deposit , made out to “Davetrek LLC”

 

And mail it to:   Davetrek LLC

c/o David Brotsky

 

In order to complete your registration, you need to have your payment postmarked no later than Thursday,  June 17, 2021.  Failure to do so may mean you will not be able to attend the event.  

Via Paypal

 

When you complete the  RSVP form at the bottom of this page by selecting your activities, you will be directed to a paypal page and will be asked to log in and pay at PayPal’s site. Once  you complete the RSVP form and pay via paypal, you will be considered fully registered.

 

PRICING

 

The balance of any monies you might owe is due at the event. Please bring cash or checks (preferable)  made out to “Davetrek LLC”. When you arrive you will need to go through registration complete any payments for the event.

 

Time of registration – calculated from when we receive your reservation on the RSVP Form.

Governors Island Tour and Outing Day!!

 

 

 Sunday June 20, 2021

 

PRICING AND RSVP FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

 

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE                 Midnight Wednesday, June 16

EVENT RSVP DEADLINE             Saturday Night, June 19

 

NEW PROCEDURE  - YOU MUST MAKE A FERRY RSVP

WHICH FILL UP DAYS IN ADVANCE  - FREE BEFORE NOON

DO THIS BEFORE RSVPING ON OUR SITE

 

You may cancel until TUESDAY, June 15. Afterwards, you may either substitute a friend for your spot, upon our approval.

 

NO refunds or credits after TUESDAY  JUNE 15, 2021.

 

EVENT RSVP DEADLINE

 

SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 19, 2021

 

 RSVP ON THE FORM BELOW

Fill out my online form.