MasterFitness™

Monday, December 2, 11:00 am to 11:45 am
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692

Ann Fosteris teaches a FREE weekly exercise class. She embraces making a positive impact and living a wholesome lifestyle, which includes staying active and maintaining a healthy weight. There is no need to register. Just show up and join neighbors of all ages and fitness levels. You will feel good and look great in no time.

Support provided by FRANC and Fund for the City of New York.

Core on the Floor

Monday, December 2, 11:45 am to 12:15 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692

#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.

Winter Bird Walk with NYC Plover Project

Saturday, December 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692

Brace the cold, and scout for some birds!

Join RISE for a delightful and educational adventure as we collaborate with NYC Plover Project to bring you a winter bird walk. Get ready to embrace the crisp, invigorating air and embark on a thrilling bird-watching expedition, which promises to be a unique and memorable experience for all nature enthusiasts.

Please dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is required. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled for Saturday, December 14.

Winter Bird Walk 2.0 with NYC Plover Project

Saturday, February 22, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692

Join us for a winter birding tour of Edgemere! Come see sea ducks, grebes, common and red-throated loons, Northern gannets, and other winter birds on the Edgemere shoreline. Whether you are an expert or just starting out, all levels of birder are welcome!

This event is FREE! We will meet at RISE (58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard) at 10:00 a.m. to begin the tour. Please dress accordingly with plenty of warm layers and bring a water bottle. Binoculars will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own.

Registration is required. In case of inclement weather, a rain date is scheduled for Saturday, March 1st.

Beach Cleanup

Saturday, April 5, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Meet at B62nd and the Boardwalk

Come join RISE for our first Community Beach Cleanup of 2025. Now that summer is approaching it's that time of year when people are getting ready to come down to the beach. This event will be a community volunteer day in a celebration of the land and water that makes up the Rockaways. For this cleanup we will be clearing the shoreline of litter in order to prevent any ocean pollution. As active members of our community we need to do our best to keep our shores clean for any and all beachgoers. 

Adults and kids alike are welcome to participate in this event. Dress accordingly. Registration is not required but students looking to do community service hours are encouraged to bring paperwork from their schools.

Special thanks to National Sea Grant Marine Debris Community Action Coalition for sponsoring this event. 

Community Dune Planting

Saturday, April 12, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 69th & Beach Front Road

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.

Adults and kids alike are welcome to participate. Please dress accordingly.

Students who are looking to do community service hours are encouraged to bring paperwork from their schools.

Special thanks to National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for sponsoring this event.

19th Annual Earth Day Rockaway

Saturday, May 3, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Far Rockaway, NY 11692

Enjoy a day of fun in the Rockaways with FREE environmental activities and programs for families and kids of all ages.

This year's event will include live music as well as cooking demos, plantings, face painting, water testing, fire safety, free giveaways, and art-related booths to learn how to appreciate and conserve the earth's resources.

All activities are intended to raise awareness of the natural resources along the Rockaway shoreline.

Local organizations interested in sponsoring or tabling at this event are encouraged to contact Juvie Anne Alfeche, RISE Public Programs Coordinator, at jalfeche@riserockaway.org.

Community Dune Planting

Saturday, May 10, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 62nd and the Boardwalk

Join RISE for our community planting of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan. To strengthen our natural protective buffer of dunes, we are planting native grasses and shrubs along the east end of the Rockaways.

Adults and kids are welcome to participate in this event. Please dress accordingly.

Students who would like to do community service hours are welcome to bring paperwork from their schools.

Registration is encouraged!

Special thanks to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for sponsoring this event.

International Coastal Cleanup

Saturday, September 13, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Dubos Point, Jamaica Bay

Join RISE for the annual International Coastal Cleanup in partnership with the American Littoral Society. People of every age are encouraged to participate. All trash collected will be entered into the national database, which goes to help establish legislation to reduce trash along our shores.

Students can receive community service hours for their efforts.

This event will take place rain or shine!

Special thanks to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Fall Dune Planting

Saturday, September 20, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Beach 44th St and Edgemere Avenue

Join RISE for a hands-on dune restoration as part of "Greater Rockaway" Coastal Resilience Plan during Climate Week NYC. The initiative, led by RISE, 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 for sponsoring this event.

Sandy Anniversary Planting

Saturday, October 11, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Arverne East Welcome Center, 190 Beach 44th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

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.