Member Outings for 2026
Leader: Charles Dexter, 917-593-8381, call until 10:30 PM.
For all outings, wear clothing appropriate for the weather (layers are best) and bring snacks and water. Check the web for visitor and transit rules. City outings are “meetup” only, accessible by public transportation.
Outings outside of city require carpooling. Call Leader Charles Dexter for car meet up locations and to offer help with carpooling.
April 29, Wednesday – New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY
Photograph: summer blossoms: roses, peonies, woods, Bronx River and more.
Hike: Easy paved paths & dirt woods trails. Shoot all day until 5:30 pm.
Link: New York Botanical Garden
What to Bring / What to Know: Bring a good sun hat, walking shoes, and water. Dinner afterward at Emilia’s Restaurant on Arthur Avenue, Bronx.
Admission: Free for most outside grounds only, between 10 am to 11:00 am. Not free for inside gardens and after 11 am. See NYBG website for Admission fees and policies.
Go by Train: 9:55 am train from Grand Central Station to Botanical Garden station. Metro North Harlem Line Weekday Schedule. Walk across street from the RR station. Meet Charles 10:20 am, inside the Moshulu Gate Entrance.
Go by Car: Meet Charles at 10:05 am inside admission windows at the Fordham Gate parking lot on Southern Boulevard. How to get there link
$22 parking fee for Non-Members.
Everyone meet for lunch at 11:45 am at NYBG Pine Tree Cafe by Fordham Gate. There, for those who want to go to diner, we will make a group reservation for diner at Emilia’s Restaurant and plan car transportation from the Garden to the restaurant on Arthur Avenue, Bronx.
We leave the Garden at 5:45 pm. Extra Carpool drivers needed to drive people to restaurant and back to NYC. Call leader Charles Dexter, 917-593-8381, call before 10:30 pm.
May 7, Thursday – Central Park Birding & Photo Walk
Join Peter Davenport, president of the Linnaean Society of New York, and Sierra Club Photo NYC member, George Courtney, for a late afternoon spring migration bird walk in Central Park. We’ll be exploring some of the migratory hotspots, including Tanner’s Spring, Turtle Pond, and the Ramble. While we will strive to find eye-level birds, some of them may be far up in the canopy. Expect to walk 2.5 miles over moderate paved and grassy terrain. Peter will point out the birds in the park and George will offer advice on photographing them.
Meet at 4 PM at the West 81st Street entrance, north of the 79th Street Transverse.
NYC Subway to 81 St-Museum of Natural History Station C, B.
Bus: M10, M79.
Bring water, walking shoes and rain gear. Dinner in the neighborhood afterwards.
May 13, Wednesday – Marshlands Conservancy Rye, NY
Photograph woodlands, swamps, marshes, wild grasses, deer, birds, turkeys, maybe ospreys and views toward the Long Island Sound in late-day light.
Meet for NYC carpool pick up at 2 PM, depart at 2:15 PM. Hike (several trail options) and shoot in late light, around 7:15 PM. Dinner in area, return 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM. Plan for a full day with changeable weather. Bring hiking boots for marsh, rain jacket, sunblock, and bug spray. Also bring snacks, and water.
Marshlands Conservancy Friends of Marshlands Rye NY
Call Leader for carpool meet up location. Charles Dexter – 917-593-8381
Carpool drivers needed!
May 20, Wednesday – Fort Tryon Park / Cloisters – North Manhattan, NYC
Photograph the Hudson River and Palisades views, flower gardens and perhaps a visit to the Cloisters if it is not too crowded.
Meet 12:45 PM at Subway Exit on Margret Corbin Plaza at Fort Washington Ave. and Cabrini Blvd.
Google Map link: Ft Washington Av/Cabrini Bl – Google Maps
NYC Subway: A train to 190 Street, Overlook Terrace. Take elevator to top level.
Bus: M4, M98
Hike about 1.5 miles on hilly terrain and inside the Cloisters. Google Map of Hiking route.
Fort Tryon Park: https://www.forttryonparktrust.org/
The Cloisters: https://www.metmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit/met-cloisters
The Cloisters can be visited without an advance ticket. Diner afterwards in a restaurant on Dykeman Avenue and nearby subway at the bottom of the hill.
June 4, Thursday – Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks
Photograph mountain laurel blooms, water reflections and mountain vistas in Harriman and Bear Mountain State Parks. Locations to be scouted by Charles. Hike short, uneven, rocky trails and shoot in late light, until around 7:15 pm.
Meet for NYC carpool pick up at 1:15 PM, depart 1:30 PM. Dinner in area, return 10:00 PM – 10:30 PM. Plan for a full day with changeable weather. Bring hiking boots, rain jacket, sunblock, and bug spray. Also bring snacks, and water.
Harriman State Park (New York) – Wikipedia
Bear Mountain State Park – Wikipedia
Call Leader for carpool meet up location. Charles Dexter – 917-593-8381
Carpool drivers needed!
Galleries: Past Outings
Click below to view photos from past outings!
Sierra Club Photo NYC 