In April, many New Yorkers slowly emerge from dank apartments or converted warehouses, closet-size studios, living rooms transformed into bedrooms, or maybe from behind a curtain (since the other-half of the room is rented out to someone else). We venture outside to welcome sunshine and the scent of cherry blossoms (or maybe garbage) and feel rejuvenated, inspired, and excited for the first time since September. What to do? We frolic towards beer gardens, beaches, Coney Island, Fire Island, up to our very own rooftops, and down to our barbecue friendly backyards.

In addition to the usual summer fun, I’ve listed below other activities that allow New Yorkers to help their communities in addition to enjoying the pleasant weather. From assisting therapeutic horseback riding lessons to rebuilding seasonal camps for the homeless, there are more ways than New Yorkers might expect to enjoy the change of seasons and to help those that aren’t able to enjoy the city and the oncoming spring as much.

Street Project, Inc.
Date: May 11, 2008
Time: 9:45 am - 1:30 pm
Description
Please join us on Sunday, May 11, in revitalizing Hudson River Park! All we will be needing is a group of focused people. We will provide all necessary tools including gloves. First time gardener’s welcome! Those who have never done any gardening work are welcome as well!

Where: Hudson River Park’s South Promenade flower beds, New York, NY
Direction: 1 train to South Ferry
More details and you can sign up at
http://www.streetproject.org/eventdisplay.php?eid=888

Homes for the Homeless Summer Camps
Time: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Estimated Time: 6 hours per Day
Location: 50 Cooper Square
Description
Homes for the Homeless Summer Camps are seasonal camps and are therefore vacant throughout the Autumn and Winter months. As Spring and Summer approach, our camp grounds in Harriman State Park awaken and wait for the season. As a result, we will need a team of volunteers to help us fortify Camps Lanowa and Wakonda in preparation for the 2008 summer session. Camp clean-up days will be held on the following Saturdays: May 17, May 31, June 7 and June 14, rain or shine. If you enjoy working outdoors and would like to help Homes for the Homeless provide its campers with a clean and safe environment, please join us for any or all of the above days! We will provide lunch each day*

*The Camps are located in Harriman State Park, Central Valley NY (about 50 miles north of NYC). Some transportation may be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Kelli Peterman at (212) 529-5252 for further information.
Skills

The Trust for Public Land
Volunteers Needed: 120
Date: Apr 27, 2008
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Estimated Time: 3 hours per Day
Location: Various
Description:
The Trust for Public Land and Banana Republic are hosting spring cleaning events at four local parks and gardens on Sunday, April 27. RSVP required.

Gardens include Classon Ful-Gate Block Association Garden in Brooklyn and Carver Community Garden in Harlem.

Parks include PS 25 playground and East River State Park in Brooklyn.
Find out more and RSVP for a project at www.tpl.org/bananarepublic.
Skills

A wide array of opportunities: Planting and gardening, patio paving, renovating tables and benches, planting shrubs, flowers and herbs, mulching, watering, pruning trees, beach clean up.

2008 Battery Park Arthritis Walk
Organization: Arthritis Foundation, NY Chapter
Volunteers Needed: 10
Date: Apr 27, 2008
Time: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Historic Battery Park
Directly across from 17 State Street
New York, NY 10004
Great For: Kids, Teens, 55+, Groups

Participating in the Walk is a great way to help improve the lives of the more than 46 million American adults and children with arthritis, while getting involved in your community and making new friends. The money raised from this event will help fund innovative arthritis research, patient service and educational programs, and advocacy initiatives.

Many different volunteer opportunities are available:
- Set-up/clean-up

- Registration
- Snack/Beverage Distribution- Water Distribution
- Kids Zone Area
- Route Marshal/Cheerleader
- Table assignments - Waggers Welcome Area

The walk begins at 10 am but volunteers are need starting at 7:30 am.

Individual volunteers and groups are welcome. So if you’re interested in getting involved in the 2008 Arthritis Walk, please contact Cathy at (212) 984-8713 or chogstrom@arthritis.org or Stacy (212) 984-8703 or sboyer@arthritis.org for more details!

Girl Scout Council of Greater New York
Volunteers Needed: 500
Estimated Time: 6 hours per Month
Location: 43 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
Great For: Kids, Teens, 55+, Groups
Interest Area: Children & Youth, Community, Women
Minimum Age: 21

Description
Our Mission:Girl Scouts build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make their communities and the world a better place. The Girl Scout Council of Greater New York offers the Girl Scout experience to all girls in the five boroughs of New York City.

Chaperon a trip or camp outing:
Accompanying a troop on a trip to a zoo, museum or New York City landmark is another enjoyable, short-term opportunity. For those seeking a more-involved experience, you may become a First Aid or Camp Certified volunteer who helps prepare a troop for and accompanies them on weekend at Camp Kaufmann in Dutchess County. Time Commitment: 8 hour day trip; for camp, 2 hour troop planning meeting followed by a weekend (Friday afternoon through Sunday afternoon) camp weekend.Training Required: 1 hour orientation for day trips; for camp, First Aid/CPR training is 8 hours or Camp Certification training is 9 hours plus a weekend testing your new skills at camp.

Therapeutic Horseback Riding at Kensington
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Last updated on December 21, 2007

We provide lessons at Kensington Stables, East Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn NY, near Prospect park. Currently, lessons are provided Monday afternoons (starting Jan. 28) and Tuesdays 9 am to 6 pm We may also be able to offer lessons on Fridays. Unfortunately our location does not allow us to offer lessons on weekends.
Volunteers lead horse and walk along side to assist riders, who progress rapidly and at times dramatically. We celebrate the abilities of our riders. The joy of riding is contagious and we not only have fun, we always end the day feeling we have done some real good in a unique way.
Kensington is at 51 Caton Place, near Ft Hamilton stop on F Train.

Love of animals and respect for people, whether or not they have disabilities, are important. We train our volunteers. NO experience is necessary but the volunteer should not be afraid of horses.

These listings were found at: http://www.volunteermatch.org
Other links:
http://www.nycares.org
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mvc (Mayor’s Volunteer Center of NYC)
http://www.streetproject.org/
http://www.volunteernyc.org/