You are reading

Girl Scouts brave bad weather to learn about environment at Gantry Plaza State Park in LIC

Members of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York (GSGNY) braved the rain and wind at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City on Sunday, Sept. 24, to learn about the environment (Photos provided by GSGNY)

Sept, 27, 2023 By Michael Dorgan

Members of the Girl Scouts of Greater New York (GSGNY) braved the rain and wind at Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City on Sunday, Sept. 24, to learn about the environment.

Sporting rain gear and holding umbrellas, the Girl Scouts and volunteers took part in an initiative called The Girl Scouts Love State Parks, where Girl Scouts from across the five boroughs visit various public parks to embrace Mother Nature. The initiative also sees Girls Scouts embark on outdoor adventures in and around their respective communities.

At Sunday’s event at Gantry Plaza State Park, the Girl Scouts were taken on a guided tour of the park to identify the various birds that reside there, learn about their behavior, and listen to the sounds they were making.

The young scouts also learned about plants and trees at the park as well as some history about the space which once served as a dockyard and manufacturing district. The gantries with car float bridges helped load and unload freight railcars.

The scouts also went fishing, cleaned up the park and drew some of the birds and animals they spotted on their tour, according to Meridith Maskara, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater New York.

“Girl Scouts Love State Parks is such an incredible event that gets girls out and about learning about state parks in their boroughs,” Maskara said. “Not everyone knows we have state parks here in the city, and that they are an important part of our ecosystem and climate resilience. We are proud to partner with New York State Parks to create this opportunity for the next generation to practice environmental leadership.”

Throughout September, hundreds of members of Girl Scouts of Greater New York visited state parks in their respective boroughs, where they learned how to interact with and care for their environment through hands-on activities. Sunday’s event in Queens wrapped up the 2023 event series.

Girl Scouts of Greater New York is New York City’s oldest and largest girls’ leadership organization, reaching tens of thousands of girls from ages five through 18 in each borough.

Girl Scouts earn badges after learning new skills with members often taking part in outdoor adventures, advocacy, environmental leadership, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education.

Volunteers at GSGNY say that the organization aims to help its members learn to lead with courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place.

Girl Scouts drawing (Photos provided by GSGNY)

Girl Scouts bird watching (Photo provided by GSGNY)

The young scouts also learned about plants and trees at the park as well as some history about the space which once served as a dockyard and manufacturing district (Photo provided by GSGNY)

A Girl Scout bird watching (Photo provided by GSGNY)

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

May races in Queens: JFK Airport 5K, Forest Park trail classic and a Queensborough 5K

May. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

The energy of May is on full display across Queens, with a lineup of local races that invite runners of all levels to hit the pavement and the trails. With mild temperatures and sunny skies setting the stage, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the spring weather before the summer heat sets in. From the Forest Park 4 Mile Road and Trail Classic to the festive Great Hawaiian Luau 5K at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, these events offer more than just a workout—they foster community spirit and personal growth. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen before lacing up and heading out. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or new to the sport, these May races offer a chance to challenge yourself and connect with others in motion.

Two women shot at Ocean Bay Apartments in Far Rockaway, gunman still at large: NYPD

Police from the 101st Precinct in Far Rockaway are looking for a gunman who shot two women at the Ocean Bay Apartments in Arverne on the night of Saturday, May 10.

The suspect is seen on video surveillance at around 9:35 p.m. approaching the southeast corner of the NYCHA complex at Beach 54th Street and Arverne Boulevard, where he pulled out a handgun and opened fire at a group of people, striking two women before running off. When officers responded to a 911 call of an assault in progress at the complex, which is also called the Oceanside Apartments, they found the two victims: a 34-year-old woman who was shot in both legs and a 32-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to her leg. EMS responded to the location and transported the victims to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where they were both listed in stable condition.