8. Kayaking or rafting at Kittatinny along the Delaware River can be supplemented with ziplining. Choose one of Kittatinny’s many locations at https://kittatinny.com or call (800) 356-2852.
Transgender workshop in Stone Ridge
If you haven’t had the opportunity to read Andrew Solomon’s book Far from the Tree, I highly recommend it for your summer reading list. It’s a very long book, but he writes so well, and each chapter is as interesting and engaging as the last. In Far from the Tree, Solomon explores the lives of families whose children are very different from their parents – where the apple fell “far from the tree” – including such topics as dwarfism, deaf culture, transgender and many others.
I learned so much from the book about myself and about the world, so when I heard about the Trans* 101 workshop taking place this Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. in Stone Ridge, I wanted to help spread the word for folks who are looking for support in this area: “Have you heard about transgender children or adults in your community, and you don’t know what to think? In this workshop you can learn about myths and realities of trans* identities and experiences, discuss your questions in a supportive environment and explore how these issues are relevant to you and your community.”
Trans* 101 will be facilitated by Davey Shlasko, a transgender educator and consultant, and will be held at Stone Ridge Healing Arts, located at 3457 Main Street in Stone Ridge. The cost is a sliding scale from $0 to $30 per person and is a fragrance-free event. To reserve for the meeting or for more information, call (845) 687-7589 or e-mail programs@stoneridgehealingarts.com. To learn more about the presenter, visit https://thinkagaintraining.com.
Hudson River Days at Rondout Landing
This weekend marks the fifth annual Hudson River Days celebration: “Over the Hudson River Days weekend, communities of the Hudson Valley will participate in many great, family-friendly events that put them in touch with the Hudson River, its ecology, beauty and history,” said Jeff Rumpf, Clearwater executive director.
One such event is Hudson Rising, which takes place in Kingston this Saturday, July 20 with a variety of activities throughout the day. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., round up your crew for “Cruise into Kingston’s History with the Mary Powell,” a scavenger hunt in uptown Kingston named for the popular 1861 sidewheel steamboat known as the Queen of the Hudson River. Participants pick up a cruising pass at one of three locations: the Hudson River Maritime Museum at 50 Rondout Landing; the Matthewis Persen House Museum at 74 John Street; or the Loughran House at the Senate House State Historic site at 296 Fair Street. After getting the pass stamped at each of the six ports of call in uptown Kingston, participants present the completed pass at the Old Dutch Church for a free gift from the Kingston Uptown Business Association. The Mary Powell was considered a “family boat,” and Captain Anderson made sure that all of the passengers behaved: “If they did not, it was said they ran the risk of being put ashore at the next landing.” But this Saturday, July 20, being put ashore would be a real delight, because of Hudson Rising’s “Adventure Village on the Rondout.” In addition to the treadwall climbing challenge, visitors can check out the stand-up paddleboard tutorial, which, I can attest to personally, does not look that interesting but is actually a lot of fun to do! A bouncy castle and slide will also be on-site for the landlubbers. Deck tours and boat rides will be available on the Clearwater sloop, and the covered barge Pennsy #399 will be open, with fun environmental programs and music.
Stop by the Hudson River Maritime Museum courtyard for a mix of children’s activities. While you’re on the Rondout, take a trolley ride along the river to Kingston Point. Most events and activities are free; food and drink have a local emphasis and will be available for purchase throughout the day.
For more information, visit www.hudsonrising.com. To learn more about the annual river celebration, visit https://hudsonriverdaysny.org.
Maverick Young People’s Concert features Ilya Yakushev
Legendary musician and composer Johann Sebastian Bach once said, “There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.” Whether your child is the next Schroeder or your family just loves listening to wonderful music in a tranquil, woodland setting, make plans to head over to Maverick Concerts for Ilya Yakushev’s Young People’s Concert.
Yakushev has been playing classical piano since he was a child and won his first award at age 12. He went on to become a student of Vladimir Feltsman, a distinguished and familiar name around these parts due to his work at SUNY-New Paltz.
The Young People’s Concert takes place this Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. and is geared for school-aged children. Admission is free for children and costs $5 for adults. The Maverick is located at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock. For more information, call (845) 679-8217 or visit https://maverickconcerts.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.ilyayakushev.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno packs her backpack in New Paltz with her husband Mike and their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
