Get Outdoors and Get Together Day 2025 is in the books! On the second Saturday of June each year, select state parks and public lands hold Get Outdoors and Get Together Day to bring outdoor recreation to people with disabilities, and to encourage the entire community to spend a day together in the outdoors. Visitors enjoyed music, crafts, and educational programs, and tried out adaptive recreational equipment.

More than 20 state parks and public lands hosted events this year, each one tailored to its site and community. Guests built sandcastles on the expansive Southwick Beach during the first Get Outdoors and Get Together Day held in the Thousand Islands region. At Hempstead Lake on Long Island, there was dancing to live music and endless rides on the 1914 hand-carved carousel. People boated on Lake Taghkanic. At Chenango Valley, there were nature walks and chances to try out their new Action Trail chair. And everywhere, people took selfies with the Get Outdoors and Get Together Day frame and enjoyed experiencing the outdoors in one another’s company.

“We make a difference in so many lives through this event,” said Hempstead Lake Park Manager, Kate Gross. “We give folks an opportunity to try new things, see a new place, meet new people and learn new skills.  Our joint team works year-round to add new, fun and creative activities to give all our returning folks something new to look forward to each year.  Seeing the looks of joy and happiness on our participants’ faces makes all the hard work worth it. I thank the Enhanced Visitor Experience program for their round-up donation program. It made a tremendous difference for this event and will continue to make a difference daily for all who use our pavilion.”

“Coming together as a community in parks is what Get Outdoors and Get Together Day is all about…the memories made will last a lifetime.” 

Check out some of the fun!

This year’s event was hosted by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Perseveration, in partnership with the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. It was also part of the ongoing statewide “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, encouraging New Yorkers to spend more time engaged in active recreation and less time on devices.

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate the day with us! We hope you can make a practice of taking some time to get outdoors this summer, be active, and get to know others in your community. Save the date for Saturday, June 13, 2026, when Get Outdoors and Get Together Day returns. For accessibility-related inquiries year-round at our parks and historic sites, contact accessibility@parks.ny.gov. We’ll see you out there!

— Written by Kate Jenkins, Digital Content Specialist