named programs · 19 · from sources
What they call their work
Beginner Kayaking & River Safety
Introductory kayaking lesson including safety briefing, life jacket fitting, and guided paddle near the boat launch; parents encouraged to participate.
Birds of a Feather
Program combining bird education with a riverside hike and hands-on birdhouse construction.
Clean-Up Crew
Community clean-up events for groups of any size, focusing on riverbanks, trails, and waterways in Chemung and Steuben counties; supplies and pickup provided.
Coffee with Friends
Speaker series for adults on local wildlife, river ecology, and environmental topics, hosted at local parks or restaurants.
Cookies with friends
Monthly educational series for children featuring themed talks, activities, stories, and cookies on topics like waste, wildlife, and river safety.
Earth Science Investigators
Hands-on hike along the riverside trail in Corning, NY, where students learn about regional geology and paleontology, search for Devonian fossils, and record findings in notebooks.
Flora & Fauna Hike
Hiking program at Pirozzolo Park in Elmira, NY, where students learn about local plants and animals while participating in a litter cleanup along the trail.
Introduction to Fly Fishing
Three-part adult workshop covering fly fishing equipment, casting, knots, and strategies; held at Botcher’s Landing boat launch in Big Flats, NY.
Introduction to Paddling & River Safety
Workshop teaching river safety, paddle signals, and PFD use; open to all ages and abilities, with kayak rentals available.
Macroinvertebrates, Major Fun! (River Bugs Program)
Students wade into the Chemung River with instructors to collect and study macroinvertebrates as indicators of water quality; each student receives a themed bandana.
Paddle Tours
Guided kayak tours on the Chemung River from May to October, including leisurely floats and fitness-oriented upstream paddles for various age groups.
Park RAngers
Stroller-friendly nature hikes for families with children ages 0–10, promoting outdoor exploration and community connection; includes snacks and park button rewards.
Rain and Pollinator Gardens
Partnership-driven initiative to install rain and pollinator gardens in Elmira and surrounding areas to reduce stormwater runoff and support biodiversity.
River Guardians
Volunteer program where individuals or groups adopt a stretch of riverbank to maintain through clean-ups, trimming, and monitoring; includes supplies and waste pickup coordination.
Riverside Watercolor Painting
Outdoor painting class led by local artists at Bottcher’s Landing, providing all materials for landscape watercolor painting en plein air.
Treasure Hunt
Geocaching program that teaches children how to use latitude and longitude to find hidden caches and create their own to place on trails.
Treasure Hunting on the River
Educational workshop on geocaching and metal detecting that emphasizes Leave No Trace principles and responsible recreation.
Trees are Important & Mindfulness in Nature
Science and wellness program where students conduct experiments on tree respiration and learn mindfulness techniques using nature and the five senses.
Winter Explorers
Winter-themed nature hike using snowshoes to study animal adaptations and tracks; includes hot cocoa and snacks.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Deliver environmental education and guided outdoor programsConducts hands-on environmental education programs for students ages 6–12, guided kayak and canoe trips, scheduled kayak tours (May–October, up to 20 participants), stroller-friendly nature hikes for families (Park Rangers), river hikes, bike treks, cross-country skiing, and bird watching. Partners with Finn Academy charter school for expeditionary learning on the river.
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Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Develop and distribute educational resources about the Chemung RiverProduces and shares navigational guides, downloadable paddling tips (71-page guide), river glossaries, historical collections, Native American heritage documentation, and publications on aquatic invertebrates. Maintains a 'Know Your Rivers' section covering river history, watershed geography, and the origin of the river’s name.
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Youth Outdoor & Conservation Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Fund youth access to fishing equipment via memorial fundAdministers the Joey Kish Memorial Fund, established in 2023, which awards one-time grants of up to $100 per youth in Chemung County to purchase river-oriented fishing equipment and related supplies.
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Site-Specific Artistic Installations and Performances 1 activity
- Implement public art and nature-based installationsInstalled 10 biodegradable fiber art exhibits along riverside trails as part of the "Fascinations by the River" project, funded by a Community Arts Grant. Created a public scavenger hunt to engage the community in locating and photographing installations to document environmental changes. Also constructed the White Wagon Nature & Education Trail with interpretive signs in Waverly, NY.
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Beach and Waterway Cleanup Initiatives 1 activity
- Lead river cleanups and stewardship initiativesOrganizes and supports river clean-up events for groups of all sizes, providing supplies and waste collection across Chemung and Steuben counties. Runs the River Guardians program where volunteers adopt and maintain stretches of riverbank by removing litter, trimming vegetation, and reporting issues. Encourages community participation in park and beach cleanups, tree planting, and park maintenance.
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Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Maintain and improve public river access and trailsOperates, constructs, and maintains multiple recreational trails and river access points, including the 8.5-mile Lackawanna Rail Trail, nearly three miles of primitive riverside paths in West Elmira, the Don Hall Portage Trail (a safe bypass around the Chase-Hibbard Dam), and 10 boat launches built in partnership with municipal entities. Also includes installation of benches, swings, and signage to enhance public use.
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Artificial Nesting Habitat Management 1 activity
- Promote wildlife habitat and ecosystem healthInstalled an osprey nesting pole and platform on Clinton Island in 2005 and operates a live-streaming osprey nest camera for public viewing. Creates and installs rain gardens and pollinator gardens in Elmira and surrounding areas to reduce stormwater runoff and support biodiversity. Installed rain barrels at Bottcher's Landing Boat Launch for garden irrigation.
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Real-Time Environmental Monitoring and Community Engagement 1 activity
- Provide real-time river level and water forecast dataProvides live river level data and current/prolonged water level forecasts for multiple sites along the Chemung River and its tributaries to support safe recreational use, including paddling safety. Integrates with SnoFlo and maintains its own website to deliver this information across North America.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Enhance river safety through signage and warningsPosts public warnings about dangerous river obstacles, promotes safe boating practices, and installed four “Danger Dam Ahead” warning signs on the Walnut Street Bridge in Elmira to alert paddlers of the Chase-Hibbard Dam hazard. Provides liability release and waiver forms for program participants.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$129K
Contributions & grants$118K91%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$5K4%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$157K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$99K
Grants paid out$3K
balance sheet
Total assets$242K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$242K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -10.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELIZABETH ZILINSKI | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $58K |
| KAREN CHARNETSKI | OUTREACH COORDINATOR | 25 | $26K |
| CAITLYNN MCCONNELL | INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $4K |
board members · 8
- ANGELA TUFILLARO — BOARD ADVISOR
- DON HALL — BOARD MEMBER
- JIM PFIFFER — BOARD ADVISOR
- JOHN VAN OTTERLOO — BOARD ADVISOR
- NIKOLE WATTS — BOARD MEMBER
- PATRICK WOOD — BOARD ADVISOR
- RIP DOUD — BOARD ADVISOR
- TREVOR BROWNING — BOARD ADVISOR
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service Government — Provider of hydrological predictive resources for current and projected water levels in the Chemung River Basin.
- BlckBts Partner — Partner organization of fiber artist Shannah Warwick for the "Fascinations by the River" art installations.
- Boy Scouts of America Partner — Supported the construction of the White Wagon Nature & Education Trail through the Eagle Scout project led by Jacob Miller.
- Casella Partner — Sponsors the live osprey nest camera operated by the organization.
- Chemung County Partner — Maintains the eastern section of the Lackawanna Rail Trail in partnership with FRIENDS OF THE CHEMUNG RIVER WATERSHED INC.
- Chemung County Department of Public Works Partner — Installed flood warning signs on the Walnut Street Bridge during bridge renovations.
- Chemung Valley Audubon Society Partner — Collaborates on promoting birding trips and trail information within the Chemung River Watershed.
- Chemung Valley Historical Society Partner — Collaborates with the organization to present historical images and information about the Chemung River.
- Chemung Valley History Museum Partner — Provided funding and historical support for the White Wagon Nature & Education Trail.
- Chemung Valley History Museum Partner — References and links to the museum as a source of regional historical information.
- City of Elmira Partner — Co-built the Don Hall portage to provide a safe river bypass around the Chase-Hibbard Dam.
- City of Elmira Partner — Maintains the western section of the Lackawanna Rail Trail in partnership with FRIENDS OF THE CHEMUNG RIVER WATERSHED INC.
- Eastern Metal Partner — Manufactured flood warning signs at a reduced price for installation on the Walnut Street Bridge.
- Elmira Community Cycle Partner — Partner organization collaborating on year-round recreational programming.
- Elmira Water Board Government — Collaborates on maintenance of water intake infrastructure and dam safety along the Chemung River.
- Finger Lakes Land Trust Partner — Collaborates on water quality protection and land conservation efforts in the region.
- Finn Academy Partner — Partnered with River Friends to use the river as a hands-on environmental classroom.
- HIlliard Corp. Partner — Provided funding for the construction of the White Wagon Nature & Education Trail.
- Horseheads Family Resource Center Partner — Co-founded the Park Rangers program with Friends of the Chemung River Watershed.
- John W. Jones Museum Partner — References and links to the museum, which preserves the legacy of John W. Jones and the Underground Railroad in Elmira.
- Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center Government — Source for river forecast data used to inform water level projections in the Chemung River Basin.
- NYSDEC Government — Hosts and disseminates the Chemung River Angler Survey produced by NYSDEC.
- National Park Service Rivers, Trails, Conservation Assistance Program Partner — Partnering with FRIENDS OF THE CHEMUNG RIVER WATERSHED INC on the development of the New York’s Southern Tier Water Trail.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Administers the Statewide Community Regrant program that provided funding for the "Fascinations by the River" project.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided funding support through the Statewide Community Regrant program.
- New York State Department of Conservation Government — Collaborates on fish stocking efforts in the Cohocton River and other tributaries.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Partner — Co-maintains the West Elmira Primitive Paths along with FRIENDS OF THE CHEMUNG RIVER WATERSHED INC and other stakeholders.
- New York State Legislature Government — Supported the Statewide Community Regrant program that funded the project.
- New York State Legislature Government — Supports the Statewide Community Regrant program through the New York State Council on the Arts.
- Office of the Governor Government — Supported the Statewide Community Regrant program that funded the project.
+ 16 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Biomonitoring as Environmental Educationmethodology: biomonitoring_educationBy using indicator species such as nesting osprey and aquatic macroinvertebrates to assess ecosystem health, we make water quality tangible and teachable, because hands-on biological monitoring helps students and the public understand watershed health through direct observation.
- Community-Driven Stewardshipmethodology: community-driven_conservationBy engaging the public in planning, data collection, and volunteer activities, we increase environmental stewardship, because community ownership and participation lead to sustained protection of the watershed and stronger local advocacy.
- Conservation Through Recreationmethodology: conservation-through-recreationBy developing water trails and promoting river-based recreation, we advance conservation, environmental education, and tourism, because public engagement through outdoor activities fosters stewardship and community investment in protecting natural and cultural heritage.
- Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Managementmethodology: green_infrastructure_stormwaterBy promoting rain barrels, rain gardens, and permeable landscaping, we reduce polluted stormwater runoff, because decentralized green infrastructure captures and infiltrates rainwater at the source, improving watershed health while educating the public on sustainable practices.
- Real-Time Monitoring for Public Safetymethodology: real_time_safety_monitoringBy providing real-time river gauge data and safety guidance, we enable safer recreational use, because informed decision-making based on current hydrological conditions reduces risk and builds public trust in river access.