Batavia Kill Stream Celebration - Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District

The Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District has been busy with flood recovery and response activities since Tropical Storms Irene and Lee hit in late summer 2011. Therefore, the Batavia Kill Stream Celebration is taking a year off and will not be held in 2012. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please see our Calendar of Events for additional watershed activities and educational opportunities, and check back next year for more information on this family educational event.

Another great year at the Batavia Kill Stream Celebration!

The 5th Annual Batavia Kill Stream Celebration was held Saturday, August 6, 2011 at the Country Suite Bed and Breakfast in Ashland, NY. The free event brought residents from the tri-state area to learn about stream stewardship and to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the Catskill Mountain streams through interactive displays, exhibits, performances, guided stream walks and activities for children and adults alike.

"This event was one of the most fulfilling events we have done. I was thrilled that my family could take part. The setting was magnificent and the groups involved were a dream come true. Our entire family and team had a great time. I believe this is what education should be like everyday. The Batavia Kill Stream Festival was a day filled with fun and creative learning set in a beautful environment and surroundings." - Nicci Nashban Cagan
From the Ground Up-Director

Entertainment & Live Music
Activities
Exhibitors
Vendors melon_crepes Preparing regionally inspired and delicious melon crepes chefs-sign On the set of GreenPeas TV at the Chefs Consortium Booth

Entertainment & Live Music

Green Peas TV is a regional cooking show that celebrates the bounty of the area and talents of its farmers, chefs and local merchants. At the celebration, people enjoyed samples of locally grown and cooked gourmet food.

Arm of the Sea Theater
For over 25 years Arm-of-the-Sea Theater has
been developing a style of magical realism that
arm-of-the-sea-theater Arm of the Sea Theatermarries the mythical and the everyday, humanity and the earth, visual arts and the natural sciences, poetry andpolitics. Unfortunately, due to the weather, their colorful and creative story titled City that Drinks the Mountain Sky did not go on. We hope to have them peform in the 6th annual celebration next year.

Eddie Fingerhut
Eddie Fingerhut of East Durham shared his talent and put on a great show at the celebration.

Swampgrass Jug Band
Ed FingerhutThe Almost Original Synthetic Swampgrass Jug Band brought its mix of American Roots music, Old Timey String music, Original Jugcoustic and Jug Band music to the Batavia Stream Celebration.

Taiko Drum Performance
The Japanese art of drumming and dance expresses life and a way of being. This year, the ensemble performed in the beautiful setting of mountains, rain and the Batavia Kill.

Environmental Film Screenings
The interesting environmental documentaries were
Taiko Drummerspresented by the Watershed Agricultural Council.
What's on Your Plate, Truth Behind the Tap,
Reclaiming our Water and The Greenhorns were shown
in the Red Barn throughout the day.

Stream Steward Award and Recognition Ceremony
Greene County Soil & Water and NYC DEP recognized local landowners who have made a commitment to help protect water quality and streamside natural habitats in the Schoharie watershed.

Guided Stream Walk

Activities

Whether the activitis were back by popular demand or new, they were all a hit with the families. Everyone learned something new and got a prize too!

Guided Stream Walks
Tours were held to teach about a section of stream restored using natural channel design.

What’s in the Water?
All ages caught, studied & learned about aquatic life in our streams.

Plant & Tree Identification Walk
Simulated Stream TableParticipants walked about the riparian buffer and
reconstructed wetland of the Batavia Kill and learned about
various plant and tree species.

Simulated Stream Table
Attendees learned about the movement and growth of our waterways through a realistic model of a real-life streaml; which simulates the effects that human activities have on our local streams and waterways.

Bioengineering Demonstrations for Streambank Stability
Participants learned about native vegetation types, how to
Magnetic Fishingassess the health of a streambank, and procedures that
improve soil stability along streambanks, including tree,
shrub, and live stake planting.