Community, Education and Conservation

Outdoor Promise is a 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on inspiring and supporting the next generation of outdoor leaders. Our programs are centered around equitable access for youth, families, and individuals that have been traditionally underrepresented in outdoor recreation. We believe in the power of an engaged community that works together to protect the environment starting with their own backyards.

Our Work

We believe that we cannot ask people to protect a nature they have not experienced.

Environmental Justice Fellows Tree Equity 2021

Community

Free Community Hikes

Join our Free Community Hikes Initiative and explore the beauty of the Hudson Valley with guided hikes exclusively for City of Newburgh residents. We provide free transportation and ensure equitable access to nature, fostering wellness and community connection. Learn more about our hikes and how you can get involved

I want to thank you for offering me this great opportunity and for mentoring me. I have learned skills that I am extremely grateful for and have already been able to put to use.
Marichen

Education

Explore Environmental Issues with OP News

Dive into Newburgh’s environmental story with OP News, our online publication dedicated to exploring our community’s challenges and opportunities. More than just news, OP News brings you stories and insights that inspire action and spark meaningful conversations. Whether you’re an experienced advocate or just starting to care about the environment, OP News offers a fresh perspective on the issues that matter most to our city.

Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.
Native proverb

Conservation

Join us on a virtual adventure!

We want to connect you to the natural world. Join us as we hike trails and paddle the rivers and lakes across the Hudson Valley in New York.

outdoorpromise

#OutdoorPromise is committed to increasing equitable access to nature and inspiring the next generation of environmental justice leaders 🌳♻️🌳

Thank you @parkstrailsny for inviting @outdoorprom

Thank you @parkstrailsny for inviting @outdoorpromise and @asoneflight to explore with your community! Everyone go visit @mohonkpreserve and explore the beautiful trails for hiking, biking and climbing. We are truly blessed in New York 🥰

#outdoors4all #parkadvocates #optoutside #hudsonvalley #fallstyle #newburghny #getoutside #mohonkpreserve #hiking #parksandtrailsny #asoneflight #outdoorpromise

Can we truly appreciate what we take for granted?

Can we truly appreciate what we take for granted? 🪱 Nature isn’t something separate from us – it’s what sustains us. When we connect with the smallest creatures, we’re reminded of our place in this shared world.

#OutdoorPromise #NatureConnection #WeAreNature

Newburgh, NY: a city often misunderstood but fille

Newburgh, NY: a city often misunderstood but filled with resilience, diversity, and untold beauty. While labeled as disadvantaged, we are a community of strength and care, committed to building a brighter future. From the peaceful Downing Park to the majestic Hudson River and Snake Hill rising in the backdrop, Newburgh is home to breathtaking spaces worth exploring and protecting. At Outdoor Promise, our mission is to cherish and preserve these green spaces for our health and for generations of Newburgh residents. Enjoy the view! #newburghny

#OpenSpace4All #NewburghNY #12550 #HudsonValley #DowningPark #HudsonRiver #ExploreNewburgh #CommunityStrength #OutdoorPromise #ProtectOurSpaces #ResilientNewburgh #GreenNewburgh #SnakeHill

Jay Beaumont shows us the reality of groundwater c

Jay Beaumont shows us the reality of groundwater contamination with his interactive model, revealing how pollution has already seeped into our water sources. It’s too late to prevent this damage, but it’s not too late to demand action. Join us in calling for immediate cleanup to restore our vital groundwater. #SpeedUpTheCleanup 💧🌍 #newburghny

At Outdoor Promise, we know people protect what th

At Outdoor Promise, we know people protect what they connect with. That’s why we’re dedicated to creating first-time outdoor experiences that spark curiosity, build confidence, and foster a lifelong love for nature. Whether it’s a first canoe trip or a first hike, each adventure brings kids closer to the world around them. Let’s keep making these experiences possible! 🛶💚

#OutdoorPromise #ProtectNature #NatureConnection #optoutside #outdoors4all

Thank you Kyle and the @newburghareanaacp for help

Thank you Kyle and the @newburghareanaacp for helping spread the word! Our community needs to stand up to those who cause us harm. We need to protect our clean water and those responsible for polluting it must be responsible for cleaning it up! Follow @newburghcleanwaterproject to get involved and informed 💧❤️💧

We’re Grateful to Have Jennifer Rawlison Champio

We’re Grateful to Have Jennifer Rawlison Championing Clean Water in Newburgh! 🌊

Jennifer Rawlison, a powerful advocate for the Newburgh Clean Water Project and an international leader in the fight against toxic pollution, continues to inspire and mobilize our community. Recently, she took our local fight to the global stage, speaking at the United Nations on behalf of PFAS-affected communities like ours.

Jennifer’s determination drives her forward:
“Though my journey began with the devastating news of Newburgh’s PFAS contamination, I am now determined to be just as ‘persistent’ as those pesky toxic chemicals... the vision for a just and humane world must acknowledge the defense of human rights defenders, the work they are doing—and what we are doing.”

Her words remind us how essential it is to stand together in the fight for #CleanWaterForAll. Join Jennifer, the @newburghcleanwaterproject , @riverkeeper @sloopclearwater @hudsonriverwatershedalliance and all our inspiring leaders rallying for a future free from toxic contamination.

📅 Next RAB Meeting: November 13 on Zoom
💻 Show up in numbers to make it clear we care! Every voice counts as we push for a real cleanup of our water supply.

3,096 days! since the state of emergency was decla

3,096 days! since the state of emergency was declared for PFAS contamination at Stewart Air National Guard Base. Our community has been fighting tirelessly for over eight years to protect our water, health, and future. Yet, the battle is far from over, and Newburgh WILL NOT be anyone’s dumping ground.

At the recent Newburgh Armory Unity Center public session, many dedicated individuals came together to discuss the ongoing cleanup efforts and hold those responsible accountable. While many warriors are in this fight, we need more voices to join us. The health of Newburgh depends on all of us. #SpeedUpTheCleanUp

We want to highlight some of the incredible advocates who continue to push for action:

📸 Jennifer Rawlison with @newburghcleanwaterproject (Pic 3)
📸 Dr. Erin Bell from SUNY Albany and Kyle Conway from Newburgh/Highlands NAACP (Pic 4)
📸 Jack Caldwell from Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance, **Maddie Feaster**, and Shannon Roback from @riverkeeper (Pic 5)
📸 Elisabeth Balachova and Ashley Martinez with the Newburgh EJ Fellows (Pic 6) @newburghejfellows
📸 Chuck Thomas and Gail Fulton from Newburgh Conservation Advisory Council (Pic 7)
📸 Jay Beaumont from Moodna Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council (Pic 8)
📸 Lily Marie Rubino, Gates Cambridge Scholar (Pic 9)

These people, and many more, are standing up for our city, but the fight is not theirs alone. **Newburgh needs YOU.** Our community’s future depends on collective action and commitment to ensuring our voices are heard, our water is clean, and our environment is protected.

Let’s keep pushing. We can hold them accountable, speed up the cleanup, and protect Newburgh for future generations. 💧🌍

#3096DaysTooLong #ProtectNewburgh #PFASCleanup #EnvironmentalJustice #OurCommunityOurFuture #CleanWaterNow #NotOurDumpingGround #CommunityAction @newburgh_armory_unity_center @cityofnewburghnygov

Outdoor Promise’s Executive Director, Ronald Zor

Outdoor Promise’s Executive Director, Ronald Zorrilla, had the honor of speaking on the “Successful and Innovative DEIA Programming to Welcome All New Yorkers” panel at the 2024 Statewide Friends Conference! It was a truly inspiring discussion on how organizations like Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OHPRP) are working to make outdoor spaces more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

A heartfelt thank you to these incredible organizations for their leadership. We were honored to join Will Cote (PTNY), Betsy Ukeritis (NYS DEC), Sarah Bramlage (OHPRP), Benita Law Diao (Outdoor Afro), and Martha Swan (John Brown Lives!) to push forward this shared vision. Together, we’re creating a future where everyone feels welcome in nature!

Learn more about the conference here: https://www.ptnyfriends.org/2024-statewide-friends-conference

#OutdoorPromise #PTNY #NYSDEC #StateParks #DEIA #InclusiveOutdoors #NewYorkOutdoors #EveryoneBelongsInNature #outdoors4all

Special thanks to former councilman Anthony Grice

Special thanks to former councilman Anthony Grice for laying the foundation for the work at Crystal Lake and being a guiding force to make a lot of little things happen which got us here today 🙏🏼 Let’s show some love and support Mr and Mrs Grice at @perfectsweetsinc where they are still giving back to our community

@crystallakeinnewburgh
@anthonygriceoc @griceforward3

Thank you to the @newburgh_waterways center for ge

Thank you to the @newburgh_waterways center for getting many community members on the water for their very first time! 🛶 Check out their upcoming haunted house program and go learn how to row right on the #HudsonRiver ! Programs for both adults and youth. Thank you Jacob, Bill, Marianne and the rest of the dedicated volunteers that make it happen 🫶🏽

Shout out to our partners who have helped create s

Shout out to our partners who have helped create something beautiful for #Newburgh @thesanctuary_healinggardens Thank you Jason and Jocelyn for investing in Katie, Anusha, Betty and many more to nourish our people and strengthen our communities.

The @ecologicalcitizensproject has been training Regenerators in the Hudson Valley to activate spaces that grow food and people ❤️

“The Regenerative Communities (RC) project trains new farmers and places them on land in Hudson Valley communities to establish public food gardens as a launching pad to regenerate communities through increased food security and sovereignty, increased economic security and wealth through community-owned renewable energy, the promotion of land and nature access, and growing civic power.”

Community is Stronger Together!✨Yesterday, we wi

Community is Stronger Together!✨Yesterday, we witnessed the power of unity at Crystal Lake, as people from all walks of life came together to celebrate and explore our beautiful green space. It was incredible to see the diversity of our community, from longtime residents to new faces, gathering with a shared passion for nature and conservation. 🌿

Together, we asked important questions about protecting these spaces for future generations, and we’re so grateful to have had the support of our representatives who joined us. 🙌

This event reminded us that we are truly better when we come together—our community bonds are growing stronger, and with that strength, so is our collective ability to make positive change. 💪🌎

Let’s keep building, learning, and protecting what makes our community so special.

@newburgh_waterways @newburghwantsapark @thesanctuary_healinggardens @ecologicalcitizensproject
#CrystalLake #CommunityStrong #ProtectOurGreenSpaces #OutdoorPromise #BetterTogether

OP Adventure Bus on duty! 🚌

OP Adventure Bus on duty! 🚌

Magic, when different generations come together in

Magic, when different generations come together in the outdoors. Passing down stories, new ideas, and strengthening our community bonds.

Intergenerational adventures create a ripple effect, the wisdom of one generation fueling the energy of the next. This is how we grow resilient communities that care for both each other and the planet.

Instagram post 17900427629986066

Instagram post 17900427629986066

Crystal Lake, Newburgh, NY. A local treasure, just

Crystal Lake, Newburgh, NY. A local treasure, just a 15 minute walk from Broadway. Unknown to so many city residents. Come explore with us and continue the push to protect it @newburghwantsapark

#HudsonValley #protectourparks #12550 #NewburghNY #12550 #conservation

This Sunday, we’re excited to co-host with The S

This Sunday, we’re excited to co-host with The Sanctuary Healing Gardens—a beautiful space intentionally created with love, welcoming the entire community. 🌱❤️ More families are discovering this thriving urban farm, teeming with life and hope. A huge thank you to Betty, Anusha, Jason, Joanis, Johanna, Katie, and Ecological Citizens Project for their dedication and heart in building this space full of amor. 🌿✨

Join us this Sunday for a special event and experience the love firsthand! #HealingGardens #CommunityLove #UrbanFarm #NewburghEvents

Days away from a celebration Crystal Lake #Newburg

Days away from a celebration Crystal Lake #NewburghNy Join us for a full day of activities for the family! FREE for all members of our community 🌳 ❤️ 🌳
———
¡Estamos a pocos días de una gran celebración en @crystallakeinnewburgh ! Únete a nosotros para un día completo de actividades para toda la familia. ¡GRATIS para todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad! 🌳❤️🌳

#12550 #hudsonvalley #optoutside #outdoors4all #newburgh #parksandrec

Let’s celebrate the green open spaces we have le

Let’s celebrate the green open spaces we have left in #NewburghNY Join us October 20th for a full day of activities. @outdoorpromise is excited to be leading the hike up to the highest point of our city ⛰️ overlooking the Hudson River. Peak fall foliage toooo 🍁 🥰🍂

We are grateful for all the work @thesanctuary_healinggardens is doing to make @crystallakeinnewburgh more welcoming to our community 🙏🏼 Come learn more about how you can get involved @newburghwantsapark

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OP Updates

Check out our recent work and join us on one of our virtual adventures.

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Journey to Remediation – Unveiling the Voices Behind Newburgh’s Water Crisis and Cleanup Efforts

The Backstory: How Did We Get Here? In 2016, the community of Newburgh, New York, was hit with unsettling news: Washington Lake, the city’s…

Continue Reading Journey to Remediation – Unveiling the Voices Behind Newburgh’s Water Crisis and Cleanup Efforts

Kathryn McKenzie’s Journey: From Passion to Purpose

In the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley, a story of dedication and commitment unfolds. Kathryn McKenzie, once an Environmental Justice Fellow, has now…

Continue Reading Kathryn McKenzie’s Journey: From Passion to Purpose

Climate Justice Week: Outdoor Promise Leads Key Discussion on Environmental Justice

As part of the third annual Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Week, Outdoor Promise Executive Director Ronald Zorrilla will moderate the crucial panel discussion titled…

Continue Reading Climate Justice Week: Outdoor Promise Leads Key Discussion on Environmental Justice

Outdoor Promise hosts the Health and Environmental Justice Section at City of Newburgh Love Our City Fest

This year, the Love Our City Fest had a special section dedicated to making Newburgh a better place to live. The Health and Environmental…

Continue Reading Outdoor Promise hosts the Health and Environmental Justice Section at City of Newburgh Love Our City Fest

RiverKeeper Sweep at Newburgh South Street Park: 2022 Clean-Up Event

Check out our recap of the Annual RiverKeeper Sweep at South Street Park in the City of Newburgh, New York! In partnership with the…

Continue Reading RiverKeeper Sweep at Newburgh South Street Park: 2022 Clean-Up Event

Get on Board: Register for Our Free Community Sail Program in Partnership with the Sloop Clearwater

We are thrilled to announce our Free Community Sailing Program in partnership with the Sloop Clearwater! This program is designed to offer Newburgh residents…

Continue Reading Get on Board: Register for Our Free Community Sail Program in Partnership with the Sloop Clearwater