Destination: Central Park Treasure Hunt
Reservations required: No
Age recommended for: Any
Level: 2
Recommended Season: Any
Helpful Information: Just order the map for $9.95 from http://www.treasurehuntadventures.com/. Be sure to look at the Updates and Errata on their web site. You get a map of Central Park with 15 clues involving things you have to find in the park. Only one clue involves a compass, and you just barely need the compass for that clue. When you put together the answers to all the clues, you'll have the secret message. Go back to the website and claim your treasure.
Destination: Dr. Davies Farm, Congers, NY (south of Harriman State Park) or Wilkens Farm, Yorktown Heights, NY
Phone number: 845-268-7020 (Davies) or 914-245-5111 (Wilkens)
Distance from Midtown: ~40 miles ~1 hour
Reservations Required: No, but it's nice to let them know if you're bringing a large group
Type of Outing: Apple picking
Age recommended for: All
Level (1-5): 1
Recommended Season: Fall
Helpful Information: These are two of many places to pick apples. See this page for more.
Directions: See Dr. Davies web site or Wilkens Farm web site.
Destination: Hidden Valley, Vernon NJ
Phone number: 973-764-4200
Distance from Midtown: ~50 miles/1 hour
Reservations Required: Yes
Type of Outing: Tubing: sliding down a snow-covered hill in innertubes
Age recommended for: Any, but participants must be at least 42" high
Level (1-5): 2
Recommended Season: Winter
Helpful Information: They have snowmaking equipment, so tubing is possible as long as it's not too warm. See their website at http://www.hiddenvalleynj.com/ Ask about group rates. Sessions last 2 hours.
Directions: Interstate 80 west to Route 23 to Route 515 north.
Destination: Hudson Valley Orienteering
Phone number: 973-625-0499
Distance from Midtown: Varies with location of event
Reservations required: No, but they like to know if you're bringing a large group
Type of outing: Orienteering (finding your way with map and compass)
Age recommended for: Middle School, High School
Level: 1 to 3, depending on the course
Recommended Season: Spring, Fall
Helpful Information: Go to the HVO web site at http://www.hvo.us.orienteering.org/. Events are scheduled almost every weekend in the fall and spring.
Driving Directions: See the HVO web site.
Destination: "Wildman" food outing.
Helpful Information: Wildman Steve Brill conducts studies of edible wild plants, nature and ecology in our city parks. Cost is $10 per person. See his web site at http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/, or you can call him at 914-835-2153.