Welcome to the Downtown SyracuseYMCA

Folksmarch Area

For Information contact Walt Price : wprice4@twcny.rr.com

26th year

About Us (TOP)

A Folksmarch is a non-competitive walking event conducted monthly for people of all ages and abilities here in Central New York. Folksmarching began in October 1981 under the leadership of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse and has been conducted every month since then. It began as an Americanization of the European "Volksmarche", or people's walk.

Folksmarches are generally held on the second weekend every month. Walk anytime between 8 am and 11 am on Saturday, and from 1 to 3 pm on Sunday of the event. Participants walk at their own pace, and the purpose is strictly for fun, fellowship and exercise. The route distances are a choice of either 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles). Routes vary at each location, but normally include a combination of paved walkways and natural settings. Routes are marked and a map is provided to each walker.

The fee for each adult is $3.50. Children’s fee is $1.00 and the maximum for families is $9.00. Each walker receives a commemorative pin depicting a symbol or image of that month’s location.

For those doing a Folksmarch for the first time, the normal $3.50 fee is waived. A “passport” may be purchased for $2.00, and can be used to track the locations visited and total miles completed. The passport enrolls the individual on a monthly mailing list to learn the specific details about all future Folksmarches in the Central New York area.

This Month's Walk (TOP)

June 2008   footnotes   

www.downtownsyracuseymca.org

Vanderkamp – Forests & a Lake too!

Our Volunteer Chairpersons this month are Lee and Elaine Mount.  They have scouted out this site and assure us that you’ll enjoy walking around the 1100 acres that comprise this former Soule estate.  Now it’s the center for the Presbyterian and Lutheran churches campsite.  Mounts will be assisted by Dick and Martha Lacy (Dick was a Director at Vanderkamp -

Several years ago, we had an easy scavenger hunt on one of our Folksmarches.  It was received well and so we’ll do it once again.  Lee and Elaine discovered some items that you’ll see (if you are somewhat sharp-eyed) along the routes.  So add this extra to your walk this month.

We’ll be registering in a large tent behind the dining hall building. As you drive in the main road at Vanderkamp be on the lookout for our signs for Folksmarch parking and directions to the big tent. - 

Highland Reflections

You all turned out for a great day of walking at Highland Forest.  The Park staff had done a nice job of marking the routes – thank you very much.  Lots of volunteer helpers made the job more pleasant for Joanne Englehardt and John Graecen, our hosts that weekend.  John was especially helpful in double checking marking and doing any and all tasks left undone.  We appreciate that unconditional kind of looking after the details.  Joanne has a happy kind of personality that greets people warmly. 

We continue to be grateful to our Community General Hospital folks who serve as chefs and chefesses (is that really a word?).  These folks had hot dogs done to your taste, even marshmallows for kids and adults too!  Hot tea was welcome also on a slightly chilly morning and again on Sunday as a cloudy day prevailed.

Some of you are really shutterbugs.  Ken Spitzer always carries his camera along with Charlie Wingerter.  We saw Charlie’s pics from Lockport – good shots of those Tiffany windows.  Ken concentrates on birds.  Can we see some?

We extend a warm welcome to these new Folksmarchers: Alyce Miller, Keith Wright, Deryn Pomeroy, Leah and Joanne Sebesta, David and Theresa Carta, and Steven, Madelaine, Leon, and Randy Mandigo, Have you brought a new friend to a Folksmarch in the past few months? 

Personals

We heard from Betty Seidsma over in Oriskany the other day and also spoke with Ruth Knipe.  These ladies have found it difficult to get to FMs, but they are still very interested in all the details.  “Ruthie” has had a long bout with illness, but finally has become independent of feeding tubes.  She is a real fighter and we applaud her very positive attitude.  Betty stays on top of the news over in our Eastern Provinces.  Thanks.

FM Shoppe

A new design for T-shirts and polo shirts will be coming soon with Shirley Ramsden’s array of FM items.  It will carry out a nature scene in keeping with what we do each month.  She’ll also be carrying a simple rain poncho for those hopefully unusual inclement days.  

Give her suggestions for other items and she can see if they are available.

 Betty Lindquist is her sidekick and helps out frequently.

A Little More #3

June is the right bloomin’ month to visit the Thornden Park Rose Garden with Judy Oplinger.

Here’s the info for the June ALM.  Host: Judy Oplinger

                                                                 Host Phone: 446-5123   

                                                                 Date: June 28th   Time: 8:30am

                                                         Place:  Thornden Rose Garden – just east of Syracuse University

                                                                 A detailed sheet will be available at Vanderkamp    

2008 Trip Information

September 19,20,21  FMers go Adirondack W!LD.  Featuring the new Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks.  WILDCENTER.ORG

• Sign-up begins at 8:00 at Vanderkamp !

The Wild Center is a new kind of Museum designed by the same company that planned the Air and Space Museum in Washington.  It has live exhibits, live animals, including otters, birds, fish and amphibians.  There is technology here too - high definition films – that let you explore different places, times and ideas.

Expert guides are ready to help you make your own discoveries.  There is a giant glacial ice wall, indoor forest, indoor river and a 31acre campus with hiking trails and itsown river and pond.

Participants in the Folksmarch trip July 15-25 to the Canadian Rockies held a pre-trip gathering on June lst.

Excitement is building!  Bulletin #4, describing Vancouver, and Victoria, British Columbia, along with travel tips, wille avilable at the June Folksmarch.

Nature Lovers Alert! The Folksmarch at Vanderkamp is a perfect setting of woodsy trails.  You’ll love it!

A Folksmarch is a Non-Competitive Walk – at your own pace.

Saturday, June 14th  - Start anytime between 8-11am

Sunday, June 15th   - start anytime between 1-3 pm

Register:  Tent – behind the dining hall bldg.

Event Fee:  $3.50 adults; $1 Youth 16 and under, First timers and members of any branch of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse are free; the event fee is waived.  But we encourage you to get a $2 Sports Passport.  This entitles you to the monthly newsletter- and other “perks” as well.

Distances:  Choose a 5 or 10K route; or, a shorter Modified Route is available, if desired.

Directions:  Vanderkamp is located off Rt. #49f Rt. 80 (and it comprises the Southeast corner of

Onondaga County).  From Rt. 81, exit at Tully and proceed about 15 miles east on RT. 80. or Rt. 91 out of  Jamesville to Pompey, cross Rt. 20 and on into Fabius.  Left on Rt. 80 to the Park.

The Folksmarch is coordinated by the YMCA of Greater Syracuse, “Footnotes” is published monthly. FM #324

Next Event: Camillus –Erie Canal  July 12-13th, 2008

Important Dates (TOP)

                        YMCA of Greater Syracuse                          

                     Folksmarch SCHEDULE  2008

            Dates                               Location                                 Start                                                                                                                                      Sat. 8-11AM/Sun.1-3PM

            January 12, 13                 Oneida Shores                     Arrowhead Lodge       

                                                    Mitten collection                                                                                                                                                            

            February 9, 10                  Radisson                                Aspen House                                                                                                          Mitten collection                                                                                                                                                             

            March 8, 9                        Liverpool                                Library                            

            April 12, 13                      Jamesville Beach                                Pavilion                                                                                                                                                                                    

            May 17, 18                       Highland Forest                    Skyline Lodge               

                  Corporate Host:FM Trip                                                                                                                              

                  Community General Hospital                                                                                                                                                            

            June 14, 15                       Vanderkamp                           Dining Hall

                                                                       Y Triathlon: 21st                                                                                                               

                                                                Volunteer Picnic  

            July 12, 13                        Camillus/Canal Park              Fire Department                     

                                                          Canadian Rockies Trip - July 15-25                                                                      

            August 9, 10                      LeMoyne College                          t/b/a                        

                                                                School supplies

                                                                                          Canadian Rockies Trip - Aug. 12-22

            September 13, 14               Fayetteville                             East Area YMCA                   

                  SyracuseY 150TH Celebration                School supplies                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                 Steptember                                                                                    

            October 11, 12                    Heiberg Forest                     Classroom Building                                                                                                                                FM Trip                                                                                                                                                                                                      

            November 8, 9                   Beaver Lake                        Community Room                                                                                          Folksmarchathon                                                                                                           

            December 13, 14               Village of Skaneateles       Community Center   

                                                          Theatre outing  Dec. 6    

You’ll want to do…A Little More! (ALM)

YMCA Folksmarchers – You’re invited to add a walk

to your daily walk regiman

        at a different place each month from April through October

           Non-Folksmarchers are welcome as your guests

              Plan on starting at 8:30 AM (unless a special time is set – see monthly flyer)

• No fees
• No special maps or markings
• No refreshments expected
• No special Folksmarch pins
• Modified route usually available

Plan to pick up detailed information about the next ALM walk at the previous Folksmarch

   General plans will be in that month’s Footnotes and on-line

2008 ALM Date       ALM Location                                           ALM Hosts

April 26                Charles Major Trail, Skaneateles            Ruth Burgay, Ed Sylvester

May 31                     Fair Haven Village                                     Peg Williams

June 28                  Thornden Park Rose Garden                         Judy Oplinger

August 2                   Lime Hollow, Cortland                          Pat Parker, Harriett Bullis

August 30                  Cedar Bay, Dewitt                                      Ellie Wood

September 27                Pennellville                                       Pat Foote, Wanda Baum

October 25                   Chittenango Falls                                   Ron & Bonnie Male

Who's Who (TOP)

• Charter Folksmarch Coordinators
  Walt and Peg Price wprice4@twcny.rr.com
• Displays and Annual Program Coordinator
  Nancy Knaggs
• Publicity Coordinator
  Adria Ripka

Fundraising (TOP)

Folksmarchathon
Our annual appeal for support is called the "Folksmarchathon". Each year, for about the past 12 years, there has been an appeal for additional funds to keep our program in the black. Thanks to you, last year was our most successful ever.

Links (TOP)

Highland Forest: Located outside the village of Fabius. Take Interstate 81, exit 14 (Tully). Turn left onto Route 80 and drive 12 miles east. Entrance is on your right.

Sterling Nature Center
Located on Jensvold Road, off Mcfarland Road, off 104A. North of Fair Haven and Fair Haven Beach State Park.

Skaneateles Community Center
Located in Austin Park just outside the village on State Street Road.

Photos (TOP)

Click here for photos of our more recent journeys.