The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Regions 3 and 4 are seeking volunteers for ‘Adirondack and Catskill Park Day' on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake Campground (Greene County), Big Pond (Delaware County), Meads Meadow Trail (Ulster County), Denning Road Trailhead (Ulster County), and Alder Lake (Ulster County).  

Adirondack and Catskill Park Day offers service projects throughout the Adirondack and Catskill Parks that focus on the conservation and enhancement of these unique and beautiful Forest Preserve lands. The event, hosted in partnership with Parks and Trails New York, is part of the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days Campaign - an effort to encourage year-round stewardship and highlight the State’s outdoor recreation assets by offering a series of themed stewardship days throughout the year.   

Volunteer registration is currently open for Adirondack and Catskill Park Day. New Yorkers are encouraged to join their community in a cleanup, enhancement, or restoration event near them.    

DEC Regions 3 and 4 and participating partners are hosting the following volunteer opportunities for the public to participate in:  

Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake Campground – event hosted in partnership with the Catskill Visitor Center  

Date: Sept. 6, 2025 

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Location: Scutt Road Trailhead, coordinates 42.2006, -74.0584. If you are driving on North Lake Road, it is the road AFTER Laurel House Road. There will be a large kiosk with a map near the start of the trail. This is where we will meet at 9:30 am. This area can get quite busy on the weekends. Hopefully, by having the start time be early, attendees can beat the stress of trying to park 

Contact: Sammi Delaney, sdelaney@catskillcenter.org

Project: Kaaterskill Falls and North-South Lake have become two of the most popular destinations in the Catskills. Help the Catskill Center clean up the trash leftover from the summer by walking the trails with us for Adirondack and Catskill Park Day. We will begin the cleanup by following the trail to the Kaaterskill Falls viewing platform and then follow the trail to North-South Lake Campground. Along the way, we will collect trash and discuss local history and impacts of increased visitation. If time and weather allow, we may venture down to the Middle Pool to pick up trash there. We will be walking at least 2.5 miles round trip. We will mostly stick to the easier trails, but if we go down to the Middle Pool, the trail is a little more difficult. *Volunteers under 18 years old MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

What to bring: Water, bug spray, snacks, proper hiking shoes and possibly a raincoat depending on the weather. We suggest wearing long pants and long sleeves 

Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY   

Big Pond – event hosted in partnership with the Catskill Mountainkeeper  

Date: Sept. 6, 2025 

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Location: Upper parking lot for campsites (42°02'31 N 74°43'38 W). There is no cell phone service at this location. There is a DEC sign right at the entrance of the road going up to the parking lot. The parking lot is located on Big Pond Rd just before the pond. 

Contact: Lenny Miret, lenny@catskillmountainkeeper.org

Project:  Join Catskill Mountainkeeper’s Trail Stewards for an end of season walk and clean-up of the Big Pond campsites and recreation areas. We will spend no more than 2 hours walking and cleaning up the sites after a busy summer season. 

What to bring: Volunteers should bring sturdy closed toe shoes, snacks, water, gloves, and rain gear just in case. There is no cell phone service at this location. 

All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY 

Meads Meadow Trail, Overloop Trail, and Overlook Connector Trail – event hosted in partnership with the Catskill Mountain Club  

Date: Sept. 6, 2025 

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Location: From the junction of Tinker Street (State Route 212) and Rock City Road in the center of the village of Woodstock, take Rock City Road north for 0.60 miles to an all-way stop sign. Continue across the intersection and this becomes Meads Mountain Road. Take Meads Mountain Road 2.5 miles up and over (past the Overlook Parking Area/ Trailhead at the top/name changes to McDaniel Road) until you see the Meads Meadow Parking Area on your right, our meeting location. 

Contact: Peter Manning, peter@catskillmountainclub.org

Project: Maintenance and clean-up of the Meads Meadow Trail, Overloop Trail, and Overlook Connector Trail. Total mileage: 1.75 miles. 

What to bring: Clippers, handsaws, gloves, water, sports drink, sunscreen, snacks, insect repellent, rain gear, hiking shoes or work boots. 

Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY 

Denning Road Trailhead – event hosted in partnership with the Catskill 3500 Club  

Date: Sept. 6, 2025 

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Location: Denning Road Trailhead (at the end of Denning Road). The coordinates are: 41.965324, -74.452579. 

Contact: Sean Boyle, smbelectric72@yahoo.com

Project: Starting at the Denning Road Trailhead, we will inspect and clean up primitive campsites on the East Branch of the Neversink River and the Long Path heading upriver. This will be an active clean up and educational hike. The host for the event, Sean Boyle, is a Catskill 3500 Club Hike Leader and an active Trail Maintainer with the Trail Conference. He is certified in Leave No Trace^TM Principles. 

What to bring: Work gloves, trash bags, hats, sunscreen, sturdy shoes, athletic (non-cotton) clothing and wear layers. Hiking boots are recommended. 

All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY   

Alder Lake – event hosted in partnership with the Finger Lakes Trail Conference  

Date: Sept. 6, 2025  

Time: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Location: Trailhead/parking lot at Alder Lake Road 

Contact: Erin Potter, erin.potter@fingerlakestrail.org

Project: This project will be a combination of a hike with some trimming, blowdown removal and identification of other issues along the way. Total distance traveled will be about 4-5 miles. 

What to bring: Gloves and loppers/snips, if you have them. 

Appropriate for ages 13 and up. Register at Parks & Trails NY