July 2021 Outdoor Discovery

Summer Nature Exploration Activities

Need fun ways to explore nature this summer? DEC’s got you covered! Get started by checking out our Conservationist for Kids 50 outdoor activities (PDF) for all ages and levels that are perfect for the whole family. Stuck inside? Find ways to “go fishing” indoors. Take an I Bird NY 2021 Challenge to get started with one of the fastest growing outdoor activities. Play bingo with family and friends using Discover Nature Bingo (PDF), also available in Spanish (PDF) and Mandarin (PDF). Keep track of your nature discoveries by using an app like iNaturalist, Merlin, or eBird. Check out our caregiver, parent and educator resources webpage while at home. Rainy day? Print the Sustainable Living coloring pages (PDF).

We want to hear about your explorations this summer! Have a story you would like to share? Email adventureny@dec.ny.gov.

Saratoga Sand Plains Archery Range Now Open

The first of its kind public archery range is now open in the town of Wilton, Saratoga County. With 16 targets, eight adult lanes, and four youth lanes, it’s the perfect place for families with children, and seniors to take up archery as a sport. The range will remain open and maintained year round for public use. Safety rules and regulations are always in effect. New to archery? Check out our #AdventureAtHome archery week or Facebook Live replay, where we provide ways to get started with resources at home. Learn more about the Saratoga Sand Plains Archery Range on DEC's website.

Thank you to the town of Wilton and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service for the partnership to make the project possible.

Adirondack Hiker Information Stations

DEC’s Adirondack Hiker Information Stations are now operating every weekend through Columbus Day, providing education and information to hikers and other recreationists during the busy summer and fall seasons.

DEC encourages visitors to stop by a Hiker Information Station ahead of their weekend hiking trip. These stations provide information about parking, alternative hiking locations, local land use rules and regulations, safety and preparedness, and Leave No Trace.

Please visit us at the following locations:

• Mid’s Park, Lake Placid: Fridays, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• High Peaks Rest Area, Northbound Route 87: Saturdays & Sundays, 6 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
• Notice: The High Peaks station will be closed on Sunday, July 4 for the holiday.

Love Our NY Lands

There are tens of thousands of acres of State lands to visit and thousands of miles of trails across the state for hikers of all abilities, whether you want to hike the Adirondacks or take the family and friends out for a short excursion to a scenic view in the Catskill Park.

All New Yorkers and visitors should be able to access, enjoy, and feel welcome on state lands. These lands belong to all of us, our families, and our neighbors. While enjoying these shared spaces, be respectful of other visitors. Share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as you found them for others to enjoy.

All of us have a responsibility to protect State lands for future generations. Follow the Hiker Responsibility Code, practice Leave No Trace principles (leaves DEC), and consider visiting trails less traveled. Use the DECinfo Locator to find a DEC-managed resource near you.

DEC staff are here to keep you and our natural resources safe, and are stationed across New York. Visitors can expect to interact with DEC stewards or Forest Rangers at trailheads, rest areas, information stations, welcome centers, or campgrounds, as well as out on trails and summits.

You can find formal information stations at the following locations:

• Glens Falls northbound rest area on Interstate 87
• Once the US/Canadian border opens, a station at a southbound rest area on I-87 for visitors coming from Canada
• Catskills Visitor Center, Route 28, Mt Tremper (Ulster County)

For more information, including how to become a steward and how you can protect New York's lands, visit DEC's website.

Join the New Camping Loyalty Program

Earn camping rewards with the new NY Loyalty Program. Spend more time camping and earn NY camping rewards. Earn 10 points for every dollar you spend on overnight accommodations at all New York State Parks & DEC Campgrounds. Start earning points on new reservations as soon as you are enrolled in the program. Already have an upcoming reservation booked? Don't worry, join the Loyalty program today, and you can still earn points for those stays! Plan your next campground trip today.

Safety & Education

Summer recreation is fun and exciting, but it can also be challenging and dangerous. Whether you’re going for a hike, a bike ride, a paddle, or fishing, Hike Smart NY can help you prepare with a list of 10 essentials, guidance on what to wear, and tips for planning your trip with safety and sustainability in mind.

Leave a Plan

Before setting out on an outdoor excursion, you should know who you are hiking with, where you are parking, your destination, intended route, turnaround time, and expected return time. Provide this and any other pertinent trip information to a trusted friend or family member before your departure.

Leaving your plan with a trusted friend or family member ensures someone will notice if you do not return at your expected time. That person can then alert Forest Rangers promptly, getting you the help you need as quickly as possible.

As service allows, alert this person to any changes in your plans throughout the day. Good communication with your source will help reduce the chances of an unnecessary rescue mission.

Once on the trail, be sure to sign every trail register along the way. This information can be used by search and rescue teams to provide the fastest possible help in the event of an emergency.

Nature Notes

Did you Know...

Turkey vultures will often defecate and urinate on their own legs and feet to help keep themselves cool and clean. The vultures have highly acidic excrement, so by defecating on their own legs and feet, it helps to kill bacteria they may have stepped in while feeding. Additionally, since birds do not have sweat glands to cool off like mammals, the excrement and/or urine on the bare skin of their legs and feet help with evaporative cooling.

Upcoming Events

Be sure to check out DEC's wide selection of outdoor activities on our events calendar. View the upcoming month or all the planned events available, including public hearings and meetings.

For specific information about upcoming events at DEC’s Environmental Education Centers, see the following links:

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (Albany County)

Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center (Erie County)

Rogers Environmental Education Center (Chenango County)

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (Dutchess County)

Check Out Our Facebook Live Events

As always, be sure to visit our Facebook page for updates and to view our Facebook Live offerings. From adventures at fish hatcheries, nighttime hiking, and Q&As about black bears, there is always something to see and learn.

Conservationist

Living in New York, it’s easy to Love Our NY Lands, and you can learn how to do this in the June/July 2021 Conservationist. If you enjoy the outdoors, learn about the Empire State Trail, which crisscrosses the state, providing great opportunities for hikers, bikers and families. You can also read how DEC manages 19 million acres of state forests, and why counting fish is important to managing fish populations. This and more in the latest issue of the Conservationist, as we enjoy summer in New York.

Subscribe today by visiting DEC's website or calling 1-800-678-6399.