Accessible Trail at Stony Kill Farm Restored
 An accessible trail at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County was recently restored and improved thanks to a collaborative effort to make the trail more accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The Woodland Trail was destroyed by a storm in May 2018. This month marked completion of phase one of the project. Phase two, planned for 2022, includes installing interpretive signage and benches.
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month
 November marks Native American Heritage Month in the United States, a time to commemorate and pay tribute to the rich histories and traditions of our Indigenous neighbors. To celebrate Native American Heritage Month, please check out some of the organizations working to promote Indigenous voices and experiences in the outdoor recreation community. Also visit SUNY's Center for Native Peoples and the Environment to learn about some of the programs that draw on the wisdom of both indigenous and scientific knowledge to support a shared goal of environmental sustainability.
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Native Women’s Wilderness is a community space for Native women to share, support, and learn from each other as they interact with and celebrate the outdoors. Their mission is to inspire and raise the voices of native women in the outdoor realm, to encourage a healthy lifestyle within the wilderness, and to provide education of the ancestral lands and its people.
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Native Like Water prepares Indigenous youth and adults in science, outdoor education, conservation, wellness, and cultural self-exploration. With a particular emphasis on humankind’s sacred relationship with water, Native Like Water’s program areas include scuba certification, surf and food as medicine, and national unity, in addition to several academic and educational fellowships. The organization also supports several publicly funded scholarships to increase the inclusivity of its programs.
- Founded by Jolie Varela, a Paiute woman, Indigenous Women Hike is a collective working to regenerate Indigenous land relationships and to promote healing and healthy lifestyles through nature.
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Melanin Basecamp is a movement to increase the visibility of diversity in outdoor adventure sports. In addition to producing weekly, inspirational outdoors content from Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Queer People of Color, the organization also produces resources such as gear reviews, field guides, survival tips, and best practices to make the outdoors experience even more inclusive for all audiences. Melanin Basecamp also promotes diversity in the outdoor recreation community through its organization coalition, #DiversifyOutdoors, which includes members such as Native Women’s Wilderness.
Congrats to the 2021 I Bird NY Challenge Winners
 DEC hosted the popular I Bird NY challenge in 2021. This fun, family-friendly challenge encourages all New Yorkers to enjoy birding no matter where they live and gives them tools to get started. There is an I Bird NY challenge for beginning birders and an experienced challenge for those looking to expand their life list. Completed forms are sent into DEC for a chance to win birding prizes through a random drawing. The 2021 winners were chosen by DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. The grand prize winner is Elizabeth Netzband, from Oneida. Sandra Rice won the experienced birder category and Ilya Kasprowicz was the beginning birder challenge winner.
Don't worry if you missed this year’s challenge; DEC will be hosting it again in 2022, and everyone will have an opportunity to see why birding is such a popular activity.
#OptOutside this Month
 Looking for an alternative to shopping this Black Friday? #OptOutside instead. Inspired by REI’s 2015 closure of its stores, #OptOutside has become a national movement with millions of people opting to go outside on the day after Thanksgiving. Immersing yourself in nature can provide both mental and physical health benefits, and it can give you downtime from the busy holiday season.
If you choose to #OptOutside and spend time with friends and family outdoors, there are many ways to do it. You could choose some great autumn hikes, or if there is more than six inches of snow on the ground, enjoy New York’s trails by skiing and snowshoeing. Birding is another great activity that everyone can enjoy, and you do not need a lot to get started. Start a list of species you would like to observe. These are just some of the ways you can enjoy all of the public lands that are across New York.
Improvements at Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area
 DEC recently completed several improvement projects at Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA), located in the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent, Jefferson County. Improvements at the WMA include an accessible wildlife observation tower, along with a designated accessible parking area and educational sign.
Ashland Flats WMA consists primarily of large grassland fields, wetland impoundments, shrub land, and forested wetlands. The WMA is a designated Bird Conservation Area.
Visitors should bring binoculars and cameras to Ashland Flats for added enjoyment. You can observe several rare species of birds during the breeding season and the winter. Black terns are known to nest in the large impoundment, and winter raptors roost among the grassland fields. It is not uncommon to see or hear a white-tailed deer crossing the fields or a beaver swimming in the impounded wetland. Find other Watchable Wildlife sites near you.
NYS Birding Trail Coming to a Site Near You
 Have you heard about the new Birding Trail? DEC launched the New York State Birding Trail last month to highlight birding opportunities across the state. The trail provides information on places anyone can go to find birds in public spaces across the state. New York City is the first region to be announced, with future announcements coming soon!
Save the Date: First Day Hikes 2022!
 First Day Hikes 2022 will be held on Saturday, January 1, 2022 at locations throughout NY. Kick off 2022 by participating in one of many hikes being held at public spaces across the state. Stay tuned to DEC's website, Facebook, or email for more information coming soon.
Conservationist Magazine Holiday Promotion
 Conservationist makes a great holiday gift for the whole family, subscribe now to get six issues for only $2 - Plus, the next issue (December/January) will feature a full size 2022 calendar with beautiful nature photography from across New York State. As an added bonus, Conservationist for Kids is included three times per year.
Gift a subscription of Conservationist to your friends and family.
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