Find Your Adventure - December 2022 Issue

Take the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge

If you missed the past Fire Tower Challenges or would like an opportunity to add to your patch collection, the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge opens on January 1, 2023, and runs through December 31, 2023. The Catskills Fire Tower Challenge encourages experienced hikers to visit six fire towers in the region: Balsam Lake, Hunter, Overlook, Red Hill, Tremper, and Upper Esopus, a new fire tower located at the Catskills Visitor Center.

To complete the challenge:

• Hike to all six fire towers
• Submit a log of your completed hikes along with a favorite photo or selfie via a web form or to the designated email inbox
• For an extra bonus entry to win prizes submit a photo practicing Leave No Trace while participating in the challenge (picking up litter, carrying out, planning and preparing for a hike, staying on trail, keeping your dog leashed, etc.).

If you’ve been participating in the 2022 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge, must be postmarked by January 7, 2023 – don’t forget to send yours in!

Celebrate the New Year with a First Day Hike

Looking forward to a fresh start in 2023? Why not join DEC, State Parks, and Canal Corporation on a First Day Hike? The 12th annual event is being held at many state parks, historic sites, wildlife areas, trails, and public lands across New York. The walks and hikes are family-friendly and typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions and includes options for hikes ranging from staff or volunteer lead hikes. A full list can be found on DEC’s website.

Oneida Lake Boat Launch Construction Starts

Work has begun at the new boat launch on the Barge Canal at Cove Road, in the town of Verona, Oneida County. The boat launch will connect to Oneida Lake and provide additional access to the world-class fishing in Oneida Lake for all visitors, including people with disabilities. Plans for the boat launch include a two-lane, concrete ramp with floating docks, canoe/kayak launch, fishing pier, parking area with 24 car and 49 car/trailer spaces, including some accessible parking, and port-a-johns.

Learn more about other fishing opportunities in New York.

Take Part in the Christmas Bird Count

This holiday season, take your birding adventures to the next level by participating in the 123rd Christmas Bird Count. Organized by the National Audubon Society, the annual Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running avian censuses—a useful method to inventory worldwide bird populations.

Taking place between December 14th and January 5th, volunteers are tasked with counting as many birds as possible within a 24-hour window, all within a 15-mile-wide circle! Using the species tallies collected by participants during the count, Audubon may work to better understand and study the health of many different bird populations.

The Great Christmas Bird Count is free and open to all and is open to birders of all skill levels. To find a Christmas Bird Count circle near you, check out state-hosted events at the bottom of this newsletter and the official National Audubon Society event map. Kids can take part in the Christmas Bird Count at Reinstein Woods on Saturday, January 7 at 9 a.m.

Give a Camping Gift Card this Holiday Season

Looking for a gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life? Why not give them a campground gift card? Campground gift cards and electronic certificates are available for purchase online. Campground gift cards and certificates are the perfect gift for those hard-to-buy-for outdoor enthusiasts and are redeemable at all DEC campgrounds. Camping gift cards are physical cards that are mailed to the recipient of your choice, whereas electronic Gift certificates are emailed to you for printing and/or emailing to a recipient.

Upcoming Events

Sat. Dec 31 at 10 a.m. – Reinstein Woods – New Year’s Eve Learn to Snowshoe Walk
Sun. Jan 1 – First Day Hikes