Find Your Adventure - January 2023 Issue

Ringing in the New Year with a First Day Hike

Thousands of New Yorkers kicked off their 2023 outdoors with a First Day Hike, completing over 1,000 miles on DEC lands alone. Started in 2011 as an effort to get people outdoors, the annual winter hike has become a tradition for many. DEC joined State Parks for a fifth year and hosted a combined 100 hikes throughout the state.

Inspired to get outdoors? Here are more great winter hikes for you to enjoy. Check out photos from this year’s event on Flickr.

Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends are Back

The free Camp Santanoni Winter Weekend events are back in 2023. These special events take place during President's Day holiday weekend, Feb. 18-20, and the weekend of March 11 and 12. Visitors are invited to enjoy winter recreation and exclusive winter access to the preserved buildings of the former camp.

A 9.8-mile round trip cross-country ski or snowshoe excursion begins at Camp Santanoni's Gate Lodge Complex and extends to the remote lakeside Main Lodge Complex. The trip requires moderate physical activity and visitors should come prepared to be exposed to the elements for long stretches of time. DEC’s partners at the SUNY ESF Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC) will provide snowshoes to visitors without their own at the Gate Lodge.

During the Winter Weekend events, the Gate Lodge and Main Lodge will be open to visitors and AARCH volunteers will be onsite to provide guided tours. The Artist's Studio, a log and stone building next to the Main Lodge on the shores of Newcomb Lake, will be open as a warming hut. While the grounds of Camp Santanoni are open to visitors year-round, the buildings are not typically open to the public during winter months, making the Winter Weekends a unique opportunity to experience the camp in the snowy season.

Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends are hosted by DEC and the Friends of Camp Santanoni, which include the Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH), State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) Adirondack Interpretive Center (AIC), the town of Newcomb, and thousands of supporters who believe in the importance of preserving this historic Great Camp for use as public education, recreation, and inspiration.

Improvements Made at Little Sandy Creek Bridge

DEC announced the completion of Little Sandy Creek Bridge, located in the town of Boylston, Oswego County. The bridge extends over Little Sandy Creek in the Winona State Forest and is part of the new one-mile Little Sandy Creek Trail, completed this fall in partnership with the Winona Forest Recreation Association (WFRA). The new Little Sandy Creek Trail connects the existing Winona Way trail to the Bargy Road trail and expands recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts.

Winona State Forest is a premiere destination for outdoor recreation. Trails and forest access roads provide opportunities for hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, biking, and snowmobiling. Many outdoor events also take place on the property including the Tug Hill Tourathon ski race, Tug Hill Challenge Sled Dog Race, snowshoe races, fat tire bike races, and trail running events, among others.

Winter Wonderland at Reinstein Woods to Return

DEC, in partnership with Friends of Reinstein Woods, invites the public to celebrate “Winter Wonderland in the Woods” on Saturday, February 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in the town of Cheektowaga, Erie County. Visitors can enjoy a variety of winter outdoor recreation activities including ice fishing demonstrations, cross-country skiing, and snowshoe rentals. Children will be able to try snowshoeing for free and enjoy winter challenges including a snowball target toss, a Bird Spotting Challenge trail, and a snowflake investigation station.

DEC Summer Camp Registration to Open April 2

DEC Summer Camp program is in its 76th year! Online registration for the 2023 Summer Camps will open Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 1 p.m. Applications should be submitted through the online registration program available through a link on the Summer Camps website. Spaces fill quickly! Parents and guardians are encouraged to register early to ensure a spot. Children ages 11-17 can enjoy week-long adventures at Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County); and Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County).

Learn more about this year’s summer camps program.

Give Your Feedback on the CDTA Nature Bus

Did you ride the Nature Bus from the City of Albany to natural areas in Albany County in 2022? You can help Capital District Transport Authority (CDTA), Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, and partners plan for the 2023 Nature Bus by completing a short online survey by February 28th. Tell us whether you used this free service, what you liked about it, and how it could be improved. Then watch for announcements about this free service for 2023.

Take Part in the DEC Informational Kiosk Survey

Give us your feedback and win a gift card to a sporting goods store! DEC would like your opinion on our informational kiosks. Kiosks are small, open wooden structures that provide cover for educational/informational signs. These kiosks are located at various state properties such as state forests, wilderness areas, conservation easements, wildlife management areas (WMAs), boat launches, and more. Take our survey to let us know what you think and be entered to win a $50 sporting goods store gift card and a free subscription to the Conservationist magazine! Winners will be announced each month from January 2023 through January 2024. A grand prize winner will be announced in January 2024 and will receive a $200 sporting goods store gift card and a free magazine subscription. By providing input, you can help us improve your outdoor experience!

For prize rules and regulations, please visit DEC's website.

Upcoming Events

Weds. Jan 25 - Sun. Jan 29 – New York Boat Show
Sat. Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. – Reinstein Woods - Family Nature Quest: Snowshoe Walk
Thurs. Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. – Five Rivers: Friends of Five Rivers Talk and Trek Exploring Winter
Sat. Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. – Five Rivers: How to do it: Learn to Snowshoe
Sat. Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Washington County Winterfest 2023
Sat. Feb. 4 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Reinstein Woods - Winter Wonderland in the Woods
Sat. Feb 4 at 4 p.m. – Five Rivers: Family Fun, I BIRD NY: Meet Argo, then Take an Owl Prowl
Mon. Feb 6 at 6:30 p.m. – Five Rivers: HMBC: What's Hatching in New York
Tues. Feb 7 at 4:15 p.m. – Five Rivers: Community Science Winter Raptor Survey
Sat. Feb 18 – Mon. Feb 20 – Camp Santanoni Winter Weekends
Sat. Feb 18 at 10 a.m. – Reinstein Woods - Great Backyard Bird Count
Sat. Feb 18 at 1 p.m. – Reinstein Woods - Woods Walk: It’s Not All Ice and Snow
Sat. Feb 18 at 2 p.m. - Five Rivers: I Bird NY: The Galapagos, The Amazon, and Five Rivers
Sun. Feb 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Beginner Ice Fishing Clinic at Carters Pond
Thurs. Feb 23 at 8 a.m. – Five Rivers: I BIRD NY: Early Morning Bird Walk
Sat. March 18 & Sun. March 19 – Adirondack Sports Summer Expo

Save the Date for Get Outdoors & Get Together Day 2022 on Saturday, June 10.