Hudson Valley ReLeaf News
Rooting for Hudson Valley Trees Since 1992
In this issue:
The results to our HV ReLeaf survey are in! Now we have the information needed to move forward with creating a program that works best for you and the urban and community forests you steward.
The majority of respondents prefer to meet quarterly while receiving this email newsletter monthly. The lion's share of replies requested hybrid meetings in different places throughout our seven-county region. Friday mornings were the most popular time to schedule meetings.
One of the main goals of HV ReLeaf, as chosen by survey respondents, is learning strategies to expand Urban and Community Forestry programs. A great way to start working toward this goal is to learn about New York State's program. At our next HV ReLeaf meeting on October 10, NYSDEC's Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator, Christina McLaughlin, will give an overview of the structure, goals, and resources of New York State's Urban and Community Forestry Program.
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One of the main items on the agenda for this meeting is to collect ideas to start sketching out HV ReLeaf's next workshop. Workshops are an effective tool to engage different types of audiences in best practices that attain our collective Urban and Community Forestry goals.
Workshop themes are best born from identifying tree related information needs in our different communities, municipalities, or organizations and putting together a program or events that will meet those needs.
Please be prepared to outline the urban and community forestry needs you have noticed and to share your ideas at this meeting.
When: Friday, October 10 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: The Town of Fishkill Highway Department and online/call-in over Webex
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The City of Kingston's Hasbrouck Park - Photo Credit: Vinnie Morano Imagery
Let's get together to tour a few CoRe project sites
When you go for woodland walks and hikes with friends and family, are you tired of enlightening your disillusioned companions to how degraded the site is with invasive plants and deer over-browse?
The good news is that there are almost a dozen sites in the Hudson Valley where the NYSDEC's Community Reforestation Grant (CoRe) funding will be put to work to restore degraded woodland sites or create new forests.
We've been invited to be introduced to three CoRe project sites to see the "before picture" and hear about how managers will go about restoring each urban woodland site.
- Tilly Foster Farm in Brewster, Putnam County on Thursday, September 18.
- Hasbrouck Park in the City of Kingston in Ulster County on Friday, September 26.
- Irvington Woods in the Village of Irvington in Westchester County in October, the date will be announced later.
We Need to Tell our Tree Stories
As always, this year's annual New York ReLeaf Conference was a great event to network and share ideas and methods between "tree people". This year's keynote speaker in Oswego, was Doug Still, the host and Producer of "This Old Tree" podcast. Doug encouraged the "tree people" in the audience that to be more successful in reaching our urban and community forestry goals, we need to help foster emotional bonds to connect people with the trees in their communities.
The audience learned ways to connect their communities to their arboreal heritage like Doug does in his podcast. By uncovering and sharing meaningful stories of significant trees, pioneering individuals, and transformative events in local forestry history, we help incorporate trees into a community's identity. What methods do you use to create emotional bonds between your community's trees and the people they benefit?
The 2026 New York ReLeaf Conference will be held closer to home in New York City!
Read the NYS Urban Forestry Council's Taking Root Newsletter articles about the 2025 ReLeaf Conference in Oswego!
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Current grant opportunities that your municipality or organization may be interested in:
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Community Forest Conservation Grant Program
This grant program funds municipal land acquisition for community forests. Community forests are publicly owned or publicly accessible open space properties that are vital for wildlife habitat, flood mitigation, recreational opportunities, public health, air quality, water quality, and to meet the obligations outlined in New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Application period closes September 17.
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Connect Kids to Parks Application The Connect Kids to Parks Field Trip Grant Program connects New York school age children (pre-K through grade 12) with nature, outdoor recreation, and history by reimbursing eligible costs for field trips to eligible locations. Applications are continuously accepted, with some restrictions.
Take a look at what the New York State Urban Forestry Council's 2024 Annual Report to see what the Council was able to do with their grant from the United States Forest Service and member support in 2024.
Do you have content related to this newsletter topic? Consider submitting potential content to amy.mackenzie@dec.ny.gov.
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Hudson Valley ReLeaf Email Newsletter - circulated July 7, 2025
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