Event follow-up

Did you attend a public event recently? Check here for photos, resources, and more!

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Volunteer Work Party at Hand Hollow, 8/29/26

Thank you to everyone who attended the Volunteer Work Party at Hand Hollow! The group spent the morning tackling maintenance along the trails, picnic area, and parking lot.

  • The group helped remove bog bridges that will allow increased access further along the trail to make necessary repairs.
  • Don’t forget about CLC’s Top 40 Volunteers Challenge! All hours from the Volunteer Work Party at Hand Hollow will be recorded towards a spot in the top 40.
  • Couldn’t make it to Hand Hollow? CLC’s next Volunteer Work Party will take place on September 12 at Greenport. Visit CLC’s event page for additional volunteer events.
  • If you volunteer outside of a scheduled event, please report your hours! All independent volunteer hours logged will also count toward the Top 40 Volunteers challenge.
  • CLC is looking for volunteers to assist with regular sitework at our properties. If you enjoyed stewarding public lands and are passionate about helping to restore habitat and maintain trails at any CLC sites this summer, you can reach out to Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Moth Night, 8/28/26

Under the glow of a full moon, moth enthusiasts gathered at the Taghkanic Community Forest to observe and learn about the forest’s moths and nighttime pollinators.

Working Wednesday at Harris, 8/12/26

Thank you to everyone who attended the Working Wednesday at Harris! The forest trails are looking beautiful.

  • The group helped remove invasive species from the trails, replace bog bridges, and clean up storm damage.
  • Don’t forget about CLC’s Top 40 Volunteers Challenge! All hours from Working Wednesday at Harris will be recorded towards a spot in the top 40.
  • Couldn’t make it to Harris? CLC’s next Volunteer Workday will take place on August 29 at Hand Hollow. Visit CLC’s event page for additional volunteer events.
  • If you volunteer outside of a scheduled event, please report your hours! All independent volunteer hours logged will also count toward the Top 40 Volunteers challenge.
  • CLC is looking for volunteers to assist with regular sitework at our properties. If you enjoyed stewarding public lands and are passionate about helping to restore habitat and maintain trails at any CLC sites this summer, you can reach out to Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Land Camp: Build Your Own Rabitat, 8/1/26

The third and final workshop of the season covered invasive species management. Visitors to the newly opened Taghkanic Community Forest learned how to turn pesky plants into bespoke homes for native wildlife.

Pollinator Meadow Exploration, 7/20/26

Joined by researchers from the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program, attendees explored the Overmountain pollinator meadow seeded by volunteers on a former cornfield.

  • Learn more about Overmountain’s Pollinators with CLC’s interpretive signage.
  • Visit the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program Website for more information on the ecological and cultural landscape of Columbia County.
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 0.5 miles x double miles = 1 mile toward Hike 40.

Taghkanic Community Forest Land Steward Orientation, 7/17/26

Future Taghkanic Community Forest Stewards learned about the various tasks involved in maintaining the forest. Volunteers learned about monitoring and care for the planting in Tim’s Woods, the trail system, Lake Lahr and the kayak system, and how to report volunteer hours.

  • Lake Lahr waiver – read and fill out the signup form to receive the code to unlock the equipment

Land Camp: Invasive Species Removal & Habitat Restoration, 6/17/26

From fields and forests to a thriving pollinator garden, the second Land Camp explored how invasive species removal and habitat restoration look across different landscapes at the former farm fields of Greenport.

  • Thank you to Mari Robinson, Field Operations Manager at Native Habitat Restoration for leading this workshop.
  • Welcome to the NECCC – Northeast Cover Crops Council has a variety of information and methods for those interested in using cover crops to meet land management needs, particularly as a tool to manage invasive species.
  • The Understory (formerly known as Partners for Climate Action) is a great resource for land management and offers grant opportunities.
  • Have a specific question about land management, or just want to know more? Reach out to Cameron Hastie-Etchison, CLC’s Land Engagement Associate.
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this event, we hiked 1 mile x double miles = 2 miles toward Hike 40.
  • Interested in learning more about different land management techniques? Check out the final workshop in the Land Camp series: Build Your Own Rabitat.
  • Want to put these new skills into action? Visit CLC’s event page for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
  • CLC is seeking volunteers to assist with routine site work at our properties. If you enjoyed the Pollinator Patch and are passionate about helping to restore habitat Greenport, or any CLC public lands, you can reach out to Luke Maskarinec to learn more.

Working Wednesday at Ooms, 6/17/26

Thank you to everyone who attended the Working Wednesday at Ooms! Volunteers completed what is normally a full day’s work in a little under two hours.

  • The group completed trail maintenance around Pond Loop, removed invasive species, and cleaned up trash around the site. Ooms is looking amazing!
  • Don’t forget about CLC’s Top 40 Volunteers Challenge! All hours from Working Wednesday at Ooms will be recorded towards a spot in the top 40.
  • If you volunteer outside of a scheduled event, please report your hours! All independent volunteer hours logged will also count towards the Top 40 Volunteers challenge.
  • Looking for future volunteer work days? Visit CLC’s event page for upcoming volunteer events. Up next is the Volunteer Work Party at Spiegelberg Lake on 7/18.
  • CLC is looking for volunteers to assist with regular sitework at our properties. If you enjoyed stewarding public lands and are passionate about helping to restore habitat and maintain trails at any CLC sites this summer, you can reach out to Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Grassland Bird Walk, 6/13/26

Another sunny Saturday morning at Ooms rewarded a group of dedicated birders with 40 different species to observe. Thanks, Alan Devoe Bird Club!

  • The Merlin Bird ID app is great for helping to identify birds. It has a sound ID feature that offers real-time suggestions for who’s singing.
  • Interested in joining the Alan Devoe Bird Club? Find more information and future walks on their site here. We will be partnering on more walks later this year!
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 1.5 miles x double miles = 3 miles towards Hike 40.

Story hour & scavenger hunt, 6/8/26

CLC and New Lebanon Library took story time outside to Hand Hollow! The group then hiked to the pond and searched the stream for insects and animals from the book.

  • Looking for more family-fun activities at CLC? Stop by the CLC office in Chatham and pick up Nature Quest for a whole booklet of self-led adventures!
  • Want to attend more story hour events with the New Lebanon Library? Visit their calendar for details and scheduling.
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 0.5 mile x double miles = 1 mile towards Hike 40

Taghkanic Community Forest Opening, 6/6/26

The Taghkanic Community Forest is officially open! CLC welcomed over 200 of its closest friends to explore and enjoy the newest public site for the grand opening celebration!

Reading the forested landscape with Tom Wessels, 5/30/26

The Taghkanic Community Forest has welcomed its first special guest! Tom Wessels narrated the history of CLC’s newest public property by reading the stories or oaks, birches, and even the forest floor.

Working Wednesday at High Falls, 5/27/26

Thank you to Design Wild and all of the amazing volunteers who hiked to High Falls for forest gardening! The group planted deer-resistant native plants around the recently completed levy Lookout.

  • The forest garden around Levy Lookout now includes sedges, columbine, and other native species known to thrive at the site.
  • Volunteers also toured the newly resurfaced trail and got an inside look at the ongoing High Falls habitat restoration project.
  • Couldn’t make it to forest gardening? CLC’s next Working Wednesday will take place on June 17 at Ooms.
  • CLC is looking for volunteers to assist with routine site work. If you enjoyed stewarding the High Falls with us or are passionate about land restoration and maintenance at any CLC public lands this summer, you can reach out to Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Land Camp: Pond Planting & Riparian Restoration, 5/21/26

The first Land Camp of the season is over, but the lessons are just taking root! The evening began with a comprehensive overview of how to use native species plantings to build riparian buffers around ponds. Attendees were able to try and tune the skills they learned right on the shores of Schor.

  • Led by Dylan Cipkowski, Executive Director of the Columbia County Soil and Water District, the group identified native plant species such as elderberry and willow.
  • Attendees practiced new wetland-planting skills to implement water quality improvements and reduce pressures from invasive species at home.
  • Interested in learning more about different land management techniques? Check out the remaining events in the Land Camp series, Invasive Species Removal & Habitat Restoration and Build Your Own Rabitat.
  • Want to put these new skills into action? Visit CLC’s event page for upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Spring Migration Bird Walk, 5/16/26

An early Saturday morning at Drowned Lands Swamp rewarded a group of dedicated birders with 57 different species to observe!

  • The Spring Migration Bird Walk observed 57 species on at Drowned Lands! View the eBird list from our walk here.
  • The Merlin Bird ID app is great for helping identify birds. It has a sound ID feature that offers real-time suggestions for who’s singing.
  • The Audubon bird app is another great tool. It is free and a complete field guide to over 800 species of North American birds, right in your pocket.
  • BirdCast is a resource for migration predictions and to see how many birds passed through your area the night before.
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 1 mile x double miles = 2 miles towards Hike 40
  • Our next birding walk is a Grassland Bird Walk at Ooms on June 13. You can register here.
  • Photo credits to Sheila Laccese and Spencer Crawford!

Library Walking Club, 5/15/26

Thank you to all who have joined a Library Walking Club hike at a CLC public land!

  • We will be taking a break for the summer and start back up in September.
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 1.5 miles x double miles = 3 miles towards Hike 40

Working Wednesday at Greenport, 5/13/26

Thank you to everyone who attended the first Working Wednesday of the season! Volunteers remulched paths, pulled non-native weeds, and planted native species.

  • Want to learn more about invasive species management, pollinator plantings, and habitat restoration at Greenport? Sign up for Land Camp at Greenport on June 25.
  • Looking for future volunteer work days? Visit CLC’s event page for upcoming volunteer events.
  • CLC is looking for volunteers to assist with regular sitework at our properties. If you enjoyed stewarding the Pollinator Patch and are passionate about helping to restore habitat and maintain trails at Greenport (or any CLC public lands) this summer, you can reach out to Luke at [email protected] to learn more.

Volunteer Kickoff, 5/2/26

The Taghkanic Community Forest is one step closer to opening day on June 6. Thank you for braving the rain to kick off the volunteer season!

Story Walk with Carole Lindstrom, 4/18/26

Such a great way to spend a beautiful spring Saturday! Renowned author Carole Lindstrom joined CLC and Kinderhook Books at High Falls to read her Caldecott Medal-winning We Are Water Protectors.

  • Resources from Story Walk with Carole Lindstrom
  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 0.5 mile x double miles = 1 mile towards Hike 40

Woodland Pools Walk, 4/4/26

What a fun Saturday at Harris spotting amphibians in vernal pools! Standout appearances included salamanders, wood frogs, garter snakes, eastern newts and more.

  • Join the Hike 40 Challenge! You earn double miles for each mile hiked during a CLC program. During this walk, we hiked 1 mile x double miles = 2 miles towards Hike 40

Timberdoodle Trek, 3/19/26

We spent a fabulous Thursday evening at Siegel-Kline Kill and were rewarded with a male woodcock/timberdoodle/Labrador twister landing right on the trail in front of us!

  • Woodcock aerial display video
  • Woodcock “peent’ call video

Pancake Breakfast at Hudson School District, 3/14/26

Winter Tracking Walk with Dan Yacobellis, 2/22/26

Tracking resources from Dan!

Books:

  • Mammal Tracks & Sign, Elbroch– Often referred to as ” the bible” by today’s trackers. Very dense, highly accurate. Includes many species from around the continent, but also easy enough to go directly to the type of sign you have found(ie. scat, marks on trees, etc) rather than reading through all the species accounts, to compare photos

There are also some Facebook groups:

 New England Tracking Exchange

Animals Don’t Cover Their Tracks

There’s a wonderful in-person annual conference in MA.-  https://northeastwildlifetrackers.org/conference/

And lastly, come out and track with me! 

You can learn more about my programs here- https://www.tamakocewildernessprograms.com/

Or reach out to me directly about our monthly tracking club here- [email protected]!

Community Conversation: Community Forests, 2/19/26

Resources from The Trust for Public Lands’ Community Forest Program

Community Forests Quick Start Guide: https://www.tpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/102825_Community-Forests_FINAL.pdf

Link to their Technical Assistance webinar series (with previous recordings): https://10minutewalk.org/communities-of-practice-community-forests/

Their report on economic contributions of certain CF case studies: https://www.tpl.org/community-forest-economic-case-studie

Save the dates for upcoming events!

  • Volunteer Kickoff at the Taghkanic Community Forest: May 2, 2026
  • Opening of the Community Forest: June 6, 2026

Great Backyard Bird Count at Ooms, 2/14/26

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