Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to infect birds and mammals across the U.S. and Canada, including New York state. In November and December 2025, DEC received 69 reports of suspect … more

The DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11-17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; … more

Winter is here, bringing less daylight, cold temperatures, and snow. Winter also means unique outdoor opportunities such as sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and hiking. Those who have … more

Beginning on Jan. 1, no covered food service provider, manufacturer or store is allowed to sell, offer for sale, or distribute expanded polystyrene containers that are not wholly encapsulated or … more

Whether you’re ice fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, or otherwise recreating on lake ice, there’s a few safety measures you should take before heading out on the ice. … more

The Adirondack Mountain Club, Susquehanna Chapter, will continue its winter schedule of easy, guided hikes and public programs throughout February, offering residents a low-key way to stay active and … more

Thank you to the thousands of New Yorkers who joined in on a First Day Hike across the State! Over 120 hikes were hosted on DEC, State Parks, and Canal Corporation lands to ring in the New Year. … more

The 2026 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge is here! We’re excited to announce the addition of two new towers to the 2026 Challenge: Mount Utsayantha Fire Tower in Stamford, and Bramley Mountain Fire … more

The Catskill Mountain Club has released its January–February hiking schedule, offering a series of free, member-led outings across the Catskill Mountains as winter settles in. Founded more … more

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has opened a fifth round of the Regenerate NY Forestry Cost Share Grant Program, making more than $5 million available to private … more

Now is a great time to search for winter tracks or other animal signs visible in the snow. It can be fun to be a detective and figure out what animals have been walking through your yard or … more

New York’s New Year’s resolution is to plant more trees, but in 2025, the 25 Million Trees Initiative Tree Tracker saw some pretty green stats.  • Top Tree Planters: New York’s … more