Catskill Stewards Update & Important Dates
Autumn is fully upon us. Leaves have transformed into their brighter hues and the days feel cooler. Apples are ready to pick and our favorite apple cider doughnuts are ready to pick up fresh from the farm. The Catskill Stewards Program is in its own transition, with another season almost in the books. There’s one final busy month before we tuck away our kits for the winter.
Jenny and Maddison pointing visitors in the right direction.
The 2020 season has been filled with new challenges but also momentous successes. This humbling season helped us to remember that the work of the Catskill Center’s Stewards is critical for the health, safety, and experience of our visitors and the protection of the Forest Preserve. This season, the Catskills hosted the highest number of visitors to its trails and waters then ever before. For our stewards this meant balancing a welcoming educational environment while cleaning up trash, litter, rehabilitating illegal campsites, promoting stream health, amongst other responsibilities. All at a higher frequency and density than ever before in the programs three season history.
Blue Hole visitation organized by year. 2020 had more than double last years visitors.
The 2020 season is ongoing at Kaaterskill Falls and at the Catskill Center’s Platte Clove Preserve. Catskill Stewards are on the ground at both of these locations through the middle of October.
The Blue Hole season has concluded, with only one more clean-up day scheduled to button up the site for wintertime. All of our stewarding locations have witnessed a surge in visitation this 2020 season. Using the data from our three seasons at the Blue Hole, we can verify this surge in the following metrics.
As we round the final push of the Catskill Stewards Program season, be on the lookout for the official 2020 End of Season Report set to be released by November 1st. This report will be available on our website. As always this program needs your help and support. Consider becoming a Catskill Center member, or sending us a donation. A gift of any size helps us to keep the Catskills pristine and protect the Forest Preserve for future generations to come. To collaborate or partner with the Catskill Stewards Program please reach out to Andy Mossey, Stewardship and Advocacy Coordinator.