The Summer Gathering, the Great Outdoor Expo, and Why They Attract Participants
Our annual Summer Gathering returns this year (in person!), Friday, June 10, 2022, from 5 pm - 8 pm. We’re also holding our Catskills Great Outdoor Expo, Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 10 am - 3 pm. Both events will be held at the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center in Mount Tremper.
The Summer Gathering will spotlight a panel discussion entitled “State of the Catskills,” featuring stewards of the region’s environment, economy, and culture. Following the discussion, there will be games, activities, a bonfire, and an opportunity to meet your Catskills neighbors.
The Catskills Great Outdoor Expo features the best the Catskills have to offer in hiking, paddling, bicycling, and other outdoor recreation activities. This one-day Expo will be filled with dozens of exhibitors from the outdoor tourism industry and nonprofits in the Catskills. There will be activities for all ages, food, presentations, raffle prizes, and, drum roll please, the Catskills Great Outdoor Gear Sale.
For its Spring 2022 issue, Catskills Magazine asked a few participants for their thoughts on the events. Heather Bagshaw is Director of Greene County Tourism and a panelist on the Summer Gathering’s “State of the Catskills” panel.
Why are you participating in the State of the Catskills panel discussion?
The Catskills is an important tourism destination for New York State. It’s necessary to share the successes as well as identify needs to keep the Catskills top of mind for all stakeholders.
What makes the Catskills unique?
The Catskills offers great outdoor experiences for visitors. It is a destination filled with not only recreation but boutique lodging experiences, festivals and events, craft beverage makers, and much more!
As someone who is involved in local tourism and the growth of this region, what changes or observations have you noticed in the Catskills recently?
The State has provided the much-needed funding for trail updates, wilderness protection, and activities to address issues related to overuse; however, it is lacking in full tourism destination marketing funding for the entire tourism region, outside of the Catskill Park.
How does it feel to be back for in-person events?
I am absolutely ecstatic about being in person. As an organization that thrives on partnerships, meeting in person is crucial to understanding not only the topic in discussion but the person who is delivering it.
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Liz Callahan is the former Executive Director of Hanford Mills Museum and also part of the Summer Gathering’s “State of the Catskills” panel discussion.
Why are you participating in the “State of the Catskills” panel discussion?
I was really honored to be included in the “State of the Catskills” panel discussion. I am participating because I have been working in the museums in Delaware County for almost thirty years (since 1993) and I think I have a unique perspective on not just arts and culture in the Catskills, but how these resources intersect with a variety of things including community, economic sustainability, education and the future (not just the past) of our communities, and tourism and the changing demographics of the region.
What makes the Catskills unique, particularly in the realm of our arts and culture?
The Catskills are rich with artistic and cultural resources. The natural beauty has attracted and inspired artists for more than a century, and so much of what we think of as the "cultural resources" of the Catskills remain intact and authentic because — although many of our communities are no longer strictly "agricultural" — their geography, sparse populations and modest economic resources have, for the most part, left much of the Catskills relatively unscathed by the "homogeneous" cookie-cutter economic development that has impacted so many other areas to a greater or lesser degree. With this lack of development, the character of many of our communities has remained intact and inspired an authentic cultural "sense of place" that so many other regions have lost. This sense of place, combined with deeply-rooted populations with strong connections to their communities’ traditions, is the foundation of the unique artistic and cultural environment. And over the generations, visitors who appreciate the authenticity of the culture of the Catskills have added new layers of artistic and cultural resources. One of the most important aspects of what makes the Catskills unique is this authenticity of place. In the eye of the great synergy it has generated, it's important to remember the fragility of the authenticity it's rooted in.
What are your thoughts on the Catskill Center's role in the region?
For half a century, the Catskill Center has played an important role in the economic and environmental sustainability of the region. Without sustainability on these levels, our artistic and cultural resources can not thrive. The Catskill Center’s role in our region's sustainability and resilience plays an important role on many levels.
How does it feel to be back for in-person events?
Great!
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Ryan Penny of Camp Catskill, a new outdoor gear store in Tannersville, will be participating as an exhibitor at the Expo.
What makes the Catskills unique?
I love the way T. Morris Longstreth put it in his book The Catskills. “My only criticism of the Catskills as mountains is their reluctance to come to the point.” To me, that’s part of what makes this such an enjoyable hiking and camping destination. The Catskills are a great place to wander, whether for a few hours, or a few days. Expert or novice, anyone can have a memorable experience in nature here.
What are your thoughts on the Catskill Center's role in the region?
New Yorkers are an outspoken bunch, so there can be a lot of loud voices on all sides of any discussion that takes place here. True sustainability requires a delicate balance between conservation and development for the betterment of our entire society. We’re so lucky to have an organization that is fully committed to receiving input from diverse stakeholders and distilling that input into steady progress.
What excites you about being an exhibitor at the Expo?
The opportunity to meet and learn from the wide variety of people that the Catskill Center works with every day.
How does it feel to be back for in-person events?
Incredible! Having just opened our shop in Tannersville recently, I think I’ve already met more new people than in the last two years prior. Bring on the Roaring 2020s!
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Cheyenne Mallo and Zac Schiff of Cheyenne Mallo Pottery will be participating as exhibitors at the Expo.
What makes the Catskills unique?
To us, the Catskills are unique because they offer a huge range of hiking and adventuring opportunities. You can spend a few hours hiking up to a firetower, or you can spend multiple days backpacking the Devil’s Path (for example). There’s something for everyone!
What are your thoughts on the Catskill Center's role in the region?
The Catskills Visitor Center is a great resource for first-time visitors of the region to discover what the Catskills have to offer, and can also be valuable for long-time Catskill residents who want to learn more in-depth information about the area.
How does it feel to be back for in-person events?
We’re happy to be doing in-person events regularly again! One of the best parts of our business is getting to meet people in person and to discuss favorite mountains and trails with them. These interactions are especially important to us because the main purpose of our work is to represent and commemorate those treasured areas and adventures.
We’re really excited to be able to connect through the Expo with a community of people who are as enthusiastic as we are about the Catskills and about hiking! We’re also looking forward to the gear sale.
(Photo is courtesy of Cheyenne Mallo Pottery)