Join the Catskill Center’s Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) on August 19th from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, for a hands-on Invasive species removal day! You will be trained on how to identify common invasive plants, the current best practices in removing them, and the impact these species have on our native ecosystems by CRISP Director, John Thompson.

Earlier this summer, volunteers planted 150 native trees to expand on last year's efforts to restore native habitat along the Ashokan Rail Trail! Now it’s our goal to improve native species diversity in the area to give these young trees the best chance at survival. CRISP volunteers have been managing invasive barberry, bittersweet, buckthorn, and multiflora rose, which can outcompete the native plants. With your help, we’ll continue this work to ensure the newly planted saplings continue to thrive!

This is a very hands-on and often physically demanding event. We will be working off the trail in dense patches of poison ivy, thorn bushes, and old farm debris, as well as working with heavy tools such as pickmatics, loppers, and shovels. We ask that you take these factors into consideration when signing up for this event and wear the proper clothing and shoes. We recommend rubber or waterproof boots, long sleeves, and pants. We also highly recommend using bug spray and sunscreen, as we may be working in broad light gaps and there are many ticks in the area. We will have bug spray and one extra pair of rubber boots on hand if anyone needs. 

Water and snack bars will be provided. There will be a safety demonstration on how to properly use the tools we will be working with. 

We will meet at the Ashokan Station trailhead at 9:00 am, have a quick orientation, and walk 5 minutes down the trail to the worksite. We will be working until 12:00pm, but you are free to leave earlier if needed. .