Summer Gathering Panel to Include NYS Senator Michelle Hinchey

May 18, 2022 -- Arkville, NY: Our Summer Gathering and Catskills Great Outdoor Expo return after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Catskill Center is hosting the Summer Gathering at its Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center in Mount Tremper, NY, June 10. The Great Outdoor Expo is being held the following day, also at the Catskills Visitor Center.

New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey is among the panelists for the Summer Gathering’s “State of the Catskills” discussion. Other stewards of the environment, economy, and culture serving on the panel are Jeffrey Rider, Assistant Director of Division of Lands and Forests, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation; Heather Bagshaw, Director of Tourism of Greene County Tourism; Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center; Christina Hunt Wood, Visual Artist and Community Organizer, Get Woke! Catskills; and Liz Callahan, former Executive Director of Hanford Mills Museum.

In addition to hearing about the state of the Catskills and the direction it’s headed, the Summer Gathering also is an opportunity to mingle with Catskills visitors, residents, and others for an evening of food, music, games, and a bonfire.

The Catskills Great Outdoor Expo features the best the Catskills have to offer in hiking, paddling, bicycling, and all outdoor recreation activities. The 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 the Catskills Great Outdoor Gear Sale, the proceeds from which benefit the Catskill Center’s work.

“We’re excited to welcome the public back to the Catskills Visitor Center with two important events for our region,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “The annual Summer Gathering is a celebration of the Catskills and our efforts to protect them, while the Catskills Great Outdoor Expo is the perfect opportunity to get yourself ready to enjoy the Catskills amazing outdoors with the chance to meet so many businesses, individuals, and organizations involved in the region.”

The Catskill Center is accepting gear donations through the end of May. You may drop off gently-used items at the Erpf Center at 43355 State Route 28 in Arkville Monday - Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm or at the Catskills Visitor Center, 5096 Route 28, Mount Tremper, any day except Tuesdays between 9:30 am and 4 pm.

Summer Gathering — Friday, June 10, 2022, from 5 pm - 8 pm, with the “State of the Catskills” panel discussion from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm.

The Catskills Great Outdoor Expo — Saturday, June 11, 2022, from 10 am - 3 pm.