December 6, 2024 – Arkville, NY: The Catskill Center’s Catskill Stewards Program concluded a record-breaking 2024 season, educating and assisting 155,000 visitors across five high-use locations, including Peekamoose Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls, and the Devil’s Path. This represents a marked increase from last year’s engagement numbers, reflecting continued growth in visitation to the Catskill Park and underscoring the vital role of the stewards in managing this rise responsibly.

The upward trend in visitation highlights the importance of stewards, whose on-site presence reduces litter, trail misuse, and ecological damage, which often spike in their absence. This year, stewards collected 440 bags of trash, helped visitors avoid 384 parking citations, and addressed ecological damage by dismantling rock dams, removing rock stacks, and rehabilitating user-created trails. Their efforts not only enhanced the visitor experience but also helped protect the Catskill Park’s fragile ecosystems from the impacts of overuse.

“Every interaction our stewards have with a visitor is an opportunity to cultivate a deeper appreciation for the Catskills’ natural beauty and ecological significance,” said Jeff Senterman, Executive Director of the Catskill Center. “Through education and the promotion of responsible recreation, our stewards help ensure these landscapes remain resilient and accessible for generations to come.”

In addition to providing education on minimizing environmental impact, stewards offered visitors information about alternative recreation locations and directions to local businesses, easing pressure on high-traffic areas and supporting the local economy. These efforts help foster a culture of sustainable recreation critical to managing increased visitation.

Each season, the Catskill Center equips its stewards with in-depth training, including Leave No Trace, Authority of the Resource Technique, Wilderness First Aid, and additional skills in wilderness preparedness, communications, and trail maintenance. This year, stewards also participated in specialized training with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and conducted social science interviews for the U.S. Forest Service, gathering data on recreation trends to inform better park management.

This preparation proved invaluable during real-time emergency scenarios, such as when Catskill Steward Dan Schroeder joined a multi-agency rescue effort near Echo Lake. The team carried an injured hiker 300 feet uphill to a helicopter hoist site, ensuring they received timely medical attention.

The Catskill Stewards Program operates in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at Peekamoose Blue Hole, Kaaterskill Falls, Devil’s Path, and the six fire towers in the Catskill Park. The program also runs at Platte Clove Preserve and provides additional outreach at Thorn Preserve.

The full 2024 End of Season Report can be found here. 

The Catskill Stewards Program is funded by the Environmental Protection Fund, as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.