April is Earth Month—an invitation to step outside, connect with nature, and take simple steps to help protect the places you love. Whether you’re exploring a scenic trail, joining a hands-on volunteer event, or planting a pollinator-friendly garden, your actions matter.

Get Involved!

SLELO PRISM and our partners offer guided hikes, paddles, invasive species removals, tree plantings, and more throughout the Eastern Lake Ontario region. These events are a great way to explore new places, meet like-minded people, and leave a positive impact on the land and water we all enjoy.

Join Opportunities
 
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming Earth Month Events

Want to get involved beyond the SLELO region? Check out opportunities through New York’s Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) network—there’s something for everyone statewide.

Learn More

Protector's Challenge

Show us how you’re celebrating Earth Month! Once you’ve taken the Pledge to Protect, post your Earth Month action or share one of our pre-made posts on social media with the hashtags #EarthMonthAction and #iPledgeToProtect. Then, fill out the form at the link below to receive a special Pledge to Protect prize! Please note: Only those who have taken the Pledge to Protect are eligible. Challenge is open now through April 30.

Join the Challenge

Plant With Purpose

Try your hand at climate-smart gardening! Choose native plants that are adapted to your local climate and support local wildlife. Not only are they beautiful and low-maintenance—they also help keep invasive species at bay.

Learn more about climate-smart native plants in the Northeast from the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network.

Learn More

Aid Community Science

Love snapping photos while you’re out in nature? Turn those observations into data that helps scientists and land managers track invasive species across New York State. All you need is the NYiMapInvasives app—perfect for hikers, paddlers, and backyard explorers alike.

Report to NYiMapInvasives

Learn

Curious about which invasive species are in your favorite park, trail, or lake? Explore interactive storymaps to learn more about the threats facing New York’s diverse habitats—and how you can help stop the spread.

NYS DEC's One's To Watch Storymap
PRISM Networks's Invasives In Your Area Storymap

Virtual Toolboxes

Visit the Protector’s Virtual Toolboxes below to access resources themed for each category, and to learn more about how to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species. 

Lands & Trails

Lands & Trails

Protect your private or publicly accessible lands and favorite hiking trails
Open Toolbox

Forests

Forests

Protect your private or publicly accessible forested areas
Open Toolbox

Waters

Waters

Protect your favorite paddle-ways, boating and fishing destinations
Open Toolbox

Gardens

Gardens

Protect your backyard or community gardens
Open Toolbox

Communities

Communities

Protect your favorite parks or urban green spaces, and street trees
Open Toolbox

Take the Pledge to Protect

The Pledge-to-Protect is a fun, positive, inviting, engaging and rewarding way to participate in invasive species prevention and management.

Here’s How It Works:
 
  1. Fill out the pledge form below and select the outdoor areas you spend the most time in.
  2. Check your inbox for your confirmation email.
  3. Explore the resources in the virtual toolkits or download the PDFs.
  4. Earn a virtual badge for each pledge you take.
  5. Every month, you’ll receive a special Pledge-to-Protect email about a prevention/management activity to help you fulfill your pledge OR a highlight of an invasive species to keep an eye out for.
First and Last Name(Required)
What will you protect?(Required)
Chose the pledge category that you spend the most time in or that you're the most interested in learning of applicable prevention and management actions you can take while enjoying these environments.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Did you enjoy this blog post? Take our Pledge to Protect and get monthly emails showcasing actions you can take to protect your favorite hiking trails, paddleways, forests, garden, and community from the impacts of invasive species! 

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