Looking for a different way to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Take a candle-lit winter walk, learn how to survey for invasive species, try out snowshoeing, and more! 

Spending time outdoors encourages stewardship and offers many fun opportunities to engage with your community and spend time with loved ones! Check out the events happening this February and take a date with Nature! 

Valentine's Day Hike!

Join a guided hike to learn how to recognize and report an invasive insect that kills hemlock trees called hemlock woolly adelgid.

This event is free and no experience is needed, just a willingness to enjoy a winter hike and learn something new! 

When: 2/14/24 10 AM-12 PM at Forest Park in Camden, NY.

Registration Required

Join a Candle-lit Walk

Enjoy a winter walk with paths illuminated by candlelight! 

February 10th at Selkirk Shores State Park- Pulaski, NY. Snowshoes are available for rent, and refreshments, a warm fireplace, and crafts will be offered.

Get Details

Take an Owl Prowl

Join the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust for a special evening hike to learn about and listen for owls! 

February 23rd, 5-6 PM at the Joseph Blake Wildlife Sanctuary located on Middle Road in Watertown/Champion NY. 

Registration Required

Join the world in connecting to birds from February 16th-19th by joining the Great Backyard Bird Count!  

Winter Hikes

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

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!

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.