Dates: April 17-19, 2026 (Earth Day Weekend)
Event Type: Statewide canal cleanup

Description:
Celebrate Earth Day by joining thousands of volunteers to clean up trails, greenways, and parks across New York's historic 524-mile Erie Canal system and 400-mile Canalway Trail. This is the 21st anniversary of this beloved event!

Activities:

Trash collection along canalways

Greenway trail cleanup

Park beautification

Shoreline restoration

Brush trimming

- Impact:
In 2025, over 3,000 volunteers participated at 180+ cleanup sites, removing tens of thousands of pounds of trash!

- Coverage Area:

Erie Canal

Champlain Canalway

Glens Falls Feeder Canal

Black River Feeder Canal

Rochester Riverway

Sites throughout Hudson Valley region

Registration:

Website: https://www.ptny.org/canal-clean-sweep/

Registration typically opens 4-6 weeks before event

Find a cleanup site near you through the PTNY events map

Organizers:
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and New York State Canal Corporation

Family Friendly: Yes - all ages welcome with adult supervision

More Info: Contact PTNY or check Love Our New York Lands campaign page

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 (First Saturday in May)
Event Type: Statewide park cleanup and improvement day

Description:
New York's largest single-day volunteer event! Join thousands of volunteers from across the state to celebrate and enhance state parks, historic sites, and public lands. This is the 15th annual event.

Activities:

Beach and shoreline cleanups

Trail restoration and maintenance

Tree and flower planting (hundreds of trees planted annually!)

Garden creation and maintenance (1,000+ gardens updated yearly)

Invasive species removal

Wildlife habitat restoration

Painting and facility improvements

Site beautification projects

Trash collection (hundreds of bags filled each year)

Impact:
In 2025, over 4,000 volunteers participated at 145 events across New York State!

Hudson Valley Locations Include:

Hudson Highlands State Park

Walkway Over the Hudson (Poughkeepsie)

Bear Mountain State Park

Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Hudson River parks and preserves

Historic sites throughout region

100+ total statewide locations

Registration:

Website: https://www.ptny.org/events/i-love-my-park-day

Registration opens approximately 4-6 weeks before event

Use interactive map to find events near you

Some popular sites fill up quickly - register early!

Organizers:
Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), NY State Parks, and NY DEC

Family Friendly: Yes - perfect for families, scout troops, and community groups

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2026 (typically second Saturday in May)
Event Type: Hudson River watershed cleanup

Description:
The premier day of service for the Hudson River! Join thousands of volunteers at 80+ cleanup sites from New York Harbor to the Adirondacks for the annual Riverkeeper Sweep. This beloved event brings together river lovers of all ages to protect our watershed.

Activities:

Shoreline trash collection

Native species planting

Shoreline restoration

Creek and tributary cleanups

Invasive species removal

Educational outreach

Impact:
Since 2012, volunteers have removed tons of debris from the Hudson River watershed. The majority of trash found is plastic, which doesn't biodegrade.

Coverage Area: Entire Hudson River watershed from NYC to Albany and beyond, including:

Kingston

Newburgh

Beacon

Poughkeepsie

Peekskill

Ossining

Tarrytown

Yonkers

Manhattan

All major tributaries (Wallkill River, Esopus Creek, Saw Mill River, etc.)

Sweep+ Events:
Year-round cleanup and restoration events throughout the watershed

Registration:

Website: https://www.riverkeeper.org/get-involved/volunteer

Email: [email protected]

Register for specific cleanup sites

Site-specific registration opens 4-6 weeks before event

Perks for Volunteers:

Eligible for raffle prizes (kayak tours, outdoor gear, etc.)

Invitation to "Sweep to Your Brewery" - free beverage at participating breweries (Peekskill Brewery, Captain Lawrence, and others)

Riverkeeper members who register eligible for special prizes

Satisfaction of protecting your watershed!

Organizers: Riverkeeper

Family Friendly: Yes - all ages welcome (children must be supervised)

Special Notes:

Some sites require getting into shallow water

Check site-specific requirements when registering

Popular sites fill up quickly

Organize Your Own Cleanup:
Riverkeeper staff can help you organize a cleanup or habitat restoration project at other times of year

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026 (First Saturday in September)
Event Type: Forest Preserve stewardship day

Description:
Honor and care for New York's wild places! This statewide event focuses on conservation of over 6.5 million acres of Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. Help protect these treasured outdoor spaces after a busy summer season.

Activities:

Trail maintenance and cleanup

Campground cleanup after summer season

Campsite inspections

Invasive species removal

Native plant restoration

Trail bridge building

Drainage maintenance

Facility painting and staining

Educational walks

Impact:
First held in 2024, this event continues to grow with dozens of volunteer sites across both parks.

Hudson Valley/Catskill Volunteer Sites (based on past years):

Ulster County:

Kaaterskill Falls cleanup (Catskill Center partnership)

North-South Lake Campground cleanup

Meads Meadow Trail maintenance (Woodstock area)

Overlook Trail and Overloop Trail work

Big Pond campsite cleanup and inspection

Denning Road Trailhead area

Other Areas:

Multiple Adirondack sites

DEC campgrounds throughout parks

Popular trailheads and day-use areas

Time Commitment (check organizer):
Most events run 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM or 10:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Age Requirements:
Most sites appropriate for ages 13+ (check specific site requirements)

Registration:

Website:https://www.ptny.org/adirondack-catskills-day/

DEC Page:https://dec.ny.gov (search "Adirondack Catskill Park Day")

Registration opens approximately 4-6 weeks before event

Use interactive map to find volunteer sites

Register through Parks & Trails NY portal

Organizers:
NY DEC, Parks & Trails New York, NY State Parks

‍ ‍Partner Organizations:

Catskill Center

Catskill Mountainkeeper

Catskill Mountain Club

Catskill Visitor Center

Various regional volunteer groups

Family Friendly: Most sites welcome families (check age requirements for specific sites)

More Info:
Check DEC regional press releases for specific sites in your area (Regions 3, 4, and 5 cover Hudson Valley/Catskills)

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026 (First Saturday in October)
Event Type: Wildlife conservation and habitat stewardship

Description:
Show your appreciation for wildlife and wildlife conservation! Participate in habitat improvement projects, educational workshops, and nature walks celebrating New York's diverse wildlife. This event launched in 2024 and continues the Love Our New York Lands series into fall.

Activities:

Native plant species planting

Invasive species removal

Wildlife habitat restoration

Bird house and bat house building workshops

Pollinator garden creation

Wildlife Management Area improvements

Birding walks and nature hikes

Educational demonstrations about wildlife conservation

Stream and wetland habitat work

Community science projects (wildlife surveys, bird counts)

Hudson Valley Locations (based on past years):

Dutchess County:

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center (major event location)

Various Wildlife Management Areas

Other Sites:

State Parks throughout region

DEC Wildlife Management Areas

Environmental Education Centers

State Forests

Time Commitment (Check with organizer:
Most events run 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM or 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Registration:

Website: https://www.ptny.org (Love Our New York Lands events)

DEC Events: https://dec.ny.gov/get-involved/events

Registration opens several weeks before event

Organizers:
NY DEC, Parks & Trails New York, NY State Parks

Family Friendly: Yes - excellent for families and youth groups. Educational programming suitable for all ages.

Special Notes:

Some sites may have specific age requirements for certain activities

Birding walks can be paired with stewardship work

Great way to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day (established by Congress in 1972)