Events

Learn about the joys of birdwatching with the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society. This free program will be held at the Huntington Memorial Library in Oneonta.   Please register in advance: https://hmloneonta.org/adult-programs/

Part of the OCCA Be Informed Lecture series, this program at the A.J. Reed Science Discovery Center will cover Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, one of  New York State's premiere fall raptor migration sties. Andy Mason will discuss the data gathered at the site as part of a largely citizen science effort to monitor hawk and eagle…

Join  the Otsego Land Trust for informational and fun workshops and walks at privately owned conservation easement properties protected through Otsego Land Trust in Cherry Valley. Free and open to the public, but please sign up in advance by September 6 as space is limited. 3:00 - 4:00 PM Water Conservation Spotlight Walk: Join Daniel…

Join OCCA and the Butternut Valley Alliance for this easy-going paddle down the beautiful Butternut Creek. September is a lovely time to paddle, with some early fall colors, late summer wildflowers, migrating birds and more. We’ll put in at 100 Spring Street in Gilbertsville and paddle down to Copes Corners Park, a distance of about…

Join us for an unforgettable bike race/ride that starts and ends at Brewery Ommegang – the perfect combination of scenic routes, challenging terrain, and post-ride festivities! As the fall leaves paint the landscape with vibrant hues, you’ll navigate through picturesque secondary roads, soaking in breathtaking views along the way. Whether you’re a competitive cyclist seeking…

Hike Thayer Farm at the SUNY Biological Field Station overlooking Otsego Lake in Springfield with the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Guided hikes are free and open to the public. Meet at 9:45 for announcements and sign-in. Hike starts at 10 and ends around noon. Hike leaders Bill and Kath Holmstrom 607-988-7180.

Free fishing days offer New York State residents and non-residents who are 16 and older* to fish without a freshwater fishing license or recreational marine fishing registration (*Kids under 16 can always fish for free!). 2024 Free Fishing Days Schedule June 29-30 September 28 (National Hunting and Fishing Day) November 11 (Veterans Day) These days offer the perfect opportunity…

Calling all mountain bikers! Join in the Oneonta Epic and enjoy 20-40 miles of trail riding, depending how far you want to go. Free and open to all. Meet on the upper level of Wilber Park in Oneonta at 9 am. Any questions, contact Otsego Bicycles, otsegobicycles@gmail.com

OCCA’s popular mushroom walks are back! Join OCCA for an enlightening expedition led by local forager, Shane Gardner, as we explore the lush forests along the Butternut Creek in Morris. During this immersive two-hour session, Shane Gardner will guide participants through the fundamentals of mushroom foraging, sharing his extensive knowledge and passion for mycology. The…

Join members of the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a guided hike. All ADK Chapter hikes are open to the public. They encourage anyone interested in joining the club to come for a hike or two and see what they are all about. Meet at 9:45 am, hike begins at 10:00 am.…

Come enjoy an open house at the Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary on Franklin Mountain, just outside of Oneonta. The event is free and open to the public. At 10 a.m., a Franklin Hawk Watch counter will conduct a workshop on how to identify flying raptors. At 11:00 a.m., there will be a trail walk through…

Fall Foliage Paddle from Portlandville Launch Join us at Portlandville Launch for a paddle towards Crumhorn Launch! We have a limited number of kayaks and quite a few canoes available, so please let us know when you register if you will need one. This is an improved-accessibility launch and we are happy to assist anyone…

Stroll through the Clark Tower Trails with OCCA Tower Trails with OCCA educator Shelby MacLeish. We will enjoy a guided walk to observe nature's changes during fall while enjoying the crisp autumn air. Hope to see you there.   More information at occainfo.org

Come out and explore the Parslow Road Conservation Area for a fall hike on the school conference day in October. We will explore the varied ecosystems, tromp over the boardwalks, and catch some fall colors. Register in advance at occainfo.org

The Family Service Association will host a Mud Run, an obstacle race for all ages, shapes and sizes at Waterhill Farm in Oneonta. This 5K run will take you around the beautiful Waterhill Farm and have you climbing unique obstacles, practice your balance across waist deep water, and jumping over fire! Run, walk, crawl and…

Thank you for being an OCCA member! Let us treat you to a day at Gilbert Lake State Park as a show of appreciation! We will offer short hikes around the lake, fun children's activities, and lots of free and delicious food for everyone. Trails may be muddy so bring shoes you are okay with…

OCCA’s popular mushroom walks are back! Join us for an enlightening expedition led by local forager, Shane Gardner, as we explore the lush forests at College Camp in Oneonta. During this immersive two-hour session, Shane Gardner will guide participants through the fundamentals of mushroom foraging, sharing his extensive knowledge and passion for mycology. The walk…

Join members of the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a guided hike. All ADK Chapter hikes are open to the public. They encourage anyone interested in joining the club to come for a hike or two and see what they are all about. Meet at 9:45 am, hike begins at 10:00 am.…

Help the Otsego Land Trust close out the gardens at Brookwood for the winter. Tasks include: putting away sculptures wrapping fountains taking care of the gardens   Come for the whole time, or any amount of time you can spare. Sign up at https://otsegolandtrust.org/events/brookwood-garden-end-of-season-volunteer-day

Enjoy the 2ish mile loop at Basswood Pond State Forest in Burlington with OCCA Program Director, Jeff O’Handley. Trail volunteers have been hard at work keeping the trails open and clear for our enjoyment. We’ll traverse mixed deciduous forest, spruce plantations, a regenerating clear cut, and more! Meet at the small parking area on Basswood…

Grab your Halloween mask, the family and come out to run or walk the Coop Loop. The race offers a 3 mile run/walk or you can double up on the same course for the 10k. The course takes you through the village of Cooperstown and is mostly flat with the exception of a half mile…

The skies of autumn provide us with a nice assortment of stars and constellations to view. Additionally rising on the eastern horizon, the Summer Triangle asterism will still be visible too. We plan a tour of some well known constellations and stars and discuss the myths and stories for which many are named. We will…

Join OCCA for a hike to Mud Lake in Robert V. Riddell State Park! The Mud Lake trail is a 5+ mile out and back trail in the southern portion of the park. The trail has a significant elevation change to the top and passes through several forest types, a waterfall, and Mud Lake, a…

Join members of the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a guided hike. All ADK Chapter hikes are open to the public. They encourage anyone interested in joining the club to come for a hike or two and see what they are all about. Meet at 9:45 am, hike begins at 10:00 am.…

Nature lovers, join OCCA for an exciting urban expedition in Cooperstown after the Glimmerglass Film Days kids' movie Flow! We'll uncover hidden wonders in unexpected places around town. This family-friendly nature walk is perfect for all ages. Spend an hour discovering the local ecosystem and bond with your little ones. Meet at the Village Hall,…

Join Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society trip leader Becky Gretton for a bird walk by Otsego Lake in Cooperstown. Please meet promptly at 8:30am outside the entrance to the Fenimore Art Museum. The walk will take participants through the Fenimore grounds, along the shores of Otsego Lake and will loop around back to the starting point. Bring…

Join the Otsego Land Trust for a walk on privately owned land that has been protected forever through conservation with Otsego Land Trust, and learn about Black Land Ownership with Christopher Banks Carr and Melissa Hunter Gurney. Walk grade: steep Guides: Chris Carr and Melissa Hunter Gurney, Black Land Ownership We are excited to work…

Free fishing days offer New York State residents and non-residents who are 16 and older* to fish without a freshwater fishing license or recreational marine fishing registration (*Kids under 16 can always fish for free!). 2024 Free Fishing Days Schedule June 29-30 September 28 (National Hunting and Fishing Day) November 11 (Veterans Day) These days offer the perfect opportunity…

Fisheries biologist Dr. Chip Cotton (SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Oneonta's Biological Field Station) will discuss ongoing efforts to catalog and update the biological inventory of fish species that inhabit the lake.  He will discuss how the lake's fish community has changed over the last half century, as well as some of the factors driving those changes. …

The Otsego Land Trust received a grant to get 50 birdhouses fabricated for Parslow Road Preserve, an awesome bird habitat! We have owl boxes, wood duck boxes, bluebird boxes, and others that need to be put up and we need your help! Come on November 14 or 15, or both days. Let the Land Trust  know…