Trail Tuesday (OCCA)
2022-07-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | NY
Help with light maintenance activities at Arnold Lake State Forest or Basswood Pond State Forest. Tasks include trimming brush, tall grasses, and overhanging branches, clearing downed trees and debris, and improving walking surfaces. Activities will take place on a rotating basis in Arnold Lake State Forest in Hartwick/Milford and Basswood Pond State Forest in Burlington. Sign up using this form.
You will be notified of the meeting location a few days prior to the event. In addition, you will need to fill out and bring a completed Individual Volunteer Application in order to participate. Please note that chainsaws are not allowed without current certifications in chainsaw safety; first aid, CPR, and blood borne pathogens training.
Volunteering at this event counts toward the Summer Octet, and makes the trails better for all of us!

Tales of the Creek with OCCA and the Library
2022-07-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Wilber Park, Albert Morris Drive, Oneonta, New York, 13820
Children 5-11 years old can join the Huntington Memorial Library and the Otsego County Conservation Association to explore Oneonta Creek to collect creatures to examine to learn how their bodies can survive in a watery environment before creating their own field guide. Meet at lower Wilber Park. Footwear and clothing that can get wet are a must.

Susquehanna River Clean Up
2022-07-30 | Susquehanna River
Join the Cooperstown Lions and Rotary Clubs in their effort to protect the Susquehanna River. Volunteers are needed for this year’s event, the fifth annual Susquehanna River clean-up, scheduled for Saturday, July 30, 2022. The area of focus is above and below the Susquehanna Ave. bridge. Please contact John Rowley at jd16rowley@aol.com or Mike Jerome at msjerome74@gmail.com for more information.
Volunteering for this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet

Paddle and Pull: Silver Lake (canoes provided)
2022-07-30 10:00 - 14:00 | Silver Lake, Silver Lake Road, New Berlin, NY, 13411, United States
Water chestnut and European frog-bit both threaten the ecosystem of Silver Lake. Join the Otsego County Conservation Association as it takes to the water to hand pull these aggressive aquatic plants to keep them from taking over–and spreading. Please register and reserve a space in an OCCA canoe (the community requests that only local and OCCA watercraft are used). Meeting location and details will be emailed to registrants prior to the event.

Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet Challenge.

Paddle & Pull at Goodyear Lake (canoes provided)
2022-08-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Goodyear Lake, State Route 28, Portlandville, NY, United States
Join the Otsego County Conservation Association for a final water chestnut pull of the season! Bring water, sunscreen and a hat, and expect to get a little wet and maybe muddy. OCCA has a limited number of canoes available, or you may bring your own. Meet at the State Fishing Access Site on NY-28 in Portlandville. Register in advance at https://occainfo.org/calendar/paddle-and-pull-silver-lake-7/

Trail Tuesdays with OCCA
2022-08-02 18:00 - 20:00, 2022-08-09 18:00 - 20:00 | NY

Paint the Point at Brookwood Point
2022-08-06 - 2022-08-07 | Brookwood Point, 6000 State Route 80, Cooperstown, NY, 13326
Otsego Land Trust invites the public to observe art in the making at the Paint the Point! Plein-Air Painting event at Brookwood Point in Cooperstown on August 6th and August 7th. This is a community event and all are welcome.
Enjoy the beauty of Brookwood Point and see how 20+ artists capture it.
Coming to Paint the Point counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet Challenge.

Otsego County Senior Picnic in the Park
2022-08-10 10:30 - 14:30 | Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, United States
A Senior Picnic hosted by Otsego County Council of Senior Citizens will be held Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the west pavilion at Glimmerglass State Park. The event will begin at 10:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts and will be followed at noon with lunch and games at 1 p.m. Corn hole will be played along with card, lawn and board games. There will also be a guided hike, tai chi demonstrations and music by DJ Jim Dorn.
Box lunch options include a sandwich made with turkey, ham, or egg salad. Fruit, chips and cookies will complete the meal.

Reservations, required by Aug. 1, may be made by mailed to OCCSC/Lachance, 6137 State Highway 28, Fly Creek, NY 13337. A $7 payment per person should be included along with lunch choice. If transportation is needed, that should also be indicated on the reservation form.
Call 607-547-4232 for more information.

Otsego Lake Association Annual Gathering
2022-08-13 08:30 - 11:00 | Otsego Sailing Club, 5992 NY-80, Cooperstown, New York, 13326
Spend a couple of your Saturday morning hours learning about what’s happening in and around Otsego Lake. Talks on invasive species, scientific updates and Otsego Lake history.

Meeting is open to the public.
Come at 8:30 for coffee and donuts!
Presentations are scheduled from 9:00am until 11:00am
Other scientific updates that will be on display at the Otsego Lake Association Annual Gathering will include the following Poster Presentations by SUNY Biological Field Station interns:

Diets of Otsego Lake fishes. Kaylee Kiser and Alex Javitz.

Aging fish populations in Otsego Lake. Max Ballard.

Species richness of Otsego Lake fish community 2000-present. Liam Spencer.

Growth of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in Otsego Lake, NY. Kari Minissale.

Assessing the resistance capabilities of zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussel (D. rostriformis bugensis) veligers and young adults to citric acid as a control measure. Emma Diaz and Liz Bolt.

Attending this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet Challenge.

Group Hike at Fortin Park
2022-08-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Fortin Park, 101 Youngs Road, Oneonta, NY, 13861, United States
Join the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a hike at Fortin Park. Free, open to all. See ADK website for contact information. Participating in this event counts toward the Summer Octet.

Paddle & Pull at Goodyear Lake (canoes provided)
2022-08-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Goodyear Lake, State Route 28, Portlandville, NY, United States
Water chestnut is not going away without a fight. Help the Otsego County Conservation Association as it works to remove this noxious invasive plant from the waters of Goodyear Lake. Bring your own watercraft or reserve a space in an OCCA canoe. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat, and expect to get a little wet and possibly a little muddy. Meet at the New York State Fishing Access Site on Route 28 in Portlandville. Please register and let us know how many in your party if you need a canoe. There will be another Paddle and Pull on August 27.
Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet.

Butternut Valley Alliance Summer Harvest Festival
2022-08-20 14:00 - 18:00 | Guy Rathbun Park, 117 Main Street, Morris, NY, 13808
Annual festival features a farmers’ market, music, exhibits, and vendors. Free.

Group Hike at the Van Cleft Trail
2022-08-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Wilber Park, Albert Morris Drive, Oneonta, New York, 13820
Join the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a free guided hike along the Van Cleft Trail, starting from Wilbur Park in Oneonta. See the ADK website for information on how to reach the hike Leader and find out where to meet and other hike details. Free and open to all. Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet.

Luke Hazen Memorial Regatta
2022-08-27 | Schenevus Lake Park, Lake Road, Schenevus, NY, United States
The Luke Hazen Memorial Regatta will be held on Saturday, August 27 on Seward Lake at Schenevus Lake Park. This fun event features sprint races, circumnavigational races, and a homemade boat races.
Proceeds from the event go to support Schenevus Lake Park Capital Improvement Fund. Register in advance or on the day at noon.
Registration is $25 for Adults and $10 for kids.
SPRINT RACES
Our sprint races will start from the swimming beach and will run around buoys 3, 4, and 5 concluding as the paddlers cross the finish line. Course length is approximately 1/3 mile.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION RACES
The circumnavigation race is a one mile race starting from the swimming beach and run around all eleven of the buoys on the lake. The race is a one mile course.
FREESTYLE RACE
The Freestyle race is restricted to only home build boats or rafts.
The following special rules apply:

All entries must be removed from the lake by Saturday night
All entries must be home built
All entries must pass a 30 minute floatation test before the race begins
The Freestyle race will be a timed race over a closed course.
The race will start at the start/ finish line and run counterclockwise over a course around buoys 5, green buoy FS, buoy 11 and buoy 6.
Awards will be given for the Freestyle race for the fastest and most unique.

Participating in the Regatta counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet Challenge.

Paddle and Pull Goodyear Lake
2022-08-27 09:00 - 12:00 | Portlandville Fishing Access Site, Route 28, Portlandville, NY, 13834, United States
Water chestnut is not going away without a fight. Help the Otsego County Conservation Association as it works to remove this noxious invasive plant from the waters of Goodyear Lake. Bring your own watercraft or reserve a space in an OCCA canoe. Bring sunscreen, water and a hat, and expect to get a little wet and possibly a little muddy. Meet at the New York State Fishing Access Site on Route 28 in Portlandville. Please register and let us know how many in your party if you need a canoe.
Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet.

Butternut Creek Float
2022-09-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Butternut Creek
Join the Butternut Valley Alliance and the Otsego County Conservation Association for a lovely paddle down Butternut Creek. You can bring your own canoe, kayak or SUP to float down the Creek, but need to register in advance
Update 9/9: there are no more canoes available to borrow for this event. If you registered already, you are set. Contact OCCA with any questions, programdirector@occainfo.org
Things to Expect and Bring:
This is a great, safe, family friendly event. Perfect for introducing kids to canoeing and the river.

Life jacket /pfd for each person in a boat is required, Children are required to wear a the PFD at all times while canoeing.
This is a float on mostly slow moving water – good for kids and adults.
Bring your kayak, canoe or SUP (If bringing a stand-up paddle board you should have experience on Class 2 moving water)
Wear Shoes – we will have opportunities to get out of our boats to learn about some of the things we are seeing. There will be one or two sites where portage for a short distance is required due to water level.
Bring water and snacks or a picnic lunch. There will be a chance to gather at Pavilion 2 in Copes Corners Park
Expect the float to take about 3+ hours
Come to the put-in in time to your drop canoe, drive to the end point and take a shuttle back to the start.

Where: The four mile paddle will start in Gilbertsville at the Spring Street Bridge (102 Spring Street, Gilbertsville, NY) and end at Copes Corners Park located at 620 State Highway 51, Gilbertsville.
Questions? Please contact Butternut Valley Alliance Executive Director Michele Farwell BVA.exec@gmail.com or 607 643-2992 or Otsego County Conservation Association Program Director, Jeff O’Handley programdirector@occainfo.org or 607-282-4087
Participating in the Butternut Creek Float counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet.

Yoga in the Park
2022-09-12 16:45 - 17:45 | Fortin Park, 101 Youngs Road, Oneonta, NY, 13861, United States
Join Healthy Livin Holistic Coaching + Yoga Monday evenings to awaken your senses and to feel more grounded and at peace.
Bring yourself, bring your family, all welcome.
Practice on your mat or on the grass.
All Levels Yoga! Beginners encouraged to join.
Meditation, warm-ups, sun salutations/flow, standing/balancing postures, seated/cool down postures, + ending with savasana.
Donations welcomed, pay what you can. I will have a box for donations or you can venmo!
Venmo: Alyx-Braunius

Alyx would like to continue to support those who might not have access to regular yoga classes or other healthy activities due to financial reasons, so even if you are unable to donate, you are always welcome!

Group Hike to New Island
2022-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | New Island, Oneonta, New York
Join the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club for a free guided hike along the New Island trails in Oneonta. See the ADK website for information on how to reach the hike Leader and find out where to meet and other hike details. Free and open to all. Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Summer Octet.

Free Fishing Day
2022-09-24 | NY
During Free Fishing Days, anyone can fish the fresh waters of New York State and no fishing license is required! All other freshwater fishing regulations still apply.

September 24, 2022
November 11, 2022

Ideas for Free Fishing Days

Try fishing for the first time.
Haven’t fished in a while? Remember the joy of catching a fish again for free!
Become an ambassador to the sport; take a friend fishing for the first time.
Invite a friend to New York to fish.
Take a spouse or significant other fishing.
Take the family fishing…and don’t forget the grandparents!

Riparian Stewardship Day
2022-09-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Butternut Creek
Join the Butternut Valley Alliance and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition on September 24th to steward newly planted riparian areas into the forests they are intended to become!

Meet at the corner of Route 23, County Highway 51, and East River Road. We will work from 9am-12pm, rain or shine.

The day will consist of visiting two sites to replace materials, shepherd young trees along, and replant.

We will provide all of the tools and plants, feel free to bring your favorite tools. Bring water or a reusable water bottle and bug spray! Please register in advance.

Contact Lydia Brinkley at lbrinkley@u-s-c.org or Michele Farwell at bva.exec@gmail.com with questions.

New Lisbon Gravel Grinder
2022-10-01 12:00 | Butternuts Beer and Ale, 4020 NY-51, Garrattsville, New York, 13342
CNYC, Butternuts Brewery, and Butternut Valley Alliance (BVA) invite you to come have some fun and ride your bike on some amazing dirtphalt terrain. This event is co-sponsored by the BVA, a community non-profit whose mission is to protect and conserve the environmental qualities, farming, economic development and cultural heritage in the Butternut Creek watershed. This is not a race; more like a cycling challenge. All riders will be placed and hopefully timed. Choose from 15, 33 or 65 mile routes. After the ride there will be food provided by The Empire House of Gilbertsville. Beer will be on tap from Butternuts Brewery. Plus we are having live music !

Online Registration Deadline: Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 at 5:00 PM ET

Photo of 2021 Gravel Grinder by Alyx Braunius

I Spy Invasive Species
2022-10-02 10:00 - 14:00 | Crumhorn Fishing Access Site, H345+P3, Maryland, New York
Start: Crumhorn Fishing Access Site (Google Maps)
Join OCCA, the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP), and other local partners on an invasive species-themed float down the Susquehanna River. We’ll look for invasive (and some native) species growing along the shore and in the water and discuss their impacts and management challenges. Learn how to identify invasive riparian and aquatic plants found in the Susquehanna Watershed while enjoying an easy float down the scenic river!
The float will start at the NYSDEC Crumhorn Fishing Access at 10am and end at the NYSDEC Silliman Cove Goodyear Lake Waterway Access, though participants are welcome to exit at the NYSDEC Portlandville launch if preferred.
Participants can bring their own kayak or canoe or can rent one from Canoe and Kayak, LLC in Portlandville, NY. All watercraft must be clean and decontaminated before and after the paddle to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). Life jackets will be provided if needed.
Snacks and refreshments will be provided, though participants are encouraged to bring water and a lunch. We plan to paddle rain or shine so be sure to dress for the weather! However, in the event of thunderstorms, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, October 9th.
Pre-registration is required for this free program. Please click here to register.

Get the Kids Out: Wetland Exploration
2022-10-07 10:30 - 12:00 | Forest of a Dozen Dads, 325 Blacks Road, Cooperstown, New York
Otsego County Conservation Association educator Shelby MacLeish will lead a hike at Forest of a Dozen Dads in Cooperstown on Friday, October 7 from 10:30 am-12 pm to celebrate fall and a day off from school! We will explore the edges of a beaver pond and identify trees and plants along the way. There is a picnic pavilion in case you want to pack a lunch for after the hike, and this hike will help you complete the Fall Octet Challenge from Otsego Outdoors. You can find out more about that here.
Register for this event here.

Hawkwatch Open House
2022-10-08 10:00 - 14:00 | DOAS Sanctuary and Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, 52 Grange Hall Road Spur, Oneonta, New York, 13820
The Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society (DOAS) will host an open house at the DOAS Sanctuary and Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch in Oneonta. The event is free and open to the public.
At 10 a.m., a Franklin Mountain hawk counter will conduct a workshop on how to identify flying hawks. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a special activity for kids at the barn, as well as a DOAS board member-led trail walk around the Sanctuary, ending at the Hawkwatch. In the afternoon, we hope to be able to schedule a live raptor program. A variety of snacks and drinks will be offered.
The address of the Sanctuary is Grange Hall Spur Road, Oneonta; directions may be found at https://doas.us/conservation-and-environment/franklin-mountainsanctuary .
Raffle items for the upcoming October 21 Charter Dinner will be on display, and raffle tickets will be available to purchase. Bird-friendly coffee will also be available for sale.

[View at the Sanctuary Photo by Matthew Bechtold, Bechtold Photography]

Drops to Hops Bike Race
2022-10-09 | Brewery Ommegang, 656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown, New York, 13326
The 9th annual Drops to Hops Race starts and ends at Brewery Ommegang. The A race is 43 miles and the B race is 23 miles.
Racers may pre-register online, at the Clark Sports Center Fitness Center Desk or by mail. Day of race check-in and day of race registration is available at Brewery Ommegang from 8:30-9:30am.
Awards will be distributed to the overall best male and female, as well as second and third place male and female in each division. Overall awards will also be presented to the senior division and team division. Winners will be announced within 30 minutes of the last finisher.
Must be 16 years old or older to participate

ADK Hike: Audubon Sanctuary
2022-10-11 10:00 - 11:30 | DOAS Sanctuary and Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, 52 Grange Hall Road Spur, Oneonta, New York, 13820
The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Club leads hikes every Tuesday at 10 am. Open to the public. Join them for a fun hike! More info: https://susqadk.org/outing-schedule/

ADK Hike: SUNY Oneonta College Camp
2022-10-18 10:00 - 12:00 | SUNY Oneonta College Camp, College Camp Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States

OCCA Homeschool Nature Group
2022-10-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Emmons Pond Bog Preserve, 2028 White Hill Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
Join OCCA educator Shelby MacLeish at Emmons Pond Bog on Friday, October 21, from 1-2 pm. This is the first meetup geared toward homeschool families (although it is open to all), where we will combine nature exploration and longer-term site monitoring. On the 21st, we will explore the bog site before performing water quality tests in the field. This path can be mucky and wet, especially after rain. Wear boots or shoes that can get muddy.
Register for this event here

Brookwood Point Clean-Up
2022-10-22 13:00 - 16:00 | Brookwood Point, 6000 State Route 80, Cooperstown, NY, 13326
Volunteer with the Otsego Land Trust to help complete the annual fall garden clean-up at Brookwood Gardens. No gardening experience is necessary, and children are welcome. OLT will provide tools, guidance and refreshments. Rain date is Oct. 29. Volunteers should dress for the weather. Contact Anne at 607/547-2366 ext. 105 or anne@otsegolandtrust.org for more information and to volunteer.

Participating in this event counts toward the Otsego Outdoors Fall Octet.
