Otsego Outdoors

BVA at Texas Schoolhouse State Forest
2026-02-15 | Texas School House State Forest, Jones Road, New Lisbon, New York
Join the Butternut Valley Alliance and BVA trail leads Ed Lentz and Peter Martin for a winter outing and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid survey to help protect area forests.
February 14 at General Jacob Morris State Forest
February 15 at Texas Schoolhouse State Forest
Contact BVA for details

Local Trails: A Public Listening Session
2026-02-17 18:30 - 19:15 (America/New_York) | NY
Join the Otsego County Conservation Association for a short, facilitated listening session to share your thoughts on our local trails. We want to hear what you love about the trails you use, and what you’d like to see improved or added in the future.
Community input will help guide future conversations around trail access, maintenance, accessibility, environmental concerns (like invasive species or habitat health), and opportunities to strengthen our local trail systems.
Whether you’re an avid hiker, a casual walker, a volunteer, or someone with ideas or concerns to share, your voice matters. Join us online via Zoom on February 17th between 6:30 – 7:15pm.
Please RSVP on the OCCA website:

Snowshoe Walk at Basswood Pond with OCCA
2026-02-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Basswood Pond State Forest, 500 Conservation Road, Burlington, NY, 13315, United States
Join OCCA’s Program Director Jeff O’Handley for a guided snowshoe walk through the peaceful winter landscape at Basswood Pond. This beginner-friendly outing will explore the trails from the Jacobs Road parking area toward Basswood Road and back, offering a chance to experience the quiet beauty of the forest in winter and look for signs of wildlife in the snow.
No previous snowshoe experience is required. This walk will be enjoyable for families, beginners, and anyone curious about exploring nature in winter.
Snow Contingency:
If trail conditions do not allow for snowshoeing, the program will become a winter hike instead. Please dress for winter weather and bring sturdy footwear.

Please register in advance

Hike with ADK on the Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway
2026-02-24 09:45 - 12:00 | Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway trail (Silas Lane), Silas Lane, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club leads a guided hike every Tuesday at locations in and near Otsego County. Free and open to the public. See website for details. Meet at 9:45 am to brief talk/sign in, hikes usually last until 11:30 or noon.

DEC Free Fishing Day Clinic at Glimmerglass
2026-02-28 09:30 - 15:00 | Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, United States
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will offer a free fishing clinic on February 28, this was initially scheduled for Feb. 18, but was moved due to rain. Location will be determined depending on ice conditions.
Free, but advance registration is required by calling Glimmerglass State Park, 607/547-8662. Sign up for 9:30-11 am, 11:30 am-1 pm, or 1:30-3 pm.
Fishing gear and bait provided, fish filleting demonstration, winter ecology

HemlockPalooza!
2026-02-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Road, Laurens, NY, 13796, United States
Survey, celebrate and protect our region’s hemlock forests at HemlockPalooza! Winter is the best time for searching for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), an insect pest that attacks this important—and beautiful—tree. We’ll conduct a short survey of the hemlock stand around Gilbert Lake, followed by a cozy fireside celebration with warm drinks and light snacks.
HemlockPalooza is part of OCCA’s Winter Invasive Species Challenge. You do not have to be in the challenge to attend, and no prior experience is needed to join. We’ll provide you with everything you need to know! Register in advance

Hike with ADK to Clark Tower
2026-03-03 09:45 - 12:00 | Clark Tower Trails, 1194 Co Hwy 33, Cooperstown, New York
The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club leads a guided hike every Tuesday at locations in and near Otsego County. Free and open to the public. See website for details. Meet at 9:45 am for a brief talk/sign in, hikes usually last until 11:30 or noon. If you have questions about hikes, please call or text 607/431-8010

Snow & Glow Sledding at Pine Lake
2026-03-05 15:00 - 18:00 | Hartwick College Pine Lake Campus, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820
Enjoy snowshoeing and a firepit at Hartwick College Pine Lake campus. Music’s on, cocoa’s hot. All are welcome! Gear is free to use; $5 suggested donation. No RSVP required.

Trout Unlimited Meeting: Reel Strong, Reel Ready
2026-03-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Sixth Ward Athletic Club, 22 West Broadway, Oneonta, NY
All welcome for the monthly Dave Brandt Chapter of Trout Unlimited meeting.
Special guest speaker this month is Marisa Orizolli, a personal trainer and fitness instructor who specializes in functional strength, mobility, core training, and balance for real-life performance. She helps active adults move better, stay injury-free, and build strength that supports the activities they love most. In her talk, “Reel Strong. Reel Steady.”, Marisa explains why shoulder mobility is essential for smooth, powerful casting, how a strong and stable core supports rotational strength and protects the spine, and why balance and stability are critical for safely navigating creeks and rivers. Her message is practical and empowering: build total-body strength with purpose so you can stay steady, fish longer, and maintain the health and longevity to keep doing what you love for years to come.

Hike with ADK at Glimmerglass State Park (Sleeping Lion trail)
2026-03-10 09:45 - 12:00 | Glimmerglass State Park, 1527 County Highway 31, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, United States
The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club leads a guided hike every Tuesday at locations in and near Otsego County. Free and open to the public. See website for details. Meet at 9:45 am for a brief talk/sign in, hikes usually last until 11:30 or noon. If you have questions about hikes or meeting place, please call or text 607/431-8010

Be Informed: Japanese Knotweed
2026-03-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Clark Sports Center, 124 Co Rd 52, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, United States
OCCA is offering this free program. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is a common invasive riparian plant seen in the Catskills. It can shade out other streamside plants and establish monocultures, lower water quality, and even damage infrastructure. Management of this plant can be tricky, but it is doable! Join CRISP Terrestrial Invasive Species Manager Dan Snider-Nerp to learn about current best management practices for Japanese knotweed and its closest relatives, as well as experimental management methods, and the future of sustainable management for this species in the Catskills. Sign up at occainfo.org

Wilderness First Aid Course
2026-03-14 - 2026-03-15 | Hartwick College Pine Lake Campus, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820
Learn essential skills for responding to injuries and emergencies in remote outdoor environments. RSVP Required. $350 fee covers certification, textbook and supplies. Instructor Cody Delamarter, EMT; accommodations available. Contact pinelake@hartwick.edu for details. The course costs $350.

Homeschool Nature Walk: Silas Lane Loop
2026-03-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Oneonta Susquehanna Greenway trail (Silas Lane), Silas Lane, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
Celebrate the arrival of early spring with a guided nature walk at Silas Lane in Oneonta, designed especially for homeschool students and their families. We’ll explore the trails behind the soccer fields, looking for the first signs of the changing season—melting snow, emerging buds, returning birds, and tracks in softening ground.
During our walk, we’ll take time to slow down and make observations about the subtle transitions from winter to spring. Students will be encouraged to use their senses to notice colors, textures, sounds, and patterns in the landscape, building early skills in seasonal awareness and nature journaling.
This program is family-friendly and geared toward school-age children. Younger siblings are welcome. Sign up at occainfo.org

Naked Eye Astronomy
2026-03-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Cooperstown Beaver Valley Cabins and Campsites, 138 Towers Road, Milford, New York
Join OCCA on Friday evening, March 20, at Beaver Valley Campground for a tour of the early spring skies. If the skies are clear, we will see many of the spectacular winter stars, along with a harbinger of spring: the constellation Leo and its beautiful first-magnitude star, Regulus. Regulus is actually a multiple star system and is relatively close to our sun. Mighty Jupiter will also be high in the sky that night and easily visible. No need for binoculars; after all, it’s “naked-eye astronomy.” Dress comfortably and bring lawn chairs to sit on. Please sign up at occainfo.org

Hike with ADK at Gilbert Lake State Park
2026-03-24 09:45 - 12:00 | Gilbert Lake State Park, 18 CCC Rd, Laurens, NY, 13796, United States

Indigenous History Walk: A Glimpse into the Past
2026-04-04 11:00 - 12:30 | NY
Trace the history of the Susquehannock and Mohican peoples on this guided walk at the Hartwick College Pine Lake campus. Ethnoecologist Justin Wexler explores how Native land management shaped our local species and landscape.
RSVP required. No fee. All welcome

Hike with ADK at Wilber Park
2026-04-07 09:45 - 12:00 | Wilber Park, Albert Morris Drive, Oneonta, New York, 13820
The Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club leads weekly hikes on Tuesdays. Meet at 9:45, hike begins at 10. The hikes are free and open to all.
Questions? Contact ADK:
607.431.8010
adksusq+contacts@gmail.com
More info on the ADK website:
https://susqadk.org/outing-schedule/
Better yet, JOIN the chapter and get all the details emailed to you weekly!
https://susqadk.org/join/

Get the Kids Out: Emmons Pond Bog
2026-04-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Emmons Pond Bog Preserve, 2028 White Hill Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
Join OCCA for a spring nature walk at Emmons Pond Bog, one of Otsego County’s most unique natural areas. Shake off the cabin fever and get the kids outside during school break for a fresh-air adventure! Together, we’ll explore the bog trail as the landscape wakes from winter, searching for early signs of spring—including migrating birds, emerging amphibians, and the delicate blooms of spring ephemerals on the forest floor.
Along the trail, we’ll pause often to observe and ask questions about how plants and animals respond to the return of warmth and light. Participants will learn simple techniques for spotting and identifying early wildflowers, noticing patterns in plant growth, and exploring how bog ecosystems differ from surrounding forests.
The trail tends to be muddy this time of year so please wear appropriate footwear.

More info/sign up: https://www.occainfo.org/calendar/homeschool-nature-walk-emmons-pond-bog-1

Walk the Planets
2026-04-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Compton Bridge Conservation Area, 184 County Highway 11C, Cooperstown, NY, 13326, United States
Join OCCA to journey from the sun to Pluto and back in a little over an hour! Dr. Erik Stengler of the Cooperstown Graduate Program guides us on a thousand-yard walk which models our solar system at a scale that is both relatable and awe-inspiring. Common objects such as bowling balls, peppercorns, and walnuts represent the sun and planets—our feet are the rockets that will get us there.
Meet at the Otsego Land Trust’s Compton Bridge Conservation Area, 184 County Highway 11C, Cooperstown. Our walk will be along the railroad tracks. Dress to be outside. Sign up at occainfo.org

Trout Unlimited Meeting
2026-04-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Sixth Ward Athletic Club, 22 West Broadway, Oneonta, NY
Nothing is more fun than catching trout on your own hand-tied flies ! Want to learn how? Join the Dave Brandt Chapter of Trout Unlimited for their next meeting – April 13, 2026 at 7:00pm at the 6th Ward Athletic Club and give it a try! Some members have over 50 years tying experience! Learn from the best around – open to the public – family friendly!

Hike with ADK on the Table Rock Trails
2026-04-14 09:45 - 12:00 | Table Rock Trails at Hartwick College, Hartwick Drive, Oneonta, NY, 13820

Woodcock Walk
2026-04-16 19:15 - 20:15 | Parslow Road Conservation Area, 127 Parslow Road, Oaksville, NY, 13337, United States
Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society, in partnership with Otsego Land Trust presents the annual Spring Woodcock Walk. Join Charlie Scheim and Sandy Bright at the Otsego Land Trust’s Parslow Road Conservation Area at 127 Parslow Road, Hartwick, to observe the courting displays of the woodcocks that inhabit this protected property. In our experience, these displays occur shortly after sunset, which is around 7:43 p.m. that day. We’ll meet in the parking lot at 7:15pm and take the trail to the woodcocks’ location. The path is fairly level, although at times quite uneven, and may be muddy and wet. Total distance will be about .5 mile; the second half of the walk will be in darkness, so it’s advisable to a bring a flashlight. Note that there are no restroom facilities at the parking lot. Attendance for this program is limited to 20 people; registration is required.

Saturday ADK hike on the Catskill Scenic Trail
2026-04-18 | Catskill Scenic Trail
In addition to weekly Tuesday hikes, the Susquehanna Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club offers all-day Saturday hikes April through October.

These hikes require pre-registration and will be limited to 20 to 25 participants
These hikes require participants to plan accordingly. Bring a packed lunch, snacks, and water to last the whole excursion. Dress appropriately and bring equipment based upon the weather and hike conditions.
Free and open to all

Morris Earth Day Community Clean Up
2026-04-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Morris Central School, 65 Main Street, Morris, NY
Join Butternut Valley Alliance, Morris Rotary, Morris Central School, and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition for an Earth Day Community Clean Up on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to noon.
We’ll meet at the Morris Central School main parking lot, then break into groups to help with projects around the village, including:
• Plantings along Calhoun and Butternut creeks• Street clean-up throughout the Village of Morris• Recycling collection
Items accepted for recycling:
• Styrofoam• VHS and cassette tapes• Small electronics (keyboards, chargers, cords, etc.)• Eyeglasses• Inkjet cartridges• Cell phones• Tennis balls• Pet food bags• Pens and markers• Empty cleaning product containers
Bring gloves if you have them and come help make a difference in the Butternut Valley. All are welcome!
Want more information? Email us at info@butternutvalleyalliance.org

Out in Nature: Emmons Pond Bog
2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Emmons Pond Bog Preserve, 2028 White Hill Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
Join the Otsego County Conservation Association (OCCA), the SUNY Oneonta Counseling Center, OPA, and the SUNY Oneonta Gender and Sexuality Resource Center for a peaceful and welcoming “Out in Nature” spring walk at Emmons Pond Bog.
This guided hike will explore the unique trails of this remarkable wetland ecosystem as we look for the first blooms of the season, listen for blackbirds and frogs, and observe other signs of spring awakening. Along the way, participants will learn basic flower and tree identification while enjoying the calming benefits of time spent outdoors in community.
Emmons Pond Bog offers a striking landscape shaped over 11,000 years ago as glaciers retreated, leaving behind a water-filled depression that evolved into the bog we see today. From the trail, visitors can take in its quiet beauty—standing dead trees shaped by beaver activity, emerging plant life, and expansive wetland views.
Please note that trails are typically muddy in early spring. Waterproof footwear is strongly recommended.
All are welcome. This program is designed to create an inclusive, supportive space to connect with nature and one another. Sign up at occainfo.org

Guided Herp Walk
2026-04-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Wilber Lake, Oneonta Creek Trails, Wilber Lake Rd, Oneonta, NY, 13820, United States
Join us at Wilber Lake on April 24th at 6pm for a guided Herp Walk to learn more about the world of amphibians. We will be meeting at the entrance on Wilber Lake Road, located on the west side of the lake. This walk will be led by OCCA Field Technician Victoria Prouty and Dr. Elizabeth Bastiaans of SUNY Oneonta.
As we welcome spring’s warm, rainy weather, amphibians such as wood frogs and spotted salamanders begin their migration to vernal pools, temporary pools fed by snowmelt and rain. They use these vernal pools to breed before heading back into the forest for the remainder of the year. We will explore the trail and visit nearby vernal pools, where you will have the chance to observe and learn how to identify these fascinating species, their egg masses, and tadpoles. You may also see some forest-dwelling and lake-dwelling species, such as red-backed salamanders and green frogs.
This experience highlights the vital role that these temporary pools play in wooded ecosystems and offers a unique opportunity to learn about amphibian life cycles and preferred habitats. Perfect for nature lovers of all ages, this walk combines exploration, education, and a deeper appreciation for the wildlife that thrives right in our backyard.
Sign up at occainfo.org

Brookwood Gardens Volunteer Clean Up
2026-04-25 09:00 - 13:00 | Brookwood Point, 6000 State Route 80, Cooperstown, NY, 13326
Connect with nature by helping open Brookwood Point for the season! Get your hands in the soil, breathe fresh spring air, enjoy views of Otsego Lake, and meet fellow conservationists!

Contact justin@otsegolandtrust.org to let us know your coming!

Hike with ADK at Betty & Wilbur Davis State Park
2026-04-28 09:45 - 12:00 | Betty and Wilbur Davis State Park, 133 Davis Road, Schenevus, New York, 12155

Navigation & Forest Bathing
2026-04-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Hartwick College Pine Lake Campus, 1894 Charlotte Creek Road, Oneonta, NY, 13820
Navigation & Forest Bathing: The Compass & The Quiet
Ready to find your way and lose your stress? Join us to master the “Red in the Shed” compass trick to navigate the wilds of the Hartwick College Pine Lake campus. Free baseplate compass for all participants! RSVP required $5 suggested donation

How to Love a Forest: Talk by Ethan Tapper
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | SUNY Oneonta, Hunt Union Ballroom, 103 Ravine Parkway, Oneonta, NY, 13820
Ethan Tapper is the 2026 Speaker in the Cornell-Gladstone-Hanlon-Kaufmann Lecture Series at SUNY Oneonta. Free and open to the public.
Ethan Tapper is a forester, digital storyteller, and the bestselling author of How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World. For more than a decade, Ethan has been recognized as a thought-leader in the world of ecosystem stewardship, winning numerous regional and national awards for his work. More recently, he has been recognized as a writer – since its publication in 2024, How to Love a Forest has been named the winner of the 2025 New England Book Award for nonfiction, and received international acclaim.
Ethan’s message of relationship, responsibility and hope reaches millions of people each year through his writing, social media channels with hundreds of thousands of followers, and the hundreds of walks, talks and keynotes that he delivers across North America each year.
Ethan works, writes, hunts, birds and runs a small consulting forestry business from his home at Bear Island – his 175-acre working forest, homestead, orchard and sugarbush in Vermont – and plays in his punk band, The Bubs. Check out his Instagram
