Jeff grew up spending weekends in the mountains, and when he’s not steering the ship that is the Catskill Center, can often be found atop a local peak. His column, Endnote, appears in each issue. Jeff is the Executive Director of the Catskill Center.
After a career in journalism, Allison joined the Catskill Center to tell stories in a different realm as the Communications Manager. She is one of the magazine’s editors.
For this issue, Sarah handled the layout and graphic design work. Sarah is the Exhibit, Outreach and Marketing Coordinator for the Catskills Visitor Center.
Kate is the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator and new to the Catskill Center team. She wrote about volunteers for this issue.
ABOUT US: Since 1969, the Catskill Center has protected and fostered the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskill region. Our mission is to ensure a bright future for the Catskills by preserving our environment, expanding our economy, and celebrating our culture.
Become a member at: catskillcenter.org/membership 43355 Route 28, Arkville, NY 12406 | cccd@catskillcenter.org | 845.586.2611
Kate is a passionate environmentalist working to share the beauty of the Catskills with everyone she interacts with. With a background in environmental education, she enjoys teaching and learning about the natural world. Kate has a BA in Biology and Environmental Science from Bard College, and is pursuing her MS in Wildlife Conservation and Management at Unity College. In her work at the Catskill Center, she is excited to develop ways for the community to help preserve the fascinating environment they are part of.
To volunteer, reach out to Kate at volunteer@catskillcenter.org
(Read Kate’s article about Catskill Center volunteers later in this issue.)
Mason SabellaRosa is in his junior year at Columbia Prep in New York City. The 16-year-old has had an interest in mathematics and computer science since he was very young. He remembers bugging his parents to explain what all the buttons on the iPhone scientific calculator meant and avidly coding in Scratch. For almost as long, Mason has played the flute. He is a member of his school’s Jazz Band and Jazz Improvisation group and will take any opportunity to improve his soloing skills. Mason tells Catskills Magazine’s Allison Dunne (AD) how his interest in the environment began.
MS: Starting in early middle school, I attended a day camp called The Nature Place, though the pandemic had something to say about that. I remember enjoying the hiking trails, where we learned neat facts about our surroundings, like how wood sorrel tastes lemony, as well as more important information, such as how to identify
poison ivy. During the summer of last year, after the world began to reopen, I got the chance to attend the Putney student travel program to Alaska, during which I learned first hand some of the damage the ecosystem has undergone. This left me wondering how I could do my part, which is part of why I joined the Environmental Club at my school and volunteered for the Catskill Center over the summer.
AD: Why did you decide to volunteer for the Catskill Center?
MS: I come out regularly to the Catskills area with my family to get a break from the city and enjoy the outdoors. Heading into the summer, we were still new to the area. To see how we could get more involved, we began searching for local community organizations, which is how we came across the Catskill Center. My parents and I liked the idea of getting out and doing environmental work, especially considering the stunning views spread throughout the Catskills. Volunteering also seemed a great way to meet people who also care about the environment.
AD: For what activities, events, etc., have you volunteered?
MS: I have helped with the removal of both terrestrial and aquatic invasives, digging, cutting, or pulling out species such as Asiatic bittersweet, water chestnut, mile-a-minute, and honeysuckle. I have also volunteered at hiking trails, removing tripping hazards, constructing rain runoffs, and leveling the walking surfaces with crushed rock and dirt. I hope to help at a fire tower in the future, where I could help provide information to hikers.
AD: Please describe what volunteering means to you.
MS: Volunteering means several things to me. It means being in nature. It means spending time with others and making new friends. It means being part of a group effort, our collective impact far greater than what any one of us could achieve. It means a day of hard work to feel proud of. Most of all, it means preserving something that predates our species, paying back, little by little, the debt we owe to nature.
AD: What, if anything, surprised you when you first volunteered with the Catskill Center?
MS: It surprised me just how easy it was to get involved. When we showed up to our first volunteering session at the Ashokan Rail Trail, we were given little booklets to catch us up on which invasives to look for. There were always extra gloves, which we borrowed until we got our own, and there was spare water and snacks in case we ran out. It was always a pleasant surprise when a passerby would thank us for our work and perhaps even engage in conversation.
AD: What did you take away from the experience(s)?
MS: I had heard a lot about invasives before, but I did not realize just how widespread they are until I learned what to look for. After that, I started seeing them everywhere, including our backyard and driveway. I owe my education to the mentorship of our group leaders. I also learned that, as a group, it is possible to make a tangible difference. The work on the Ashokan Rail Trail, for example,
was clearly visible to us during a recent bike ride. Vistas which had previously been overrun by invasives now framed views that reached across the reservoir. It is gratifying to know that those who visit the trail will get to enjoy these views as well.
AD: Would you describe yourself as an environmentalist? What does it mean to be an environmentalist?
MS: I would certainly describe myself as an environmentalist. I think anyone who cares enough about the Earth to actively make a difference, whether it be by recycling or reusing, donating or fundraising, volunteering, or anything else, should be considered an environmentalist.
AD: What kind of work in the Catskills do you think is needed?
MS: There are still many more invasives to remove. Invasives which sprawl, turning into monocultures. Invasives which climb, strangle, and take resources from native plants and trees. Invasives which grow berries that do not nourish the birds who do not know any better. Trail maintenance and education are important as well since they allow people to realize firsthand how great, yet fragile, nature really is. I know this strange duality convinced me and my family of the importance of preservation, and I hope it can continue to convince others too.
The Catskill Center is committed to building Catskills Unity. We have joined hundreds of others in solidarity, showing we’ll do what we can to cultivate safety and equity for all who live, work, and attend school in the Catskills. Catskills Unity posters hang in the entrance of our Catskills Visitor Center in Mount Tremper and Erpf Center in Arkville. Learn more and sign on at catskillsunity.com
The Catskill
Center’s First
The Catskill Park has a rich community of passionate individuals motivated to preserve our local ecology. Currently, we are expanding our volunteer network by creating new opportunities and enhancing our relationships within the Catskills Region.
We held our first annual Volunteer Appreciation event, thanking Catskill Center volunteers for their dedication and service. The event was an opportunity to network with one another across all programs. We shared stories of seasons past, and looked ahead to our future aspirations for the Catskill Center, all while gathering at our Catskills Visitor Center and enjoying some snacks and beverages at the end of the summer.
In the interest of protecting and preserving our lands, we partnered this year with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to complete the first Ashokan Rail Trail invasive species management season. The Ashokan Rail Trail is one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in Ulster County, and overlooks the Ashokan Reservoir. Not only does the Ashokan Rail Trail harbor an immense and interesting history, but it also harbors invasive species. The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) is a program hosted by the Catskill Center with the goal of identifying and managing invasive species as well as educating the community on identification, reporting, and removal. This year’s Ashokan Rail Trail invasive species management will lead to further habitat restoration, as next year, while we’ll continue to remove invasive species, we also plan to plant native species to promote local biodiversity.
Invasive species can travel in a variety of ways, and it is important that we, as Catskills residents and visitors alike, help prevent the colonization and spread of any species that may harm native habitats. In addition to continuing our goal of educating and raising awareness about how we all can help in preventing the spread of invasive species, we will be installing boot-brush stations at the entrances of the trail, so that visitors can clear their shoes of any invasive hitchhikers before and after enjoying the beautiful Ashokan Rail Trail.
We have been able to expand our volunteer network by having an incredibly motivated community who look to volunteer their time for the betterment of the Catskills environment. We have also fostered hundreds of new connections through tabling at local events such as farmers’ markets and festivals, and these are connections we will continue o expand. Our goal is to gather a community of like-minded, passionate, and driven individuals within the Catskill Center, to preserve and protect the land we love. Not only do our volunteers focus on invasive species removal, they also provide education about the local area at the Catskill Center fire towers, trails, and Catskills Visitor Center.
Over the summer, volunteers helped prepare a space for the planting of a native pollinator garden at the Catskills Visitor Center. Volunteers will plant and maintain the garden in the upcoming season. Native pollinators such as bees and butterflies are threatened by many factors, such as the spread of invasive species as well as loss of suitable habitat. As part of our aim to preserve and protect our native environment, creating a
pollinator garden will provide a refuge that promotes native flora and fauna diversity. The garden will also serve as an outdoor teaching tool, be used to create a new community of volunteer gardeners within the Catskill Center, and ultimately become part of the Woodstock Pollinator Pathway — a collaboration of nonprofits, individuals, and businesses dedicated to establishing a network of pollinator-friendly properties in the Woodstock area. We also plan to expand our environmental education programs by holding various events open to the public on topics including Leave No Trace Principles; how to recreate responsibly; do-it-yourself stream health assessments; hiking safety; and much more.
If volunteering for the Catskill Center appeals to you, please reach out to Kate at: volunteer@catskillcenter.org for more information.
Steve Aaron is an award-winning landscape photographer specializing in images of the Catskills, Shawangunks, and surrounding areas. Steve is a four-season explorer of the Catskills, always armed with a camera. His work demonstrates a perspective based on a deep understanding of the landforms of the region, combined with an artistic eye. Steve’s artistic goal is to enable the viewer to join him on his explorations of the region through his photos.
Steve’s landscape photos have appeared in Backpacker magazine, Hudson Valley magazine, the Shawangunk Journal, Newsday and the Albany Times Union. His work is also featured in pieces for Ulster County Tourism, NY-NJ Trail Conference, the Catskill Center, The Trust for Public Land and other outdoor-oriented organizations. Each autumn, Steve publishes a wall calendar featuring landscape images from the Catskills and Shawangunks.
To join Steve’s mailing list or get more information, drop him an email at steveaaronphoto@gmail.com.
In addition to this spread, Steve’s art is featured on the cover of this issue and on pages 2 and 25.
FOREST ON BALSAM MOUNTAIN NEAR RIDER HOLLOW BY STEVE AARON.We would like to recognize these businesses for their generosity. When you do business with them, you support the Catskill Center and the entire region.
BUSINESS LEADERS ($5,000+) GDSNY
BUSINESS PARTNERS ($1,000+)
MARGARETVILLE TELEPHONE COMPANY SPOTTED DOG VENTURES LLC RXR SPORTS PARKS PROJECT OTTO & FRIENDS
BUSINESS FRIENDS ($500+) SLUITER AGENCY, INC. HUNTER FOUNDATION INC. THE ROXBURY BOVINA CENTER MONTESSORI SCHOOL EASTERN MOUNTAIN SPORTS WOODSTOCK CHIMES FUND EMINENCE ROAD FARM WINERY WOODSTOCK LAND CONSERVANCY LAMONT ENGINEERS, PC SCHWARTZBERG & KENYON PLLC
Look for more of Steve’s work throughout this issue.
RAIL EXPLORERS PHOENICIA PEEKAMOOSE RESTAURANT VLY MOUNTAIN SPRING WATER, INC. WAYSIDE CIDER BELLEAYRE HATCHET OUTDOOR SUPPLY CO. FAIR STREET REFORMED CHURCH WOODLAND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
SILVER HOLLOW AUDIO
COLDWELL BANKER TIMBERLAND
PROPERTIES
ERICKSON’S AUTOMOTIVE, INC. HOOKED ON KZM
HIKE ON GUIDES OPUS 40 THE OLANA PARTNERSHIP
EMPIRE STATE TRAIL RENTALS
PHOENICIA LODGE RONDOUT SAVINGS BANK
STEWART’S SHOPS CORPORATION SFCU
SEWARD SAND AND GRAVEL
COOPERSTOWN DREAMS PARK
WAYNE BANK ACKERLY & HUBBELL APPRAISAL CORP. PINE HILL TRAILWAYS MORGAN OUTDOORS TROUT UNLIMITED ASOKAN-PEPACTON WATERSHED CHAPTER CAMPMOR INC. HARMONY HILL LODGING & RETREAT CENTER STORY FARMS LLC FRESHTOWN SUPERMARKET TENDER LAND HOME CENTRAL HUDSON GAS & ELECTRIC CORP. LAURELSIDE 3 LLC. SHAWANGUNK VALLEY CONSERVANCY
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10% DISCOUNT on purchases at the Catskills Visitor Center, all Catskill Center facilities, and Campmor in Paramus, NJ with presentation of member card.
MEMBER-ONLY INVITATIONS to the Annual Gathering, lectures, and special events.
ACCESS TO THE CATSKILL CENTER ARCHIVES at the Erpf Center in Arkville. Please contact the Catskill Center to schedule an appointment.
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Fall is a season of foraging for many Catskills critters. Black bears need to gain 3-5 pounds (20,000 calories) daily to survive winter in their dens. Ninety percent of their calories derive from plants. As this summer’s drought severely impacted fruits such as apples and berries, and some nuts, bears are coming into contact with humans and their homes. For the bears’ safety, and for ours, it’s best not to fill feeders until mid-December or so. But one way to help bears, and other hungry critters, is not to discard pumpkins and gourds but leave them in the woods. ("My" black bears often swipe the pumpkins from my steps — they are welcome — and fussily favor the still-firm, plump pumpkins, leaving the ones that have started to soften.) Gray and red squirrels, chipmunks, white-footed mice and a variety of birds love the tasty pumpkin seeds. And deer and raccoons, for starters, eagerly devour pumpkin flesh. Pumpkin isn’t just a favorite food for us.
White-tailed deer, in addition to the leaves, are changing color. Their coats, in summer, appear reddish-brown and thin, an aid in coping with heat stress. In September, their coats begin to molt, and soon turn a grayish-brown. This darker coloration allows deer to absorb more of the sun’s heat to warm themselves in winter. Deer also need to pack on the pounds, increasing their fat accumulation by as much as 20-30 percent. Favorite foods include acorns, nuts, and various grasses. Fortunately, the relieving rains came in time for the grass to regenerate. My upper meadow was hayed in September to provide fodder for numerous critters till the snow flies. The deer, again forming a small herd for safety and protection, have been feasting.
Wild turkeys, too, have returned to the meadow, picking their way
through grasses, scrounging seeds. They are also voracious tick consumers, making them welcome indeed. In spring, the Tom, resplendent in his colorful, iridescent finery, courts his coy hens; in summer, the protective Mama turkeys, clucking softly, are trailed by peeping poults; and now, in fall, the flock is reassembling for warmth and safety in numbers. The wild turkey, almost extinct at the turn of the 20th century, Ben Franklin’s "Bird of Courage," is the chronicler of our Catskills change of seasons.
The maple trees are always the first to turn. The sugar maples are resplendent, dressed in bright golds, reds and oranges. The leaves of the red maples seem ablaze, a vivid scarlet. Autumn’s gift to us, the brilliant colors that turn our hills and valleys into an Impressionist panorama, is brief, heartbreakingly so. Wind, rain, a sudden frost, all can down the leaves overnight. But autumn also affords us some of the most beautiful and vibrant wildflowers, including purplish Joe Pye weed and orange jewel weed. But goldenrod is king, beloved of bees (which make a rich dark fall honey from it) and butterflies. Allow the goldenrod to stand through winter and it will provide shelter for birds, rabbits, and small mammals. Mice and voles and birds such as American goldfinches and dark-eyed juncos happily devour goldenrod seeds in winter.
The asters, I confess, are my favorites. The pristine white, the lavender-hued aromatic, and the striking deep purple New England varieties grow at my pond. The asters, as is the goldenrod, are native wildflowers — native flora always provide the most nutritious food sources for native fauna. Many insect species are attracted to asters, as they provide an excellent source of autumn nectar. As asters bloom during the migrations, insectivorous birds are attracted to these wildflowers. In winter, aster seeds feed many birds — black-capped chickadees, goldfinches, juncos, cardinals, titmice, and white-breasted nuthatches. Asters, goldenrod and native milkweed too, are valuable additions to a wildflower garden. In October, the milkweed pods burst open, and the silken strands, each with a tiny brown seed attached, spin away in the wind to start new milkweed plants. Milkweed is crucial for the endangered monarch butterfly, which lays its eggs only on its leaves.
The colorful leaves, after they have fallen, are perhaps at their most useful. They provide food and shelter, in winter, for butterflies, beetles, bees and moths, including the iconic and beautiful luna moth. Lunas and swallowtail butterflies, among others, disguise their cocoons and chrysalises as dried leaves. Leave the leaves, please! Sometimes the best thing we can do, as nature stewards, is nothing at all.
If you think you hear a spring peeper on a fall evening, you probably have. Perhaps it’s a young peeper trying out his pipes, full of desire, eager for spring. For the peepers, tiny tree frogs, hibernating under loose bark, in nooks and crannies, winter is just a long night. Hearing a peeper in autumn, as I did this evening, reminds me of the circle of the seasons. Spring will return, I am reassured, after nature’s own slumber.
Leslie T. Sharpe was the featured speaker at our Fall Benefit. She read a brief passage from her book, “The Quarry Fox: And Other Critters of the Wild Catskills,” and spoke about a part of Catskills history, and the state of the Forest Preserve since.
At this point in any calendar year, we begin to look back at highlights from the past twelve months and look ahead for the promise in the year to come. The year 2022 has been filled with change, which, while true of practically any year, was especially true this year as we witnessed a shifting landscape (literal and metaphorical). This shift seems to have injected a new sense of energy and immediacy in our mission here at the Catskill Center. Ever since the ball dropped at midnight on the last day of 2021, we’ve been busy reconnecting with you, our incredible supporters, offering our first in-person gatherings since 2019. You also were eager to return to reconnecting with us, as attendance at events showed.
BLACKHEADIn June, we hosted our annual Summer Gathering — a free, public celebration of all things Catskill Center — as well as a return to the Outdoor Expo, both on the grounds of our Catskills Visitor Center in Mt. Tremper. Our Expo, held mainly inside a tent right next to the Visitor Center, was brimming with attendees and exhibitors alike.
We were thrilled to welcome some 100 guests for our Fall Benefitwhere we raised more than $25,000 as guests formed new bonds, and repeatedly conveyed how much they enjoyed how we chose to celebrate our return to the annual event.
Our regular programs continued across the Catskills:
• CRISP (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership) volunteers and staff removed thousands of pounds of invasive species throughout our region. For one, they restored the magnificent view at the Ashokan Rail Trail (see Volunteer Spotlight and Volunteers are Vital to our Mission pieces in this issue). They also helped clear waterways of choking invasive invaders.
• Stewards at five trailheads greeted nearly 48,000 hikers, picnickers, day-trippers, and school groups.
• Advocacy garnered an $8 million dollar commitment from New York State to be split equitably between the Adirondack and Catskill Parks.
• Our knowledgeable and friendly staff and volunteers advised hundreds of visitors each month at our Catskills Visitor Center in Mt. Tremper, NY.
And while it may be a bit of a seasonal cliché, this is also the time when we are asked to consider year-end giving to our favorite organizations. I hope and ask that we’re on your list this year. There are so many ways to help the Catskill Center, from direct financial support to volunteering to joining us for one of our events.
I understand that in these uncertain times we are all trying to determine our priorities but, the bottom line is that, without your generous donations, we will face an even steeper challenge in 2023. I’m proud of everyone at the Catskill Center for their hard work, and I am also very grateful for those who support our endeavors through
their bighearted donations. This year seemed to be a time for testing how in-person events would fare, and thanks to your enthusiasm and patronage, they fared well! Here’s hoping 2023 is even better, with more community, members, sponsors, and donor engagement.
By giving to the Catskill Center, you enable us to continue the important work of protecting the environmental and economic health of our cherished Catskills. Success is not one and done. It’s ongoing, and relies on your assistance. Thank you.
To donate, please visit www.catskillcenter.org.
JEFF SENTERMAN
Catskill
Center Executive Director