Governor Kathy Hochul launched the “These Lands are for Everyone” (TLAFE) campaign in January 2026 as part of the State of the State address. Through the campaign, DEC is investing in improvements to create immersive, welcoming destinations on State lands that are accessible to and inclusive of the full spectrum of abilities, neurodiversity, ages, backgrounds, and identities.
Visit the These Lands Are For Everyone Infrastructure Improvements page to learn about the investments DEC’s is making to improve access to our shared public lands.
The New York State Birding Trail highlights world-class birding opportunities across the state. The trail provides information on places anyone can go to find birds amid beautiful settings. The trail is not a physically connected or built trail, but a network of promoted birding locations that can be accessed by car or public transportation and provides an inclusive experience for all.
I Bird NY was launched in 2017 to build on the State's efforts to increase access to New York's vast natural resources and promote low-cost opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and connect with nature. Visit I Bird NY to find information on birding challenges, where and how to bird watch, upcoming bird walks and other events, a downloadable kid’s booklet, and additional resources.
Get outside on Get Outdoors & Get Together Day! DEC and the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), in partnership with the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), the Office of the Chief Disability Officer, the NYS Division of Veterans' Services (DVS), the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the NYS Justice Center for the Protection of People With Special Needs (Justice Center) host free and low-cost events to connect people to nature and provide increased access to the outdoors. Hosted annually on the second Saturday in June, Get Outdoors & Get Together Day brings people of all abilities, ages, identities and backgrounds together for fun, healthful activities as part of the state's initiative to broaden the diversity of users and ensure inclusivity of access to state public lands.
Celebrate the New Year outdoors with friends and family on a First Day Hike! Join one of the many sponsored hikes held each New Year's Day at DEC lands, State Parks, historic sites, natural areas, canal trails, environmental education centers, and other public lands across the Empire State. Staff from DEC, OPRHP and the NYS Canal Corporation, along with volunteers and partner groups at many sites, lead these family-friendly walks and hikes, which typically range from one to five miles depending on the location and conditions.
Give back to our public lands at an I Love My Park Day event, hosted annually the first Saturday in May! New York State’s largest single-day volunteer event is coordinated in partnership with Parks & Trails New York (PTNY), DEC, and OPRHP, and offers a variety of stewardship projects for the public to participate in such as invasive species removal, trail maintenance, habitat restoration, native tree plantings, and various other site improvement projects.
The Get Offline, Get Outside Challenge provides a tool to inspire youth to get off their phones, computers, and social media and engage in outdoor activities. New York State’s kids ages 12-18 are challenged to complete the list of 50 activities before the age of 19. The challenge is designed to be completed by anyone and encourages participants to try new activities and visit new parks, forests, wildlife management areas, and other outdoor locations in their communities and across the state. With several dozen activities available, this challenge is intended to be completed over time.
For nearly a century, observers watched the forests of New York State - including the Catskill and Adirondack forest preserves - from more than 100 fire towers perched atop the highest peaks, searching for the dangerous, telltale signs of forest fires.
You can experience these spectacular views from the top of eight fire towers by taking the annual Catskills Fire Tower Challenge.
NYS provides FREE First-time Camper weekends throughout the summer. New York families that have never camped before have the opportunity to see if they enjoy the great outdoors before investing in their own gear by registering for a fully stocked campsite at a select NYS campground for a weekend.
Play BINGO with your family next time you head outdoors with our Nature is a Rainbow BINGO sheet (PDF) ! Also available in Spanish (PDF).
