We're hosting Friends Groups across the state this fall

Multiple events are planned for this fall to generate ideas, build partnerships, and provide solutions for Friends groups of our state parks, historic sites, and public lands.

If you’re new to Parks & Trails New York or maybe only know us from Cycle the Erie Canal or I Love My Park Day, a hefty portion of our work involves supporting what we call ‘Friends’ groups. These groups support public lands like State Parks or DEC sites through maintenance, fundraising, promotion, community engagement and more.

These groups range in size from a few volunteers working with a small board to fully staffed entities. Depending on their capacity, Friends groups may take a heavy hands-on role with the day-to-day operations at their site, or may simply host a few programs and events throughout the year to engage visitors, youth, or the local community.

One of our primary missions at PTNY is to connect, grow and strengthen these 120+ dedicated organizations. Each year, we host in-person conferences and gatherings throughout the state to bring these diverse groups together to learn, share, and network.

This fall we will be hosting our “Gathering the Grassroots: Regional Friends Gatherings” series of mini-conferences for Friends groups with formal agreements with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). These four events will be held in each corner of New York State to make it easier for Friends to attend, allow groups to hear critical updates, meet other organizations in their region and hear directly from state agencies.

Attendees leave these gatherings filled with inspiration and a renewed energy that they bring back to their sites often resulting in new program ideas, solutions for persistent issues, and new connections with other nearby groups. Between motivating presentations and sessions, spontaneous conversations around the lunch table, and engaging site tours–these gatherings offer something for everyone.

These events are not solely a product of the efforts from PTNY and the state agencies. They require the input and experience of the Friends groups themselves. Each year a Friends Leadership Council is created to work with PTNY staff to provide insight into topics that should be covered that are of importance to groups similar to theirs.

Leadership Council members, representatives who are chosen annually and establish goals for the year, are instrumental in helping to find and/or approve of speakers, act as on-site representatives at the events, and help coordinate additional activities.

The Friends Leadership Council meets virtually several times throughout the year (pre- and post- conference) to network, provide updates in their regions, and to inform PTNY staff of any needs or trends that groups are facing. This year, we’ve welcomed a new group of Leadership Council members to help us plan our 2025 gatherings.

So the next time you’re in a state park, state historic site, or DEC public land, take a look around and admire the work of a Friends Group–it just may be a product inspired by one of our Gatherings!