Minnewaska State Park Preserve | July 9-13, 2021

Minnewaska State Park Preserve in New York is located in the Shawangunk Mountains, rising more than 2,000 feet above sea level and marked by steep, rocky terrain. A variety of natural features can be found within the park, including waterfalls, lakes, hardwood forests, and dramatic cliff bands. Visitors come to the park to walk, bike, swim, picnic, and climb, among many other opportunities.  Due to its dramatic topography and potential for both stunning views and exposed terrain, trail widening, undesignated trails, and trampled vegetation have become serious impacts at the park.

*Minnewaska State Park Preserve is located on the ancestral lands of the Munsee Lenape and possibly other tribes*

Solution

During the Hot Spot activation, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Team led a variety of workshops, outreach programs and community events at Minnewaska State Park Preserve. This included a Leave No Trace Drop-In Education Table which educated the public on simple and easy steps they could take to help preserve our natural areas, a Live Birds of Prey Drop-In Program, an Environmental Education Drop-In where invasive plant and animal species and the importance of our watershed and interesting mammals of the Park Preserve was discussed. In addition, a Clean Up Service Project which gave participants the opportunity to clean up this beautiful space while learning more about the Leave No Trace Hot Spot program and ways to protect Minnewaska State Park Preserve was held, as well as a virtual workshop: Leave No Trace Skills & Ethics Introduction.