June 9, 2026 — Arkville, NY: The Catskill Center for Conservation and Development has welcomed the return of its seasonal conservation and visitor services teams for the 2026 season, including the Catskill Stewards Program, the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) Strike Teams, and seasonal Visitor Services Assistants at the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center. Together, these programs play a vital role in protecting the Catskills during the region’s busiest months while helping visitors and communities connect more deeply with the landscape.
The Catskill Stewards Program places trained staff at some of the Catskills’ high-use destinations, where they help visitors recreate responsibly, provide safety and trail information, encourage Leave No Trace™ principles, and support the long-term care of sensitive natural areas.
Stewards serve as frontline ambassadors for the Catskills, connecting directly with thousands of visitors each season at trailheads, scenic destinations, and popular recreation spots throughout the Catskill Park. In 2025, Catskill Stewards engaged more than 57,003 visitors across the region, helping reduce resource impacts, improve visitor preparedness, and build a stronger culture of stewardship.
“People come to the Catskills looking for a memorable outdoor experience,” said Cris Ortiz, a third-year Catskill Steward. “As stewards, we help make that possible while encouraging visitors to treat these places with care, so they remain healthy and welcoming for everyone who comes after them.”
The Catskill Center has also welcomed a new season of Visitor Services Assistants at the Catskills Visitor Center in Mount Tremper. Serving as the gateway to the Catskills for thousands of visitors each year, the Catskills Visitor Center relies on seasonal staff to provide trip planning assistance, trail and recreation information, exhibit interpretation, and recommendations that help visitors make the most of their time in the region. In 2025, the Catskills Visitor Center welcomed 16,704 visitors, a 22 percent increase over the previous year, reflecting growing interest in the Catskills and the value of trusted information, local knowledge, and thoughtful guidance.
Alongside the Catskill Stewards and Visitor Services staff, the Catskill Center has also launched the 2026 season for the CRISP Terrestrial and Aquatic Strike Teams. Managed through the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership, a program of the Catskill Center, the Strike Teams focus on early detection, rapid response, monitoring, and management of invasive species throughout the Catskills.
The CRISP program combines field work with public education and collaboration among landowners, municipalities, conservation organizations, and state agencies. The seasonal Strike Teams play a critical role in carrying out hands-on conservation work during peak growing months. Working across forests, wetlands, waterways, trails, and roadside corridors, Strike Team members help slow the spread of invasive plants and pests that can damage habitats and disrupt the health of local ecosystems. In 2025, CRISP staff and volunteers helped survey invasive species across more than 2,919 acres throughout the Catskills.
“What drew me to this work was the opportunity to have boots on the ground and help protect these places, not only for the native plants and wildlife that depend on them, but for the people who come here to experience them,” said Maria Lesser, a member of the 2026 CRISP Strike Team. “The impacts of habitat restoration go beyond the people doing the work, and it’s not just the responsibility of one team. Everyone can play a role by learning about invasive species and doing what they can, even in their own backyard.”
Together, the Catskill Stewards, CRISP Strike Teams, and Catskills Visitor Center staff advance the Catskill Center’s broader mission to protect and foster the environmental, cultural, and economic well-being of the Catskills.
Throughout the season, visitors may encounter Stewards at popular recreation destinations across the Catskills, Visitor Services Assistants welcoming guests at the Catskills Visitor Center, and CRISP Strike Team members conducting invasive species surveys, removals, and restoration work throughout the region, all working together to keep the Catskills healthy, welcoming, and resilient.
To learn more about the Catskill Center’s conservation, stewardship, and public engagement programs, visit catskillcenter.org/ourwork.
