The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has opened registration for a new stewardship day at state campgrounds, including Fish Creek, on Saturday, July 8.

Volunteers can participate in events at 11 DEC campground facilities in the Adirondack and Catskill parks, as well as select state parks. All ages are welcome. Volunteer work may include cleaning up debris, planting trees and gardens, restoring trails and wildlife habitats, and removing invasive species. Registration and more information are at https://www.ptny.org/events/love-our-new-york-lands.

In the Tri-Lakes vicinity, Fish Creek Pond Campground & Day Use Area is hosting a work day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. involving trail cleanup, tree planting and painting/straining.

Cranberry Lake Campground & Day Use Area will welcome volunteers from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to plant a pollinator garden, plant flowers and trees, and paint picnic tables.

Other participating campgrounds in the Adirondacks include Limekiln Lake, Nicks Lake, Scaroon Manor, Crown Point, Luzerne and Northampton Beach.

This partnership between DEC, Parks & Trails New York, and the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation encourages New Yorkers and visitors to give back to campgrounds by volunteering.

“DEC continues to see an increase in the number of visitors to the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve, where we have seen growing numbers for several years,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Environmental stewards play a critical role protecting these irreplaceable natural resources, and DEC continues to encourage visitors to ‘Love Our New York Lands’ by visiting safely and responsibly. Public lands belong to all of us, our families and our neighbors, and by working together and partnering in events like these, we can all preserve these areas for years to come.”

The Love Our New York Lands campaign was launched in 2020 by DEC and State Parks.