Storm King Decision, an environmental art installation by Jeannette Redden and Vivien Collens, honors the landmark Hudson Valley legal case that protected Storm King Mountain, Black Rock Forest, and the Hudson River and resulted in the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. Currently on display in Cornwall, New York, until November 1. (Pictured: Jeannette Redden & HHLT's Cory Tiger and Carrie Hilpert) | | News from HHLT: September 2026 | |
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Heading into Labor Day weekend, I want to thank the HHLT staff, interns, partners, and volunteers. What they achieved this summer season, despite the hot and wet conditions, is commendable. I hope you have an opportunity to visit one (or more) of the HHLT preserves later this year to see all they have accomplished.
Among the many benefits of conservation in the Hudson Highlands is the opportunity for people to experience connections with nature firsthand through thoughtful public access. In addition to trail and habitat restoration work, this season, we're supporting that access with the release of downloadable, georeferenced trail maps for all three HHLT preserves, making it easier to explore the lands you've helped protect. See below for details on how to download them.
Further, it’s almost time for the Hudson Highlands Land Trust's Fall Cocktail Party. At this annual event, we come together to celebrate the region we call home. This party helps HHLT raise funds to:
- conserve vital wildlife habitat - providing a home for native plants and animals, 🦉
- protect woodlands and restore wetlands - safeguarding drinking water, and 🌳
- provide responsible recreational opportunities for families and the community. 🥾
This year's event is planned for Sunday, September 27, at Winter Hill, which has been HHLT’s home for 14 years. The house and grounds have provided a place to welcome and build community, share nature with families and friends, and carry forward the daily work of protecting the Hudson Highlands. Now, as Winter Hill enters a new chapter, I can think of no better place to join you in sharing stories and celebrating our shared successes. There is more information on the party below; I hope you can join us!
With gratitude for your continued support,
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Katrina Shindledecker
President, Hudson Highlands Land Trust
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HHLT Preserve Trail Maps Available for Download | |
Hit the trails with confidence! We're excited to offer hikers free, georeferenced trail maps to HHLT preserves in Putnam Valley, Garrison, and Cold Spring, NY.
The benefit of georeferenced maps is that they allow your phone to sync your real-time location on the trail, even without cell service. Making it easier to navigate, stay on course, and explore with confidence. To download your map and start exploring, CLICK HERE.
| | | | A Special Thank You to Our Benefit Committee Members | | |
Mary Elizabeth & Jeffrey Bunzel
Lizabeth Dunn & Gabriel Aherne
Judy Mogul & Daniel Kramer
Lynn Peebles & Douglas Land
Susan Brune & Carl Loewenson
Jack Bankowsky & Matthew Marks
Rudolph S. Rauch
Frederic Rich
Diana & Jonathan Rose
Catherine & Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff
Kristin Sorenson
Charity Shumway & Gregory Starner
Martha Howell & Ned Whitney
| | Celebrating our 2026 Summer Interns | | |
As summer draws to a close, HHLT is proud to look back on the season and celebrate three young environmentalists who spent it expanding their knowledge of conservation in the Hudson Highlands and making an impact.
In partnership with the Fresh Air Fund, Sylvan Garesché and Meera Pershad joined HHLT this summer as part of our Summer Land Management Internship. Over the past several months, they've worked hands-on to control invasive species and lead volunteer workdays across HHLT preserves, while also taking their knowledge into the community, sharing best practices in plant identification and invasive species management with the public. Their dedication has left a lasting mark on the lands they helped steward.
We're also proud to recognize John Cross, who spent the summer with HHLT as one of seven recipients of the Open Space Institute's 2026 Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Award. Established in honor of Barney McHenry's leadership, the award supports promising young leaders whose work advances conservation, environmental justice, historic preservation, tourism, and the arts throughout the Hudson River Valley. John's time with us reflected that spirit and contributed meaningfully to HHLT's public policy work this season.
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Thank You Summer Volunteers!
Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who joined our summer Out-of-Office-Hours volunteer series! Your contributions made a meaningful difference across HHLT preserves: trimming back overgrowth to improve trail accessibility, removing invasive plants that impact the forest understory, and helping to build a deer exclosure at Granite Mountain Preserve (Putnam Valley, NY) to support forest regeneration. The work accomplished this summer goes beyond trail maintenance. This kind of hands-on stewardship strengthens the forest as a whole, creating healthier habitat for the wildlife and biodiversity that depend on it.
Now that these areas have been cleared, they're primed for native plantings this fall -- the next chapter in a longer story of restoration. Thank you for helping carry that work forward! Sign up for fall Planting Days below.
| | HHLT staff, partners, and volunteers building a deer exclosure along Granite Mountain Preserve's Red-Yellow trail. | | HHLT Preserve & Natural Resource Manager Cory Tiger, alongside longtime volunteer and conservation easement landowner Lilly Gair, clearing barberry from the Granite Mountain Preserve trailhead. | | HHLT summer intern John Cross and Fjord Trail intern John Gonzalez, tackling burning bush on the Green-white trail at Granite Mountain Preserve. | | Upcoming HHLT Programs & Events | | | | |
Planting Days at Granite Mountain Preserve
September 22, October 1 & 11, 9am - 12pm
Join HHLT and Wild Woods Restoration Project (WWRP) at Granite Mountain Preserve this fall for the next phase of an ongoing restoration effort at HHLT's preserve in Putnam Valley. Last month, HHLT staff and volunteers came together to build a deer exclosure protecting a section of regenerating woodland along the Red-Yellow trail. Now, we're excited to invite volunteers back for a different kind of hands-on stewardship opportunity: planting native shrubs, sedges, and grasses within the enclosure!
Participants will get their hands dirty planting native species chosen to boost biodiversity and support local wildlife, all while helping the forest build resilience. Most of the plants going into the ground were grown through spring and summer, thanks to Potting Day efforts organized by WWRP and conservation organizations throughout the region.
If you are interested in participating in this family-friendly volunteer opportunity at Granite Mountain Preserve on September 22nd, October 1st & 11th, register by clicking your preferred date(s). We look forward to seeing you there!
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HHLT conserves and cares for the lands and waters of the Hudson Highlands,
so that people and nature can flourish together for generations to come.
You make our work possible. Thank you for your support!
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Photo credits, top to bottom: Banner (Katrina Shindledecker); Photo of Katrina (Nadia Azizi);
Fall Cocktail Benefit Ad (KHCreative); Intern Photos (HHLT Staff & Partners); Volunteer Days at HHLT Preserves (Nadia Azizi & Cory Tiger); Program Photos (Cory Tiger); HHLT Member Ad (Davis Connelly).
Hudson Highlands Land Trust
20 Nazareth Way, P.O. Box 226, Garrison, NY 10524
(845) 424-3358
info@hhlt.org
www.hhlt.org
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