Gathering the Grassroots: Regional Friends Gatherings 2025

Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Friends Leadership Council are excited to host four regional gatherings this fall for Friends groups and their site managers.

Our regional gatherings pick up where last year’s Statewide Friends Conference left off—continuing the conversations and energy sparked there. These smaller, local events offer a chance to reconnect, share updates, and take a deeper dive into the topics that matter most to you and your work.

These events are a unique opportunity to:

Connect with fellow Friends groups and site managers in your region
Hear directly from agency staff about regional and statewide initiatives
Learn best practices to grow your group’s capacity and effectiveness
Build relationships with other volunteers and potential partners

Whether you're a longtime advocate or new to the network, these gatherings are designed to inspire collaboration, spark new ideas, and strengthen the incredible work you do for New York’s public lands.

Locations and Dates

We encourage you to attend one of the four gatherings, preferably the one created for your region. These events will run from 10AM-3PM with an optional site tour following the gathering. Stay tuned for a full agenda for each event.

September 18: Glimmerglass State Park (Central, Saratoga-Capital, Thousand Islands)
September 25: Letchworth State Park (Allegany, Finger Lakes, Genesee, Niagara)
October 23: Philipse Manor Hall (Palisades & Taconic)
November 6: Connetquot River State Park Preserve (Long Island & NYC)

Agenda (subject to change)

9:30 AM – Registration

10:00 AM – Welcome & Overview

Introduction from Parks & Trails New York (PTNY)
Walkthrough of the day’s agenda

10:15 AM – Participant Introductions & Icebreaker

10:45 AM – Updates & Opportunities

PTNY Programs: Park and Trail Partnership Grants, Park Advocacy Day, 2026 Statewide Friends Conference
Agency Updates: OPRHP & DEC (Friends Impact Survey, Wellness Challenge, and other statewide initiatives)
Regional Updates: Regional Directors & Staff

11:45 AM – Small Group Activity: Idea Swap Circle

12:25 PM – Morning Wrap-Up & Transition to Lunch

12:30 PM – Lunch & Open Networking

1:10 PM – Presentations & Q+A (speakers below for event on 9/18. Speakers will vary by event)

Engaging Younger Volunteers and Members
Creating Community Partnerships through Grants
- Discover Albany
- Friends of Schuyler Mansion

2:00 PM – Group Activity: Best Practices Brainstorm

3:00 PM – Regroup & Closing Discussion

Sharing resources
Next steps

4:00 PM – Optional Site Tour

Eligibility

These events are open to all groups eligible for the Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program and their site managers. The 2025 regional gatherings are made possible through the Park and Trail Partnership Grant Program, which is administered by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and funded through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

Registration

Registration is now open! Please register for the event designed for your region.

Registration will be limited to one member of each Friends group. We may open up a limited number of additional spots based on availability as we get closer to each event.