🌿 Who We Are: CRISP at the Catskill Center
The Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) is a conservation program of the Catskill Center, dedicated to protecting the Catskills from the threat of invasive species.
As one of eight PRISMs (Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management) in New York State, CRISP works across the Catskills region to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive plants, animals, insects, and pathogens that threaten our forests, waters, and communities.
Through education, outreach, research, and on-the-ground action, CRISP:
✔️Trains volunteers and land managers
✔️Hosts community science and habitat restoration events
✔️Monitors and maps invasive species
✔️Supports public awareness campaigns and best practices
✔️Collaborates with partners across the region
Together with the Catskill Center, we’re committed to preserving the health and beauty of the Catskills—now and for future generations.
Learn more and get involved: catskillcenter.org/crisp
#CRISP #ProtectTheCatskills #invasivespecies #catskillsny #catskillsmountains #catskills
Some invasive plants can hide in plain sight.
Join the @catskillcenter for our next “Learn & Plant” volunteer session along the Ashokan Rail Trail, focused on invasive plant lookalikes and how to confidently tell them apart from native species.
🗓️ Sunday, May 24, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 3045 NY-28, Shokan, NY 12481
Together, we’ll remove invasive species, plant native trees, sharpen our identification skills, and help restore habitat along the Ashokan Reservoir.
Learn more and register at catskillcenter.org/getinvolved
#catskillcenter #catskillsvisitorcenter #catskillpark #catskillmountains #volunteer
Why do you sometimes see fenced areas in the forest?
These are deer exclosures, used by researchers and land managers to study how forests regenerate when white-tailed deer are kept out.
Deer prefer to browse many native tree seedlings and wildflowers. When deer populations are high, heavy browsing can prevent young native plants from growing and surviving. This creates an opportunity for invasive plants, which deer often avoid, to spread more easily.
By comparing plants inside and outside the exclosures, scientists can better understand how deer browsing affects forest health and regeneration.
Healthy forests need a balance. Protecting native plants helps give them a chance to grow and support the biodiversity of the Catskills.
#InvasiveSpecies #ForestHealth #Catskills #Ecology #ForestRegeneration
A tiny forest has just arrived!
Over 100 native trees from @catskillnativenursery have been delivered at the @catskills.visitor.center .
Over the next two months, @catskillcenter volunteers and @catskill.prism staff will plant these trees in areas along the Ashokan Rail Trail that have already been managed to reduce invasive species and improve native habitat. Together, these plantings will help strengthen biodiversity, improve forest resilience, and support healthier natural systems along the Ashokan Reservoir.
Want to help restore native habitat?
Learn more and register to volunteer at catskillcenter.org/getinvolved
#catskillcenter #catskillsvisitorcenter #catskillpark #catskillmountains #ashokanrailtrail
🌿 Ever wonder how invasive species are prioritized and why some are more urgent to manage than others? When it comes to invasive species, where you focus your efforts matters.
Join us for a hands-on Learn & Pull Volunteer Series session all about the CRISP Tier System on May 8th from 1–5 PM along the Ashokan Rail Trail. You’ll learn how species are ranked based on their impact and spread, then put that knowledge into action by helping remove invasives and protect native ecosystems.
Come get your hands dirty, build your ID skills, and make a real impact right here in the Catskills 💚
👉 Click the events link in our bio to learn more and register or visit: /learn-and-pull-volunteer-series-Understanding-CRISP-Tier-System
#Catskills #InvasiveSpecies #Conservation #Volunteer #Stewardship
Can you tell the difference between Tree of Heaven and Staghorn Sumac?
These two trees can look similar at first glance, but one is invasive and spreads aggressively.
Tree of Heaven (invasive)
• Smooth leaf edges
• Strong peanut butter or burnt rubber smell when crushed
• Spreads quickly in disturbed areas
Staghorn Sumac (native)
• Serrated leaf edges
• Fuzzy stems that look like velvet antlers
• Red berry clusters that feed wildlife
Learning the difference helps prevent invasive species from spreading while protecting native plants that support wildlife in the Catskills.
#InvasiveSpecies #PlantID #Catskills #TreeOfHeaven #NativePlants
🌿 Give back to a place you love this spring 💚
Join the Catskill Center for I Love My Park Day, New York State’s largest single-day volunteer event! This year, we’re heading to the iconic Kaaterskill Falls to help care for one of the most visited spots in the Catskills.
📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Scutt Road Trailhead Parking
With thousands of volunteers across 100+ parks, this statewide effort (led by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with NYS Parks and DEC) makes a real impact. At Kaaterskill Falls, high visitor use means stewardship matters more than ever. Your time helps keep trails clean, protects surrounding habitat, and ensures a safer experience for everyone.
Whether you’re a regular hiker or just looking to give back, this is a great way to connect with your community and make a difference.
👉 Learn more and register at /events/i-love-my-park-day-kaaterskill-falls-clean-up
#ILoveMyParkDay #Catskills #CRISP #KaaterskillFalls #VolunteerNY #LeaveNoTrace
Every day is Earth Day when you protect native ecosystems. 🌎🌱
Healthy forests, wetlands, and streams depend on native plants and balanced ecosystems. But invasive species can disrupt that balance by outcompeting native plants, altering habitats, and reducing biodiversity.
This Earth Day, you can help protect the Catskills:
🌿 Learn to identify invasive species
🥾 Clean your boots and gear before and after hiking
🔥 Burn firewood where you buy it
📍 Report invasive species using iMapInvasives
Want to make an even bigger impact?
Volunteer with CRISP and help remove invasive plants to give native ecosystems a chance to thrive. Click the events link in our bio or visit /events to learn about volunteer opportunities.
Together, we can help protect the landscapes, wildlife, and biodiversity that make the Catskills so special.
#EarthDay #Catskills #InvasiveSpecies
Spend #earthday making a difference in the Catskills!
Join @catskillcenter and @catskill.prism staff for our next “Learn & Pull” volunteer session along the Ashokan Rail Trail as we explore how forest restoration is adapting to a changing climate.
🗓️ Wednesday, April 22, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
📍 3045 NY-28, Shokan, NY 12481
As we remove invasive species and prepare the site for 120 native saplings to be planted later this season, we’ll take a closer look at the concept of assisted migration: how native trees and plants are selected based on projected climate conditions and long-term resilience planning to help today’s restoration efforts thrive in the forests of tomorrow.
We’ll be working hands-on in an off-trail area removing common buckthorn, multiflora rose, and bittersweet while learning how thoughtful, climate-informed stewardship can support healthier, more resilient Catskills forests.
Learn more and register at catskillcenter.org/getinvolved
#catskillcenter #catskillsvisitorcenter #catskillpark #catskillmountains
🌎 This Earth Day, give back to the forests that give us so much.
Join us on the Ashokan Rail Trail for a hands-on volunteer day exploring assisted forest migration—an approach to help native species adapt to a changing climate. 🌱
You’ll learn how our forests are shifting and take part in real restoration work to support healthier, more resilient ecosystems.
📅 April 22 | 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Ashokan Rail Trail
Come learn, get your hands dirty, and make a real impact this Earth Day.
🔗 Click the events link in our bio to learn more and sign up or visit: /learn-pull-volunteer-series-Assisted-Forest-Migration-of-Native-Species
#catskills #invasivespecies #earthday #volunteer
🌡️ Climate change is changing the map for invasive species.
As temperatures warm, some invasive species are able to spread farther north than before. Others, known as sleeper species, have historically been kept in check by cold winters—but as winters become milder, those natural barriers may disappear.
📊 Swipe to see how suitable habitat for invasive plants could expand across the eastern U.S. under a +2°C warming scenario, and what that means for regions like the Catskills.
That’s why early detection and reporting matter more than ever. Spot something unusual on the trail? Your observation can help us respond before small changes become big problems.
📍 Report sightings in NYiMapInvasives.org
Map source: Diversity and Distributions (Wiley, 2023).
#CRISP #InvasiveSpecies #ClimateChange #Catskills
🌱 Learn & Pull Volunteer Series: Native Habitat Restoration 🌱
Join us along the Ashokan Rail Trail for a hands-on day of stewardship, learning, and impact.
In this session of our Learn & Pull Volunteer Series, we’ll explore how forest changes like deer pressure and invasive species are shaping the landscape, and what we can do to restore balance. Then, we’ll roll up our sleeves and get to work removing invasive plants to make space for native species to thrive.
🌿 This is your chance to:
• Learn how to identify and remove invasive species
• Understand how they impact native ecosystems
• Be part of real, on-the-ground habitat restoration
Every plant removed helps give native trees and wildlife a better chance to survive.
🤝 No experience needed, just a willingness to learn and get your hands a little dirty
🔗 Click the events link in our bio to learn more + register.
Let’s restore this landscape together 💚
#CRISP #Catskills #AshokanRailTrail #InvasiveSpecies #Volunteer
