DEC Region 3 Invites New Yorkers to Volunteer for 'Wildlife Day' on Oct. 4 at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 3 invites volunteers to join in 'Wildlife Day' on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, at Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center in Dutchess County.

Wildlife Day provides a perfect opportunity to participate in wildlife conservation service projects and educational workshops across the state, celebrating New York's diverse wildlife and habitats. The event, hosted in partnership with Parks and Trails New York, and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, is part of the Love Our New York Lands Stewardship Days Campaign - an effort to encourage year-round stewardship and highlight the State's outdoor recreation assets by offering a series of themed stewardship days throughout the year.

Volunteer registration is currently open for Wildlife Day. New Yorkers are encouraged to join their community in a cleanup, enhancement, or educational event near them.

DEC Region 3 is hosting the following volunteer opportunity for the public to participate in:

Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center

Date: Oct. 4, 2025

Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. 

Location: Please park by the farm pond at the south end of the farm and walk up to the barn. We will meet at the barn before heading to the gardens. The garden is just a short walk across from the barn. Please DO NOT park across from the barn, as this is reserved for vendors setting up for Harvest Fest that day.

Contact: Erin Sausville, [email protected]

Project: Join DEC and participants to clean up the Pollinator Garden at Stony Kill Farm after a busy summer season, with some weeding and mulching of the gardens. Afterwards, DEC Environmental Program Specialists Tom and Erin will lead the group in a birding program, where we will identify the diverse bird species that the gardens and surrounding habitat attracts. Make sure to stick around for the Harvest Fest, hosted from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stony Kill Farm, for an afternoon full of fall fun including homemade soups, crafts, vendors, food, and barn and livestock tours!

What to bring: Water, snacks, and sturdy closed-toed shoes. We will have gardening/work gloves available, but please feel free to bring your own. Binoculars will be provided for the birding portion of the day, but you may also bring your own!

All ages welcome! Register at Parks & Trails NY