ISF Workday: Nuclear Lake AT Reroute

Event Date: Friday, May 30, 2025
Event Time: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Location Title: Nuclear Lake along the Appalachian Trail
Pawling, NY

 Do you enjoy birds, butterflies, and wildflowers? Would you like to help protect them? Come help us remove invasive species from this beautiful park!

No experience necessary, identification and removal training will be provided on site! 

Event description: The Appalachian Trail is undergoing a short reroute through a grove of autumn olive and other invasive shrubs. Autumn olive is an aggressive resprouter and that requires herbicide for effective management. Volunteers will help by using handsaws to cut autumn olive in preparation for herbicide treatment. Invasive plants that are not aggressive resprouters will also be hand pulled or dug.

• What to expect: Volunteers will help cut, pull, and dig invasive plants.
• Terrain: Flat terrain but uneven footing off trail
• Distance/elevation: Approximately 3 miles round trip hike
• What to bring: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy shoes, lunch or snacks, and plenty of water. Whatever else will help you be comfortable on the trail (bug spray, sunscreen, hat, etc.). We will provide eye protection, work gloves, and tools, but you are welcome to bring your own.
• Where to meet: 156 Old Rte 55, Pawling, NY 12564
• Contact: Ryan McClean, 551-314-6769, [email protected]. Please call, text, or email the night before if you are unable to make it so we do not wait for you on site. Service is limited on site.

Required paperwork: Please fill out the appropriate Volunteer Service Agreement for the event location. For volunteers under 18 years old, a Guardian Consent form must be received by the workday date. Children must be accompanied by a guardian. Photos of volunteers may be taken. Please fill out a photo/video release form if you grant permission for these photos to be shared across platforms. Submit forms to [email protected].

Find relevant forms here - https://secure.nynjtc.org/content/volunteer-forms

This Workshop is hosted as part of Trail U.

Attending this workshop will count towards the Expert Ecological Steward curriculum track. Fill out your attendance in the Trail U Brochure to track your progress and earn a patch upon completion!

If you have any questions about Trail U, please email [email protected]