The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has launched a campaign to encourage visitors to take advantage of state parks and beaches for recreation this summer.
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said this initiative will help promote tourism for New Yorkers to enjoy their state. He wants a repeat of last year, when the record numbers of people visited tourism sites during the pandemic.
“We were all locked indoors; the outdoors became a place where we could find refuge and we did it in record numbers,” Seggos said. “We as an agency, we were there — even during the pandemic — we were there for you. We tried to make the experience as excellent as possible,” Seggos said.
The “Love Our NY Lands” campaign will include in-person education at trailheads in the Adirondacks and Catskills during the hiking season.
Seggos also encourages visitors to follow "Leave No Trace” to promote ways to keep the outdoors clean and reduce the impact of pollution.
“We draw from their education from their resources but we also help to spread their message and educate people about what they’re trying to get out there,” said Eileen Mowrey, a master educator at “Leave No Trace.”
She said New Yorkers can help leave no trace by:
- Planning ahead and preparing
- Traveling and camping on durable surfaces
- Disposing of waste properly
- Leaving what they find
- Minimizing campfire impacts
- Respecting wildlife