NEWS

Around 100 community members participated in WLC's "How is the Sawkill?" event March 14. One of the clearest takeaways was that understanding the Sawkill means looking at it from many angles. Through mapping, ecological data, personal memory and art, the creek comes into focus not just as a waterway but as a relationship shaped by place and community. As Judy Abbott shared, the Munsee Lenape understood waterways not as human-centered resources but as living relationships among all beings. That perspective reminds us that caring for the Sawkill is about stewardship and reciprocity. A video of excerpts from the event will be available in the coming weeks.

The exhibit of the Happy Trails Photo Contest submissions, which opened March 7, runs through April 5 in the Community Gallery of CPW: The Center for Photography at Woodstock. WLC was one of the sponsoring organizations for the contest, which celebrates the Ashokan Rail Trail.

As part of our 2026 program theme "Ecologies of Water," WLC is excited to present “Know Your Watershed,” a monthly series designed to deepen our understanding of water in the Woodstock and eastern Catskills areas. Be sure to check back during the first week of each month to learn with us.

Our "Ecologies of Water" program slate for 2025 as well as our collaboration with the "Mapping the Sawkill" project got global attention when the Drinkable Rivers organization featured WLC staff member Miranda Javid in an interview on its website. Drinkable Rivers is based in The Netherlands and its focus is on working toward a world where water from rivers is clean enough to drink.

The Woodstock Land Conservancy's support for extending a shared-use rail trail through the undesignated section of the U&D Corridor from the Ashokan Rail Trail to Kingston received coverage in the November issue of the Chronogram.

Two of our preserves with public trails served as interactive classrooms for dozens of outdoor enthusiasts who were brought to the Hudson Valley by national retailer REI. They took a geological tour at Sloan Gorge and identified mushrooms at Israel Wittman Sanctuary before discussing the Leave No Trace concepts.

Woodstock Land Conservancy is thrilled to have been selected as the top Environmental Organization of the Year by Chronogram readers!

Our staff is proud to honor a volunteer each month for dedicated service to our stewardship initiatives, educational programs, advocacy campaigns and/or special events.