Through our Friends of the Forest program, we organize activities and trainings as part of our Volunteer Stewardship Agreements with NY DEC covering Basswood Pond State Forest, Arnold Lake State Forest, and Milford State Forest.  

We host one large training for volunteers each year, usually in late spring or early summer. We are also available to train others as needed. All of our volunteers are taught the do’s and don’t of maintaining trails, including how to properly and safely use loppers, pruning saws, hand pruners, bow saws and/or folding saws. After the training, volunteers are assigned a small section of trail to visit throughout the year and maintain. Volunteers report their hours and give us condition reports throughout the year.  

Interested in adopting a trail? Use the link or email volunteer@occainfo.org to organize a training.