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This year, add the Adirondacks to your wish list and support the six-million-acre Park that you love all year long. Instead of another scented candle or gift card, say thank you to those that introduced you to the Adirondacks and share your love for the Park with your family and friends with a donation or purchase that supports Adirondack conservation.

In October, the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) celebrated its 32nd Rally, an annual land conservation conference that brings thousands of conservationists together in a different city each year. And this year, Jackie Bowen the Council's Conservation Fellow attended Rally in Denver Colorado, and shares her first-time experience.

This Thursday, many of us will be sitting down with our family and friends to enjoy a big meal and good company. But before you sit down with your turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes, think about where exactly your food is coming from and what it took to bring your food from the field to your plate. This Thanksgiving season, we encourage you to buy local and support the many farms and businesses in the Adirondacks or in your local area.

As the holiday season is in full swing, the Adirondack Council staff would like to express our sincere thanks for the many generous donors, supporters and friends that make our work possible. With your help, we have worked together to keep the Adirondack Park a special place for families and friends to visit, live and cherish for over 40 years.

Adirondack News is a collection of the most current events taking place in New York’s Adirondack Park, a unique national treasure and legacy we inherited over 100 years ago, that we have to protect for future generations. Adirondack News aims to highlight both threats and opportunities concerning the Park’s ecological integrity, wild character and community vibrancy.

Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend a talk at the Keene Central School featuring the renowned ecologists, Jerry Jenkins. He spoke about climate change and his new project that has been five years in the making.

For over 30 years, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has used the Catch Rate Oriented Trout Stocking program to manage trout streams across the state. This uses the assumption that anglers prefer to catch-and-keep as many fish as possible. But through the decades, angler perspectives have shifted to more catch-and-release ideals and a willingness to catch fewer, larger and wilder fish than the generic eight-inch hatchery fish used in the DEC’s stocking program.

North Country School’s designated “out-time” gives students a unique opportunity to grow as individuals and thinkers. For an hour and a half, Monday through Friday, they learn from the land, each other and their community in a natural environment. Additionally, the school leads outdoor trips every Saturday. By hiking, rock climbing, and mountain biking, North Country School is encouraging their students to be comfortable in and maintain a respect for the outdoors.

Apple season is in full swing here in the Adirondacks and you’re likely to see farmers markets, stores, and peoples kitchens overflowing with bushels of local apples.This delicious fruit is a fall staple, but there is more than meets the eye in regards to its history and the impacts our changing climate could have on our apple crop.

This year New York voters will be asked to consider three ballot proposals on Election Day (Nov. 7). Two of the three should be very important to anyone who cares about the Adirondack Park. Proposal One will ask whether voters wish to hold a Constitutional Convention. Proposal Three, is a Constitutional Amendment that would create a modest land bank for Adirondack community health and safety projects.