Protect hemlock trees from an invasive pest this winter!
Event Description:
Learn to identify, survey, and report hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) through a unique learning series running from December 2025 to March 2026. HWA is an invasive insect that kills hemlock trees. Hemlock trees are a large majority of our forest tree species and provide many ecological benefits. You can help protect hemlock trees by surveying for and reporting sightings of HWA.
Learning Series Overview:
To get the full experience out of the learning series, participants are encouraged to join sessions 1 and 2 before attending the HWA survey hikes.
Register to attend any or all sessions
Before attending any of the sessions, participants should follow these steps:
Session 1: December 5th, 2025, 1-2:30 PM: HWA and iMapInvasives webinar.
Topics Covered:
- HWA overview, impacts, and distribution in the SLELO region
- iMapInvasives mobile app and desktop version tutorial
- Adopt a trail to survey for HWA
Session 2: December 18th, 2025, 12:45-2 PM: Field trip to view HWA at Independence Park, located off Rikers Beach Road in Oswego, NY. (Google Map)
- See HWA in person
- Practice using the iMapInvasives mobile app
- Learn about HWA biocontrol efforts in the SLELO region
Join HWA Surveys from 10 AM to 12 PM on the following dates. Join one or more surveys.
- January 22, 2026– Salmon River Falls, 185 Falls Road, Richland, NY (Google map)
- In the event of bad weather, we’ll postpone this hike to 1/23
- February 5, 2026- Trenton Greenbelt Trail, 7905 Wood Rd, Holland Patent, NY 13354 (Google map)
- In the event of bad weather, we’ll postpone this hike to 2/6
- March 5, 2026- Forest Park, Ripley Rd, Camden, NY 13316 (Google map)
- In the event of bad weather, we’ll postpone this hike to 3/6