Black Rock Forest

06/05/2026

Celebrate America250 at Black Rock Forest!

Join us for Legends and Lore of the Hudson Highlands with master storyteller Jonathan Kruk as he brings to life the history, legends, and spirit of our region through captivating tales of the Revolutionary War, the Great Chain, Storm King Mountain, and more.

📅 June 27
🕙 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Black Rock Forest
🎟️ $10 per person General Admission
📌 Space is limited and registration is required.

Register today: https://www.blackrockforest.org/blog/legends-and-lore

06/05/2026

Happy World Environment Day! In mindfulness of this, we want to highlight the College Biology students from Newburgh Enlarged City School District, NFA Main campus, led by Ms. Benson and Mr. Mayer, for joining us to plant 50 silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) seedlings!

These native shrubs were secured through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation School Seedling Program and are already making a big difference. By planting them near the Upper Reservoir, we are actively building a riparian corridor along the start of the BRF Educator’s Path.

It’s wonderful to see our local students contributing to the long-term health and biodiversity of our forest!

05/29/2026

Join us at Black Rock Forest for an engaging conversation with author Trent Preszler! We are honored to host Trent on Wednesday, June 24, from 6:30–7:30 PM, as he discusses his book, "Evergreen: The Trees That Shaped America."

Don't miss this opportunity to dive into the history and significance of the trees that have defined our landscape and culture.

📍 Where: Forest Lodge
📅 When: Wednesday, June 24, 6:30–7:30 PM

For more information, visit ​​https://www.blackrockforest.org/blog/evergreen-the-trees-that-shaped-america

05/22/2026

🐺🦅 Happy to announce new results from some of our bobcat ecology work! Work led by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and UC Santa Barbara reveals that wildlife doesn't just respond to how humans reshape their habitats — animals also react to the presence of people and their responses vary wildly by species.

We looked at GPS data from 37 species across the U.S. and human recreation use during COVID shutdowns to learn that many species shrank their range to avoid people, but others expanded their space use — possibly traveling farther to steer clear of humans. Ravens roamed more ground, likely taking advantage of human-linked food sources, while coyotes tended to pull back. Even more striking: individual animals showed the ability to adjust their behavior from year to year.

The takeaway for conservation is significant: protecting wildlife means thinking beyond habitat loss — it also means considering where and when people are physically present.

Paper links: https://science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq3396
Paper summary: https://science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adq3396
NYTimes write-up: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/21/science/anthropause-animals-pandemic.html?unlocked_article_code=1.kFA.glXq.oqpH6izTfIwq&smid=url-share

Photo: A bobcat encountering a deer skull in a dried creek bed in the Diablo Range east of San Jose, California. Credit: Loren Elliot for the The New York Times

05/21/2026

Thanks to everyone who gave for Hudson Valley Gives!

05/19/2026

Get ready—tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20, is the big day: Hudson Valley Gives!

We are so excited to participate and see our community come together to support the causes that keep our region thriving. Even better, your impact can go even further thanks to our generous corporate sponsors who are offering matching gift opportunities throughout the day!

Maximize your donation by giving during these specific times when your contribution could be matched:
* 12:00 PM
* 3:00 PM
* 5:00 PM
* 11:00 PM

Whether you choose to give during a match window or at any other time, every dollar supports our mission of conservation, research, and environmental education. Let’s show the power of our community—give where you live!

🔗 **Donate here: https://www.hvgives.org/organizations/black-rock-forest

05/14/2026

🌿✨ We are thrilled to be participating in Hudson Valley Gives again this year to support the local organizations that make our region thrive. While the official "Big Day of Giving" is May 20, 2026, the window to make an impact is open right now.

By "giving where you live," you directly support our mission of conservation, environmental research, and outdoor education. Whether it’s maintaining our trails, protecting wildlife habitats, or hosting local students for hands-on science, your generosity keeps the forest resilient.

How to help:
Early Giving: You don't have to wait! Donations are open today.
Spread the Word: Share this post to help us reach more neighbors.
Save the Date: Mark May 20th on your calendar for the main event!

Ready to make an impact? Visit our giving page here:
🔗 https://www.hvgives.org/organizations/black-rock-forest

05/08/2026

What’s living in our streams? 🔍 This spring, students have been diving deep into the world of benthic to get a firsthand look at the health of Black Rock Forest’s waterways.

The stars of the season? Stoneflies and mayflies! 🐛💧

These fascinating creatures are more than just "water bugs"—they are critical biological indicators. Both belong to Group One Taxa, a category of pollution-sensitive organisms that can only thrive in high-quality, clean water.

Finding them in such high abundance is a fantastic sign that our forest streams above and below Upper Reservoir are healthy and vibrant. It’s been a great season of hands-on science as students learn that sometimes the smallest residents have the biggest stories to tell about .

Photos:
-BRF staff assisting students with sorting and ID
-Macroinvertebrate station with sampled sorted by groups
-Stoneflies were abundant at our stream sites
-Mayflies were also abundant, note the gills on their abdomen
-Case-building caddisflies were found this season
-Larval Northern Red Salamander (Pseudotriton ruber) bycatch
-Free-living caddisfly larvae are usually more common a find, especially as they don’t have camouflage armor
-Inconspicuous water penny
-Always exciting to find dragonfly larva
-Alderfly larvae are less common, and easy to confuse with fishfly larvae

05/01/2026

Final call for tickets!

Join us for an afternoon of fascinating science and community support: "Small Birds, Extraordinary Memory: What Chickadees Reveal About the Brain".

A Benefit Luncheon for Black Rock Forest
Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Tavern on the Green, NYC

Dive into the incredible world of avian neurobiology and learn how these tiny forest residents provide incredible opportunities for neuroscience research. Your attendance directly supports our mission of conservation, research, and outdoor education.

🎟 Get your tickets today: https://www.blackrockforest.org/benefit2026

04/24/2026

Spring is in full bloom, and our Spring 2026 Newsletter is officially here! 🌿📖 Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

✍️ Seeing the Forest for the Stories: We welcomed graduate students from Columbia University School of the Arts for a deep dive into "landscape as narrative."

💧 Watershed Moments: Forest Historian John Brady explores over a century of water stewardship and our vital partnership with the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson.

🦎 Dragonflies & Discovery: Go waist-deep into the pond with our visiting American Museum of Natural History researchers to learn about the fascinating evolution of dragonfly reproduction.

Plus, catch up on Forest News in Brief, including a recap of our snowy winter, Earth Day highlights, and details on our upcoming Annual Benefit Luncheon at Tavern on the Green! 🥂✨

Read the full issue:

Seeing the Forest for the Stories:A Field Visit from Columbia University’s MFA Program In mid-February, a class of graduate students from my FIELD seminar in the MFA Writing Program at […]