DEC hosts a free webinar on accessible outdoor recreation — Wednesday, July 29

New York’s state lands offer a lot to do outdoors — camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, and birding — and the state is working to make more of it reachable for people with disabilities. Two things from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are worth a spot on your calendar this week.

A free webinar — Wednesday, July 29

On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., DEC is hosting a public webinar, Accessible Outdoor Recreation for People With Disabilities. It’s open to anyone, at no cost.

The session will walk through how DEC’s programs, policies, and planning are improving accessibility, and will discuss ways people with disabilities can get outdoors — or advocate for better access where it’s lacking. DEC notes it’s useful for anyone interested in outdoor accessibility, including people advising others on where and how to enjoy the outdoors.

• Register (Zoom): webinar sign-up

A new statewide map of accessible destinations

DEC has also added an interactive Accessible Recreation Destinations Map to its website, so people can find accessible opportunities across the state — wheelchair-accessible features at education centers, campgrounds, and day-use areas; waterway access sites; trails; and more.

• Find destinations near you: DEC Accessible Recreation Destinations
• Open the interactive map: statewide accessibility map

For Speigletown, that’s a practical tool: we sit right along the Hudson River, with state lands and waterway access within an easy drive. If you — or someone you help — have been unsure whether a trail, launch, or campground would work, the map is a good first stop for checking what’s actually accessible before you go.

Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Details and registration are on DEC’s official channels; confirm the date and time there before attending.