In mid-June, New york city state revealed two initiatives targeted at getting New Yorkers out and engaged with nature: one concentrates on outdoor-related photography, the other on birding. Both deal rewards and are open for participation till October.The photography program is called the 2022 Outdoor Picture Contest. It is a joint effort by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Conservation and the Department of Environmental Preservation (DEC), in partnership with ReserveAmerica.com, powered by Aspira, an online camping reservation system used throughout the state. The program is intended to” highlight the very best of
New york city’s natural beauty and special destinations among New York’s state camping areas and parklands,”according to a declaration released by the state. Winning images will be featured in future print and digital state campaigns. Images do not need to be brand new. Pictures taken in between June 15, 2020, and Oct. 15
, 2022, are eligible. State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid acknowledged that the pandemic years have drawn high numbers of visitors to New York’s parks.”We encourage people who’ve recorded their special moments and memories in our scenic outdoors to
submit their favorite images, and we remind visitors preparing brand-new field trip and overnight trips in our parks and camping areas this season to share those enjoyable adventures too,”stated Kulleseid. The picture contest is open until Oct. 15, with six classifications open for submissions: camping life; seasonal spectacular; action and experience
; hiking; views and vistas; and making memories. According to the state, entries will be evaluated on requirements including creativity, creative structure, technical quality, and whether the photograph showcases the best of New york city State Parks camping and outside activities. A number of prizes are readily available to winners of the contest, consisting of a grand prize of a$1,000 REI gift card, a four-person
tent, a 2023 Empire Pass, and a$250 NY outdoor camping gift card. 6 individual category winners will each receive a $250 REI present card, a 2023 Empire Pass, and a $100 NY camping gift card. Winning images will be included in the 2023 New York State Camping Guide and will be used in statewide promotions on social networks, websites and in print publications.
In 2018, a similar contest amassed 5,200 entries. Full contest rules, and pictures that have actually been gone into up until now, can be found online. The other program, called I BIRD NY, is an obstacle
to get out and see the state’s different types of birds. The state is likewise motivating making use of the New york city State Birding Trail, a number of areas of which lie in the Hudson Valley. Related: Columbia Land Conservancy launches treking difficulty New York is home to 450 various bird species throughout the year. Under the umbrella of I BIRD NY, there are 2 programs open
till mid-October: the beginners birding challenge and the skilled birding obstacle. The former is open to New york city state homeowners ages 16 and under and is a quest to find the 10 most common New York birds. The latter doesn’t have an age restriction noted on its kind and is a difficulty to discover 10 or more New york city birds. Entries can be sent by mail or emailed up until Oct. 14. All individuals will receive a printable certificate of participation and will be entered into a random drawing for a possibility to win
birding accessories. Those devices consist of binoculars and an identifying scope, considered a grand prize. The state is utilizing the contest as an opportunity to highlight New York State Birding Trail sites. Any entry in which half of the birds are recognized at a NYS Birding Trail site will receive a double entry into the
random drawing. A number of such sites are located in the Hudson Valley and Capital Area. “No matter where you live, birdwatching is a fun, simple, budget-friendly activity that can be enjoyed by people of any ages, abilities, identities, and backgrounds, “stated DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, in an announcement about the program.
“This summer is a great time to start birding or take your birding skills to the next level by observing birds in the varied variety of environments and locations the New York State Birding Trail uses.”