New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week 2026

New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week (#NYISAW) is June 8th- 14th!

The mission of the New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (NYISAW) is to promote knowledge and understanding of invasive species and the harm they can cause. We want to empower YOU to stop the spread of invasive species!

Organizations across all of New York State are offering a variety of engaging events, such as interpretive hikes, volunteer days, webinars, movie screenings, and fun family activities! By participating in NYISAW, you can help protect your community’s natural spaces, learn about the emerging invasive species, meet your neighbors, get outdoors, and even win prizes!

We hope you join us! Find an event near you below. Hosting an event? Contact your local PRISM to get on the events calendar.

PRISM

PRISM

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Invasive Species Identification Training & Guided Walk

In-Person, Guided Hike/Paddle
10:00 am 
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Id-ing Invasives

Education, In-Person, Talk
10:00 am 

Trail Survey Training

In-Person, Training
9:30 am 
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PRISM

PRISM

Type

Event Type
Invasive Species Identification Training & Guided Walk
June 2, 2026
 - June 2, 2026
| Humes Preserve
10:00 am
- 11:00 am
Join LIISMA and the North Shore Land Alliance for a guided invasive species walk at the Humes Preserve, where participants will discover how to spot invasive plants and learn about the challenges they pose to our local ecosystems. It’s a great opportunity to connect with nature and support conservation efforts close to home during New...
Trail Survey Training
June 6, 2026
 - June 6, 2026
| Humphrey Nature Center/ Letchworth State Park
9:30 am
- 12:00 pm
Leading up to NYISAW, WNY PRISM will be hosting our annual Trail Survey Training! If you enjoy hiking in western New York and want to turn your time on the trails into meaningful conservation work, then this is for you! Join WNY PRISM’s Trail Survey Program and help map invasive species while spending time outdoors....
Id-ing Invasives
June 6, 2026
 - June 6, 2026
| Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve
10:00 am
- 11:30 am
Learn about the invasive plant species of Western New York and how to identify them, followed by a walk to test your skills! Anyone interested can sign up at the link below or by calling the Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center at (716) 683-5959. The event is family friendly.
Trail Survey Challenge
June 8, 2026
 - June 14, 2026
8:00 am
- 9:00 pm
After attending our Trail Survey Training at Letchworth State Park — or if you joined a previous year’s training — we invite you to take the next step during New York Invasive Species Awareness Week by participating in our Trail Survey Challenge! This is your chance to turn your hiking time into meaningful conservation action....
Water Chestnut Pull
June 8, 2026
 - June 8, 2026
| Massaqua Lake
9:30 am
- 12:30 pm
Get ready to roll up your sleeves! The Long Island Invasive Management Area (LIISMA) is teaming up with NYSDEC for a Water Chestnut Pull at Massapequa Preserve, and we want YOU out on the water with us! We’ll be hand pulling water chestnut to help protect our freshwater ecosystems, support native species, and keep these...
SLELO Bioblitz Prepping Session
June 8, 2026
 - June 8, 2026
| Zoom meeting
12:00 pm
- 12:30 pm
SLELO PRISM is hosting an exclusive Zoom session on June 8th (12:00 PM–12:30 PM) for registered participants of their BioBlitz at Lakeview WMA on June 13th. The quick meeting will walk attendees through setting up an iNaturalist account and joining the official “NY Bioblitz 26” project so they are prepared for the event. Only those...
Boquet River Nature Preserve Invasive Species Training
June 8, 2026
 - June 8, 2026
| Boquet River Nature Preserve
10:00 am
- 2:00 pm
To kick off New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week, APIPP staff will lead an educational walk at Boquet River Nature Preserve that will focus on how to identify and manage some of the most common invasive plants including honeysuckle, knotweed, and barberry. The walk is a great training for professionals and the public alike to learn the...
Walk and Talk: Akron Falls Park
June 9, 2026
 - June 9, 2026
| Akron Falls Park
5:30 pm
- 7:30 pm
Lace up your shoes and join us outside! WNY PRISM’s Walk & Talk Series is a fun and easy way to explore nature, learn about invasive species, and discover how we can all help protect the natural spaces around us. Join WNY PRISM and Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry at Akron Falls Park to...
Aquatic Invasive Species 101: Threats to Our Waterways and How to Stop Them
June 9, 2026
 - June 9, 2026
| Saratoga Springs Public Library, Dutcher Community Room
6:00 pm
- 7:30 pm
An in-person presentation for adults on the basics of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Topics covered will include an introduction to invasive species and their characteristics, common aquatic invaders in Saratoga and how to identify them, new/emerging invasive species, and a basic overview of management strategies. No registration required. NOTE: The Saratoga Springs Public Library parking...
Guided Invasive Species Walk at West Meadow Beach
June 9, 2026
 - June 9, 2026
| West Meadow Beach
11:00 am
- 12:00 pm
Join Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA) partners GEI and the Town of Brookhaven for a Guided Invasive Walk at West Meadow Beach! Learn about how invasive species impact local ecosystems, identify various invasive plants, and engage in discussions about conservation. This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts and anyone interested in environmental stewardship.