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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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
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.
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...
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....
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...
Forest Stewards Guild’s Sustaining Ash Partners Network (SAP-Ne) Demonstration Site Tour: Brasher State Forest
June 11, 2026
 - June 11, 2026
| Brasher State Forest - SAP-Ne Demonstration Site
9:30 am
- 2:00 pm
Collaborative stewardship at Brasher State Forest has served as a model for effective ash management, inclusion of Tribal cultural practices, and proactive forest pest management, which made Brasher State Forest an ideal location for SAP-Ne’s demonstration site network. These sites are hands-on classrooms where practitioners and stewards can see firsthand the positive outcomes of thoughtful...
Love Your Lakes and Lands
June 11, 2026
 - June 11, 2026
| Dewey Mountain Recreation Center
4:00 pm
- 8:00 pm
Gather to celebrate the start of summer with local organizations, just in time for New York’s Invasive Species Awareness Week! Love Your Lakes and Lands is a free, family friendly event that will offer many fun, educational opportunities for attendees of all ages to learn about how they can do their part to protect the...
Green Drinks: NYISAW Edition
June 11, 2026
 - June 11, 2026
| duende at Silo City
5:30 pm
- 8:30 pm
Celebrate New York Invasive Species Awareness Week with a casual social gathering! Meet local environmental folks, connect with your community and learn how we can protect WNY’s ecosystems — together. This event is hosted by WNY PRISM and Buffalo Green Drinks.
Wilderness Crew Days
June 11, 2026
 - June 11, 2026
| Pound Ridge
3:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
The Wilderness Crew will help WLT staff on Thursdays throughout the year to maintain the preserve’s seven miles of trails, remove invasive species, and plant trees. You’ll learn to identify native and invasive vegetation, fix common trail issues, gain new skills in habitat restoration, and connect with nature. Come along with Conservation Technician Stella and...