Since 2021, Morgan Duke Conservation Society has been partnering with Minnewaska State Park and Sam’s Point in Kerhonkson and Cragsmoor to help protect the environment, wildlife, and its habitat from impacts of littering. Morgan Duke Conservation Society currently has volunteers that visit Minnewaska State Park in the spring and summer months helping the park staff remove litter off the trails, near Lake Minnewaska and the Lake Minnewaska beach. Morgan Duke Conservation Society has dedicated volunteers who travel long distances and also volunteers who live near the park to volunteer a few times a week in the summer to help protect the park preserve so visitors can enjoy visiting without having to see litter along the trails or other areas of the preserve.

Many of Morgan Duke Conservation Society volunteers do interact with visitors on the trails and near the beach, speaking with them about Morgan Duke Conservation Society’s goal to see Minnewaska State Park and Sam’s Point a place free of litter and at the same time educate the public that this is a carry-in carry-out park since there are no trash cans. Volunteers also remind visitors not to throw cigarette butts on the ground as it can cause wildfires and over the years there has been many wildfires in Minnewaska State Park and Sam’s Point.

This year Morgan Duke Conservation Society is looking for individuals, families, hikers, middle school, high school, and college students to help volunteer at Sam’s Point Area in Cragsmoor, NY. Volunteers will help with picking up litter. The areas of patrol for litter will correspond to the areas of the park with highest visitation — the Loop Road, Sam’s Point Overlook Area, Ice Caves Road, and Ice Caves trail. To learn more about Morgan Duke Conservation Society, visit morganduke.ngo and questions regards to volunteering at Sam’s Point can be emailed to volunteer.office@morgandukecs.ngo.

James Sullivan, President

Morgan Duke Conservation Society

Newburgh