Despite a light rain and threatening skies, almost 60 volunteers helped during Reinstein Woods “Earth Day in May” service day. Reinstein Woods’ volunteers, Buffalo AmeriCorps volunteers, and University at Buffalo fraternity Alpha Kappa Chi eagerly helped with service projects at Reinstein Woods. Volunteers removed trash from wetlands, repaired deer exclosures, maintained the trails, and planted trees. Volunteers also wrapped trees to protect them from beaver damage along the newly opened West Pond trail.

Thank you to all the volunteers!

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In celebration of Earth Day, DEC Regional Director Abby Snyder announced today the opening of additional trails at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Cheektowaga.

“Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center is a designated New York State Watchable Wildlife site, where wildlife viewing opportunities abound,” said DEC Regional Director Abby Snyder. “By providing access to more trails at Reinstein Woods, we are pleased that the public will have more opportunities to view birds, mammals and other wildlife in this suburban setting. With the addition of these trails, there are now about 3.5 miles of trails available at Reinstein Woods for the public to enjoy from sunrise to sunset.”

“Our visitors have repeatedly asked for more trails to explore on their own,” said Reinstein Woods Center Director Meaghan Boice-Green. “In keeping with the property’s management plan, we are opening more of the gravel road system built by Dr. Reinstein for people to enjoy at their own pace.”

Unlike other trails open to the public at Reinstein Woods, these trails do not contain wayside signs or posts with information about the trail’s natural features. The trails provide a chance to commune with nature with fewer man-made distractions.

The new trails at Reinstein Woods total about a mile in length and open up the western end of the preserve to exploration by the public. Two trails make adjacent loops and provide views of West Pond and Lower Pond, ponds built by Dr. Victor Reinstein in the first half of the twentieth century. The trails can be reached from the north end of Hidden Pond trail, a short trail opened about two years ago, and end at an intersection near the Champion Beech tree, the largest forest-grown beech tree in New York State.

Trails at Reinstein Woods are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve is located at 93 Honorine Drive, off of Como Park Boulevard in Cheektowaga. To learn more about Reinstein Woods, call 683-5959, or visit DEC’s website.

Pull. Weigh. Win:

Volunteers needed for fourth annual

“Garlic Mustard Challenge” to remove invasive species

Get outside this spring with an exciting volunteer opportunity to help make the local ecosystem healthier! Sign up your scout troop, volunteer organization, friends or family for the “Garlic Mustard Challenge”!  Garlic mustard is an invasive species that is negatively impacting the environment here in Western New York.  Fortunately, garlic mustard is easy to recognize and remove, which is where YOU come in! Last year, hundreds of volunteers removed more than 4,000 pounds of garlic mustard in Western New York.  Volunteers can sign up to combat this invasive species at four locations: Beaver Meadow Audubon Center in North Java, the Land Conservancy’s Kenneglenn in Wales, Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve in Depew or the Lewiston Plateau Habitat Area in Lewiston.

Teams will be challenged to pull the most garlic mustard from their site between April 12, 2014 and June 12, 2014. All teams are invited to an informational “kickoff event” at Reinstein Woods on April 12^th at 11:00 a.m. Attendance at this event is not mandatory. Prizes will be awarded to the teams that pull the most garlic mustard at each site.  This is a perfect opportunity for people of almost any age or ability to make a difference. Interested volunteers must register their team for any of the “pull sites” by calling Cara Politi at Reinstein Woods (716) 683-5959 x210. For more information, search “Garlic Mustard Challenge” on Facebook.

Reinstein Woods is now included in the New York State Inclusive Recreation Resource Center’s online database.  This database provides information about physical accessibility and social inclusion of recreation areas, facilities, parks, and programs from around the state of New York. Visit the accessibility database here.

“Kids in the Woods” Summer Day Camps at Reinstein Woods are back for 2014! Every day will be filled with hands-on nature explorations, crafts, and games. Kids will explore the world of the pond, investigate animals, discover natural wonders and more.

Register by March 31, 2014 to receive $10 off your registration fee!

For information on camp schedules and fees, or to download a registration form, visit the summer camps page.

You’ve heard about local areas (like Reinstein Woods) where the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been detected, but do you know how to look for signs and symptoms of an EAB infestation in ash trees on your property or in your community?

If EAB has been detected in your community and you have ash trees, what action should you take? Planning is a key step for those with ash trees, whether a homeowner, woodlot owner, or municipality.

“EAB Biology and BioSurveilance Using Woodpeckering,” a workshop offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, will take place Saturday, March 22 from 9:45 am to noon at Reinstein Woods. Participants will learn about the issues surrounding EAB and the economics of addressing an infestation.

Come prepared to be outdoors for the last half hour of the workshop. Part 2 of the workshop will be held in June.

RSVP by March 19 to Sharon Bachman at 716-652-5400 x150 or sin2@cornell.edu.

More than 200 people enjoyed Winter Wonderland at Reinstein Woods this past Saturday.  Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing were very popular activities. Younger visitors particularly enjoyed the snow maze, snow painting, and winter crafts. Visitors also learned about ice fishing equipment, cut holes in the ice, and staged pictures with jigging rods that are used for ice fishing. This was a great event for making the most out of winter. If we missed you this year, we hope you will join us next year!

Friends of Reinstein Woods, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), is renting snowshoes and cross-country skis to the general public at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve on several Sundays this winter.

Weather permitting, snowshoes and skis will be available between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. on four Sundays: January 19, February 2, February 16, and February 23, 2014. The fee is $5 per pair of skis or snowshoes. Members of Friends of Reinstein can rent for the discounted rate of $2 per pair. Friends of Reinstein will accept only cash on Sundays.

Visitors can also rent snowshoes and cross-country skis during Reinstein Woods’ normal business hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. During regular business hours, credit cards can be used for rentals totaling $10 or more.

Reinstein Woods is located at 93 Honorine Drive, off of Como Park Boulevard in Depew. The nature preserve has several miles of wide, relatively level trails through forests and wetlands, providing an ideal location to try snowshoes or cross-country skiing for the first time. In addition, Reinstein Woods also offers many “Learn to Ski” and guided snowshoe experiences during the winter months. For a schedule of events, visit www.dec.ny.gov or call Reinstein Woods at (716) 683-5959.