The Power of Partnerships
Parks & Trails New York, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation are pleased to announce that the Statewide Friends Gathering is returning to scenic Lake George in September 2026.
Held every other year, this statewide convening brings together Friends groups and public lands champions from across New York to connect, learn, and share ideas that strengthen parks, historic sites, greenway trails, and public lands–with a shared commitment to expanding access, fostering belonging, and building inclusive partnerships.
September 18–19, 2026 | Lake George, NY
Registration Opens March 17
Check back here for updates, and feel free to reach out with any questions.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Fort William Henry Conference Center and Hotel for two days of learning, connection, and celebration of the incredible work Friends groups do across New York.
Call for Presentations
We welcome proposals across a wide range of topics—from improving visitor experiences and strengthening organizational capacity to launching new Friends groups and building leadership.
Whether you represent a small, volunteer-led effort or a larger organization, we invite you to share lessons learned, practical tools, challenges, and innovative approaches that can help strengthen Friends groups statewide.
If you’re not interested in presenting but have ideas for speakers or topics you’d like to see, please email friends@ptny.org.