Our newly established Environmental Stewards Club met with an environmental educator from the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP) on May 3rd at Max V. Shaul State Park. Stewards learned about the environmental harm caused by the spread of invasive species, particularly the Spotted Lanternfly: a non-native insect that has been documented in surrounding counties but has not yet been officially documented in Schoharie County. Students learned how to identify the Spotted Lanternfly and its egg masses, then were trained to use iMapInvasives, the official online, collaborative invasive species database for NY.
Fortunately, no evidence of the Spotted Lanternfly was observed! The club has adopted a grid at Max V. Shaul, committing to continue to monitor and report data on the Spotted Lanternfly population in Schoharie County every year. This will be a great opportunity for the club members to participate in an on-going, meaningful, and real-world environmental project.
