DATE: Saturday, May 2-3, 2026
LOCATION: The Lodge at Schroon Lake
Something is happening in your forest and your rivers and lakes that you may not be able to see — yet.
Changes are unfolding beneath the canopy, in the currents of your rivers and lakes, and in the soil beneath your feet. Some are signs of resilience. Some are warnings. All of them matter — to you, to your community/organization and to the land you've chosen to steward.
We're gathering May 2&3 to explore all of it together — the threats, the opportunities, and the path forward.
Here’s how the weekend unfolds…….
Saturday, May 2
Meet and reconnect with fellow private landowners and environmental friends over an evening that sets the stage for everything that follows.
Join us for cocktails at The Bevy, at The Lodge at Schroon Lake, followed by dinner in the High Peaks Ballroom.
After dinner, Brad Edmondson, author of A Wild Idea: How the Environmental Movement Tamed the Adirondacks, will give an exclusive first look at his upcoming book, Adirondack Green: The Struggle to Save America’s Greatest Park. Based on interviews with over 100 North Country leaders, Brad tells the dramatic story of how conflicts between Adirondack private landowners and conservationists helped shape a worldwide conservation movement — from our backyard to Chile, Rwanda, and beyond
Sunday May 3 - Forests, Waters and the road ahead
Our one-day conference in the High Peaks Ballroom brings together private landowners and organizations of the region to explore changes happening from the canopy to below the water surface. Through expert presentations and shared conversations, we'll examine the unseen forces shaping our forests and waters — from the legacy of old-growth stands to the complexities of stream and lake habitats — and explore the monitoring and tools essential to thoughtful private stewardship today.
Doors open at 8:00 a.m. and the program begins at 9:00 a.m. The day concludes at 3:00 p.m. Free parking is available on site.
Forestry Session: From Pre-Forest to Old Growth: Understanding the Whole Forest
What makes a truly healthy forest — and what does the future hold for private landowners in our region? This session takes a sweeping look at the forest across all its stages, from the earliest successional growth to the enduring complexity of old-growth stands. We'll explore the advantages each stage brings, the forces driving change in our forests today, and why privately held forestland offers a unique and powerful opportunity: to look deeper, act differently, and do more.
Private landowners aren't just stewards of trees —we're caretakers of dynamic, evolving systems. By understanding the whole forest, from soil and understory to the canopy and the wildlife it sustains, we can make more informed decisions that benefit both their land and the broader landscape.
Our panel of experts includes:
Dr. Ali Kosiba, Extension Assistant Professor of Forestry, University of Vermont (moderator)
Chris Liazos, Extension Forestry Outreach Coordinator, University of Vermont
Dr. Charles Canham, Senior Scientist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
Sara Hart, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Andy Cortese, New York Natural Heritage Program
Mike Federice, Adirondack Forest Properties Manager, SUNY ESF
Suzanne Treyger, Audubon Society
Our midday break brings the opportunity to network with presenters and attendees.
LUNCH Included with your conference ticket
Water Session: From Chemistry to Restoration: What Are Our Waters Telling Us?
Our waters are speaking — through chemistry, temperature, biology, and the life they support. This session dives beneath the surface to explore what's changing in our lakes and streams, and what those changes mean for the health of aquatic ecosystems and the people who depend on them.
We'll examine the science of water chemistry to better understand phenomena like lake browning and rising water temperatures, and trace the ripple effects those shifts have on aquatic life — with a particular focus on native trout populations. We'll also discuss the critical value of monitoring and research conducted on private water bodies, and why that privately held data matters more than ever. The session will close by looking at the importance of strengthening riparian buffer zones, especially as increasingly intense weather patterns put vulnerable shorelines and streambanks under growing pressure.
Our panel of experts includes:
• Sunita Halasz, Clean Water Community Advocate, Adirondack Council (moderator)
• Maureen Cunningham, Adirondack Water Institute
• Connor Reeve, Postdoctoral Associate, Natural Resources and the Environment Section, Cornell University
• Kevin Rose, Darrin Freshwater Institute
PLEASE NOTE: Accommodations are NOT included in the event pricing. We hope that you will join us Saturday night for happy hour and dinner. You will need to make your room reservation directly with The Lodge at Schroon Lake - 518-987-0708, and reference the Adirondack Landowners Association. We do have a block of rooms reserved so be sure to tell them you are with our group. There are multiple accommodation styles to choose from so prices vary.
Other options for accommodations include:
The Adirondack Inn - 1051 Rt 9, Schroon Lake 518-743-1665
Lakeview Inn - 895 Rt 9, Schroon Lake 518-791-3578
The Lodge at Loon Lake - 5381 Rt 8, Chestertown 518-494-2211
Maple Leaf Motel - 1370 Rt 9, Schroon Lake 518-532-7474
Rowe's Cabins of Schroon Lake - 1328 Rt. 9, Schroon Lake 518-532-7298
Schroon Lake Motel and Cabins - 518-351-0165
Lake Paradox Club - 518-578-8280
In addition, there are many options off I87 from Exit 18 (Glens Falls) -23 (Warrensburg)
***Sunday breakfast is on your own. The Lodge at Schroon Lake will be serving breakfast from 7:00AM - 10:00AM
Whether you are an individual owner, member of a club, part of a multi-generational landownership, or a forest professional this conference offers practical insights and valuable connections to help you become a more effective steward of your land.
Register today to secure your place among forward-thinking private landowners committed to preserving our forests for generations to come.
