Great Lakes Crayfish Monitoring Workshop
2025-09-05 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Buffalo State Great Lakes Center Field Station, 196 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14201
To increase crayfish monitoring capacity across the Great Lakes basin, Michigan State University and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant are partnering to offer four full-day workshops designed for natural resource management agencies and conservation professionals located throughout the Great Lakes states. These workshops aim to strengthen regional coordination and improve crayfish identification in both wild populations and the live trade. Workshops will be led by expert aquatic ecologists and crayfish professionals.
Participants will learn how to identify high-priority crayfish species through hands-on activities, crayfish introduction pathways and regulations, state-specific reporting lines and rapid response efforts, and common crayfish sampling techniques, with the option to practice in the field at a nearby waterbody.
Workshop Dates & Locations:
Friday, September 5 (Buffalo, NY) – in partnership with WNY PRISM and the Great Lakes Center
Buffalo State Great Lakes Center Field Station, 196 Porter Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14201 – 25 spots
Wednesday, October 1 (St. Charles, IL)
Creek Bend Nature Center, 37W700 Dean St, Saint Charles, IL 60175 – 35 spots
Thursday, October 2 (Jackson, MI)
Cascades Manor, 1970 Kibby Rd, Jackson, MI 49203 – 35 spots
Tuesday, October 7 (Lanesboro, MN)
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center, 28097 Goodview Dr, Lanesboro, MN 55949 – 35 spots
Cost: Free–Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Registration Deadline: Two weeks before each workshop date.
Open to Great Lakes natural resource agency staff and conservation professionals.
What to bring: Please bring a laptop, notebook, and water. If you plan on participating in the optional crayfish sampling, please dress for the weather and bring your own waders/knee boots/shoes you don’t mind getting wet.
REGISTER TODAY! https://forms.gle/oFdmKnSuWHQzbZfEA
Michigan State University Extension and Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant provide programs that are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, or veteran status. If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in programming, please contact Natalia Szklaruk at szklaruk@illinois.edu or by phone at 217-265-4021.

Antique & Classic Boat Show
2025-09-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Buffalo Launch Club, 503 E River Rd, Grand Island, New York, 14072
Shuffle Off To Buffalo for the 46th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show – Show is open to the public between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 6th with kid’s activities, antique & classic cars, vendors, field of dreams and lots to eat and drink!
Boats built on the Niagara Frontier will be highlighted and we will be celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Erie Canal.
The Seneca Chief, which is a replica canal packet boat that was constructed by The Buffalo Maritime Center, will be on display for tours before making its journey down the Erie Canal to New York City later in the month.

Identifying Invasive Plants: What to Look For
2025-09-09 18:30 - 20:00 | East Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, East Aurora, NY, 14052, United States
Gardeners keep a close eye on weeds trying to decide if they are seeing a common weed or an invasive species. Learn how to recognize and identify invasive plants such as garlic mustard, lesser celandine, mugwort, and common buckthorn in your garden and some management strategies.
This event is part of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County’s Master Gardener Fall Gardening Classes.
Registration is required at: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2025_FallGardeningClasses-2_214

Ecological Renovation Tour
2025-09-11 17:30 - 19:30 | Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo, NY, 14203, United States
Tifft Nature Preserve provides guests with an immersion in nature. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of how this is made possible through unique and innovative ecological renovation projects. We will explore projects along the trails, such as diverse native plantings, invasive species removal, and the preservation of our woodland and wetland habitats.
Ages 18+
Space is limited. Advance Registration required.
Click here to learn more and purchase tickets.

Local Environmental Awareness Fair
2025-09-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Boston Town Park, 8500 Boston State Road, Boston, New York, 14025
This annual fair is sponsored by the Town of Boston Conservation Advisory Council and highlights the many organizations and resources available to our greater community that provide education, services, or products related to conservation, wildlife, agriculture, the environment, or the outdoors. There will be activities, demonstrations and fun for the whole family! Stop by WNY PRISM’s table to learn about invasive species! Click here to learn more.

2025 New York State Invasive Species Expo
2025-09-14 - 2025-09-16 | Saratoga Spa State Park, 19 Roosevelt Drive, NY, 12866, United States
Join us for the 2025 NYS Invasive Species Expo! This is a unique conference focusing on invasive species, and will combine classic presentations and creative use of outdoor space to appeal to a wide range of attendees. The Expo will be hosted within the unique, historic architecture of beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park and will be open to the public with no cost for general attendance. The Expo will be an immersive, hands-on experience featuring:

Unique presentations
Interactive demonstrations
Hands-on workshops
Small-group discussions
Field trips & outdoor activities

Sunday, September 14th is the Expo’s Community Conservation Day, next to the Spa City Farmer’s Market! Join us to learn about the work that local organizations are doing to protect New York’s lands and waters. You can meet local conservation experts, participate in hands-on workshops, and even play games to win prizes! No registration is required to attend Community Conservation Day.
Monday, September 15th, and Tuesday, September 16th are the Expo Professional Days, where invasive species professionals and interested members of the public can register for presentations, workshops, field trips, and more.

Click here to learn more and register!

Reinstein Fall Festival
2025-09-20 10:00 - 16:00 | Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, 93 Honorine Dr, Depew, NY, 14043, United States
Enjoy the premier festival that celebrates all things nature and environment in WNY! Crafts for kids, live animals, hands-on activities, food, and more! No registration required.
Activities include:

Explore the Lily Pond
Win a prize with the Kid’s Scavenger Hunt
Visit our Rescue Turtles
Make a Nature Journal and nature crafts
Pitch a tent- as fast as you can!
Test your birding skills at the Spotting Scope Station
Test your outdoor know-how at the Leave No Trace Station
Enjoy fun activities with partner organizations including hoverball archery, fossil “digging,” and more!

Walks and talks will be scheduled throughout the day, including a drone demonstration by DEC Environmental Conservation Officers.
The NFTA Parks Adventure Bus is offering free transportation from the main terminal in Buffalo to the festival. Visit the NFTA website for more details.
Learn more at https://reinsteinwoods.org/events/25th-annual-fall-festival/.

Growing the Canopy
2025-09-21 12:00 - 18:00 | Island Park, 5565 Main Street, Williamsville, NY, 14221
Don’t miss this celebration of native plants and WNY ecosystems!
Growing the Canopy is a great way to get involved, excited and network with members of the ecological and conservation community in western New York! This family friendly event will include live demonstrations, speakers, non profits, native plant nurseries, speakers, eco-friendly vendors and artisans, food trucks, live music, raffles, and much, much, MORE!
Learn more here!

New York Statewide Invasive Species Speaker Series
2025-09-24 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-18 11:00 - 12:00
Each month, the NYS PRISM Network hosts the New York Statewide Invasive Speaker Series, which includes a different guest speaker each month. Instructions on joining are sent through the WNY PRISM listserv prior to the event.

Erie Canal Bicentennial Voyage
2025-09-25 15:00 - 19:00 | Medina Canal Basin, 1 Canal Basin, Medina, NY, 14103
On the morning of Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Buffalo Maritime Center’s replica of the Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will embark on its Bicentennial Voyage, commemorating Governor DeWitt Clinton’s historic 1825 journey from Buffalo to New York Harbor. A Buffalo Maritime Center crew, comprised of staff and volunteers, will navigate the 33-day voyage, departing from Buffalo’s Commercial Slip – the western terminus of the Erie Canal – and traveling to Pier 26 in New York City.
Along the way, the boat will dock at 28 ports (including the Medina Canal Basin on September 25!) along the Erie Canal and Hudson River before reaching New York City for the official commemoration of the canal’s opening – 200 years after Governor Clinton’s inaugural trip. This historic journey invites Buffalo and communities across New York State to honor the past while envisioning the future.
For a comprehensive look at the Bicentennial Voyage, click here to download the official BMC Bicentennial Voyage Guidebook.

WNY PRISM 2025 Walk and Talk Series: Moss Lake Preserve
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Moss Lake Preserve, 9149 Sand Hill Rd, Houghton, New York, 14744
WNY PRISM’s Walk and Talk Series is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy nature while learning about invasive species! Join us for one or all of them!
Our final Walk and Talk of the series will be held at Moss Lake Preserve on Saturday, September 27. This event is hosted by WNY PRISM in partnership with The Nature Conservancy.
Registration is greatly appreciated. Please register at https://bit.ly/2025walkandtalks. More information including directions, parking, meeting location and what to bring will be emailed to participants after they are registered. For questions, please contact wnyprism@buffalostate.edu.

Great Lakes Action Agenda Basin-Wide Work Group Kickoff Webinar
2025-10-15 15:00 - 16:30
The kickoff webinar will offer opportunities for partners to learn about and share basin-wide updates and receive an update on the Baseline Conditions Characterization. Learn more and register here.

Fall Partner Meeting
2025-10-16
WNY PRISM’s Fall Partner Meeting will be held on Thursday, October 16 at SUNY Buffalo State University’s Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center. More details soon!

Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council Conference
2025-10-20 08:00 - 2025-10-21 17:30 | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond, VA
The Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council (MAIPC) is dedicated to protecting the region’s natural landscapes, economy, and public health from the threat of invasive plants. Through leadership, collaboration, and the exchange of science-based information, MAIPC coordinates efforts across the Mid-Atlantic to address invasive species challenges.
This year’s biennial conference marks the Council’s first in-person gathering since the pandemic, bringing together experts and stakeholders from across sectors for two days of insight, innovation, and action on the most urgent ecological issues facing the region.
The 2025 Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council Conference attracts individuals from throughout the Mid-Atlantic seeking new techniques and inspiration to manage a diverse range of invasive species.
Learn more and register here!

Lake Erie Sub-Basin Work Group Meeting
2025-10-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Reservoir State Park, 5777 Witmer, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304
The Lake Erie Sub-Basin Work Group meeting will provide opportunities to hear sub-basin progress updates from NYSDEC and work group partners, learn about updates on the sub-basin work plans, network with work group members, and discuss upcoming funding and work group collaboration opportunities. Learn more and register here.

NAISMA 2025 Annual Conference
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-06 | Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Hwy 50, Stateline, NV, 89449
The 2025 NAISMA Annual Conference is headed to the breathtaking shores of Lake Tahoe!
Why Attend?
The NAISMA Annual Conference is your opportunity to connect with leading professionals, discover the latest innovations in invasive species management, and contribute to shaping the future of our field. From engaging keynotes to hands-on workshops, this event offers a rich program for attendees from diverse backgrounds.
Stay at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Experience comfort and convenience at our conference venue, with an unbeatable room rate of $59 per night. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe offers modern amenities, stunning mountain and lake views, and a range of dining and entertainment options to make your stay unforgettable.
Explore Lake Tahoe
While you’re here, take time to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe. From outdoor adventures to world-class dining, there’s plenty to explore before or after the conference.
Field Experiences
Multiple field experiences are available to enhance your conference experience. Note that field experiences will occur on the same day, please choose only one.
Click here to learn more and register.

Great Lakes Action Agenda Southwest Lake Ontario Sub-Basin Work Group Meeting
2025-11-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Letchworth State Park – Humphrey Nature Center, NY, United States
The Southwest Lake Ontario Sub-Basin Work Group meeting will provide opportunities to hear sub-basin progress updates from NYSDEC and work group partners, learn about updates on the sub-basin work plans, network with work group members, and discuss upcoming funding and work group collaboration opportunities. Learn more and register here.

Identification and Management of Invasive Vine Species
2025-11-05 13:00 - 14:00
Chris Evans (Extension Forester – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) will discuss the biology, impact, and management of some common invasive vines including roundleaf bittersweet, kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese yam, and wintercreeper.
Learn more here.
*** Please join the session 15 minutes prior to the start of the webinar. ***
Who should participate?
Foresters
Land Owners
Land Managers
Natural Resource Professionals
Students
Citizens
This webinar is sponsored by: Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF)

Doug Tallamy: Nature's Best Hope
2025-11-14 18:00 - 19:00 | Norton Hall – University at Buffalo, 170 Founders Promenade, Buffalo, NY, 14228
UB’s Department of Environment and Sustainability welcomes Dr. Doug Tallamy for the Orin Foster Distinguished Lecture on November 14!
Recent headlines about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. Such losses are not an option if we wish to continue our current standard of living on Planet Earth. The good news is that none of this is inevitable. Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can- and must- take to reverse declining biodiversity on our own properties and will explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.
Limited tickets available. Learn more and get your free tickets here.
Can’t make it in person? Watch on ZOOM

Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species Meeting
2025-11-18 - 2025-11-19 | Outdoor Adventure Center, 1801 Atwater Street, Detroit, Michigan, 48207
The Great Lakes Panel on Aquatic Nuisance Species identifies ANS priorities for the Great Lakes region, assists and makes recommendations to the federal Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, coordinates ANS program activities in the region and advises public and private interests on prevention and control efforts. The panel meets twice a year in locations around the Great Lakes basin. The Fall meeting will have hybrid options available. Learn more and register here.

Harnessing AI for Invasive Species Detection
2025-11-19 14:00 - 15:30
Join NAISMA for a dynamic webinar, Harnessing AI for Invasive Species Detection : Smart Traps, Drones, and Machine Learning in Action. This will showcase how artificial intelligence is transforming invasive species detection and monitoring across ecosystems. Through innovative applications like smart traps, drones, and machine learning, researchers and practitioners are unlocking new tools to manage biological invasions more effectively and efficiently.
Dr. Melissa Miller from the University of Florida will present her work on developing AI-powered smart traps designed to detect and remove invasive tegu lizards—large, fast-moving reptiles that threaten native wildlife and agriculture in the southeastern U.S. Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller from the University of Exeter will share his team’s research on using deep learning models to detect invasive hornets in real time, offering critical insights for rapid response and containment. Representing Ducks Unlimited Canada, Matthew Bolding and Mallory Carpenter will discuss their efforts to integrate drone technology and AI to monitor populations of European water chestnut, a fast-spreading aquatic invasive plant impacting wetland biodiversity and water quality.
This webinar will highlight how emerging technologies are being adapted and applied to meet the challenges of invasive species detection in the field—providing a glimpse into the future of smart conservation.
Register here.

Conservation Conversations - Best Native Plants for WNY Gardens
2025-12-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Black Rock Harbor Center, 52 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY, 14207
Featuring Ken Parker, CNLP, the Native Plant Guy
The Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust (BNRLT) Speaker Series brings together the community and experts to explore how we can reclaim and restore Western New York’s waterfronts.
Through these conversations, the BNRLT highlights their mission to clean, protect, and keep these places in trust—ensuring public access, environmental health, and community pride for generations to come.
Please register here.

NAISMA Annual Biocontrol Summit
2025-12-04 12:00 - 16:00
Successes in Biocontrol – Weed Management’s Silent Hero
This annual event shares the latest advances in classical weed biocontrol research with invasive plant managers and educators across North America, fostering connections between researchers and on-the-ground practitioners.
This year, the Classical Biocontrol Committee will highlight the often-overlooked successes of biocontrol—stories of meaningful impact that rarely make headlines. Our invited speakers include both broad-scope land managers and leading biocontrol experts, each sharing firsthand experiences of success—whether through measurable reductions in target weeds or through enhanced community engagement. With current decreases in funding, support, and federal biocontrol positions in the U.S., many potential future successes are at risk of being lost. These proven programs can serve as models for future programs and demonstrate the value of continued support for biocontrol efforts.
Register here.

International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference
2025-12-09 13:00 - 2025-12-10 17:00
The second International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference (IISCCC) is being organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network and will be hosted by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). Because biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices, expand networks and promote translational experiences. Some of the featured topics include management success stories, understanding and managing pathways, restoring to the future, early career research and more. Learn more and register for this free virtual event at https://www.risccnetwork.org/iisccc-2025.

Biocontrol Allies: Managing Spotted Lanternfly and Tree-of-heaven
2025-12-17 14:00 - 15:30
Spotted lanternfly and tree-of-heaven are closely linked invasive species that continue to threaten North American forests, agriculture and ecosystems. This webinar will explore promising biocontrol solutions aimed at managing these invasive pests.

Dr. Hannah Broadley (USDA APHIS): An update on the search for and use of natural enemies to manage spotted lanternfly.
Dr. Scott Salom (Virginia Tech): An introduction to tree-of-heaven and research on the use of weevils and fungi as biocontrol agents, including their potential for area-wide suppression.
Dr. Francesca Marini (BBCA): An overview of tree-of-heaven biology and the use of mite biocontrol in a North American context.

Tune in to learn about the prospects for integrating multiple agents and the future of managing these invasive species through emerging solutions to one of the most pressing invasive species challenges facing our forests, landscapes and communities.
Learn more and register here.

Conservation Conversations - Turning Gray to Green
2026-01-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Black Rock Harbor Center, 52 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY, 14207
Turning Gray to Green: Post-Industrial Restoration and Urban Ecological Connectivity in Buffalo, NY
Featuring Nicholas Henshue, M.S. Ph.D., Associate Professor of Ecology in UB’s Department of Environment and Sustainability, and SUNY Sustainability Fellow.
The Buffalo Niagara River Land Trust (BNRLT) Speaker Series brings together the community and experts to explore how we can reclaim and restore Western New York’s waterfronts.
Through these conversations, the BNRLT highlights their mission to clean, protect, and keep these places in trust—ensuring public access, environmental health, and community pride for generations to come.
Please register here.

WNY PRISM HWA Hunters Training
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Trillium Nature Center, 1610 Welch Rd, North Java, NY, 14113
The eastern hemlock is a foundation species in our forests, but it’s threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), a tiny insect with a big impact. Early detection is a great way to help slow the spread of HWA and you can help.
Become an HWA Hunter with WNY PRISM!
Join this training to learn how to identify, survey for and report HWA, and adopt a location to survey this winter. No experience needed!
Register at https://bit.ly/2026HWATraining.
Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Questions?
Contact Rachel Taylor, WNY PRISM Community Science & Engagement Program Manager at taylorrm@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-4708.

WNY PRISM HWA Stand Assessment Training
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Trillium Nature Center, 1610 Welch Rd, North Java, NY, 14113
Calling all HWA Hunters! Are you ready to level up your survey skills and make an even greater impact on hemlock conservation?
Join this hands-on training to learn how to assess the health of hemlock stands, document the extent of HWA populations, and provide critical data that guides future management and biocontrol efforts. Adopt a location to survey this winter and help make a difference!
Prior HWA survey experience is required.
Register at https://bit.ly/2026StandAssessments.
Deadline: Monday, January 12, 2026.
Questions?
Contact Rachel Taylor, WNY PRISM Community Science & Engagement Program Manager at taylorrm@buffalostate.edu or (716) 878-4708.
