Inclusive wildlife viewing programs: A case study of Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, New York

Abstract

State wildlife agencies historically engage with hunters and anglers, yet these activities are only participated in by 26% of wildlife-related recreationists, while 97% of wildlife-related recreations are wildlife viewers (United States Department of the Interior, & U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2023). If state wildlife agencies seek relevancy, developing programs that support wildlife viewers is critical. Meanwhile, 1 in 4 Americans have a disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025), as do 39% of wildlife viewers (Sinkular et al., 2024). Wildlife viewing programs designed to support disabled wildlife viewers will benefit nondisabled wildlife viewers too (Sinkular et al., 2024); this is known as the curb cut effect (Blackwell, 2017). The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) partners with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and other state agencies to host a statewide outdoor recreation event every June called Get Outdoors & Get Together Day. The aim is to encourage people from historically marginalized communities to learn about and try beginner-level outdoor recreation activities. These activities are held at over 20 locations statewide. Promotional efforts focus on people who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and people with disabilities, as well as those who are new to outdoor recreation. The hope is this will encourage previously unreached members of the public to begin recreating outdoors safely, and feel more comfortable visiting DEC properties. Hiking, camping, archery, fishing and birding are frequently offered, although specific activities vary by site. Adaptive equipment is provided to support people with various disabilities in participating. This report has been informed by interviews with five DEC staff involved in Get Outdoors & Get Together Day in different capacities, and onsite observation of the 2025 Get Outdoors & Get Together Day at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center near the state capital of Albany. Two birding programs were held at this site, and observations of the social environment, adaptive equipment and leadership approach are discussed. Descriptions of the statewide and Five Rivers event, resources used, challenges experienced and navigated, and advice from staff is provided to support other state wildlife agencies in creating inclusive birding programs, which may require effective outreach to local disability communities. Additional insights are shared about collaborating with other agencies, the logistics of a statewide event, and the challenges and strengths of such an approach. This case study report answers the following questions:

What is an inclusive wildlife viewing program? Why are they important? What is Get Outdoors & Get Together Day? How did Get Outdoors & Get Together Day get implemented at the agency level? How are Get Outdoors & Get Together Day host locations determined? Which DEC staff are involved in organizing Get Outdoors & Get Together Day? How might someone learn about Get Outdoors & Get Together Day? What is Five Rivers Environmental Education Center? What did Get Outdoors & Get Together Day at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center include? What did the birding program entail? What about it made it inclusive to people with disabilities? What resources are needed? Where does the money come from? What challenges did staff face with implementing Get Outdoors & Get Together Day in 2025? Advice on implementing an inclusive birding program and a statewide outdoor recreation event

References and appendices are included, including information about methods, information about the historical context for Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, examples of key resources and marketing strategies used to promote Get Outdoors & Get Together Day, and the budget for the event at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. While Get Outdoors & Get Together Day is a large, multi-site event, agencies are encouraged to begin with an inclusive wildlife viewing program at one location and expand if desired. The lessons shared in this report about inter-agency collaboration likely apply to partnerships agencies may develop with local disability-related organizations.