research dossier

CATSKILL MOUNTAIN CLUB INC

Margaretville, NY · EIN 461087462 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · NTEE N32 · Recreation & Sports · Micro (<$100K) · catskillmountainclub.org

revenue

$49K

expenses

$39K

net assets

$28K

employees

—

mission · from form 990

a) to promote the conservation and preservation of the natural resources and environment of the Catskill Park and surrounding region of New York State by promoting and providing non-motorized outdoor group activities as an alternative means of recreation to those that may have a negative impact on the environment. b) to promote and provide a wide range of non-motorized outdoor group activities throughout the Catskill Park and surrounding region of New York State to members of the public who live in or visit the region. To assist in building and maintaining trails throughout the Catskill Park and surrounding region for hiking, biking and nature walks. To promote responsible, safe and sustainable outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship through a network of volunteers. c) to increase the awareness of residents of or visitors to the Catskill Park region to the activities of the various outdoor groups operating in the region by using the corporation's website as a guide

profile · synthesized from sources

The Catskill Mountain Club is a volunteer-driven nonprofit founded in 2004 to promote non-motorized outdoor recreation in the Catskill Park and surrounding region. It organizes hiking, camping, cycling, and paddling activities while leading trail construction and maintenance efforts on public lands. The organization emphasizes environmental stewardship, public access, and sustainable recreation through member-led programs and partnerships with local agencies.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Catskills All Trails Challenge

Member-driven hiking initiative encouraging completion of designated trails throughout the Catskill Park

Informational Events and Workshops

Educational programs on outdoor skills, natural history, and stewardship practices for club members and the public

Speak to the Earth

Nature walk program created by board member Michael Drillinger to connect people with the natural environment through guided walks

Trail Building and Maintenance

Volunteer-led construction and upkeep of hiking trails on NYC watershed lands, state parks, and other public areas in the Catskills

activities · 8 groups

What they do

Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 1 activity
- Environmental and outdoor safety education programs
  
  Offers informational programs and resources on the natural and human history of the Catskills, environmental preservation, Leave No Trace principles, outdoor safety skills, and seasonal preparedness, including winter hiking guidance and trip planning recommendations.
Local Land Conservation Advocacy 1 activity
- Environmental conservation and preservation advocacy
  
  Engages in long-term efforts to preserve and enhance the natural environment of the Catskill Mountains through public programming, stewardship, and recognition of conservation leadership, including receipt of formal recognition from the New York State Legislature.
Guided Outdoor Expedition Programs 1 activity
- Organizing and promoting non-motorized outdoor group activities
  
  Plans and leads group hikes, trail runs, rock climbing outings, and nature walks in the Catskill Park and surrounding region to encourage safe and sustainable recreation. Includes multi-day event series such as Lark in the Park featuring dozens of outdoor programs.
Visitor Information and Trip Planning Services 1 activity
- Production and distribution of trail and environmental resources
  
  Produces and shares comprehensive trail guides, digital maps (via Avenza app), photographic wildflower guides, and podcast tours exploring the Catskill region’s natural history, water infrastructure, and cultural connections to support public recreation and education.
Outdoor Recreation Access Promotion 1 activity
- Public access programs for fishing, hunting, and boating
  
  Facilitates public recreational access on City-owned watershed lands and reservoirs for fishing (warm- and cold-water species), hunting (big and small game using various legal methods), and non-motorized boating (canoes and kayaks) on designated reservoirs including Cannonsville, Pepacton, Neversink, and Schoharie.
Recreational Trail Development and Maintenance 1 activity
- Trail building and maintenance
  
  Constructs, maintains, and marks trails for hiking, biking, and nature walks on New York City watershed lands and New York State park lands within the Catskill region. Includes ongoing stewardship of public trail systems in the Catskill Park.
Community Stewardship Volunteer Programs 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement for environmental stewardship
  
  Recruits and coordinates a network of volunteers to support trail maintenance, conservation projects, and public education initiatives that promote responsible outdoor recreation and environmental protection in the Catskills.
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Hiking challenge and peakbagging recognition programs
  
  Administers structured hiking programs such as the Catskills 4 Seasons 140 and Catskills Grid 420, which encourage completion of all designated trails or peaks, with recognition through commemorative patches, T-shirts, and other awards.

financials · form 990EZ · fy2023

revenue

Total revenue$49K

Contributions & grants$39K79%

Program service revenue$00%

Investment income$00%

Other revenue$0

expenses

Total expenses$39K

Program expenses—

Admin / overhead—

Fundraising—

Salaries & benefits$0

Grants paid out$15

balance sheet

Total assets$28K

Cash—

Investments—

Liabilities—

Net assets$28K

1 years on record · 2023–2023

leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

board members · 5

Ann Roberti — Board Member
Bob Moses — Board Member
Lisa Lyons — Board Member
Lize Mogel — Board Member
Michael Drillinger — Board Member

relationships · 22

Who they work with

Adirondack Mountain Club Partner — Collaborated with National Geographic on trail information used in the Catskill Park Trail Map; also listed as a publisher of local books promoted by CMC.
Black Dome Press Partner — Listed as a publisher of local books promoted by the Catskill Mountain Club.
Catskill Center Partner — Recipient of the Alf Evers Award for Excellence from the Catskill Center in recognition of leadership in public engagement with the Catskill region.
Catskill Interpretive Center Partner — Partners to provide current trail condition information for the Catskill region.
Catskill Native Plant Society Partner — Collaborated with the Catskill Mountain Club to ensure accurate plant identifications.
Catskill Watershed Corporation Funder — Provided grants through its Public Education Program to support the Views from the Watershed podcast tour.
Central Catskill Chamber of Commerce Partner — Recognized CMC with the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2014 for service to the Catskill community and economic impact.
David Rainbird Partner — Designed the organization's website
Lark in the Park Partner — CMC organizes the Lark in the Park, a collaborative event series featuring outdoor activities.
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Partner — Catskill Mountain Club promotes and collaborates with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to educate the public on responsible outdoor recreation.
NY/NJ Trail Conference Partner — Collaborates with members on trail maintenance activities, including work on the Dry Brook Ridge Trail.
NYNJTC Partner — Uses NYNJTC trail maps to identify designated camping locations, trailheads, and reliable water sources in the Catskills.
National Geographic Partner — Partnered indirectly through inclusion of National Geographic’s Catskill Park Trail Map #755 as a recommended resource.
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Government — Collaborates with NYCDEP to administer access permits and manage recreational use of City-owned watershed lands and reservoirs.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Collaborates on regulations related to camping, hunting, fishing, and emergency response in the Catskill region.
New York State Legislature Government — Passed a Resolution recognizing CMC for its public service achievements.
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference Partner — Collaborates on trail mapping resources, referencing NY-NJTC's six-map set for Catskill Park.
New York/New Jersey Trail Conference Partner — Collaborates by sharing trail condition updates through linked resources.
Purple Mountain Press Partner — Listed as a publisher of local books promoted by the Catskill Mountain Club.
Rip van Winkle Hikers Partner — Former hiking group whose peakbagging programs are now administered by the Catskill Mountain Club.
Walking the Watershed Partner — Views from the Watershed is part of the larger Walking the Watershed project, indicating a collaborative relationship.
Watershed Post Partner — Collaborates by linking to articles about exploring abandoned sites in the Catskills

strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

Conservation Through Experiential Access

methodology: conservation_through_access
By engaging people in non-motorized, hands-on outdoor recreation and education, the organization fosters environmental stewardship and conservation, because direct experience with natural areas builds personal responsibility and long-term care for the environment.
Volunteer-Powered Stewardship Model

methodology: volunteer_based_stewardship
By mobilizing volunteers in trail maintenance and educational programming, the organization advances environmental conservation, because community involvement in physical stewardship fosters ownership, sustainable behavior, and scalable impact.