Founded in 1969, it is headquartered in the historic Erpf House along state highway NY 28 in Arkville, just outside the Catskill Park Blue Line.

It works to further its mission through different methods, from advocacy and land conservation to developing educational materials and sponsoring arts and cultural events.

The Catskill Center staff [1] oversees programs covering various areas: arts and culture, education and natural resources.

[2] The education program develops materials for local teachers to use as curriculum, especially the five-volume The Catskills: A Sense of Place.

It also holds conservation easements on other key tracts in the region not part of the state-owned, "forever wild", Forest Preserve or otherwise protected.