New York tourism board is looking for a 'leaf peeper' to track fall foliage

The New York tourism board is looking for an I LOVE NY Leaf Peeper to join a statewide team tasked with keeping track of fall foliage and reporting on the best places in the state to find fall colors this season.

It's that time of year when trees turn crimson and orange, and parks, forests and pathways are lined with a crunchy carpet of jewel-toned leaves. But where is the best place to spot fall colors? Maybe you know a sugar maple that's usually ablaze with color at this time of year? Or a patch of russet-colored trees that alway put on a show? If so, you could volunteer to become the New York tourism board's official 'leaf peeper'.

Those who take part in the volunteer program will submit weekly reports on the colors they see in their area, as well as a forecast predicting the stage the leaves will be in for the upcoming weekend, with 'peak' defined as the best stage to see fall foliage.

"You’ll be asked to note the location of your reporting, the percentage of leaves you expect to be changed by the coming weekend, the expected colors visitors will see, the overall brilliance of the leaves, and the stage of the season," the job posting reads. Observations will be sent to the New York tourist board every Monday and Tuesday before the report is published on Wednesday, and will run from the second week of September through mid-November. The idea is to help tourists and local fall-leaf enthusiasts find the best fall foliage spots in the state.

To apply, you'll need to live in New York state full-time from now until November 30 and choose the area where you'll be reporting from. You can sign up here.

You might also like:

The ultimate New England fall foliage road trip
This interactive map will tell you where fall foliage will peak this year