Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Watershed

How Fungi Recycle Nutrients and Keep Forests Healthy - Lyme
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Lyme Public Hall
Presenter: Bill Yule
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Join us for a fascinating talk about the important function of fungi in forest ecosystems, with Bill Yule, naturalist and mycologist. He will cover aspects of fungi that weren’t covered in last year’s very popular talk.He has a wonderful way of explaining the complex functioning of fungi and its vital interconnections with other organisms within the forest. Bill will share information to identify various mushrooms by their characteristics.
Register: education@lymelandtrust.org
Directions: Please note: If using GPS, be sure you are sent to the Lyme PUBLIC Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd, not the Lyme TOWN Hall, 480 Hamburg Rd. If using I-95, take exit 71 N (take a right) or S (go straight). From the light at the intersection of Hall’s Rd (Rte 1). and Rte 156 in Old Lyme, travel north on 156 for 4.6 miles into Hamburg Center.. The Public Hall is on your right about 1/4 mile south of the Hamburg Fair grounds.

Amphibian Hunt - Salem
2025-04-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Walden Preserve, 119 Hagen Road, Salem, 06420, United States
Amphibian Hunt at Walden Preserve – Family Event
Diba Khan-Bureau Ph.D. will lead, joined by Herpetologist Beth Timpe Merow. Diba is Program Coordinator for the Environmental Engineering Technology Program at Three Rivers Community College and a research scientist at UCONN. This adventure is extremely popular with families and for children of all ages. No rain date, remember amphibians love the rain! Please call 859-3520 for more information.

Astronomy Observing Session - Lyme
2025-04-25 20:30 - 22:30 | CT
Place: Trail 53 Observatory
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events

Earth Day - Lyme
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Earth Day in Lyme
Join us for the third annual Earth Day in Lyme. The Lyme Public Hall is marking this day by partnering with Lyme Land Trust, Lyme Pollinator Pathway and local experts and organizations to provide a wealth of helpful resources, all free to the public. Bring the family and invite your neighbors to come learn how to help support our unique community of plants, animals, birds, pollinators and people.

Community Garden Q&A - East Haddam
2025-04-26 10:00 - 13:00 | East Haddam Community Garden
Hosting organization: East Haddam Sustainability Team
Learn from the UConn Connecticut Master Gardener program in the Community Garden. Learn more about the community garden, the master gardener program or get answers to your own garden questions.
Directions to the community garden: From Route 82, take Mt. Parnassus Road east about 1.7 miles. One quarter mile past Shanaghan Road, take a right onto the unmarked dirt road that parallels Mt. Parnassus Road. Parking is off to the side of the dirt road. There is also parking near the Comer Monument just off Mt. Parnassus
(Part of the East Haddam Sustainability Team’s Earth Day Celebration Event Series)

Family Trail Time - Lyme
2025-04-27 10:00 - 11:30 | Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Family Trail Time – Brockway-Hawthorne
Place: Brockway-Hawthorn Preserve, Brush Hill Rd, Lyme CT
Presenter: Tori Harris
Walk the yellow trail loop to see beautiful stone walls and evidence of an old quarry. Meet at the Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve Parking lot on Brush Hill Rd, about 1/2 mile south of the Hadlyme Country Market.
Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Earth Day Celebration - East Haddam
2025-04-27 12:00 - 16:00 | East Haddam Town Beach, 291 E Haddam Colchester Turnpike, Moodus, CT, 06469, United States
Hosting Organization: East Haddam Sustainability Team
The East Haddam Sustainability Team will host a family friendly Earth Day Celebration at the Town Beach from 12PM – 4PM. Make seed bombs, pick up litter and earn a prize, add to our repurposed art collage and play in a mud kitchen. Bring a gently used toy and bring home one that is new to you! Be prepared to get a little dirty. Everyone is welcome!
(Part of the East Haddam Sustainability Team’s Earth Day Celebration Series)

Woods Walk - East Haddam
2025-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Sabine Reserve, 127 Daniel Peck Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Woods Walk – Sabine Reserve
EHLT director Monika Kahlenbach will lead hikers through the Town of East Haddam’s Sabine Reserve with varied terrain of upland forest, wooded wetlands, and along the upper Moodus Reservoir. Meet at the end of Daniel Peck Road. Participants are invited to bring post-hike tailgate treats to share along with EHLT refreshments.

Teen Hike - Lyme
2025-04-27 13:00 - 15:30 | CT
Tree Collective- Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up

Place: Register to learn location
Registration Contact: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.

Tuesday Trek: Evergreen Trail - Old Lyme
2025-04-29 09:00 - 11:00 | Ames Family Open Space, Boggy Hole Road, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Tuesday Trek: Evergreen Trail, Old Lyme
Place: Take Boston Post Road (Rte 1) to Boggy Hole Rd. Evergreen Trail is about 1/2 mile down on the left.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
We will visit two rock caves. Studies have shown that one of the caves was occupied seasonally as a winter shelter by indigenous people beginning at least 4255 years ago.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org

Tuesday Trek: Johnston Preserve - Lyme
2025-05-06 09:00 - 11:00 | Johnston Preserve, RT 82 (South side), Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
Place: Meet at Johnston Preserve parking area on Rt. 82.
Contact Email: Jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Jim Arrigoni
Bird migration is in full swing, so we will listen for birdsong and look for birds along the gentle-to-moderate 2.5-mile walk through mixed and deciduous forest. Binoculars will be good to bring, but are not essential.
Register: Jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org

Spring Bird Count - Salem
2025-05-10 07:30 - 09:00 | Mumford Farm, 3 Darling Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States
Spring Bird Count in Salem
Please join David Bingham for the Annual Salem Spring Bird Count. The birds that nest in Salem will have returned and all Salem residents and friends are invited to come and enjoy a wonderful walk with nature at its most colorful. Please park at the Mumford House, #3 White Birch Rd., and call 859-3520 for information. Rain Date May 11th.

Repair Cafe - East Haddam
2025-05-10 12:00 - 16:00 | East Haddam Grange, 488 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Hosting Organization: East Haddam Sustainability Team
Third East Haddam Repair Cafe at East Haddam Grange, 48 Town Street. Fix things instead of throwing them away. Our fixers can repair clothes, household appliances, small furniture, computers and toys.

Tuesday Trek: Plimpton Preserve - Lyme
2025-05-13 09:00 - 11:00 | Plimpton Preserve, Sterling City Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Park along the side of Sterling City Road near Old Post Road.
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
April showers bring May flowers. What do May flowers bring… Pilgrims! I doubt we will see any pilgrims on this 1.75 mile hike in the center of Lyme, but I am looking forward to a hilly hike with some lookouts and early habitation sites. With luck we might also see some May flowers!
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com

Hartman Park Walk - Lyme
2025-05-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Hartman Park, Gungy Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Hartman Park, Gungy Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill

The unique natural, historic and archeological features in Hartman Park make it a delight to explore. We will look for spring wildflowers. About 2 miles.
Directions: The parking lot is about 1.5 miles north of the intersection of Gungy Rd, Beaver Brook Rd, and Grassy Hill Rd. In Lyme. From the Hall’s Rd Old Lyme traffic light, travel north on 156 for 6.6 miles. Turn right onto Beaver Brook Rd and travel 2.7 to left at intersection.

Please Reserve. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to all.

Soft Opening of Gillette Castle - East Haddam
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Organization: Friends of Gillette Castle State Park
Visitors are asked to donate to the Friends of Gillette Castle in lieu of an entrance fee. Register for a guided hike at www.gillettecastlefriends.org

Tree Collective - Teen Hike: Lyme
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | CT
Place: Register to learn location
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
For more information.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.

Connecticut River Ferries: Then and Now - East Haddam
2025-05-18 14:00 - 15:30 | East Haddam Historical Society, 264 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Presenter: Captain Paul Costello
Before bridge crossings spanned the Connecticut River, almost two dozen ferries moved people and cargo from one bank to another. The oldest ferry passage launched in 1641; today you can still cross the river by ferry, but only at two crossings.
Captain Paul Costello will share the histories of the Chester – Hadlyme and Rocky Hill – Glastonbury ferries, the challenges both ferries have faced, why these two have survived, the improvements made to them by the State over the decades, and the futures of the two remaining ferries.

Biking Lyme with Ronnie Romance - Lyme
2025-05-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Cycling legend and local resident Ronnie Romance has described himself as a wholistic cyclist who has embraced all forms of cycling, from racing to mountain biking, backroads touring and wilderness camping. He views cycling as a tool to connect more deeply with nature, and his life and design aesthetic shine through in his thoughtfully crafted, custom-built bikes that sell out almost immediately.
Join us at the Lyme Public Hall for a very special opportunity to hear Ronnie discuss how Lyme and the surrounding river towns have emerged as a cycling destination. He will also be sharing his personal cycling philosophy as well as a few of his bicycles that have been purpose-built for the unique terrain and paths that make our towns so lovely to explore by bike.

Ravine Trail and Brockway Hawthorne Preserve Hike - Lyme
2025-05-20 09:00 - 23:00 | Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Meet at Selden Creek Preserve parking on Joshuatown Road
Contact Email: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina White
We will walk up the ravine, to the overlooks and then circle back through Brockway Hawthorne. 2.5 miles. Arduous in some areas.
Register: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org

Conservation of Stone Walls - Lyme
2025-05-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Presenter: Robert Thorson
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
The book by Robert Thorson (Stone by Stone: The Magnificent History in New England’s Stone Walls) conveys the importance of New England’s unique stone walls and he is the authoritative expert. His urgent mission is the preservation of these ubiquitous structures: a step wise approach to the conservation and interpretation of New England’s stone walls that considers these diverse values while also remaining respectful of the presence of Indigenous stonework in the landscapes. We invite you to come and explore these ideas with Dr. Thorson in this fascinating talk – it’s one you won’t want to miss!
Co-sponsored with the Lyme Public Hall

Astronomy Observing Session - Lyme
2025-05-23 21:00 - 23:00 | CT
Place: Trail 53 Observatory
Contact Email: astronomy@lymelandtrust.org
Young or old, experienced, or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory.
Registration required. Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines.
See https://www.lymelandtrust.org/astronomy-event/may-23-2025-astronomy-observing-session/

Tour Mt Archer Woods Bird-friendly Sugarbush - Lyme
2025-05-24 09:30 - 11:30 | Mt Archer Woods, Mt Archer Rd, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Rosa Goldman / Audubon
Mt Archer Woods, a town-owned preserve in Lyme, has been recognized by Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Maple program for forest management that supports songbirds in the sugarbush, the forest area where maple sap is collected by Fat Stone Farm. In celebration of this honor, Audubon forester Rosa Goldman will lead a tour to explain the Bird-Friendly Maple program and how Mt Archer came to be recognized. We will visit various examples of habitat, and learn about the birds they support.
Space is limited on the walk. Please Register: openspace@townlyme.org

Family Trail Time : Hartman Park - Lyme
2025-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Hartman Park, Gungy Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Walk the Family Faery Quest Loop, search for fairies and visit the Fairy Circle. Click here to see the Faery Quest map. Meet at the Main entrance to Hartman Park on Gungy Rd.
Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.

Chestnut Hill Preserve/Nehantic State Forest to Uncas Lake HIke - Lyme
2025-05-27 09:00 - 11:00 | Chestnut Hil Preserve, Sterling City Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
Chestnut Hill Preserve/Nehantic State Forest to Uncas Lake and back. We’ll look for spring ephemeral plants, and check out the recent forest management in Nehantic along the way. About 2.5 miles. Roadside parking at Chestnut Hill entrance, Sterling Hill Rd, Lyme
Register: openspace@townlyme.org

Gardening for Birds - Salem
2025-05-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States

Tour de Lyme - Lyme
2025-06-01 | Tour De Lyme, 78 Bill Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Tour de Lyme is a cycling event organized by the Lyme Land Trust.
Routes exist for road bikes and mountain bikes.
This event has a fee. See Tour de Lyme page for details.
Event organizer: Kristina White
kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org

Connecticut Trails Day Hike
2025-06-07 08:00 - 2025-06-08 17:00 | CT
CT Trails Days
Explore local trails in area the weekend of June 7th and 8th. Each trail will have a leader to guide and educate hikers.
See available trails and schedules at https://trailsday.org/.
Eightmile River Watershed: Trails Day Tree ID Hike
Burnham Brook Preserve, 2 Dolbia Hill Road, East Haddam
Date: Sat June 7th, 2025
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm
Presenter: Anthony Irving
Join Anthony Irving, a forest ecologist and former state certified forester for an educational walk/hike through field edges and core forests of The Nature Conservancy’s 1200-acre Burnham Brook Preserve. Get an introduction to tree identification and learn about Connecticut’s native tree species, and how historical events have shaped our forests. Preceding the walk, a short, informal introduction to tree ID and forest ecology will be given.
The route will start in flat, wide, grass field trails and ease into flat, wooded trails with uneven ground such as roots and rocks. The hike will be tailored to the participants’ needs and interests.
Details & Registration: https://trailsday.org/events/trails-day-tree-id-hike/
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Lyme Land Trust :
Dusk Hike at Hartman Park, Gungy Road, Lyme CT
Date: Sat June 7, 2025
Time: 7:00-8:30 pm
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
Join Quinn, Lyme Land Trust board member, for a family friendly (ages 5 and up) hike at the magical time of dusk, just before the darkness creeps in. We focus on how our perceptions change and appreciate what the coming night brings to the forests and ponds of Lyme. There will be an almost full moon. As it gets darker, we will not be using artificial light, but you are invited to bring an emergency flashlight. Dress warmly and bring a walking stick.
Registration appreciated: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
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Salem Land Trust:
Alf & Sylvia Bingham Preserve
172 Darling Rd., Salem, CT
Date: June 8th, 1-3pm
Explore the expanded Alf & Sylvia Bingham Preserve with the Salem Land Trust! The preserve has grown significantly in the past few years, and we return again to this property for a second year during Trails Day 2025 to further enjoy the mixed woods and fields hike. We’ll have a few small activities friendly to families available to try along the way. The property includes several vernal pools, a rocky ledge outcrop that overlooks a spectacular large beaver pond, the newly acquired Ransom Brook Farm parcel and more. Half of the hike will see some “moderate” terrain, while the remainder is “easy” hiking. Only heavy rain or thunder/lightning cancels.
Limited parking at trailhead; parking signs and volunteers will direct hikers to a field parking area across the street, at 169 Darling Rd.

Town of Salem:
CT Trails Day Find Your Footprint
Trails to be announced
Date: June 7th
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East Haddam Land Trust:
Gillette Castle Guided Train Trail Hikes
Dates: June 7th and 8th. 11 am – 12:30 pm and 1 pm – 2:30 pm
Presenter(s) : Andrea or Ron Kowalsky / (860) 873-8867 / akowalsky58@gmail.com / rkowalskypad@yahoo.com
The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park are hosting a guided hike on the route followed by William Gillette’s narrow-gauge train. Gillette’s train system runs through very scenic areas of the 122-acre state park, with numerous historic features along the way. It is a generally gentle and flat trail with a couple of brief scrambles.
Registration required for time slot @ https://trailsday.org/

East Lyme
Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
Sponsor: Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve : https://www.oswhills.org/index.html

Naturalist Walk
June 7th 9:30 am – Noon
Albert Burchsted / (860) 941-8788 / alblueheron@gmail.com
Join Al Burchsted, local naturalist, on a casual walk-a-bout learning about plants, insects and the local ecosystem in the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve.
Registration is not required.
Exploring the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
June 7th 9 am – Noon
Paul Parulis / (860) 884-6079 / pjbinny@prodigy.net
John Starrett / john.starrett@sbcglobal.net
Bruce Kolowsky / bkolowsky@aol.com
Enjoy a three hour information filled hike exploring the Oswegatchie Hills nature preserve. The hilly terrain will feature multiple rock formations, glacier boulders, imperial pitch pine stands and a granite surface quarry started in 1815.
Red Loop Trail – Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
June 7th 10-11:30
https://trailsday.org/events/red-loop-trail/

Greg Decker (860) 300-0231
greg.decker@snet.net

Kris Lambert

ksl-bnl@sbcglobal.net

Dave Baer
davidbaer2@gmail.com

Explore the lower portions of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, hiking the Red Loop Trail that highlights views of Clark Pond, glacier boulders, imperial Pitch pine stands and a small rocky outcrop that kids would enjoy crawling through. They don’t call it The Hills for nothing, so please expect a hilly terrain with several ups and downs.

Goodwin Trail @ Darrow’s Pond
June 7th 10 – noon
https://trailsday.org/events/goodwin-trail-darrows-pond/

Gary Goeschel II (860) 235-6211
ggoeschel@eltownhall.com

Thomas Goeschel
thomasc.goeschel@gmail.com

Anthony Goeschel
Anthonyp.goeschel@gmail.com

Join Gary Goeschel, Director of Planning/Inland Wetlands Agent and Arthur Carlson, President of the East Lyme Land Trust for this 6th Annual Connecticut Trails Day Hike. Open to all ages and abilities. This is an easy to moderate 5-mile hike along a portion of the Goodwin Trail running between Darrow’s Pond and Grassy Hill Road.

Teen Hike - Lyme
2025-06-08 13:30 - 15:30 | CT
Place: Register to learn location @ reganstacey@gmail.com.
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com.
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.

Mt.Archer Woods Hike - Lyme
2025-06-10 09:00 - 11:00 | Mt Archer Woods, Mt Archer Rd, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Meet at the Mt. Archer Woods parking lot.
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
Let’s go hike around the top of Mt. Archer. This hike will be a little over 2 miles and we will have a lot of fun exploring the woods just before the start of summer.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
