Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Watershed

John Lohmann CT River Preserve - Old Lyme
2025-06-18 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | John Lohmann CT River Preserve, 33 Coult Lane, Old Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Presenter: Wendy Hill

A short steep incline opens to a beautiful expanse of meadow. We will walk along the mowed path to reach our destination, Whale Rock, a spectacular outcropping with views of Lord Cove and the CT River. Bring your binoculars. 1.5 miles
Directions: Parking is along the road near 33 Coult Lane, Old Lyme. Coult Lane is a small road on the west side of Rte 156 just south of the Lyme’Old Lyme border. From Halls Rd, Old Lyme, travel 2 miles north on Rte 156. take a left onto Coult Lane. The preserve is about 1/2 mile in on the right. Look for a mailbox with 33 Coult Lane on it.

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

Hummingbirds
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States

Botanical Walk - Lyme
2025-06-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Brockway Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Rd, Lyme
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: CT Botanical Society
Join us for an exploratory walk with the Connecticut Botanical Society at Brockway Hawthorne Preserve. This 82-acre preserve helps protect the Whalebone Cove watershed, with wetlands, vernal pools, mature forest and a healthy hemlock stand. The trail passes former pasture and an abandoned quarry.
Directions and Parking: We will meet at the main parking lot for the Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve on Brush Hill Road, Lyme, about 1/2 mile south of Hadlyme Four Corners. For a trail map.
Please Pre-register with Lisa or Wendy below. Raindate: June 26
Leaders: Lisa Wahle, lcwahle@gmail.com, 860-304-6184, Wendy Hill, openspace@townlyme.org.

Nature Photography - Lyme
2025-06-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
We are pleased to announce that naturalist, photographer and writer William Burt will lead a Nature Photography presentation and discussion for the community at the Lyme Public Hall.
A resident of Old Lyme, Burt has a passion for wild places—especially marshes—and the elusive birds few people see. He is the author of four books, and his photographs and stories have appeared in Smithsonian, Audubon and other magazines. His print exhibitions have shown in museums across the country and Canada, including the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, The New Brunswick Museum, The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
This talk is co-sponsored by the East Haddam Land Trust and the Lyme Public Hall. We anticipate a big turnout at this free event, and preregistration by June 16 is requested at: http://ehlt.org/register-photos. If you have questions, please contact Kyn at: kyn.tolson@ehlt.org

Astronomy Observing Session - Lyme
2025-06-20 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.
For more information and to register: Astronomy Events

Family Trail Time - Lyme
2025-06-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Pleasant Valley Preserve, MacIntosh Rd, Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
Place: Pleasant Valley Preserve, MacIntosh Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
In June, visit the Gnome trail to search for gnomes at Pleasant Valley Preserve. Click here to see the Family Gnome Hunt map. Meet at the parking lot on MacIntosh 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.

Insect Discovery Walk - Lyme
2025-06-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Roaring Brook Preserve, Day Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: Roaring Brook Preserve, Day Hill Rd, Lyme, CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Take a walk of discovery with insect expert, Katherine Dugas from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
Space is limited. Registration is required. Register: education@lymelandtrust.org
This is part ofthe Wild Lyme project. Channel your inner Charles Darwin to discover species both new and familiar to you. Along with the joy and wonder of exploration and identification, you’ll contribute to modern-day biology through citizen science.For more information on the Wild Lyme Project and how to install and use iNaturalist. For more information on the Bioblitz Team.
Co-sponsored with Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Town of Lyme

Tuesday Trek: Johnston Preserve
2025-06-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Johnston Preserve, RT 82 (South side), Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
Place: Meet at the parking area on Rt. 82.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
About a 2.5-mile walk, with a moderate incline to the overlooks and back. We’ll check out the vegetation that has emerged after the bluff meadow restoration work that was carried out in March.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org

Butterfly Walk - Salem
2025-06-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Walden Preserve, 119 Hagen Road, Salem, 06420, United States
Butterfly Walk at Walden Preserve
Richard Chyinski will show hikers the amazing varieties of butterflies that live and migrate through the Walden Preserve. These Butterfly Walks are very popular with children. Rich has a technique that allows him to safely “catch” these delicate creatures; keep them in hand for the children (and adults!) to study, and then let them fly free. Call 860-859-3520 for more information

Fishers in Connecticut Presentation - Salem
2025-07-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States
Presented by Master Wildlife Conservationist, Ginny Apple.
In this slide show presentation, Ginny will discuss the fisher’s diet, behavior and its population in Connecticut. There will be time for questions after the presentation.
Registration is required. Call 860-859-1130 to register.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Salem Free Public Library

Morning Paddle - Lyme
2025-07-13 08:30 - 10:30 | Hadlyme Ferry Launch, 154 Ferry Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Explore Whalebone Creek, a freshwater tidal marsh filled with large stands of wild rice where egrets feed. Paddling a kayak or canoe is the best way to enjoy the solitude of this gem of this lower Connecticut River Valley Estuary. We will leave from the launch area next to the Hadlyme ferry to paddle south to the cove entrance. We suggest wearing sunscreen, hats, and insect repellent, and bringing binoculars and water. Personal flotation devices are required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Geology and the Long Island Sound - Hadlyme
2025-07-13 15:00 - 16:30 | Hadlyme Public Hall, 63 Ferry Road, Hadlyme, CT, 06439, United States
A 30-million year old stream cut lowland that became a glacial lake and is now a major estuary.
On Sunday July 13th from 3-4:30 pm Geologist Ralph Lewis will discuss the geological transformation of one of the best known estuaries on the eastern seaboard.

Butterflies of Connecticut - Salem
2025-07-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States

Astronomy Observing Session
2025-07-18 21:00 - 23:00 | CT

Children's Dragonfly Investigation - Lyme
2025-07-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT, 06371-3110, United States
Join Ann Courcy from the Steward Outdoor Day School in this fun and hands-on STEAM experience.
Children ages 5-10 will learn all about dragonflies and create a detailed drawing.
Registration required on the event website https://www.lymepl.org/event/childrens-dragonfly-investigation-with-ann-courcy-of-the-steward-outdoor-day-school/

Around the Pond - East Haddam
2025-08-06 15:00 - 16:00 | East Haddam Free Public Library, 18 Plains Road, Moodus, CT, 06469, United States
Come explore outdoor spaces through an interactive life-size game presented by our friends from the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)! Collect natural objects while answering questions, and use them to upcycle a t-shirt into a wearable nature notebook. Participants are encouraged to bring their own shirts, but the library will have some available on a first come, first serve basis. Recommended for ages 6-13.
Registration Required at event Web site : https://easthaddamlibrarysystem.org/event/14825/

Around the Pond - East Haddam
2025-08-06 15:00 - 16:00 | East Haddam Free Public Library, 18 Plains Road, Moodus, CT, 06469, United States
Come explore outdoor spaces through an interactive life-size game presented by our friends from the Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)! Collect natural objects while answering questions, and use them to upcycle a t-shirt into a wearable nature notebook. Participants are encouraged to bring their own shirts, but the library will have some available on a first come, first serve basis. Registration Required. Recommended for ages 6-13.
Go to event web site to register: https://easthaddamlibrarysystem.org/event/14825/

Full Moon Paddle - Moodus
2025-08-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Upper Moodus Reservoir Boat Launch, East Haddam - Colchester Turnpike, East Haddam, CT, United States
The 486 acres of the Upper Moodus Reservoir are ideal for watching the moonrise on a clear, summer night. We will launch at 7:30 pm from the Upper Moodus Reservoir boat launch on Launching Area Road. Moonrise that night begins at about 8:30 pm. Please dress for the temperature and consider having insect repellent. Water, binoculars and a camera are suggested. Personal flotation devices are required, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

The POOP MUSEUM - East Haddam
2025-08-11 11:00 - 14:00 | East Haddam Historical Society, 264 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Susie Maguire aka the Poop Lady will bring the Poop Museum to the East Haddam Historical Society Museum. She covers the serious science of poop and pooping and it is delivered with the silliness that you might imagine accompanying a program about poop. During the program she covers many kinds of animal and insect poops but will also talk about human poop.

Seniors Hike - Airline Trail
2025-08-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Airline Trail, Rt. 85, Colchester, CT, 06415, United States
Walk the Airline Trail, Rt.85, Amston.
Join the Salem Senior Striders on the second Wednesday of the month for about a 3 mile hike.
Hikes start at 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of the month.
Suggestions: Wear hiking boots or sturdy shoes along with socks. Bring; water, snacks, insect repellent, sun
screen, and a walking stick or trekking poles.
If you have any questions: text or call Heidi Buchholtz at 860-917-6720

Snakes and Turtles - East Haddam
2025-08-14 14:00 - 15:00 | East Haddam Historical Society, 264 Town Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Ranger Russ’s Special Friends – An introduction to snakes and turtles in a very comfortable way. Dispels myths and helps children to understand and not fear these unique animals. Meigs Point Nature Center will bring live animals to the museum.
Sponsored by the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Watershed.

Stewardship - East Haddam
2025-08-16 09:15 - 12:00 | Mangano-Mazzella Farm Preserve, Honey Hill Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Work will involve cutting of Tree of Heaven saplings in the meadows at Mangano-Mazzella Farm Preserve. Park at the Saunders Preserve on Honey Hill Road. Arrive at 9:15 am for coffee and donuts.

Astronomy Observing Session - Lyme
2025-08-22 20:30 - 22:30 | CT
Date could shift based on weather.
Registration Required: See event web page to register https://www.lymelandtrust.org/eventshow/august-22-2025-astronomy-observing-session/
Once you register, you will receive directions to the observation site.
In the northwest, we can look for the Whirlpool Galaxy, M51 (pictured). In the south we still see the Milky Way stretching out overhead. In the east, Cassiopeia begins to peek up above the tree line. If the weather goes against us, we will move the event to the closest clear night and notify you.
We have several different telescopes that are on display including a 14″ Schmidt-Cassegrain housed in a permanent observatory. Inside the observatory, views are afforded at the eyepiece and via real-time digital enhancement. Public sessions are co-facilitated by one or more of our growing cadre of astronomy cohorts: Mark Borton, Roger Charbonneau Jr, Jon Dean, Jay Drew, Deb Fennell, Scott Mallory, John Natale, Lee Polikoff, Parag Sahasrabudhe, Mark Strollo, Jerry Tardif and Alan Sheiness.
Young or old, experienced or totally unfamiliar, we look forward to exposing you to our uniquely dark skies here in Lyme. And if you have a telescope, we encourage you to bring it out. The more, the merrier. Just follow the guidelines in the pdf you receive when you RSVP.

Musical Bridges - East Haddam
2025-08-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Goodspeed Opra House, 6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423-0281, United States
You are invited to party with a purpose! Support the East Haddam Land Trust and listen to The Bluesberry Jam Band and friends. Other musicians include Erin and Abe from The Local Honey Project, Anthony V from The Locomotives, Cody Urban, Chas and Kathy Marte, and more…!
EHLT directors will be available to describe their favorite hikes, to explain how you can get involved with us, and to share the many ways protected woods and water contribute to our outstanding quality of life. We will have membership envelopes available in case you want to join our work.

Proceeds from the BBQ and raffle support the purchase of a shed for our tools. Please bring any homegrown or homemade items to put in the raffle.

Fungal Ecology Walk (Mushrooms) - Lyme
2025-09-27 10:00 - 17:00 | CT
Join us for this fascinating walk with naturalist and mycologist Bill Yule, to walk, talk, and discover mushrooms. Bill will explain about forest and watershed ecology and all things fungal.
If you wish, bring mushrooms from home for identification after the walk.
On the walk, we will discuss how you can upload your observations to support the Wild Lyme Project and its mission to catalog and compare the biodiversity of preserves protected by the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lyme Land Trust. Participants wishing to record observations to iNat should bring a smartphone, camera, or both. All skill levels are welcome, from experienced to those who have never used the iNaturalist app.
Space is limited. Register: education@lymelandtrust.org

Woodland Wander - East Haddam
2025-09-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Golet Farm Preserve, Great Hillwod Road, Moodus, CT, 06469, United States
This will be the first of our relaxed-paced hikes for those who like casual wanders through the woods. There will be time to explore aspects of our natural world that are often missed during the brisk-paced hikes. Meet at Golet Farm Preserve, on Great Hillwood Road in the Moodus section of East Haddam. Leashed dogs are welcome to hike with their owners. Bring light snacks to share along with EHLT refreshments for an after hike tailgate.
Directions:
From Route 82 take Route 151
north toward Moodus Center.
Take a right onto Route 149.
Take the first right after the Post Office onto Great Hillwood Road.
The dirt driveway to the preserve is on your right, across from the Senior Center.

Building Resilient Landscapes - Lyme
2025-09-28 16:00 - 17:30 | Lyme Public Hall, 249 Hamburg Rd (Rte 156), Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Join Lyme Pollinator Pathway for this program at the Lyme Public Hall with horticulturist Tom Christopher, who will discuss the importance of protecting, creating and maintaining climate resilient habitat in our backyard as well as in preserved open spaces, to ensure that all of the land that drains into the Eightmile River watershed is healthy and supports life. Tom Christopher is host of the podcast Growing Greener, as well as an author/collaborator for several books and columns about improving the environment with native plant restoration.
https://www.thomaschristophergardens.com/
Co-sponsored by Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Pollinator Pathway East Lyme.

Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve Hike - Lyme
2025-09-30 09:00 - 11:00 | Brockway-Hawthorne Preserve, Brush Hill Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Mixed deciduous and conifer forests blanket this gently rolling landscape featuring vernal pools and Whalebone Creek. Gentle-to-moderate 2.5 mile walk.
Meet at the parking lot off of Brush Hill Road.
Register: jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org

Train Trail Hike - East Haddam
2025-10-05 11:00 - 12:30 | Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Join us on a guided hike of 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. The hike is a about an hour and fifteen minutes, and is a gentle and flat trail with a couple of brief scrambles.
Sturdy shoes and proper clothing is recommended. To ensure the comfort of all hikers, please leave your pets at home, or take a walk without a trail guide (leashed dogs are allowed at the park). We will meet at Grand Central Station (the covered picnic area near the archway along the path to the Castle). We hope to see vou there!
Cancelled if the weather is bad.
Let us know you’re coming!

Pleasant Valley Preserve - Lyme
2025-10-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Pleasant Valley Preserve, MacIntosh Rd, Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
We are going to explore the trails of the Pleasant Valley Preserve. Pleasant Valley has it all, rivers, streams, fields, forests, hills, deciduous trees, evergreen trees, etc. There are many options for hike length but I want to aim for a 2 or 2.5 mile round trip. We will meet at the parking area on MacIntosh Rd.
Register: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
