Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Watershed

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

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

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
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
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, 2025-10-12 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-10-13 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

Rocky Neck Beach Walk - Niantic
2025-10-08 09:30 - 11:30 | Rocky Neck State Park, 244 West Main Street, Niantic, CT, 06357, United States
A beautiful wooded walk along the salt marshes toward the beach on Long Island Sound. Bring binoculars if you have them. 2 miles.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot on Rte i56 across from the KOA Campground, 271 Main St (Rte 156), about 0.5 mile east of the intersection with Four Mile River Rd.
Contact: hillwendyb@gmail.com

Goodwin Trail Challenge - East Haddam, Lyme, Salem, East Lyme
2025-10-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Franklin Academy, 140 River Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
The new Goodwin Trail Mountain Bike Challenge is a unique 45-mile adventure loop that utilizes the most interesting and challenging public preserves in East Haddam, Salem, Lyme, and East Lyme, Connecticut. The most iconic portion of this loop is the Goodwin Trail. This is a unique, 13.5 mile linear trail that winds its way through preserved lands owned by local land trusts, municipalities, the Yale School of Forestry, and Nehantic State Park.
Ride begins at the Franklin Academy, 140 River Road, East Haddam. Parking, restrooms, and rider meetings at Franklin, then we will complete a challenging and scenic 45 mile loop traversing as-much-trail as possible . You will be very happy to see Franklin Academy upon the completion of the loop… we promise!
A mountain bike with sturdy tires and low gearing is recommended.
The course is unmarked, so a navigation device will be required. GPX route will be emailed to registrants the Thursday before the event.
Registration is required, please register on https://www.bikereg.com/the-goodwin-trail-challenge-cycle

This event is a fundraiser to support East Haddam Land Trust. Donations appreciated.

Expressive Nature Journaling - East Haddam
2025-10-14 11:00 - 13:00 | Rathbun Library, 36 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Join East Haddam Land Trust and the East Haddam Library System in welcoming Nancy DeNicolo as she invites us to deepen our experience of nature, all around us. Nancy is an artist, maker and creative arts counselor; with her gentle direction learn to bring a spirit of ease to expressing your relationship with great nature. More information about Nancy DeNicolo can be found at nancydenicolo.com.
This free event is for adults and limited to 15 attendees.
Register on the event web page.

Astronomy Observing Session - Lyme
2025-10-17 18:30 - 20:30
DATE COULD SHIFT BASED ON WEATHER– The Milky Way arches from SW to NE, almost straight up, as darkness falls. Saturn rises higher and higher in the east after its long absence from our night sky. If the weather goes against us, we will move the event to the closest clear night and notify you.
Register using the GOING button on the web site.
PLEASE NOTE:
Upon registration you will receive a link to directions and observing session guidelines. Please see event web site for full information.
For questions or comments, please contact us at astronomy@lymelandtrust.org.

Eightmile RiverFest - East Haddam
2025-10-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Join the Eightmile River Watershed for Eightmile RiverFest, Saturday, October 18th from 1-4pm at Devil’s Hopyard State Park. This FREE event is a celebration of the Wild & Scenic Eightmile River and the local conservation-focused organizations. Attendees can enjoy bluegrass music from the Homer Mountain Boys along with free cookies, soup and cider from the Moodus Sportsman Club and the Eightmile River Watershed Committee. Exhibitors range from local land trusts to wildlife rehabilitators to state organizations and offer a variety of information, demonstrations and family-friendly activities.

Join us for FREE:– Bluegrass Music by The Hosmer Mountain Boys– Soup/chowder by the Moodus Sportsman Club– Cookies and cider by the Eightmile River Committee– Nature Drawing with Salem ArtSpace– Live opossums with Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue– History walks to Chapman Falls– Information, demonstration and activities with local conservation organizations!

Severe weather cancels. See our Facebook page for updates.

Words from the Woods Book Circle - East Haddam
2025-10-20 13:30 - 15:30 | St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 31 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Join this nature focused book circle from the East Haddam Land Trust and East Haddam Library System to soak in the writings of natural scientists who expand and deepen our awareness of the ecologies of life. By reading about the seen and unseen relationships of the wood-web, our experiences of forests, waterways, and meadows of East Haddam will be enriched. All are welcome. Copies of the books may be borrowed through the East Haddam Library System.

Johnston Preserve Hike - Lyme
2025-10-21 09:00 - 11:00 | Johnston Preserve, RT 82 (South side), Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
Moderate 2.5-mile walk through dramatic bedrock outcrops and mature forest. We’ll pause at the highest point in Lyme to enjoy the fall foliage which offers many clues to aid tree identification. Meet at the parking lot on Route 82
Register: jim.arrigoni@lymelandtrust.org

Bats - Salem
2025-10-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States
Join us as Ginny Apple, Master Wildlife Conservationist with CT DEEP, discusses the economic value of bats, their migration and hibernation patterns, decline and disease as well as steps the public can take to help ensure the health and safety of our bat populations.
Registration is required. Call 860-859-1130 to register.

Plimpton Preserve Hike - Lyme
2025-10-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Plimpton Preserve, Sterling City Road, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
This will be a moderate 1.75 mile hike right in the center of Lyme. There are some significant elevation changes especially at the start and end of the hike but that effort will be rewarded with a nice lookout half way through our hike. We will meet at the trail entrance with parking along Sterling City Road.
Register: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com

Burnham Brook Preserve - East Haddam
2025-11-04 09:30 - 11:30 | Burnham Brook Preserve, Dolbia Hill Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
About 3 miles, blue trail loop in pristine upland forest with a section along vibrant Burnham Brook plus the red trail which has beautiful scenic vistas.
Directions: At the end of Rte. 156, take a right onto Rte. 82, travel 2.7 miles, take left onto Woodbridge Road, travel 1 mile (stay to the right), take left onto Dolbia Hill Rd. Park by Preserve sign along the side of the road.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
