Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Watershed

Soft Opening of Gillette Castle - East Haddam
2025-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 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

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.

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

Mother's Day Birding Walk - East Haddam
2025-05-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Hill Tree Farm, CT, 06423, United States
Organization: East Haddam Land Trust
Sunday, May 11, 8-10 am
Join birding enthusiasts Barbara Pokorny and Doreen Jezek on our walk through the Hill Tree Farm. It’s a perfect way to start Mother’s Day with gentle exercise while listening and watching for, and learning about our resident and migrating birds. We suggest bringing binoculars. Park at the Ballahack Road entrance.

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.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Open House & Donation Drive - East Haddam
2025-05-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Eightmile River Office, 2 Dolbia Hill Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
UPDATE 05/09/25: EVENT IS ON! Rain or shine!
Organization: Eightmile River Watershed

Join the Eightmile River Watershed for a meet & greet with FOUR Local Wildlife Rehabilitators and their ambassador animals. This unique opportunity allows you learn about wildlife rehabbing, meet rehabbed wildlife and support local conservation efforts.
This event is also a donation drive to support the wonderful efforts of these Wildlife Rehabilitators. See flyer for supply lists! (Also check out their websites – many have wish lists with specific items linked on their website!)
No Registration Required. This program is completely free and open to the public! Reach out to info@eightmileriver.org with any questions!

Rehabilitators:
Owls – Freedom First Wildlife Rehabilitation – https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFirstWildlifeInc/
Opossums – Ferncroft Wildlife Rescue – https://ferncroftwildlife.com/
Turtles – The Turtle Underground – https://givebutter.com/G0NcI4/tessastuart
Bats – Winghand Bat Rehab & Education – https://winghandbatrehab.org/rehabilitation

See Facebook Event Page for more information.

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.

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

Forest Bathing - East Haddam
2025-05-03 10:30 - 12:30 | CT
Organization: East Haddam Land Trust
Saturday, May 3, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Enjoy a respite from the stresses of daily life by taking in the forest atmosphere, also known as forest bathing. Regan Stacey, the voice behind The Earthsong Project, will show how to reconnect your senses with our natural surroundings. The walk will be about 3/4-mile over easy terrain, rain or shine, although challenging weather could lead to cancellation. No pets, please. This is open to those 18-years and older. Participation is limited to 20 people. A few slots remain open, and you can register until Thursday, May 1 by emailing events@ehlt.org and noting the number of people you are registering.

Earth Day Trash Pick-up: Salem
2025-05-03 08:30 - 23:30 | Salem Town Hall, 270 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States
Town of Salem Earth Day Trash Bingo

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

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.

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.

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)

Gardening Workshop - East Haddam
2025-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Ballek’s Garden Center, 90 Maple Ave, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Hosting Organization: East Haddam Sustainability Team
Join the East Haddam Sustainability Team for a free workshop at Ballek’s Garden Center. Nancy McKinnon will share her extensive knowledge in a workshop – “10 Steps in the Garden to a More Sustainable World”. Topics will include backyard composting, water conservation, organic pest control and more.
(Part of the East Haddam Sustainability Teams Earth Day Celebration 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.

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)

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.

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

Music in an Arbor Day Coffeehouse - East Haddam
2025-04-25 19:00 - 21:00 | First Church of Christ, Congregational, 499 Town Street, East Haddam, Connecticut, 064323
Hosting Organizations: East Haddam Land Trust, East Haddam Sustainability Team, First Church of Christ, Congregational.
Coffee house at the First Church of Christ, Congregational. Celebrate arbor day with songs, stories, poems and music all about trees. Free will donations welcome.

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.

How Fungi Recycle Nutrients and Keep Forests Healthy - Lyme
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:00 | 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.

Plant a Seed For Earth Day - East Haddam
2025-04-22 11:30 - 12:00 | Rathbun Library, 36 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
It’s Earth Day, so let’s celebrate!
We’ll decorate paper pots, then plant a seed in them that you can take home and watch grow.
No registration required. Recommended for ages 2-5. We hope to see you there!

Tuesday Trek: Nehantic State Forest - Lyme
2025-04-22 09:00 - 11:00 | Nehantic Stat Forest, Route 156, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Tuesday Trek: Nehantic State Forest
Place: Meet at Sterling Hill Road Entrance
Park at top of Sterling Hill Rd by the entrance that is demarcated with large boulders.
Contact Email: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org
Presenter: Kristina
We will check out what Nehantic looks like after the timber harvest and head to Brown Hill. 3 miles or so. Some rough terrain.
Register: kristina.white@lymelandtrust.org

Words from the Woods Book Circle - East Haddam
2025-04-21 13:30 - 15:00 | St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 31 Main Street, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Words from the Woods Book Circle
Meet at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 31 Main Street, East Haddam to discuss “The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth,” by Zoe Schlanger. Discussions are lively and interesting, even for those who have not read the book. For more information see ehlt.org/book-circle.

Tree Collective: Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up - Lyme
2025-04-20 13:00 - 15:30 | 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.

Honor Earth Day Family Walk - East Haddam
2025-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 | CT
Honor Earth Day on this Child & Family Walk on April 19th
(Please note that this event is Not on Earth Day which is April 22nd)
Bring the kids to this family-friendly hike/walk to celebrate Earth Day and learn about life in wooded wetlands. Maggie Cozens of Connecticut Sea Grant will lead the way. As one of the most important ecosystems on Earth, wetlands are a wealth of biodiversity and intrigue. We will walk through marshy habitat, and look for amphibians, birds, ephemeral wildflowers, and more. Plan footwear accordingly. The walk is appropriate for all ages, especially children (accompanied by an adult), but is limited to 12 participants.
Registration is required by April 16.
Register via an email to events@ehlt.org with your name and the number of adults and children to register.
The location will be sent with the registration confirmation.

Wednesday Walk : Rocky Neck State Park - East Lyme
2025-04-16 10:00 - 13:30 | Rocky Neck State Park, 244 West Main Street, Niantic, CT, 06357, United States
Rocky Neck Park Walk
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill

A beautiful wooded walk along the salt marshes toward the beach on Long Island Sound. Bring binoculars if you have them. 2.5 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.

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

Tuesday Trek: Burnham Brook Preserve - Lyme LT
2025-04-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Burnham Brook Preserve, Dolbia Hill Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Place: Burnham Brook Preserve
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.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
About 3 miles, blue trail loop in pristine upland forest with a section along vibrant Burnham Brook plus the new red trail which has beautiful scenic vistas.

Mini Bioblitz Field Event : Banningwood Preserve - Lyme
2025-04-13 14:00 - 16:00 | John Pritchard Conservation Center, 12-1 Town Street, Lyme, CT, 06371, United States
Place: John Pritchard Conservation Center, Lyme Land Trust Barn, 12-1 Town Street, Lyme, CT
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Join the Lyme Land Trust’s Bioblitz Team by attending the inaugural Wild Lyme Project Mini Bioblitz! We will start at the John Pritchard Conservation Center and then move over to Banningwood Preserve across the street. 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.
We will learn how to identify all types of animals, plants, and insects with an emphasis on amphibians, reptiles, and spring ephemeral wildflowers, using the iNaturalist app. Then, you may upload your observations to support the Wild Lyme Project and its mission to catalog and compare the biodiversity of preserves protected by the Connecticut town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the Lyme Land Trust.
All skill levels are welcome, from experienced to those who have never used the iNaturalist app. Participants wishing to record observations should bring a smartphone, camera, or both. Folks preferring to check out the process without installing the app will be of great help to spot plants, animals, and insects as part of a buddy team.
Registration is required and is limited to ten participants. Register: education@lymelandtrust.org to help kickstart our Wild Lyme Project bioblitz team!
Co-sponsored with Lyme Pollinator Pathway and Town of Lyme
