Eightmile River Wild & Scenic Watershed

Tour Mt Archer Woods Bird-friendly Sugarbush - Lyme
2025-05-24 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Coastal Connecticut as a Maritime Culture - Hadlyme
2025-06-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Hadlyme Public Hall, 63 Ferry Road, Hadlyme, CT, 06439, United States
Southeastern Connecticut played an outsized role in America’s maritime history from the country’s earliest days through shipbuilding, whaling and fishing.
Mystic Seaport Museum’s Curator of Maritime History, Michael P. Dyer, will talk about our maritime history and highlight twelve objects that offer evidence of that story. A great presentation for experts and amateurs alike. Free admission.

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

Beavers in Connecticut Presentation - Salem
2025-06-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States
Presented by Master Wildlife Conservationist Ginny Apple.
Ginny will discuss beavers as a keystone species, their biology, behavior and history as well as the beaver’s unique role in shaping North America’s landscape.
Registration is required. Call 860-859-1130 to register.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Salem Free Public Library

Words from the Woods Book Circle - East Haddam
2025-06-16 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.

Butterflies of Connecticut - Salem
2025-06-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-07-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Salem Free Public Library, 264 Hartford Road, Salem, CT, 06420, United States

John Lohmann CT River Preserve - Old Lyme
2025-06-18 10:00 - 12:00 | 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

Summer Solstice Celebration with Forest Bathing - Lyme
2025-06-20 09:30 - 11:30 | Pleasant Valley Preserve, MacIntosh Rd, Lyme, CT, 06439, United States
Place: Pleasant Valley Preserve, Macintosh Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Welcome in the season of summer with a guided mindful stroll along the meadow, river, and forest of Pleasant Valley Preserve. Enjoy a gentle mindful movement sequence, nature meditation, and opportunities to connect with the natural world along the way. In honor of the summer solstice, we’ll create a nature-inspired mandala with flowers and items collected from the forest. The session concludes with tea together.
The walk is about 1-mile round trip over easy to moderate terrain.
Registration: free
Register here.
Rain or shine event. Challenging weather cancels.

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

Geology Rocks - East Haddam
2025-07-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Organization: Eightmile River Watershed

Bring a chair or blanket and join the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for an interactive presentation and game about rocks & minerals. Learn the four different types of rocks, the rock cycle, and more!
We meet near the covered bridge — keep an eye out for Eightmile River Watershed signs! All programs are FREE and open to the public! No reservation needed. Rain cancels.
Rocks & Minerals is part of the Eightmile River Watershed’s Programs in the Park Summer Series! Join us on Saturday, July 19th for River Exploration and Saturday, July 26th for Birds of Prey. Check our Facebook and website for more information. Same time! Same Place! (Devil’s Hopyard State Park, 10am).
Questions? Email info@eightmileriver.org or message us on our socials.

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.

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

Programs in the Park: River Exploration - East Haddam
2025-07-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Devil’s Hopyard State Park, East Haddam
Organization: Eightmile River Watershed

Come explore and discover what lives in and around the Eightmile River. Bring your nets, water shoes & curiosity. Let’s see what we catch!
We meet near the covered bridge — keep an eye out for Eightmile River Watershed signs! All programs are FREE and open to the public! No reservation needed. Rain cancels.
River Exploration is part of the Eightmile River Watershed’s Programs in the Park Summer Series! Join us on Saturday, July 12th for Rocks & Minerals and Saturday, July 26th for Birds of Prey. Check our Facebook and website for more information. Same time! Same Place! (Devil’s Hopyard State Park, 10am).
Questions? Email info@eightmileriver.org or message us on our socials.

Family Trail Time - Gillette Castle
2025-07-20 10:00 - 11:30 | Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Road, East Haddam, CT, 06423, United States
Place: Gillette Castle, Ferry Rd, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Meet at the Hadlyme Ferry Parking lot on Ferry Rd, Lyme (not Old Lyme) We will begin the walk along the CT River. There is a gentle inclined pathway to get up to the Castle to see the beautiful view. We may get our feet wet.
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.
