March 20 MARCH 23. Check Often for Updates on our website: thelastgreenvalley.org

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1 March 20 A Special Vernal Equinox TLGV Member Hike: 11:30 am 1 pm. Join us for a special Vernal Equinox hike at West Thompson Dam as we celebrate the Vernal Equinox and first day of Spring 2018 at 12:15 pm. We ll meet up at the US ARMY Corps of Engineers parking lot on West Thompson road adjacent to the dam. From there we ll hike the Ramsdell Woods Trail to the West Shelter. At the shelter we ll enjoy lunch and the first moments of Spring From there we ll hike back the Shoreline Road and enjoy the views of beautiful West Thompson Lake. The hike is just over 2 miles round trip. Bring a bag lunch and TLGV will pack in cider and cookies for all to enjoy. Registration required. Call Chief Ranger Bill Reid at or via at bill@tlgv.org Sponsored by The Last Green Valley Moderate; 2 miles, leashed dogs only Woods Forum: 6:30 8 pm, Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Rd., Hampton, CT. Please join CFPA as we bring together Connecticut woodland owners and conservation professionals to share information and experiences and create an informal, local network of contacts to help provide support for healthy woodland management and stewardship. At this forum, you will hear a short presentation, meet local landowners, engage with conservation experts, and share knowledge with your neighbors. Curious about growing mushrooms? Backyard sugaring? What your neighbors are up to? Don t miss out! Beverages and snacks will be served! Please RSVP: bbernard@ctwoodlands.org. For more information, contact Beth Bernard, Program Director at Goodwin Conservation Center: Sponsored by Connecticut Forest & Park Association, DT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, and the Friends of Goodwin Forest MARCH 23 Check Often for Updates on our website: thelastgreenvalley.org Bark ID for Goodwin Trees: 3:30-5:30 pm, James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Ever wanted to learn how to identify a tree by the bark and not by the leaves? Join Master Naturalist Caroline Driscoll as you learn all about bark. Learn about how it s made, why it s so important, and what it does for the tree. You will get to go outside and identify a few trees of your own. Caroline Driscoll has served on the CFPA Board of Directors since 2005.

2 She has taught at both preschool and college levels. Her love of the outdoors and teaching led to a position at the Connecticut College Arboretum where she continues to consult while she works toward a certificate in horticultural illustration at the New York Botanical Garden and her Master Naturalist certification at the Goodwin Conservation Center. For Information, call Jasper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gove or visit March 24 Candlewood Ridge Trail Building: 10 am to noon, Larchmont Terrace, Groton, CT. Family friendly trail building work party to enhance a half mile section of trail crossing rugged terrain by removing new growth and building brush pikes to improve habitat. Hand tools and light power tools will be provided. Organizations, service and youth group welcome. Free event. Please register at: or dsmith0705@sbcglobal.net Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association, www. gosaonline.org Moderate;.5 mile, NO dogs please Gardener s Roundtable: 10 11:30 a.m., James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. This workshop is intended for gardeners of all experience levels. We share best practices and pitfalls for gardening in eastern Connecticut. These monthly workshops cover a wide-range of topics, so please come with your questions, your expertise, and your own stories of success and failure in your gardens. For Information, call Jsaper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gove or visit Youth Series: Discover Goodwin Forest-Lichen: 1 to 3 p.m., James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Join Master Naturalist Lynn Kochiss and guest Master Naturalist Regan Stacey as we explore the wonderful world of lichen! Come discover the patches of green that grow on trees and rocks, the beards that hang from branches, and the soft pillows tucked along stone walls. A talk and touch session will introduce the three basic kinds of lichen you can find among our forests. We ll then take a discovery walk to find as many as we can! Regan Stacey is a participant in the Master Naturalist II Program at Goodwin Forest. She is a practicing artist who holds a B.S. in biology, an M.F.A in visual studies, and is a self-proclaimed forest whisperer. Lynn Kochiss is an environmental educator who has been a CFPA volunteer since She is a certified elementary teacher, a Project Learning Tree Facilitator, and a Master Naturalist. Lynn was recognized as a National PLT Outstanding Educator in 2013 for her work in environmental education. All children must be accompanied by an adult for this program. Registration is Required For Information, call Jasper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gov or visit MARCH 25 The Last Green Valley s Acorn Adventure: Treasure Hunting on the Trails; 1-3 p.m., Camp Laurel, 175 Clubhouse Road, Lebanon CT. The Last Green Valley is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut to hold a letterboxing Acorn Adventure. Do you like to be outside? Do you like to search for treasure? Letterboxing is a family-friendly hobby that gets you outside to follow the clues and find the treasure, a hand-carved stamp that you can add to your personal log book. Acorn Adventurers will get an introduction to letterboxing and their own letterboxing kits, which will include a starter logbook, an inkpad and the chance to make a personal stamp. The group will then hike the trails of Camp Laurel, following the clues to find a series of four letterboxes. The program is open to all kids and their families. To learn more about letterboxing, visit Please register by calling Fran at

3 , or message us through facebook. Registering will ensure we have enough materials for everyone! Primary leader: Kim McLean Buffumville Dam Tour: 1 2 pm, Buffumville Dam, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Would you like to know why the lake is lower in the winter months? Have you ever wondered what the Park Rangers do in the winter and in other seasons? Do you like to learn about weather and perhaps learn a little about flood water storage and protection? Then join Park Ranger Jamie to learn all about it. Meet at the gate house doors (48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton) for an exclusive tour, inside and out. Rain or shine. Please Note: There are many stairs within the tour. Questions? Free tour. Sponsored by: US Army Corps of Engineers Moderate; restrooms nearby, especially for families with children; NO dogs please New Bus Tour -- Mills and Beyond : 1 p.m., Killingly Conservation Commission is offering a new event in its Back Roads of Undiscovered Killingly series.this Back Roads Tour will focus on the mills along the Whetstone Brook, plus some scenic vistas and a historic farm. Planned for March before the leaves pop out on trees, the stone ruins of old mills are more visible. Join bus tour guides from Killingly Conservation Commission to learn how Killingly developed during the Industrial Revolution and how some mills have been repurposed. Limited seating; reservations are required by March 21, with name, phone and number attending, and find out where to meet. Call or dguertin@killinglyct. gov MARCH 30 The Art of the Sit Spot: 4 to 5:30 p.m., James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Join Beth Bernard, Program Director at the James L. Goodwin Conservation Center in a unique journey to discover the lost art of the sit spot. This observation tool increases awareness, calms the body and mind, and opens up a world of awesome nature sightings! We will be taking a short hike and participating in exercises that awaken our senses.

4 During our sit spot, we will stay in one spot and let nature come to us. Be dressed for the weather and bring a small mat or towel to sit on if you desire. Age 12-adult. For Information, call Jasper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gov or visit MARCH 31 Wildflower Walk: 9:30 11:00 am, Joshua s Trust Hubbard Sanctuary/Agnes Pasture in Chaplin. Accompany naturalist Deb Field as we look for spring wildflowers. Walk is approximately 2 miles, moderate diffculty. Wear appropriate clothing for weather. Please register at activities@ joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Please no dogs or children under age 12. No rain date. This is the first of 5 spring wildflower walks each one should uncover different flower species depending on how spring unfolds this year. You are welcome to join us on all or on any one of them. Please register for each one individually. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust Moderate; 2 miles, NO dogs please, no children under 12 Dark Sky in The Last Green Valley Light Pollution 101: 1-3 pm, The Last Green Valley Offce, 203B Main St. (2 nd Floor), Danielson, CT. Light pollution is the unwanted intrusion of light into our night sky, landscapes, and homes. Light Pollution 101 reveals how light pollution affects human beings, kills tens of thousands of animals annually, and actually makes us less secure in our neighborhoods. The Last Green Valley is blessed with minimal light pollution as seen from outer space but light pollution is expanding up the I-395 corridor. This program focuses on how to improve light fixtures and reduce lighting costs while at the same time providing a more secure and eco-friendly environment for animals, plants, and humans. This program is appropriate for all ages 6+. This program is offered by TLGV Ranger Geoff McLean. Please RSVP to Chief Ranger Bill Reid at bill@tlgv.org or call Sponsored by The Last Green Valley and McLean Research Elevator and Restrooms available. Children 6 and older welcome. Colonial Gardens: 1-3 p.m., James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. The Europeans who settled the colonies had substantial knowledge of how to use plants in cooking and healing. They brought seeds and plants with them and saw other favorites come over with each new ship. Their gardens developed from their own knowledge and from the new information obtained by the natives they encounter. Their gardens and their medicines emerged as a blend of old and new. This workshop will illustrate early gardens and plant uses from the colonial period of North America with specific emphasis on New England. Debra Hultgren is a retired public school educator and administrator. She is a practicing community herbalist and a master gardener. She grows, harvests and prepares plant foods and medicines and teaches others how to include these healing traditions in their own lives. For Information, call Jasper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gov or visit Spring/Easter Saturday Full Moon Walk: 7 pm 8 pm, Hodges Village Dam, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford, MA. This is your best opportunity over the holiday weekend, to bring the family down for a leisurely, springtime stroll under the moon. Please meet the Ranger on Saturday, March 31st at 7 pm at Hodges Village Dam (30 Howarth Road, Oxford). No registration required, just show up. Cancelled if very rainy. (Sunset 7:11 pm, Moon Rise 7:30 pm). Free event. Please visit our website at: mil/missions/recreation/hodges-village-dam/ Easy; 1 mile, restrooms nearby, especially for families with children Blue Moon Night Hike: 7:30 8:30 pm, James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Let the full moon guide your path as you take a night hike at Goodwin State Forest. Goodwin Guide Kat Gayson will

5 be taking you on a moonlit journey through the forest to bear witness to the changes in nature from day to night. Bring a headlamp or flashlight if desired, they are not necessary. Please dress appropriately for the weather. For Information, call Jasper Sha at or jasper.sha@ct.gov or visit APRIL 2 A Mile in My Shoes Walk: 6:30-7:15 pm, Buffumville each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all 13! Free event. April 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 4 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 6 A Mile in My Shoes Walk: 6:30 pm 7:15 pm, Buffumville Lake offce, 48 Old Oxford Rd., A Mile in My Shoes Walk: 6:30 7:15 pm, April 4, Buffumville Lake offce, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Spring is here and Park Ranger Jamie wouldn t mind the company on a mile walk (gentle, into shape walk on top of the dam), each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 6th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 8 Spectrum of Sports: 10 am to noon, Killingly High School, Killingly. An inclusive sports clinic and resource fair for children of all abilities between the ages of Sport stations include: soccer, yoga, nutrition obstacle course, basketball, running and more. Parents are encouraged to stay throughout the event to check out the Resource Vendors. Hosted by The Arc Quinebaug Valley & NOW Northeast Opportunities for Wellness. Register online at Click on Events & scroll to Spectrum of Sports. For more information, please contact Mallory Moreau/Crystal Simonson at The Arc at or Kelsey Quinn/Sarah Wolfburg at NOW at Free event. Candlewood Hill Wildlife Management Area Hike: 10 am to 1 pm, 1245 Gold Star Highway, Groton, CT. Look for special event signs. State s newest Wildlife Management Area, featuring scenic rock formations, cliffs, historic quarries, granite ridges and hollows. Rare and imperiled 44-acre pitch pine/scrub oak forest. Challenging, steep, diffcult, rocky terrain. Good balance and endurance are needed. Bring hiking boots, water and snack. Unmarked trails cover a large area. This is a 4.5-mile hike. Heavy rain cancels. Registration requested at gosamail@gmail.com. Free event. Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association, www. gosaonline.org Diffcult; 4.5 miles, NO dogs please.

6 The Porter Farm the Barns and Beyond: 1 2:30 pm, Apr. 8, 2382 South St., Coventry, CT. Take a walk with the Coventry Historical Society through the Porter Farm behind our Museum the Strong Porter House and its Barn, and see the recently rediscovered system of ponds, dams, cart path and enclosures. We are actively trying to understand how the Porter family used this part of their farm perhaps for certain steps in the production of cloth. Free event. Sponsored by Coventry Historical Society. Moderate; ½ mile; restrooms nearby; age 12+ only, rain date, April 22. Primary Leader: Susan Way, susanway@gmail.com or call APRIL 9 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 9th, 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 11 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 11th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399.

7 APRIL 13 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 14 Wildflower Walk: 9:30 11:00 am, Joshua s Trust Hubbard Sanctuary/Agnes Pasture, Chaplin. Accompany naturalist Deb Field as we look for spring wildflowers. Walk is approximately 2 miles, moderate diffculty. Wear appropriate clothing for weather. Please register at activities@ joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Please no dogs or children under age 12. No rain date. This is the second of 5 spring wildflower walks each one should uncover different flower species depending on how spring unfolds this year. You are welcome to join us on all or on any one of them. Please register for each one individually. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust Moderate, 2 miles, NO dogs please, no children under 12 NHS Second Saturday Tour - Nature Walk on the Shetucket: 10:30 am to noon, Apr. 14, 10 Roosevelt Ave., Norwich, CT. We will be meeting at the parking lot at the east end of the 8th St. Bridge. The walk is about a 1.5 mile round trip along the eastern bank of the Shetucket River. It is a rocky and at times wet trail so dress for hiking in the woods. We will be in the woods most of the time as it only opens up at the boat portage around the Greeneville Dam. We will be focusing on the plant and animal life of the region, in the river, on the shore, and in the air above. Please bring your favorite ID books and an adventurous spirit. Recently we have had sightings of Salmon, Bald Eagles, and Great Blue Herons along the Shetucket River. Spring Outdoors 2018 Come on out and enjoy what the great outdoors has to offer! Free event. This tour is led by Zechariah Stover, Vice Chair of the Greeneville Neighborhood Revitalization Zone Committee, and will start at the river access lot right off the end of the 8th St. Bridge. Especially for families with children. Sponsored by: Greeneville Revitalization Zone. Bull Hill Scenic View Hike: 10 am to 2 pm, 401 Ravenelle Rd., N. Grosvenordale, CT, Park on the grass shoulder on the east side of the road. Join TLGV Board member Janet Blanchette and Wyndham Land Trust Board member Jeff Stefanik on a hike to Bull Hill property owned by WLT in Thompson. We will hike from Ravenelle Road north through Army Corps property and then, partially along roads, hike up to a scenic viewing area for lunch. Be prepared for stream crossings, hills, and rocky, rooty, wet trails. Free event. Sponsored by: The Last Green Valley and Wyndham Land Trust. Moderate Diffcult; 6 miles; leashed dogs welcome; bring water, lunch or a snack Primary Leader: Janet Blanchette, blanchettejanet@ gmail.com, phone: APRIL 16 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 16th, 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 18 School Vacation Buffumville Dam Tour: 10:30 am to noon, Buffumville Dam, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton,

8 MA. Attention Families with kids: Are you home with the children, a daycare and/or homeschool group? We have tours of Buffumville Dam during School Vacation week. Would you like to know why the lake is lower in the winter months? Have you ever wondered what the Park Rangers do in the winter and in other seasons? Do you like to learn about weather and perhaps learn a little about flood water storage and protection? Then join Park Ranger Jamie at the gatehouse doors at 48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton for an exclusive tour, inside and out. Rain or shine. Please Note: There are many stairs within the tour. Questions? Free tour. Sponsored by: US Army Corps of Engineers Moderate; restrooms nearby, especially for families with children; NO dogs please each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 18th, 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 20 A Mile in My Shoes Walk: 6:30 7:15 pm, April 4, Buffumville Lake offce, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Spring is here and Park Ranger Jamie wouldn t mind the company on a mile walk (gentle, into shape walk on top of the dam), each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/ motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 20th, 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 21 Canterbury Town-wide Cleanup: 9 am to 1 pm, Canterbury Town Hall, Route 14, Canterbury, CT. To brighten up one of the best parts of Connecticut s Quiet Corner, organizations, individuals and families are asked to participate in this opportunity to help clean-up trash along Canterbury s roads. Trash bags will be provided, please bring your own gloves. Anyone with a pickup truck or trailer (with working flashers) is asked to bring that along. People will be designated areas to walk and collect trash alongside the road, bagging it and throwing it into the back of the truck or trailer safely. The vehicles then bring the trash and other items to the transfer station for disposal. Point of contact for any questions call the Canterbury Town Hall at or Ray Shinkiewicz at Students participating in this cleanup may request Community Service Credits. Pizza and soda will be provided to participants after the cleanup. Sponsored by Canterbury Lions Club and The Last Green Valley Primary Leader: Ray Shinkiewicz, phone: nd Annual Let s Clean Up Holland: 9 am to noon, Holland Elementary School, Holland, MA. The main objective for Let s Clean Up Holland event is to clean up the five main roads coming in and going out of this pretty town. With greater participation, side roads can also be addressed. The second objective is to increase morale and spirit in this community wide event and build awareness of the Opacum Land Trust and The Last Green Valley. The third objective is to have a fun pizza party after the cleanup at Diane s Villanova. Sponsored by Opacum Land Trust and The Last Green Valley Primary Leader: Anne Hall, annehallgo@gmail.com, phone: Sprague Clean and Green Cleanup: 10 am to 2 pm, Grist Mill Parking Lot, Sprague, CT. The Town of Sprague will be celebrating Earth Day. We are looking for volunteers to adopt a road for cleanup. Bags and gloves will be available. Pizza will be served to all participants following the cleanup. The Town will be offering free Dump Day in conjunction with this cleanup with the hope of bring-

9 ing the community together and encouraging a sense of ownership in keeping a cleaner town and respecting our private and public property. Sponsored by The Town of Sprague and The Last Green Valley Primary Leader: Catherine Osten, phone: APRIL 22 Wood Works Fair: 10 am to 4 pm, 28 Bridge St. Willimantic, CT. This will be a fun and fund-raising event. Commercial, conservation, education, recreational, creative efforts with forests, trees, wood as follows: Portable sawmill, children using tools, How to Build a Campfire, axe throwing, Beavers as woodcutters, two-man saw competition, build a bat or bird house, Windham County s Charter Oak history, hybrid chestnut seedlings for sale and more. Demonstrations of woodworking of all kinds including chain saw carving, representatives from tree farms/land trusts/ nature groups. Also, vendors/crafters selling a variety of wood-related products. Free event with items available for purchase. Sponsored by Willimantic Whitewater Partnership. www. willimanticwhitewater.org Easy; restrooms nearby; wheelchair accessible; NO dogs, especially for families with children Primary Leader: Faith Kenton, phone: , phiona8@sbcglobal.net APRIL 23 Lake offce, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Spring is here and Park Ranger Jamie wouldn t mind the company on a mile walk (gentle, into shape walk on top of the dam), each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 23rd, 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 25 Lake offce, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Spring is here and Park Ranger Jamie wouldn t mind the company on a mile walk (gentle, into shape walk on top of the dam), each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 25th, 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399.. Easy; restrooms nearby, especially for families with children

10 APRIL 27 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. April 27th and 30th. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399. APRIL 28 Wildflower Walk: 9:30 11 am, Joshua s Trust Hubbard Sanctuary/Agnes Pasture, Chaplin. Accompany naturalist Deb Field as we look for spring wildflowers. Walk is approximately 2 miles, moderate diffculty. Wear appropriate clothing for weather. Please register at activities@ joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Please no dogs or children under age 12. No rain date. This is the third of 5 spring wildflower walks each one should uncover different flower species depending on how spring unfolds this year. You are welcome to join us on all or on any one of them. Please register for each one individually. Sponsored by: Joshua s Trust Moderate, 2 miles, NO dogs please, no children under 12 Groton Open Space 21 st Annual Cleanup Day: 10 am to 2 pm, Haley Farm State Park, Groton, CT. Groton Open Space Association will hold its 21 st annual cleanup day event at Haley Farm State Park with additional cleanups at Veeb Cove Vista, Candlewood Hill State Wildlife Management Area, Candlewood Ridge, Avery Far, Sheep Farm, and the Merritt Family Forest. Come and help with this huge undertaking to clear trails and remove trash, invasive vines and pet waste. Food and drink will be provided after the cleanup. Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association and The Last Green Valley Primary Leader: Joan Smith, dsmith0705@sbcglobal.net, phone: Spring Outdoors 2018 APRIL 29 Buffumville Dam Tour: 1 2 pm, Buffumville Dam, 48 Old Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Would you like to know why the lake is lower in the winter months? Have you ever wondered what the Park Rangers do in the winter and in other seasons? Do you like to learn about weather and perhaps learn a little about flood water storage and protection? Then join Park Ranger Jamie to learn all about it. Meet at the gate house doors (48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton) for an exclusive tour, inside and out. Rain or shine. Please Note: There are many stairs within the tour. Questions? Free tour. Sponsored by: US Army Corps of Engineers Moderate; restrooms nearby, especially for families with children; NO dogs please May Pole Celebration: 2 4 pm, Atwood Farm, 624 Wormwood Hill Road, Mansfield Center, CT. May Pole celebration. Come join the Mansfield Middle School fiddlers and the community as the headquarters of Joshua s Trust, Atwood Farm, as we celebrate May. We ll dance around the May Pole, make May baskets and wind socks. Families welcome. Free event. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust and Mansfield Middle School Easy, especially for families with children April 30 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening in April. A walking club where there will be a surprise each time (nature themed informational tidbits, inspirational/motivational messages along the route and/or little rewards). No need to register, come to one or all! Free event. For more information, please call Jamie at , x399.

11 MAY 1 8 th Grade Riverside Park Cleanup: 11:30 am to 2 pm, Riverside Park, Thompson, CT. Each Spring the 8 th grade students and their teachers from Thompson Middle School volunteer a half day to help with the park cleanup. St. Joseph s students may also join in. The students focus on Riverside Park and Heritage Way Park along the French River. These two parks are heavily used by area residents and usually by Spring are in need of a good sprucing up. Sponsored by Thompson Recreation Department Primary Leader: Angela Newell, recreationdirector@ thompsonct.org, phone: Rain Date: May 3. MAY 3 Invasives in Your Yard/What to Plant Instead: 6:30 7:30 pm, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford, MA. Would you like to know more about non-native species of plants, shrubs and trees and why some of them are not good for your backyard? We can then help you to choose indigenous shrubs and how to create a wild area for the birds, bees and butterflies (pollinators). Join Park Rangers Nicole and Spring Outdoors 2018 Jamie at Hodges Village Dam at 6:30 pm. Seating is limited to 20, so please R.S.V.P or nicole.c.giles@ usace.army.mil. There will be light refreshments and door prizes. Families with children encouraged and welcome. Free event. nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/hodges-village-dam/ Easy; restrooms nearby, wheelchair accessible, especially for families with children, NO dogs please MAY 5 10 th Annual Putnam Beautification Day: 8:30 am to noon, Rotary Park, Putnam, CT. If you LOVE Putnam, help us clean our parks, streets and public places. School groups, business organizations, fraternal clubs, civic clubs, sports teams, families and individuals. EVERYONE IS NEED- ED AND WELCOME. TROPHIES AWARDED TOO! Volunteers please meet at Rotary Park at 8:30 am to get trash bags, gloves, water, snacks and maps of their assigned area. Town trucks and/or dumpsters will be strategically located throughout the downtown area. Trash will be collected in the downtown area of Putnam, and brush cleared. The

12 cleanup will be followed by a picnic lunch. For any questions on volunteering, or to RSVP please contact Delpha Very at Delpha.very@putnamct.us or Sponsored by Putnam Business Association and The Last Green Valley. Primary Leader: Karen Osbrey, kareno@winyradio. com, phone: Candlewood Ridge Trail Building: 10 am to noon, Larchmont Terrace, Groton, CT. Family friendly trail building work party to enhance a half mile section of trail crossing rugged terrain by removing new growth and building brush pikes to improve habitat. Hand tools and light power tools will be provided. Organizations, service and youth group welcome. Free event. Please register at: or dsmith0705@sbcglobal.net Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association, www. gosaonline.org Moderate; NO dogs please Bird Walk: 8 10 am, Joshua s Trust Pigeon Swamp Preserve, Lebanon. Accompany birders Mike Curtis and Dave Parry as we look for potential breeding and migrating species in this habitat. Walk is approximately 2 miles, easy. Bring binoculars. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather. Please no dogs or children under age 10. Please register at activities@joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Easy, 2 mile, No dogs please, no children under 10. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust Primary Leader: Mike Curtis, activities@joshuastrust.org Rain date May 6. Community Cleanup Day: 9 am to 1 pm, Historic Downtown Norwich, Norwich, CT. The cleanup will take place on from 9am to 1pm followed by a volunteer outdoor picnic. Local civic groups will be involved with the cleanup. The Community Rotary Core, Dime Bank Blue Crew, Norwich Creates and the Mayor s Offce will be amongst the volunteers. Youth engagement will include the Bully Busters of Norwich. Come and join them. Sponsored by Norwich Community Development, Foundry 66, Norwich Creates, First Friday Commission, and The Last Green Valley Primary Leader: Jill Fritzsche, jfritzsche@askncdc. com, phone: Spring Outdoors 2018 MAY 12 Wildflower Walk: 9:30 11 am, Joshua s Trust Hubbard Sanctuary/Agnes Pasture, Chaplin. Accompany naturalist Deb Field as we look for spring wildflowers. Walk is approximately 2 miles, moderate diffculty. Wear appropriate clothing for weather. Please register at activities@joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Please no dogs or children under age 12. No rain date. This is the fourth of 5 spring wildflower walks each one should uncover different flower species depending on how spring unfolds this year. You are welcome to join us on all or on any one of them. Please register for each one individually. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust Moderate, 2 miles, NO dogs please, no children under 12 Primary Leader: Deb Field, activities@joshuastrust. org. Sheep Farm Hike: 10 am to noon, 255 Hazelnut Hill Rd., Groton, CT. Look for special event signs. Family friendly 1.5-mile hike through scenic fields and forest featuring diverse wildlife habitats, rocky outcroppings, waterfalls, historic foundations and grist mill site. Some hill climbing. Bring sturdy shoes, water and snack. Free event. Registration requested: or dsmith0705@sbcglobal. net Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association www. gosaonine.org Easy; 1.5 mile, especially for families with children; NO dogs please. NHS Second Saturday Tour- Firearm Factories of Norwich: 10:30 am to 1 pm, May 12, City Hall 100 Broadway Norwich, CT. Please park at parking garage next to City Hall. Visit the factories where firearms were manufactured from the mid 1800 s to Learn about the interesting history of the firearms industry in the Rose City. 2 miles. Free event. Sponsored by the Guns of Norwich Historical Society. Diffcult MAY 13 Hodges Village Dam Mother s Day Tea & Walk: 2 3 pm, Hodges Village Dam, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford, MA. Bring your friends, family- especially the kids, and wear

13 your loveliest bonnet/sunhat or handsomest cap to our beautiful pollinator gardens. Tea and light refreshments will be served, yet feel free to bring a picnic for your family or cookies to share. A ground cloth or picnic blanket is also recommended. For all ages! Questions, call Jamie at , X399. Free event. mil/missions/recreation/hodges-village-dam/ Moderate; restrooms nearby, especially for families with children, NO dogs please Spring Outdoors 2018 MAY 18 Migration Madness: The Big Weekend Bird Challenge: May 18 20, Connecticut Audubon Center, 218 Day Rd., Pomfret Center, CT. A variety of bird walks and programs all weekend long in celebration of peak spring bird migration. Go to our website for listings. pomfret. Sponsored by Connecticut Audubon Society NO dogs please. MAY 19 Migration Madness: The Big Weekend Bird Challenge: May 18 20, Connecticut Audubon Center, 218 Day Rd., Pomfret Center, CT. A variety of bird walks and programs all weekend long in celebration of peak spring bird migration. Go to our website for listings. pomfret. Sponsored by Connecticut Audubon Society NO dogs please. Forest Walk: 10 am to noon., Joshua s Trust Pigeon Swamp Preserve, Lebanon. We will meet and greet the forest community on this moderate 2 mile walk and search for spring plants, animal life and talk about the forest dynamics. Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, boots, and bring tick spray. Dogs on leash and children over age 10 are welcome. No rain date. Please register at activities@joshuastrust.org. Limited to 20 participants. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust Dogs on leash, children over age 10 MAY 20 Migration Madness: The Big Weekend Bird Challenge: May 18 20, Connecticut Audubon Center, 218 Day Rd., Pomfret Center, CT. A variety of bird walks and programs all weekend long in celebration of peak spring bird migration. Go to our website for listings. pomfret. Sponsored by Connecticut Audubon Society NO dogs please. MAY 26 Wildflower Walk: 9:30 11:00 am, Joshua s Trust Hubbard Sanctuary/Agnes Pasture, Chaplin. Accompany naturalist Deb Field as we look for spring wildflowers. Walk is approximately 2 miles, moderate diffculty. Wear appropriate clothing for weather. Please register at activities@ joshuastrust.org. Limited to 12 participants. Please no dogs or children under age 12. No rain date. This is the last spring wildflower walk. You are welcome to join us

14 on all or on any one of them. Please register for each one individually. Moderate, 2 miles, NO dogs please, no children under 12 Fairy House Building: 10 am to 2 pm, Bradley-Buchanan Woods (next to the Mansfield Library). The Mansfield Public Library and Joshua s Trust are teaming up to present a Fairy House building event at the Bradley-Buchanan Woods, 54 Warrenville Road. Builders from all towns and of all ages are invited to bring any natural materials they wish to the event; some starter materials will be available for use. The event is free of charge. A map of the property is located at No rain date. The houses will stay on the Bradley-Buchanan Trail until June 10, 2018, when all remaining materials will be cleared. Attendees should note that there may be poison ivy in the vicinity and precautions should be taken to avoid tick bites. Further, builders are asked not to pick anything growing along the trail to preserve the ecosystem. Any sticks, stones, pinecones, fallen leaves, or other non-growing materials are suitable for use. Persons with questions may call the Mansfield Public Library at Free event. Sponsored by Joshua s Trust and Mansfield Public Library Easy, especially for families with children 2nd Annual Plant for Pollinators: 10 am to 2 pm, May 26, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford, MA. CALLING ALL SCOUTS AND FAMILIES: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is requesting your help with planting as many 4 X4 plots of wildflowers. And for this, your plot will be posted with a sign. (This will add more plots to the 11 that were created in 2017.) Free event. Please, RSVP, so I can make the signs. Please, bring the soil amendments- top soil, humus, natural fertilizer, peat, etc. Please bring gloves and your own drinking water. Snacks will be provided. The USACE will supply the New England Wildflower mix and all the tools. Group or club supplies the garden supplies. Register by 5/24/18 to or Jamie.r.kordack@usace.army. mil. nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/hodges-village-dam/, NO dogs please JUNE 2 Family Fishing Fun: 10 am to 1 pm, Buffumville Park, 229 Oxford Rd., Charlton Rd., Charlton, MA. Bring the kids to Buffumville Park for some outdoors fun! Lean about boating safety, water safety, learn how to fish, catch a fly fishing demonstration, ask your questions to a wildlife expert, and take a short hike! Stay after the event for a picnic or a swim. Want to help out? Please call Park Ranger, Nicole at , x Easy; restrooms nearby, wheelchair accessible, especially for families with children, NO dogs please, bring canoe or kayak, PFD & whistle History & Nature Along Utley Brook: 12:45 2:45 pm, 60 Hennequin Rd., Columbia, CT (Drive to the rear lot at Columbia Recreation Area, meet at kiosk at far right.) The participants will visit Joshua s Trust s Utley Hill Preserve, walking alongside Utley Brook past several old mill sites to a large former supply pond that is now an important wildlife habitat and key element in the protection of Columbia Lake s waters. Stops will be made to appreciate both local history and the natural beauty of the area. This walk complements the Columbia Historical Society s 2018 exhibit - Columbia Lake Through the Years. Moderate; 2 miles, restrooms nearby, NO dogs please. Rain Date: June 9 th Primary Leader: Joan Hill, jhill00@charter.net, phone:

15 JUNE 6 Bull Hill Forest Preserve Hike: 10 am to noon, Bull Hill Rd., Woodstock, CT. Enjoy a 3-mile hike with Wyndham Land Trust s Jeff Stefanik on the Bull Hill Forest Preserve. This parcel of land is diverse, historic, and offers some wonderful views. Parking is available off Senexet Rd. Drive to the end of Bull Hill Road to the gate. Drive carefully and park cautiously. Please register at: info@wyndhamlandtrust.org. Free event Sponsored by Wyndham Land Trust. Moderate; 3 mile John E. Jackman Tour de Mansfield: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 10 S. Eagleville Rd., Storrs (Mansfield), CT. Expect this! The Town of Mansfield, Mansfield Community Center, and Mansfield Downtown Partnership invite you to explore Mansfield by bike! The John E. Jackman Tour de Mansfield features three different routes (7, 20, and 40 miles) through Mansfield s historic districts, new downtown, and the UConn campus. Experience riding on open roads is encouraged. NOTE: Rides take place on open roads; Helmets required; Registration materials will be available in May with fee to be determined at that time. Questions? Time/Distance: 6 hours, 7/20/40 mile options Sponsored by: Mansfield Downtown Partnership. mansfieldct.gov/biketour Diffculty: Moderate, Pre-register mdp@mansfieldct.org or Restrooms nearby, Bring Bike & Helmet, Registration Required. JUNE 16 Camp Laurel Back Trails: 10 am to noon, Camp Laurel, 175 Clubhouse Rd., Lebanon, CT. Come to Camp Laurel enjoy this beautiful property as we hike the Back Trails of the camp. See a part of camp most visitors do not take the time to explore and enjoy. Learn a little about the history of this Girl Scout camp that opened in 1955 and has

16 served Girl Scouts for over 60 years. gsofct.org. Sponsored by: Girl Scouts of Connecticut. Moderate; restrooms nearby, NO dogs please Primary Leader: Kim Mc Lean, phone: JUNE 21 Solstice Music in the Forest: 7 8:30 pm, 30 Howarth Rd., Oxford, MA. CALLING ALL MUSICIANS, the musically inclined and anyone that just wants to ROCK-OUT. Singers and those who want to just listen, invited too! Let s ring in summer with an evening concert. Please bring your guitar/keyboard (electricity on site)/violin/kazoo/etc. or feel free to bring your own nature-inspired instrument. Have the kids make some hand-made percussion items utilizing seeds/sticks/pinecones/etc. Prizes for the following instruments: Creative natural, largest, smallest, prettiest sound and more.! Free event. Please call Park Ranger Jamie should you have any questions , X nae.usace.army.mil/missions/recreation/hodges-village-dam/, NO dogs please Spring Outdoors 2018