CT TRAILS DAY EVENT:

This year, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event. 

Join Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman for this special family-friendly exploration of two adjoining refuges (Babcock Ridge and D.R. Henne Memorial & Shunock Brook Preserves), which are among the Conservancy’s most ecologically diverse preserves. Accompanying us on this gentle, two-mile hike is sign-language interpreter Joy Valenti, who’s experienced in making nature accessible to the D/deaf/hard of hearing community. In addition to ASL interpretation, this hike will use amplification to ensure hikers can hear Bruce’s information and guidance. 

We’ll comb the uplands for its array of wildflowers, amphibians, reptiles, and colorful songbirds and see how to convert bird calls into accessible sound prints. We’ll also examine the beaver-created wetlands, home to a large and thriving Great Blue Heron rookery and an abundance of dragonflies and butterflies, and learn, first hand, how these “eager” rodents have transformed local habitats throughout North America. This is a typical woodland trail, with some rocks and roots. It is up-and-down terrain, not flat but not steep; fairly wide, allowing for walking two abreast.

Meet leader and veteran naturalist Bruce Fellman at 113 Babcock Road (0.9 miles from Wyassup Road or 0.8 miles from Route 49). The parking area is on the north side of the road. The trailhead for the Babcock part of the walk is here; the trailhead for the Henne walk is nearby.

Rain postpones to June 3, 10:30 AM. For more information, visit the CTFPA’s website. The event is part of National Trails Day, which in Connecticut is coordinated by the CT Forest and Park Association.

Avalonia is hosting this adventure, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th. Pre-registration is recommended and can be done by contacting walk leader Bruce Fellman at (860) 599-4867 or fellnature@sbcglobal.net.

Accessibility Note

Parking: Small off-street lot, packed dirt surface, no accessible space, room for 7-8 cars. Lot located at Babcock Ridge Preserve trailhead about 100 feet from Henne Preserve trailhead. Additional parking available along the road.

Trails: Narrow in spots, some slopes, some protrusions into pathway, occasional wet areas.

Communication: This walk will be amplified and sign language interpreted, and will include live sonograms that provide pictorial representation of birdcalls.

Avalonia Accessibility Statement

Accessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com