BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Avalonia Land Conservancy - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://avalonia.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Avalonia Land Conservancy REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20170312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20171105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20180311T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20181104T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20190310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20191103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20200308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20201101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20210314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20211107T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20220313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20221106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250608T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20250423T192136Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250516T131105Z UID:9557-1749376800-1749384000@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Greet-the-Morning Hike at Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve in North Stonington DESCRIPTION:From time immemorial\, observers have found poetry—and poetic prose—in nature. Whatever form your observations have taken\, we’ll have plenty to observe and record as we greet the morning and hike Avalonia Land Conservancy’s Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve in North Stonington. \nTefftweald\, a former Girl Scout camp\, is a 77-acre masterpiece of upland forest\, meadows\, wetlands\, old graveyards and cellar holes\, and its wonderfully photogenic Wyassup Brook always offers inspiration. We’ll explore the woodland trails at a pace leisurely enough to enable everyone to give the Preserve a close read and stop often enough to capture the abundant plants and animals\, from early blooming Mountain laurels to birds\, butterflies\, and dragonflies. \nAt the Poet’s Bench\, we’ll pause to give everyone who’s willing the chance to share a treasured bit of verse. Walk leader Bruce Fellman is a veteran photojournalist\, naturalist\, and documentarian who has kept and published a weekly Naturalist’s Journal in a number of local newspapers for the past 47 years. \nRegistration is limited to 25. \nRegister Here \n  \nAccessibility Note:\n \nParking: Small lot located about 100 yards down an unnamed gravel-and-dirt side street off of Grindstone Hill Road (approximately 281 Grindstone Hill Road) at the start of the Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve’s main trail. Lot with packed dirt surface\, no accessible space\, room for 8–10 cars. Additional parking available along the road.\nTrails: Narrow in spots\, some slopes\, some protrusions into pathway\, occasional wet areas\, and occasional off-trail walking.\nCommunication: This walk will be amplified; sign language interpretation will be provided.\n \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/\nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman\, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com\n \n \nFeatured image: Avalonia’s Tefftweald at Birchenturn by Sherry April\n  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/greet-the-morning-hike-at-tefftweald-at-birchenturn-preserve-in-north-stonington/ LOCATION:Tefftweald at Birchenturn\, 282 Grindstone Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Sherry-April-Tefftweald-Preserve-in-North-Stonington.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250510T113000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20250331T134828Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250507T125556Z UID:9410-1746871200-1746876600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Rocky Road: A Geological Exploration of Pine Swamp Wildlife Corridor in Ledyard DESCRIPTION:You’ve heard of tree-hugging…but boulder-hugging? \nJoin geologist Mary DiGiacomi-Cohen for a tour of Pine Swamp Preserve that explores the physical characteristics and geologic history of the area. We’ll learn to understand and apply terms like glaciation\, dirt machine\, shear zone\, meltwater deposition\, and eolian processes. We’ll deploy several of our senses\, including sight\, touch\, and taste\, during our exploration of this special environment.  \nSaturday\, May 10\, 2025\n10 am – 11:30 am\nRain date: Saturday\, May 17\, 2025 (same time) \nParticipants will have the opportunity to get a little gritty\, get a handle on a gneiss vug (huh?)\, and\, yes\, hug a boulder. \nPost-tour reception will include beverages and gluten-free Rocky Road brownies. (No rocks will have been hurt in the making of these brownies!) \nParking: Room for up to three vehicles in a small lot. Additional parking is available on the side of the road on Stone Court (diagonally across from the lot). \nAccessibility Note: \nParking: No accessible parking. \nTrail: Trail begins at lot. Surface ranges from stony to packed earth and grass\, with some roots and widths of two feet to six feet. Slope varies from level to some short\, steep areas with slope as high as 1:4 (one inch of slope for every four inches of travel). An approximately 30 foot area may require some scrambling.  \nCommunication: Walk will be amplified. Tour will include rich verbal description.  \n< The sign language interpretation for this event has been cancelled > \n  \nFor more info\, contact: accessibility@avalonialc.org (860) 884-3500. \nRegister: \nFill out my LGL Form! URL:https://avalonia.org/event/rocky-road-a-geological-exploration-of-pine-swamp-preserve-in-ledyard-2/ LOCATION:Pine Swamp and Wildlife Corridor\, 113 Whalehead Rd\, Gales Ferry\, CT\, 06335\, United States CATEGORIES:Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Pine-Swamp.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240908T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240908T150000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20240903T133032Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240905T184941Z UID:8171-1725800400-1725807600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Guided Walk at Wequetequock Cove Preserve DESCRIPTION:Led by Lydia Pan of CT Wild Ones and Beth Sullivan from Avalonia\, this is a guided walk at Wequetequock Cove Preserve in Stonington. We will look at the cove side preserve\, note vegetation\, changes in response to sea level rise as well as impacts by invasives. We will discuss the importance of coastal habitats for the migration of insects and birds\, Anguilla Brook/Wequetequock Cove watershed protection\, and Avalonia’s management plan for the property.  This guided walk is sponsored in part by the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District (ECCD) and the Wequetequock Cove Clean Water Coalition. \nSunday\, September 8\n1 – 3 pm\nRain date if absolutely needed on Sept 22 at the same time.   \nREGISTER HERE \nNOTES: \nTick/mosquito prevention spray and sunscreen are important.\nThere is no shade.\nPlease BYO water.\nPark with care along the roadside. \nClosed-toe shoes are recommended. \nNo dogs are allowed due to nesting animals\, birds\, and habitats. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/guided-walk-at-wequetequock-cove-preserve/ LOCATION:Wequetequock Cove Preserve\, Located between Palmer Neck Road and Wequeteqock Cove\, Stonington\, United States CATEGORIES:Educational,Preserves,Walks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240601T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20240308T214857Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240528T154653Z UID:7380-1717236000-1717243200@avalonia.org SUMMARY:An Exploration for the Birds at Tri-town Ridgeline Forest Preserve DESCRIPTION:As part of National Trails Day\, join Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman for a walk along the woodland trails of Tri-town Ridgeline Forest Preserve as we look and listen for a wide variety of avian delights in full courtship. \nThe Avalonia Land Conservancy’s TriTown Ridgeline Forest Preserve is a 500-plus-acre treasure trove of natural and human history\, and the rugged woodland is at its most enticing in the late spring\, when the abundant wildflowers\, ferns\, and mosses are opening\, and migrating and resident birds are wearing their courtship best and singing their hearts out. We’ll walk slowly and deliberately to take in the flora and fauna\, and we’ll spend our time learning how to identify what we encounter. Of special interest: our veteran American Sign Language interpreter Joy Valenti and naturalist Bruce Fellman will use techniques to make birdsong accessible to all\, including members of the hard-of-hearing/deaf community\, by converting sounds into pictures called sonograms. \n  \nREGISTER HERE \n  \nIt would be ideal if all participants could\, in advance\, download the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s Merlin birdfinding app to their phones. Here’s the link: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/ \n*** \nAccessibility Note \nParking: Off-street rutted\, packed-dirt lot with some rocks. Room for about eight cars. Trailhead located at lot. Additional parking alongside the road.  \nTrail: Grassy entry trail about six feet wide\, relatively level\, but pocked with rocks. Secondary trail varies in width and slope\,  with many rocky sections and occasional steep uphills and descents.\n \nCommunication Access: This walk will be amplified and sign language-interpreted. \n \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/\nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman\, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com \n  \n  \n*** \nThe featured image is by Elise Torello taken at Tri-town Ridgeline Forest Preserve. \n  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/an-exploration-for-the-birds-at-tri-town-ridgeline-forest-preserve/ LOCATION:TriTown Forest Preserve\, 91 Miller Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wildlife_Torello2-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240421T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240421T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20240308T214921Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240419T171322Z UID:7368-1713693600-1713700800@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Honoring Earth Day with a Wild Flora Walk at the Benedict Benson Preserve DESCRIPTION:  \nLed by Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman\, trek through the Benedict Benson Preserve to watch its uplands\, centerpiece stream\, and wetlands come to life with greening ferns\, mosses\, and wildflowers\, from the rare Hepatica to the ubiquitous marsh marigolds. \nREGISTER HERE \n  \nOne of the critical precursors of the passage of the Clean Water Act\, the landmark federal legislation whose 50 years of making a difference was celebrated in 2022\, is Earth Day\, the consciousness-raising holiday for the planet that began in 1970. As part of Avalonia’s ongoing tribute to the CWA\, join naturalist and guide Bruce Fellman as we wade into moving waters\, figuratively\, if not literally\, at the Benedict Benson Preserve on Sunday\, April 21\, shortly after Earth Day\, from 10 a.m. until noon\, in North Stonington to watch the refuge’s wetlands and its centerpiece stream come to life: a tribute to wise stewardship. \nIn keeping with our theme\, we’ll pay close attention to the area around Lantern Brook\, a delightful woodland stream that flows through the heart of the preserve and is wonderfully photogenic as it tumbles down a boulder field left behind by the glaciers that shaped this land. The area around the brook is paradise for botanists interested in mosses\, ferns\, lichens\, and wildflowers\, and while there are certain to be such stalwarts as Wood anemones\, a number of violets\, and Marsh marigolds in bloom\, there’s one botanical gem known as the hepatica that we’ll scramble up a favored hillside to seek out. Hepaticas thrive in specific\, rather “sweet” soil conditions unusual in our woods\, but Benson has the right stuff in one area. \nThe Preserve features a typical Southern New England post-agricultural-abandonment upland forest dominated by oaks\, beeches\, birches\, and hickories\, many of them fully mature. Some are home to striking Pileated Woodpeckers\, while others support a wide array of hardwood-forest songbirds\, the most intriguing of which is the Cerulean Warbler. This stunning bird\, which is listed as a Species of Special Concern in Connecticut\, has been seen and heard at Benson and the surrounding area\, and is one of the treasures we’ll be looking for as we walk the approximately mile and a half trail system in search of signs of spring. \nThe trailhead for the Benedict Benson Preserve is located at 100 Swantown Hill Road in North Stonington.  A small parking area is on the West side of the road and there’s more parking on either side of Swantown. For more information and to register\, visit the Events Calendar of Avalonia’s website: avalonia.org/events/ Please note: parts of the trail are pretty rugged\, so while my pace is always family-friendly\, the terrain\, particularly our scramble up a rocky hillside in search of wildflowers\, might not be suitable for small kids and the occasional elder. You’ll want to wear waterproof hiking boots\, and trekking poles might be a good idea\, too. Bring water and an energy bar\, and\, of course\, binoculars and cameras.  Don’t hesitate to call or email: 860-599-4867\, or fellnature@sbcglobal.net. \n*** \nAccessibility Note \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/ \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman\, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com \n  \n  \n*** \nThe featured image is by Jodi Williams taken at Benedict Benson Preserve. Jodi received an Honorable Mention in the Wildflowers category in Avalonia’s 2023 Photo Contest. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/honoring-earth-day-with-a-wild-flora-walk-at-the-benedict-benson-preserve/ LOCATION:Benedict Benson Preserve\, Swantown Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Community,Exploration,Family,Hikes,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Wildflowers2_Williams.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240403T200000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20240308T171600Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240403T171029Z UID:7358-1712167200-1712174400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Vernal Pool Adventure at Babcock Ridge - CANCELLED DESCRIPTION:CANCELLED DUE TO WIND AND RAIN. NEW DATE TBD. \n  \nThere’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to visit a woodland pond alive with the sights and sounds of newly awakened amphibians and invertebrates — and there’s no more exciting time to do so than at dusk when the local vernal pools are a noisy chorus of quacking wood frogs and bell-ringing spring peepers. As the skies darken\, we’ll follow our ears for about a half-mile hike to the center of the Babcock Ridge Preserve where a dry hole last autumn is now a rain-soaked “wicked big puddle.”  \nThis brimful temporary pond is a wetland nursery filled with a variety of exciting creatures. In addition to frogs\, we’ll likely see marbled salamander youngsters\, fairy shrimp\, giant predaceous diving beetles\, and the stars of the show\, the exquisite yellow-spotted salamanders. We’ll use nets to collect pond residents and examine them at close range before releasing them unharmed\, and if we’re especially lucky\, we might also hear the booming hoots of barred owls and the peents of woodcock.   \nBring a flashlight and a headlamp\, wear warm clothes and waterproof boots\, and don’t forget your spirit of adventure and curiosity on this family-friendly exploration of a fascinating part of the natural world.   \nWalk leader Bruce Fellman has been introducing people to vernal pool life for almost half-a-century. For more information\, contact the leader at bruce.fellman@yale.edu or 860-599-4867.  \nTo register for the adventure\, which is free and open to the public but limited to 25 people\, click on the link below. This program tends to fill up quickly\, but If there’s sufficient interest\, we’ll try to schedule additional walks. Note: heavy rain will postpone to Thursday\, the 21st\, same time\, but light rain will be just perfect for bringing out the critters — and raincoat-clad naturalists. \n  \nREGISTER HERE \n  \n*** \nAccessibility Note \nParking: Small off-street lot\, packed dirt surface\, no accessible space\, room for 7-8 cars. Lot located at Babcock Ridge Preserve trailhead. Additional parking available along the road. \nTrails: Narrow in spots\, some slopes\, some protrusions into pathway\, occasional wet areas. Off-pathway walking through open woods to vernal pool. Sampling for organisms involves dip-netting and getting hands wet. The hike back to the parking area takes place in the dark and is illuminated by flashlights and headlamps. \nCommunication: This walk will be amplified and may include live sonograms that provide pictorial representation of frog and bird calls. \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement: https://avalonia.org/accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-statement/ \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman\, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com \n  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/vernal-pool-adventure-at-babcock-ridge/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Family,Hikes,Walks,Water ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_9640AsamplingBab.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231028T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231028T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230906T163132Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231019T194523Z UID:6642-1698487200-1698494400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Documenting Discoveries at Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve DESCRIPTION:RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY\, OCTOBER 28\, 2023 / 10 AM – 12 PM \nDocumenting discoveries on the trail is a key skill that needs to be in every naturalist’s toolkit. We’ll have plenty to observe and record as we enjoy the fall colors at Avalonia’s Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve on 280 Grindstone Hill Road. \nTefftweald\, a former Girl Scout camp\, is a 77-acre masterpiece of upland forest\, meadows\, wetlands\, old graveyards and cellar holes\, and the wonderfully photogenic Wyassup Brook. \nThis is a family-friendly excursion\, and we’ll explore the woodland trails at a pace moderate enough to give the Preserve a close read and capture the experience in whatever form\, from pen and ink on paper to digital drawings\, photos\, and text entered on a smart device\, your journaling takes. Walk leader Bruce Fellman is a veteran photojournalist\, naturalist\, and documentarian who has kept and published a weekly Naturalist’s Journal in a number of local newspapers for the past 45 years. \nPLEASE REGISTER HERE \nFor more information\, e-mail Bruce Fellman at fellnature@scbglobal.net\, or call 860-599-4867. \nIn case of inclement weather\, participants will be notified of a cancellation via email no later than 2 hours before the event. \n \n\nAccessibility Note  \n\nParking: Small lot located about 100 yards down an unnamed gravel-and-dirt side street off of Grindstone Hill Road (approximately 281 Grindstone Hill Road) at the start of the  Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve’s main trail. Lot with packed dirt surface\, no accessible space\, room for 8–10 cars. Additional parking is available along the road. \n \nTrails: Narrow in spots\, some slopes\, some protrusions into pathway\, occasional wet areas\, and occasional off-trail walking. \n \nCommunication: This walk will be amplified and sign language interpreted.\n \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman\, 860-884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com.\n \nAvalonia’s Accessibility Statement \n  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/documenting-discoveries-at-tefftweald-at-birchenturn-preserve/ LOCATION:Tefftweald at Birchenturn\, 282 Grindstone Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Arts,Exploration,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_5986AleafstreamTefft.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230923T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230923T113000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230828T120048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230918T125015Z UID:6595-1695463200-1695468600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Fledglings: A Nature Experience for Children 2-5 *CANCELLED* DESCRIPTION:*THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED*\nChildren ages 2-5 (and their adults) are invited to join naturalist and educator Beth Sullivan and Avalonia Board member Elanah Sherman for a walk through the relatively flat trails at Norwich’s Cedar Wood Preserve. On this walk\, we are going to use our senses to check out EVERYTHING! There is so much to see at this time of year: flowers and other plants; maybe some animals; and all sorts of insects! We will think about how everything in nature seems connected: birds and trees\, bees and flowers\, butterflies and milkweed. And we will think about changes the seasons might bring to them all.  After the walk\, we will gather at the trailhead for a craft project: creating seed bombs. \nThis event is limited to 8 – 10 children. All children must be accompanied by adults. Sturdy\, closed-toe shoes are required. Bug repellant is strongly recommended and will be available at the event. Rain date September 24\, 10-11:30 \nAccessibility Note: \nParking: Off-street lot with room for about 4 cars. One space is accessible to people with disabilities. The lot is located at trailhead. Parking is also available by the side of the road. \nTrails: Long entry boardwalk with step at each end. (Accessible pathway to boardwalk has not yet been installed.) Some rocky spots at initial trail area\, then grassy trails about 4 feet wide\, with some dips and slopes. Some protrusions and tripping hazards. \nCommunication: This walk will be amplified. Sign language interpretation available upon request. \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement \nThis free event is co-sponsored by the City of Norwich.\nFor more information\, please contact Mary Anne Sherman at info@avalonialc.com or 860-884-3500. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/fledglings-a-nature-experience-for-children-2-5/ LOCATION:Cedar Wood Preserve\, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd.\, Norwich\, CT\, 06360\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Family,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Cedar-Wood-Preserve-1-by-Elanah-Sherman-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230604T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230604T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230426T182920Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230601T154700Z UID:6260-1685872800-1685880000@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Beavers\, Bird Calls\, and Brilliant Bugs DESCRIPTION:CT TRAILS DAY EVENT: \nThis year\, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.  \nJoin 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.  \nWe’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. \nMeet 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. \nRain 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. \nAvalonia 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. \nAccessibility Note \nParking: 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. \nTrails: Narrow in spots\, some slopes\, some protrusions into pathway\, occasional wet areas. \nCommunication: This walk will be amplified and sign language interpreted\, and will include live sonograms that provide pictorial representation of birdcalls. \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com URL:https://avalonia.org/event/beavers-bird-calls-and-brilliant-bugs/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Hikes,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Henne-BS-3-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230603T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230603T150000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230426T191055Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230503T001649Z UID:6268-1685797200-1685804400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Double Stroll Through The Herman E. Sheets Family Forest DESCRIPTION:CT TRAILS DAY EVENT: \nThis year\, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.  \nThis event is an adventure at The Herman E. Sheets Family Forest\, an 87-acre picturesque preserve that lies adjacent to the Green Fall River which opened last year. It’s a mixed forest with ponds and brooks to be crossed by bridges. \nThe hike will start out on the yellow trail (south loop). After about 0.75 miles\, folks may continue on the south loop to complete an easier 1.4-mile hike\, while others may take the red trail (north loop) which will result in a moderate 2.8-mile hike. There will be leaders for both of these options. \nAvalonia is hosting this adventure\, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th. \n  \nAccessibility Note  \nParking: Grassy off-street lot with room for about 6 cars. No  accessible space. Location is adjacent to trailhead. On-street parking.   \nTrails: Narrow\, steep\, compacted soil\, with some protrusions. \nCommunication: No communication aids or services scheduled for this walk.  \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/double-stroll-through-the-herman-e-sheets-family-forest/ LOCATION:Sheets Family Forest\, Puttker Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Hikes,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Herman-E-Sheets-Family-Forest-2.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230603T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230603T123000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230426T193550Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230503T002216Z UID:6287-1685790000-1685795400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Hike Cedar Wood Preserve DESCRIPTION:CT TRAILS DAY EVENT: \nThis year\, Avalonia’s is hosting three events during the annual Connecticut Trails Day event.  \nThis hike is at one of Avalonia’s newest acquisitions and only Norwich property\, Cedar Wood Preserve —47 acres of field\, woods\, and water. This 1.4-mile hike goes through an upper trail with open fields and good birding opportunities and through a lower forested trail. This will be a moderate hike with some hills/slopes and a narrow\, somewhat precarious path crossing a dam in the forested section. As funding becomes available\, Avalonia plans to create maximum accessibility on the mostly flat upper trail. \nAvalonia is hosting this adventure\, but please register on the CT TRAILS DAY website. Registration opens May 10th. \n  \nAccessibility Note  \nParking: Off-street lot with room for about 4 cars. Lot is located at trailhead. Accessible space. Parking available on side of road.   \nTrails: Long entry bridge with ramps not yet installed. Initial area has some rocky spots\, but most upper trails are grassy and at least 4 feet wide\, with some dips and slopes. Some protrusions. Lower forested trails are hilly with numerous protrusions and tripping hazards. \nCommunication: This walk will be amplified.  \nAvalonia Accessibility Statement \nAccessibility point person: Mary Anne Sherman (860) 884-3500 or avalonialc@yahoo.com  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/hike-cedar-wood-preserve/ LOCATION:Cedar Wood Preserve\, 180 North Wawecus Hill Rd.\, Norwich\, CT\, 06360\, United States CATEGORIES:Hikes,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Cedar-Wood-Preserve_0338-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230322T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230322T200000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20230307T193500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230307T193916Z UID:6053-1679509800-1679515200@avalonia.org SUMMARY:A Vernal Pool Adventure\, Babcock Ridge Preserve DESCRIPTION:There’s no better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than to visit a woodland pond alive with the sounds and sights of newly awakened amphibians and invertebrates—and there’s no more exciting time to do so than at dusk\, when the local vernal pools are a noisy chorus of quacking wood frogs and bell-ringing spring peepers. As the skies darken\, we’ll follow our ears for about a half-mile to a group of special ponds at the center of the Babcock Ridge Preserve that were dry holes last autumn and are now filled to the brim with a variety of exciting creatures. In addition to frogs\, we’ll likely see marbled salamander youngsters\, fairy shrimp\, giant predaceous diving beetles\, and the stars of the show\, the exquisite yellow-spotted salamanders. We’ll use nets to collect pond residents and examine them at close range before releasing them unharmed\, and if we’re especially lucky\, we might also hear the booming hoots of barred owls and the peents of woodcock. \nBring a flashlight and a headlamp\, wear warm clothes and waterproof boots\, and don’t forget your spirit of adventure on this family-friendly exploration of a fascinating part of the natural world. \nWalk leader Bruce Fellman has been introducing people to vernal pool life for almost half-a-century. “As a kid\, I liked to jump in puddles\,” explained Bruce about his lifelong love of all things aquatic. “I guess I never grew up.” \nDirections: Babcock Ridge \nFor more information\, contact the leader at bruce.fellman@yale.edu or 860-599-4867. \nTo register for the adventure\, which is free and open to the public but limited to 25 people\, REGISTER HERE. This program tends to fill up quickly\, but If there’s sufficient interest\, we’ll try to schedule additional walks. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/a-vernal-pool-adventure-babcock-ridge-preserve-4/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Hike & Seek,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/vernal-pools.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221009T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221009T113000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220928T145205Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221004T144251Z UID:5840-1665309600-1665315000@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Autumn Adventure Walk with Bruce Fellman & sign language Interpreter Joy Valenti DESCRIPTION:Join Avalonia on Sunday morning\, October 9th\, from 10 to 11:30\, for an Autumn Adventure Walk at Knox Preserve with naturalist Bruce Fellman and sign language interpreter Joy Valenti. \nWe’ll explore the shoreline of Quiambaug Cove\, hike through an upland forest\, and see fields of goldenrods and other fall wildflowers that are magnets to pollinators\, from honeybees to butterflies\, including Monarchs getting ready to head to Mexico. The air should also be filled with birds as they begin their migration south for the winter. \nThis walk is open to everyone – the pace will be leisurely. It is not wheelchair accessible\, but the trail is mostly flat with limited hills and slopes. \nBruce is wonderful with children and anyone who is interested in learning about the natural world. This is also Avalonia’s first accessible walk for Deaf people and we are pleased to welcome Joy Valenti\, who will provide sign language interpretation. \nThe Knox Preserve is located at 41 Wilcox Road in Stonington. Parking is along the street. Dogs are welcome\, but must be leashed. \nRegister URL:https://avalonia.org/event/autumn-adventure-walk-with-bruce-fellman-sign-language-interpreter-joy-valenti/ LOCATION:Knox Preserve\, Wilcox Road\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States CATEGORIES:Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/knox1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220806T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220806T123000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220725T144718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220725T144718Z UID:5669-1659780000-1659789000@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Preston Nature Preserve Walk DESCRIPTION:At first glance\, a natural meadow may look like nothing more than an unkempt lawn that a lazy homeowner has taken a holiday from mowing. But look closer and you’ll discover an amazing and often fascinating array of biological diversity. \nThe Preston Nature Preserve (PNP) offers explorers a pathway through several interconnected meadows that are at their prettiest in August\, and on the 6th\, from 10 a.m. to at least noon\, Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman will guide visitors on a leisurely tour of the 56-acre refuge’s treasure trove of native plants and insects that thrive in the fields\, as well as in the surrounding woods and wetlands. The botanical star of the meadow show is an expanse of Bee Balm\, a native member of the mint family whose showy pink\, red\, and purple flowers are butterfly\, bee\, and beetle magnets. \nIf we’re lucky and patient\, we’re often blessed with sightings of tiny hummingbird mimics known as hummingbird moths that find Bee Balm blooms irresistible—and this is just the tip of the floral iceberg. Joe Pye Weed\, goldenrod\, native grass\, thistle\, and aster flowers will also be bringing in the pollinators\, and the milkweeds\, though past their blossom time\, will still be attracting Monarch butterflies\, whose eggs and leaf-eating caterpillars we’ll seek. Last but hardly least\, the PNP banquet usually includes a variety of dragonflies\, birds\, frogs\, and even a deer or two. \nBring binoculars\, hand lenses\, cameras\, notebooks\, your natural history curiosity\, and\, if you have them\, your kids and grandkids. Don’t forget the sunscreen\, bug spray\, water\, and a hat—it’s an easy 1.5 mile hike\, but it can be bright and hot in the fields. Please pre-register for the walk. For more information and directions\, you can use my e-mail and phone number for more information: 860-599-4867\, or fellnature@sbcglobal.net. \nPreston Nature Preserve location \nRegister \nPhoto credit: Bruce Fellman URL:https://avalonia.org/event/preston-nature-preserve-walk-2/ LOCATION:CT CATEGORIES:Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/DSC_0191AjoepyeMonarchPNP.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220604T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220604T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220420T235300Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220602T204742Z UID:5339-1654336800-1654344000@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Tefftweald Nature Trek DESCRIPTION:Explore the human and natural history of the Tefftweald at Birchenturn Nature Preserve where we’ll enjoy the migrating birds\, emerging butterflies and other insects\, a variety of blooming wildflowers\, and the exquisite twists and turns of Wyassup Brook\, an artist’s\, writer’s\, and photographer’s delight. Don’t hesitate to call or email: 860-599-4867\, or fellnature@sbcglobal.net. \nPhoto credit: Bruce Fellman \nRegister URL:https://avalonia.org/event/tefftweald-nature-trek/ LOCATION:Tefftweald at Birchenturn\, 282 Grindstone Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Nature,Walks,Water ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tefftweald-header.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220514T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220514T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220501T155242Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220501T155242Z UID:5365-1652522400-1652529600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:In Search of Birds and Beavers DESCRIPTION:The Donald R. Henne Memorial Preserve in North Stonington is a case study of the benefits of the Clean Water Act\, which is celebrating a half-century of safeguarding the nation’s water resources. On Saturday\, May 14th\, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon\, we’ll explore Henne and its wetlands\, which have become a haven for fish\, aquatic invertebrates\, especially dragonflies\, aquatic plants\, waterfowl\, and an assortment of other birds that thrive in wetlands habitats. In a slow-paced\, mile and a half\, family friendly hike led by Avalonia naturalist Bruce Fellman\, we’ll first comb the uplands for returning migratory songbirds and newly awakened Gray tree frogs then follow the trail along the edge of Henne’s freshwater marshes in search of Osprey\, tree swallows\, which nest in tree holes hammered out by woodpeckers\, singing warblers\, and the refuge’s signature species\, the Great blue heron. A recent heron count documented 22 nests\, many of them active\, in a rapidly expanding rookery area\, and we’ll zero in on the nests to look for the first hatchlings. \n \nWe’ll also scan the water and the woods for signs of beavers. These premier wetlands architects have recently been very active at Henne and resulted in semi-submerged sections of trail\, so wear waterproof boots! Bring binoculars\, bug spray\, cameras\, kids\, and your curiosity. \nAll attendees must be fully vaccinated and\, if possible\, boosted; since we’ll be outside\, masks are not required. \nREGISTER \nBruce Fellman can be reached at fellnature@sbcglobal.net or by phone: 860-599-4867. Heavy rain will postpone to the 15th\, same time. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/in-search-of-birds-and-beavers/ LOCATION:Donald R. Henne Memorial Preserve\, Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Nature,Walks,Water ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/DSC_1522AredwingedHenne.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220430T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220430T150000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220406T124240Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220406T124302Z UID:5294-1651323600-1651330800@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Treesure Hunt on Moore Woodlands DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY 2022 BY WITH A TREESURE HUNT ON MOORE WOODLANDS PRESERVE IN MYSTIC\, CT \nJim Luce\, retired Connecticut College Supervisor of Grounds\, will lead a tree walk on Avalonia’s Moore Woodlands Preserve (located at the southerly end of Capstan Avenue in Mystic) on Saturday\, April 30\, 2022\, from 1-3pm. \nAfter receiving your ‘Treesure’ Hunt trail map and pencil\, you will walk with Jim along the trail searching for tree identification ‘tags’ and matching the number on your map with the name on the tree ‘tag’. \nLearn more about identifying a few of our native CT trees while enjoying your walk on one of many Avalonia’s trailed properties. (You will find Connecticut’s state tree\, the WHITE OAK\, somewhere along the trail) \nYour choice for COVID safety protocols                                                \nRain cancels the scheduled program but ‘Treesure’ Hunt maps will be available on site in a black mailbox for your self-guided trail walk\, and the tree tags will remain. \nRegister Here URL:https://avalonia.org/event/treesure-hunt-on-moore-woodlands/ LOCATION:Moore Woodlands\, 314-264 Capstan Ave\, Mystic\, CT\, 06355\, United States CATEGORIES:Family,Nature,Preserves,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Moore-Woodland-web.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220423T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220423T120000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20220406T124856Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220406T125120Z UID:5298-1650708000-1650715200@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Avalonia Close-to-Earth-Day 2022 Walk DESCRIPTION:photo credit: Bruce Fellman \nCelebrate Spring\, Earth Day\, and Clean Water at the Benedict Benson Preserve\nOne of the critical precursors of the passage of the Clean Water Act\, the landmark federal legislation whose 50 years of making a difference we celebrate throughout 2022\, is Earth Day\, the consciousness-raising holiday for the planet that began in 1970. As part of Avalonia’s ongoing tribute to the CWA\, join naturalist and guide Bruce Fellman as we wade into moving waters\, figuratively\, if not literally\, at the Benedict Benson Preserve on Saturday\, April 23rd\, shortly after Earth Day\, from 10 a.m. until noon\, in North Stonington to watch the refuge’s wetlands and its centerpiece stream come to life: a tribute to wise stewardship. \nIn keeping with our theme\, we’ll pay close attention to the area around Lantern Brook\, a delightful woodland stream that flows through the heart of the preserve and is wonderfully photogenic as it tumbles down a boulder field left behind by the glaciers that shaped this land. The area around the brook is paradise for botanists interested in mosses\, ferns\, lichens\, and wildflowers\, and while there are certain to be such stalwarts as Wood anemones\, a number of violets\, and Marsh marigolds in bloom\, there’s one botanical gem known as the hepatica that we’ll scramble up a favored hillside to seek out. Hepaticas thrive in specific\, rather “sweet” soil conditions unusual in our woods\, but Benson has the right stuff in one area.  \nThe Preserve features a typical Southern New England post-agricultural-abandonment upland forest dominated by oaks\, beeches\, birches\, and hickories\, many of them fully mature. Some are home to striking Pileated Woodpeckers\, while others support a wide array of hardwood-forest songbirds\, the most intriguing of which is the Cerulean Warbler. This stunning bird\, which is listed as a Species of Special Concern in Connecticut\, has been seen and heard at Benson and the surrounding area\, and is one of the treasures we’ll be looking for as we walk the approximately mile and a half trail system in search of signs of spring. \nThe trailhead for the Benedict Benson Preserve is located at 100 Swantown Hill Road in North Stonington.  A small parking area is on the West side of the road and there’s more parking on either side of Swantown. For more information and to register\, visit the Events Calendar of Avalonia’s website: avalonia.org/events/ Please note: parts of the trail are pretty rugged\, so while my pace is always family-friendly\, the terrain\, particularly our scramble up a rocky hillside in search of wildflowers\, might not be suitable for small kids and the occasional elder. You’ll want to wear waterproof hiking boots\, and trekking poles might be a good idea\, too. Bring water and an energy bar\, and\, of course\, binoculars and cameras.  Don’t hesitate to call or email: 860-599-4867\, or fellnature@sbcglobal.net. \nRegister Here URL:https://avalonia.org/event/avalonia-close-to-earth-day-2022-walk/ LOCATION:Benedict Benson Preserve\, Swantown Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Family,Preserves,Walks,Water ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DSC_1707AmarshmarigoldBenson-web.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20201017T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20201017T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20201015T141046Z LAST-MODIFIED:20201015T141129Z UID:4213-1602928800-1602928800@avalonia.org SUMMARY:For the Birds: A Forest Tour of Avalonia’s Hoffman Preserve DESCRIPTION:Join us at the Hoffman Preserve on Saturday\, October 17 as Hull forester Chris Casadei leads a woods walk “For the Birds: A Forest Tour of Avalonia Conservancy’s Hoffman Preserve.” This is an easy 2-mile walk and participants will view and discuss recent forest management activity designed to improve forest health and wildlife habitat. This forest includes areas of softwood plantation and native cover types\, some managed and some untouched. \nLocation is across the street from 578 North Stonington Road\, Stonington\, CT. Ample roadside parking is available and leashed dogs are welcome. Walk time is 10 am on 10/17. Please register in advance by emailing info@hullforest.com. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/for-the-birds-a-forest-tour-of-avalonias-hoffman-preserve/ LOCATION:Hoffman Evergreen Preserve\, 580-632 CT-201\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States CATEGORIES:Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bird-at-Hoffman.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20200325T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20200325T200000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20200227T143040Z LAST-MODIFIED:20200324T213723Z UID:3771-1585161000-1585166400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:A Vernal Pool Adventure\, Babcock Ridge Preserve (CANCELLED) DESCRIPTION:This event has been cancelled due to Coronavirus concerns. Avalonia trails remain open\, but visitors need to use caution\, avoid large groups\, and use good judgement when meeting other hikers. \nWhile winter has hardly lived up to its name\, an amazing variety of frogs\, salamanders\, and aquatic invertebrates have spent the colder season in hiding. But with the arrival of spring\, they’re coming back to life in the temporary wetlands known as vernal pools. At twilight\, we’ll hike the trail to a group of vernals in Avalonia’s Babcock Ridge Preserve to search for such creatures as Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers\, Spotted and Marbled Salamanders\, and Fairy Shrimp. We might also hear the booming hoots of Barred Owls and the peents of Woodcock. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nBring a flashlight\, wear warm clothes and waterproof boots\, and don’t forget your spirit of adventure on this family-friendly exploration of a fascinating part of the natural world. \nWalk leader Bruce Fellman has been introducing people to vernal pool life for almost half-a-century. \nphotos: Bruce Fellman URL:https://avalonia.org/event/a-vernal-pool-adventure-babcock-ridge-preserve-2/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Family,Hike & Seek,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/DSC_4399Aspottedinhand.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T143000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20191009T141459Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191009T151034Z UID:3424-1571488200-1571495400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Hike at Tefftweald with Naturalist Bruce Fellman DESCRIPTION:Documenting your discoveries on the trail is a skill that needs to be in every naturalist’s toolkit. We’ll have plenty to observe and record as we enjoy the fall colors at Avalonia’s Tefftweald at Birchenturn Preserve on 280 Grindstone Hill Road. \nTefftweald\, a former Girl Scout camp\, is a 77-acre masterpiece of upland forest\, meadows\, wetlands\, old graveyards and cellar holes\, and the wonderfully photogenic Wyassup Brook. This is a family-friendly excursion\, and we’ll explore the woodland trails at a pace moderate enough to give the Preserve a close read and capture the experience in whatever form\, from pen and ink on paper to digital drawings\, photos\, and text entered on a smart device. \nWalk leader Bruce Fellman is a veteran photojournalist\, naturalist\, and documentarian who has kept and published a weekly Naturalist’s Journal in a number of local newspapers for the past 41 years. \nRegister for this Excursion \nFor more information\, email Bruce Fellman at fellnature@scbglobal.net\, or call 860-599-4867. \n  URL:https://avalonia.org/event/hike-at-tefftweald-with-naturalist-bruce-fellman/ LOCATION:Tefftweald at Birchenturn\, 282 Grindstone Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Family,Hike & Seek,Hikes,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DSC_6345AwoodducksTefft-e1570630304433.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20191019T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20191008T132403Z LAST-MODIFIED:20191014T144948Z UID:3418-1571479200-1571493600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Tidal River Hike & Seek at Knox Preserve DESCRIPTION:Hey kids\, grab mom or dad or your favorite grownup and show them all the great things to discover in nature! Avalonia is hosting a Hike & Seek nature treasure-hunt that you get to lead yourselves\, like a real explorer. Join us at Knox Preserve in Stonington\, where you can explore the shoreline\, thickets\, and meadows. You’ll find all kinds of plants and critters on the way. You might see butterflies and bees\, or an osprey nest and oysters\, too! And maybe even a few hidden treasures. We’ll hand out a list of clues and things to look for\, but the path of the adventure is up to you! \nAn Avalonia volunteer will be on October 19th at Knox Preserve\, and someone will be handing out clues from 10-2. The walk will take 30-45 minutes\, so come and go as you please! Bring the whole family for a fun\, easy walk. You’ll learn a lot and spend some time outdoors in nature! \nPlease take photos not things. Leave the treasures you find for others to enjoy! \nWhile on your hike\, you can also use your smartphone to refer back to the clues and targets page. How many can you find? \nView Knox Preserve Hike & Seek Clues \nSponsored by: URL:https://avalonia.org/event/tidal-river-hike-seek-at-knox-preserve/ LOCATION:Knox Preserve\, Wilcox Road\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States CATEGORIES:Family,Hike & Seek,Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/goldfinch.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190810T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190810T140000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20190801T151431Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190801T171505Z UID:3329-1565431200-1565445600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Connecticut Botanical Society Field Trip to Tri-Town Preserve DESCRIPTION:The Connecticut Botanical Society will walk into the interior of this new 540-acre preserve and botanize a 30-acre interior fen (footing good in midsummer). Underlain by gabbro bedrock\, an ancient metamorphic rock of volcanic origin\, like traprock\, low hills with rock outcrops have minerotrophic plants such as Allegheny vine and abundant hop hornbeam. \nDirections: Head east (northbound) on I-95\, take Exit 90 onto Route 27 north (1.3 miles); take a short hitch east (right) on CT 184E (1.2 miles); follow Route 201 northerly for 7.5 miles. Turn left on Miller Road and park on right before sharp left turn. (set GPS at 80 Miller Road\, North Stonington). Bring a lunch\, a hat & sunscreen. \nLeader: Sigrun Gadwa URL:https://avalonia.org/event/a-tri-town-preserve-walk/ LOCATION:TriTown Forest Preserve\, 91 Miller Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Preserves,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/tritownheader-e1586805702635.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190713T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190713T110000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20190611T195357Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190628T140934Z UID:3269-1563012000-1563015600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:A Conservation Conversation DESCRIPTION:Visit Avalonia’s future acquisition\, Atkinson-Dirlam (AD) in Ledyard\, with state and local elected officials. \nThis event is co-sponsored by Avalonia and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council who have invited over 15 of your elected representatives for an easy walk on this beautiful preserve. (Elected attendees will be announced prior to the event.) \n65% of the funding for AD has been provided by funds from the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program. Avalonia will acquire AD at the end of this year which will add over 200 acres and miles of trails on to the existing 400 acres of the Great Oak Greenway. \nThis is an opportunity to let your elected officials know how important their support is for state and local funding for conservation of critical land. \nWe will meet at the Nathan Lester House in Ledyard where there is plenty of parking. To join us in this important conversation\, make your voice heard\, so REGISTER HERE. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/a-conservation-conversation/ LOCATION:Nathan Lester House\, 153 Vinegar Hill Rd\, Gales Ferry\, CT\, 06335\, United States CATEGORIES:Conservation,Preserves,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/conservation-conversation.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20190327T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20190327T200000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20190321T195549Z LAST-MODIFIED:20190325T180918Z UID:3096-1553711400-1553716800@avalonia.org SUMMARY:A Vernal Pool Adventure\, Babcock Ridge Preserve DESCRIPTION:After a long winter in hiding\, an amazing variety of frogs\, salamanders\, and aquatic invertebrates will once again make their presence felt in a temporary wetland known as a vernal pool. At twilight\, we’ll hike the trail to a group of vernals in Avalonia’s Babcock Ridge Preserve to search for such creatures as wood frogs and spring peepers\, spotted and marbled salamanders\, and fairy shrimp. We might also hear the booming hoots of barred owls and the peents of woodcock. Bring a flashlight\, wear warm clothes and waterproof boots\, and don’t forget your spirit of adventure. Walk leader Bruce Fellman has been introducing people to vernal pool life for almost a half-century. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/a-vernal-pool-adventure-babcock-ridge-preserve/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Nature,Walks ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://avalonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/vernal-pool-e1553198585457.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20181024T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20181024T190000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20180920T142238Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180920T142238Z UID:2734-1540404000-1540407600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Full “Hunters” Moon Walk with DPNC on Knox Preserve DESCRIPTION:Celebrate the full “hunters” moon with Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center on a night hike through the Knox Preserve in Stonington (84 Wilcox Road)\, an Avalonia Land Conservancy property. Please note full moon hikes happen even on overcast nights\, and are suitable for adults and older\, interested children. Heavy rain cancels. Easy. \nMembers: Free\, Nonmembers: $10 per person \nmore info and register URL:https://avalonia.org/event/full-hunters-moon-walk-with-dpnc-on-knox-preserve/ LOCATION:Knox Preserve\, Wilcox Road\, Stonington\, CT\, 06378\, United States CATEGORIES:Exploration,Family,Walks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180714T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180714T100000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20180606T195516Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180606T195516Z UID:2569-1531558800-1531562400@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Regional Conservation Conversation DESCRIPTION:Avalonia Land Conservancy will host an informal discussion and guided tour for State legislators\, community leaders\, and other land trusts in southeastern Connecticut at our Tri-Town Ridgeline Forest on Saturday\, July 14. The event is sponsored by the Connecticut Land Conservation Council to celebrate projects made possible in part by DEEP’s Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) grant program\, funded by the Community Investment Act. \nPlease RSVP for an informal conversation about your local\, regional\, and statewide land conservation priorities\, and enjoy a short walk into our forest preserve. \nThe event is from 9:00 to 10:00 am\, and heavy rain cancels. Meet at 91 Miller Road in North Stonington. Parking is limited to the sides of the street. We recommend good footwear as this trail is rugged in places. No dogs\, please. Visit the Connecticut Land Conservation Council webpage for more information\, or REGISTER HERE. URL:https://avalonia.org/event/regional-conservation-conversation/ LOCATION:TriTown Forest Preserve\, 91 Miller Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Conservation,Preserves,Walks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180602T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180602T123000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20180320T124958Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180430T151109Z UID:2388-1527933600-1527942600@avalonia.org SUMMARY:North Stonington - Nature Walk - Babcock Ridge/Henne Preserve Trails DESCRIPTION:A CT Trails Weekend Hike \nIn honor of our 50th anniversary\, we’ll explore of two of North Stonington’s most prized open spaces. This family-oriented nature hike will start with a great circle trek of the rugged valleys and slopes of Babcock Ridge\, where we’ll look for vernal pools\, Pileated Woodpeckers\, glacier-carved hillsides\, wildflowers\, and even tree-climbing Black Rat Snakes. \nWe’ll follow with a more gentle walk through the Henne Preserve and its beaver-created wetlands\, home to nesting Great Blue Herons\, acrobatic Tree Swallows\, all sorts of ducks and geese\, many colorful warblers and other songbirds\, an abundance of dragonflies and damselflies\, and maybe even Osprey. Bring your cameras\, binoculars\, and sketchpads\, along with an abundance of curiosity. \nLeader: Bruce Fellman\nMeeting Place: 113 Babcock Rd (0.9 miles from Wyassup Rd or 0.8 miles from Rt 49). Parking area is on the north side of the road by the preserve sign. See Google Maps for directions. \n Rain postpones. Rain date: Sunday\, June 3\, 2018 – 10:30am\n \nmore details URL:https://avalonia.org/event/north-stonington-nature-walk-babcock-ridge-henne-preserve-trails/ LOCATION:Babcock Ridge\, 113 Babcock Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:50th Anniversary,Walks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180602T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180602T110000 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20180320T125319Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180430T144747Z UID:2391-1527930000-1527937200@avalonia.org SUMMARY:North Stonington - Educational Walk - Tefftweald at Birchenturn DESCRIPTION:A CT Trails Weekend Hike \nPhotography hike in honor of our 50th anniversary\, led by professional photographer. Wyassup Brook flows through a beautiful forest with rugged ledges\, rocky outcrops and historic stone structures. The property was a former Girl Scout Camp. Lois Tefft\, a founder of Avalonia\, purchased it and donated it to Avalonia when it was up for sale and likely to be developed. The preserve provides easy walking in a lovely setting. \nLeader: Carl Tjerandsen \n\nMeeting Place: 282 Grindstone Hill Rd\, North Stonington. Go down the dirt roadway to the parking area on the left. See Google Maps for directions.\n\n \nRain or shine.\n \nmore details URL:https://avalonia.org/event/north-stonington-educational-walk-tefftweald-at-birchenturn/ LOCATION:Tefftweald at Birchenturn\, 282 Grindstone Hill Road\, North Stonington\, CT\, 06359\, United States CATEGORIES:50th Anniversary,Walks END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20180529T194500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20180529T204500 DTSTAMP:20260415T033439 CREATED:20180515T210703Z LAST-MODIFIED:20180515T210703Z UID:2545-1527623100-1527626700@avalonia.org SUMMARY:Full Moon Flower Walk with DPNC DESCRIPTION:This walk\, hosted by Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center \nFrom DPNC – “Join us as we celebrate the full moon with an evening walk thru the Preston Nature Preserve\, an Avalonia Land Conservancy property. The transition from day to night can be an exciting time to tune our sense to nature. This program is suited for adults and older\, interested children and takes place whether the sky is clear or overcast. Moderate walk. Members: Free\, Nonmembers: $10” \nRegister Here URL:https://avalonia.org/event/full-moon-flower-walk-with-dpnc/ LOCATION:Preston Nature Preserve\, Krug Road\, Preston\, CT\, United States CATEGORIES:Walks END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR