2nd Annual Nature’s Open House

SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday and Sunday, October 4th and 5th. More information TBA in the Fall Newsletter.

Explore the Night Walks

Get out with Miss Judy on Saturday nights by starting the evening at the Nature Hut for a brief introduction on that night’s topic. Each walk will include the focus topic plus exploring different habitats looking for fungi and plants, while doing catch and release of animals. After a leisurely walk, return to make a fire, roast some marshmallows, make a few s’mores, and enjoy some lively conversation about the night findings. Once it becomes fully dark, we will walk to the recreation fields to view the night sky for seasonal constellation identification and to view special celestial events. Dress for the weather conditions; invite your friends; bring your binoculars and/or telescopes for night viewing; and red light flashlights, so we can see as we walk and not disturb the wildlife. Registration required by the Thursday before the event date.

Dates:
Saturday, April 19th Frog Calls and Other Night Sounds Walk
Saturday, May 10th Spring Bird and Bat Walk
Saturday, June 21st Celebrate the Summer Solstice
Saturday, July 19th Fresh Water Mussels Walk
Saturday, August 16th Crayfish at Dunning Lake Walk

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Ages: All Ages
Where: Nature Hut

Fees:
Individuals: $15.00
Families: $20.00

Member Discount Fees:
Individuals: $10.00
Families: $15.00

Nature Rangers for Ages 3 to 1st Grade

Miss Judy takes your children on a journey of exploration to new places and topics or expands on those great things they love to talk about already. Dress them with good walking shoes or water boots, clothes for the weather so we can explore rain or shine, and you will be surprised at how much they remember. Registration is required by the Wednesday before the start of a series.

Date: Fridays, See specific dates in the descriptions
Time: 9:45am – 11:00am 3 & 4 year olds
1:15pm – 2:30pm 4 & 5 year olds
4:45pm – 6:00pm Grades K & 1st
Where: Nature Hut

Discover the Field and Forest

Travel through the fields and forests at Winding Trails to discover the many kinds of mushrooms, flowers, leaves, and plants that grow here. Catch and release the insects, bugs, and other animals that we discover during our explorations.

Date: Fridays, May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
Fee: $45.00
Member Discount Fee: $40.00

Explore from Walton Pond to Dunning Lake

Explore the waterways of Winding Trails catching animals such as frogs and fish, looking at the many water plants, catching and viewing the plankton, and playing in the water. Plan to get wet and messy during these discoveries.

Date: Fridays, May 30th, June 6th, 13th
Fee: $35.00
Member Discount Fee: $30.00

2nd Annual Spring Bird Census
Saturday, April 19th to Sunday, May 11th

Join us for our second year as we complete a census to discover how many bird species use Winding Trails as a spring stopover, a place to set up their summer nesting, or just live here year-round. We identified 40 species last year which included 3 varieties of woodpeckers, 5 varieties of warblers, 3 varieties of hawks, plus many familiar favorites. A complete listing is posted at the Nature Hut Kiosk. We ask all members and their friends to come and help with the census during the listed dates. We ask that you share with us all sightings that you observe. There will be bird observation forms available at the Main Office and the Nature Hut which can be returned to both locations. We will be sharing our findings with the Hartford Audubon as we did last year.

2nd Annual Spring Bird Census Walks

For those who would like to see how a census is done, join Miss Judy as we explore the many habitats on the property. If you have them, bring your binoculars or spotting scope and a field guide. For those that don’t, we do have extras. No experience necessary, just a willingness to walk the property so wear comfortable shoes. No registration required.

Date: Saturdays, April 19th and May 10th
Time: 7:30am – 9:30am
Where: Nature Hut
Ages: All Ages
Fee: Free

National Trails Day 2008

The American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day program is occurring all over the country on this day. Winding Trails is inviting all our members to come out and hike the trails. There will be trail maps at the gate, outside Garmany Hall and the Lodge, and at the Nature Hut Kiosk. Miss Judy is leading a naturalist hike at the time listed below. No registration required.

Date: Saturday, June 7th
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
Where: Nature Hut
Ages: All Ages
Fee: Free

2nd Annual Summer Bird Count
Saturday and Sunday, June 14th and 15th

Join Miss Judy and other Winding Trails members for our second year as we participate in the Connecticut Ornithological Association’s 13th Annual Summer Bird Count. All bird species and their numbers found on property are counted during this two-day tally. Join us to bird one day or both while helping accumulate breeding data for Winding Trails. Miss Judy is leading the walks listed below, but feel free to get a count sheet at the Nature Hut and choose an area from the property map that has not been counted to add your observations for other times of the day. No registration required.

Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 14th and 15th
Time: 7:30am – 9:30am
Where: Nature Hut
Ages: All Ages
Fee: Free

Nature Hut Drop In

Drop in at the Nature Hut to join Miss Judy and do some exploring and collecting. Bring your fishing gear to catch bass and perch in Walton Pond. Have Miss Judy identify a nature object or animal that you found. You can also just stop in to see what she has found. These informal programs are for all ages so adults may come as individuals or groups; all children can invite your adult caregiver(s) or parent(s) to come; or for those children in 1st grade and older, bring an adult down to meet Miss Judy before getting dropped off for a hour or two. No registration is required.

Dates:
Saturday, April 19th
Saturday, May 10th
Saturday, June 21st
Open Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm

Thursday, July 24th
Thursday, August 14th
Open Time: 4:00pm – 8:00pm

Ages: All Ages
Where: Nature Hut
Fees: Free