Let’s Go

Lyme Land Trust
The Wild Lyme Project
You are invited to get involved in Lyme Land Trust’s (LLT) new education and stewardship program! Using the online community science platform, iNaturalist, LLT is seeking to better understand the species of plants, animals, fungi, and other living things inhabiting the Lyme preserves. In the process, they hope that anyone sharing their interest in local biological diversity will contribute their own observations, and in so doing, become better acquainted with the nonhuman neighbors that share our landscape.

Keep an eye on the LLT website. Throughout the year, they will be hosting iNaturalist training workshops to hone your skills in making good identifications. Also, they’ll be offering presentations and field trips with biologists and other experts who will share their knowledge about different groups of living things such as amphibians, wildflowers, insects, and more. Visit lymelandtrust.org.

Florence Griswold Museum
Celebrating 150 Years of Impressionism
This year the world celebrates the sesquicentennial of the first independent exhibition of the French Impressionists, 150 years since the “Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, and Engravers, etc.,” opened in Paris in 1874. Impressionism 150: From Paris to Connecticut & Beyond, on view June 1 through September 8 at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, uses treasures from the museum’s collection to tell the story of Impressionism, how it traveled across the ocean, and how audience reactions shifted over time.

Impressionism 150 locates the role of Connecticut artists in this narrative: what did they think of Impressionism, and how did that evolve? Trace the range of responses that began with disparagement, turned to appreciation, dropped in favor of abstraction, and peaked in blockbuster exhibitions. Works created in both French and Connecticut settings are juxtaposed, while new acquisitions are highlighted alongside gifts by Lyme Colony artists to Florence Griswold. For more information visit FloGris.org.

East Haddam Land Trust
Engaging with the Wide World
From rivers and forests to the stars, East Haddam Land Trust offers different ways to enjoy the natural wonders all around us. Stargazing evenings for those interested in learning about nightlights of the sky will be held monthly through November. Participants can view through telescopes and engage in informative discussions with amateur astronomists. The times and locations will be posted and updated on the land trust’s website (ehlt.org) and in their weekly e-bulletins. Find a sign-up for those emails at the bottom of their website homepage.

Every month into the fall, the land trust will also host kayak outings on rivers, coves, and reservoirs, some during full-moon evenings. Planned adventures include a September kayak on the Connecticut River to witness the swallow murmuration at Goose Island. Details about their outings and seventeen hiking preserves, including an interactive map of all trails in town, is available at ehlt.org.

Audubon Vermont
Summer at the Green Mountain Audubon Center
Summer is a beautiful time to be outdoors in Vermont. The Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington is a great place to hike, picnic, explore, and connect with nature. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, watch for birds, walk along the brook, or sit in the shade of a maple tree. The Audubon Center is open to the public at no charge and has hiking trails through more than 250 acres of habitats managed for birds and other wildlife, including wetlands, meadows, and forests. There are trails for every hiking ability. You can also learn about guided programs and events hosted at the Audubon Center on Audubon Vermont’s online events page, vt.audubon.org/events. Please come visit this summer—all are welcome at Audubon!

The Rockfall Foundation
Nominate Your Environmental Champion Today!
The Rockfall Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2024 Environmental Champion Awards. These awards honor individuals or groups in the lower Connecticut River valley that have made significant contributions to the environment in the areas of preservation, conservation, restoration, or education. Nominations for lifelong accomplishment may be made for the Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award. For impactful programs or projects, nominations may be made for the Certificates of Environmental Achievement Award.

Nominees’ work must have impact in the lower Connecticut River valley or its towns (Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook).

If you know a deserving individual or group, submit a nomination! Let’s celebrate those shaping a sustainable future for our community. For additional details and to download a nomination form visit rockfallfoundation.org/environmental-awards.

Riverfront Recapture
Events on the River This Summer
Riverfront Recapture’s parks in Hartford and East Hartford come alive all summer long. Family-friendly art, music, and food festivals offer something for everyone along the river, including the Hartbeat Music Festival on June 22, Shakespeare in the Park on June 29 and 30, Riverfront Food Truck Festival on July 19 and 20, Taste of Caribbean & Jerk Festival on August 3, and Riverfront Dragon Boat and Asian Festival on August 17. Free fitness classes are offered five days a week, free rowing programs for veterans begin in June, and learn-to-row programs for youth and adults are offered all summer.

Great River Park, Riverside Park, Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, and Charter Oak Landing are destinations for people across the region, from runners and bikers to rowers and paddlers. All parks are open daily from sunrise to sunset, featuring walking trails, picnic tables, fishing access, boat launches, and more. You’ll find countless reasons to visit time and again. Find out more to plan your visit at riverfront.org.

Connecticut River Museum
Time to Celebrate!
The Connecticut River Museum in Essex, Connecticut, invites you to join in celebrating its 50th anniversary. Get out on the river aboard RiverQuest or Onrust and discover the history and ecology of this tremendous waterway. Inside the museum, explore permanent collections and the special exhibit, Getting There: Wayfinding on the Water in the Pre-Modern Age, on view through October 13, 2024. Have you ever wondered how to use a sextant? Learn how this summer at the museum.

Don’t miss the Connecticut River Environmental Symposium on June 23, 2024, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Wesleyan University. Tickets are available on the museum’s website. Experts, activists, and students will share actionable information during this informative, one-day event.

Do you know a child between the ages of 6 and 11? If so, consider the museum’s Summer Camp program. Six weeks of unique programming will surprise and delight campers who will become pirates, archaeologists, history detectives, and more. For more information visit ctrivermuseum.org.

Great Meadows Conservation Trust
Encouraging Students
Great Meadows Conservation Trust (GMCT) is proud to award $1,000 scholarships to a graduating senior planning to major in environmental sciences in each of their three member towns: Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Glastonbury, Connecticut. The Betty Schmitt Memorial Scholarship was created with memorial donations and a $10,000 gift from the Schmitt family and welcomes donations.

GMCT is working in collaboration with the Wethersfield High School (WHS) Science Department to develop an independent study program that will include volunteer hours with GMCT and independent research. Through GMCT’s encouragement, three WHS Environmental Club students attended the Connecticut Land Conservation Conference this spring.

Last fall, Rocky Hill High School students, for a second year as part of their Capstone Project, participated in a workday at GMCT’s Wood parcel, repairing and improving trails. Students in its three member towns are invited to participate in its annual Earth Day stewardship work session at the Wood parcel and Source to Sea Cleanup in Wethersfield Cove each September. For more information visit gmct.org.

Save the Sound
How’s the Water?
Wondering how healthy the waters are at your favorite Long Island Sound beach? SoundHealthExplorer.org (SHE) is an interactive tool created and maintained by Save the Sound and powered by data from organizations that monitor the health of the Sound. Its mission is to increase public understanding of water quality conditions in Long Island Sound by making data more accessible and understandable. Without easy access to reliable data, water pollution will remain a mystery subject to speculation—or worse, inaction. SHE strives to turn data into action for clean, healthy water.

Everyone who loves Long Island Sound may use this tool to educate themselves and their neighbors on local water quality conditions and sources of pollution. Empowered with data, Save the Sound invites you to join the fight for clean water at SaveTheSound.org, taking personal, local, and regional action to improve and preserve the health of our beloved Long Island Sound.

Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments
Prevent Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG) hopes that all have a wonderful time this summer enjoying the water resources that the lower Connecticut River region has to offer! Please remember to clean, drain, and dry your boat, trailer, and fishing and recreational gear after a visit to any waterbody to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species! For more information on the Army Corp Connecticut River Hydrilla Project please visit https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-Topics/Connecticut-River-Hydrilla/.

The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (CT OPM) is soliciting public comment on the Draft Connecticut State Plan of Conservation and Development through June 30, 2024. RiverCOG encourages you to learn about this important document for the health and well-being of the Connecticut River and its estuary. More information about the document, submitting comments, and information sessions and recordings can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/IGPP/ORG/Conservation-and-Development-Policies-Plan/Conservation-and-Development-Policies-Plan.

Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Connect, Conserve, and Explore
This summer, the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) invites you to connect with nature through your local land trust. Having conserved more than 200,000 acres of forests, farms, and wetlands, these local nonprofits are vital to community health and wellness. And with 473 miles of trails, including 62 miles of universally accessible trails, your next adventure is right around the corner. Discover your local land trust at https://ctconservation.org/find-a-land-trust/.

Through your support, CLCC advocates for land conservation and empowers land trusts with essential funding and capacity-building programs. Join CLCC in building a greener future for Connecticut’s communities.

Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center
Children’s Innovation & Discover Center
The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme, Connecticut, is thrilled to announce the opening of its Children’s Innovation & Discovery Center in summer 2024.

The Innovation & Discovery Center will be the ultimate learning space for eco-enthusiasts and aspiring scientists. Equipped with advanced laboratories and hands-on experiments, children will immerse themselves in the wonders of ecology, conservation, and sustainability. Dynamic workshops and STEM-focused programs will empower kids to think critically and problem-solve like real scientists. From designing eco-friendly inventions to growing native plants, every visit will be an adventure in environmental innovation.

RTPEC believes that learning should be joyful, and that every child has the potential to be a leader. At the Innovation & Discovery Center kids will learn to tackle real-world environmental challenges with creativity and ingenuity. This is where learning meets adventure, and every discovery sparks curiosity and instills a lifelong love for the natural world. For more information visit ctaudubon.org/rtpec.

Connecticut River Conservancy
Paddlesports Championship & Source to Sea Cleanup
Two BIG events hosted by Connecticut River Conservancy are coming up soon. On July 28, canoe-, kayak-, stand-up paddleboard-, and surf ski racers from across the Northeast compete for honors at the New England Paddlesports Championship, held on New England’s historic Connecticut River between southwest New Hampshire and southeast Vermont. Options include a 12-mile competitive race, 5-mile competitive race, and 1-mile community challenge. More details, race registration, and a schedule are available at ctriver.org/nepc.

Then, on the weekend of September 28–29, the annual Source to Sea Cleanup will take place—now in its 28th year! Thousands of volunteers will come together to remove as much trash as possible from our rivers and communities throughout the Connecticut River watershed. Trash moves from land to water, from upstream to downstream, and together we can reduce this pollution to better support clean water and healthy habitats. For more details about how you can participate visit ctriver.org/source-to-sea-cleanup.

Connecticut River Salmon Association (CRSA)
Calling All Connecticut Science Teachers!
Bring freshwater and saltwater ecosystems to LIFE for your students! Study the anadromous life cycle of a threatened and endangered species. Consider participating in Salmon-in-Schools—a scientific and environmental learning project. Students participate in all phases, from rearing salmon eggs in the classroom to calculating the Development Index to stocking rivers. CRSA provides teacher orientation, materials, and support from fisheries biologists at the Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection).

The program begins with learning about the anadromous life cycle and the challenges the fish encounter in both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. It continues with incubating Atlantic salmon eggs in a chilled aquarium tank beginning in early January. The eggs hatch mid-February into alevin and then transition to unfed fry. They are ready for stocking by late April or early May into select tributaries of the Connecticut River.

To bring Salmon-in-Schools to your classroom, contact salmoninschools@ctriversalmon.org. For more information visit ctriversalmon.org.