Let’s Go

Save the Sound
Help Keep Our Waters Clean
Sound off—turn down the noise and lift up your voice with Save the Sound this summer!

In July Paddle for the Sound is your opportunity to make the most of beautiful weather by enjoying your favorite outdoor sports while raising money to help keep our waters clean.

From August to October, join your neighbors to clean up your favorite beach, park, or riverbank. Last year 3,167 volunteers picked up 11,383 pounds of trash at 92 cleanups across the sound region. Together we can beat that record!

Year-round, Save the Sound’s monthly member-exclusive webinars and town halls are your ticket to the latest environmental news from Hartford and Washington, DC; insider looks at its programs; and the most powerful ways to make a difference NOW—because seasons change, but Save the Sound’s mission doesn’t.

Visit www.savethesound.org/events for details and registration for all Save the Sound events.

RiverCOG
Stop the 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 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 Corps of Engineers’ Connecticut River Hydrilla Project visit https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-Topics/Connecticut-River-Hydrilla/.

East Haddam Land Trust
Marvel in Nature’s Many Wonders
Connect with nature in so many ways! With East Haddam Land Trust (EHLT), in East Haddam, Connecticut, you might join in a guided night walk, soothe your spirit in a forest bathing experience, or feast on native wildflowers. In its monthly Words from the Woods Book Circle, you can engage with others, sharing thoughts on selected natural science writings.

Learn more about EHLT’s special events and regular year-round activities, including hikes and paddling excursions, at ehlt.org/outings-events. EHLT has twenty preserves with trails, plus rivers, lakes, and a reservoir that are perfect for kayaks and canoes.

Stay tuned for upcoming details about the annual outdoor Musical Bridges concert in August, when local musicians rock their talents by the historic Goodspeed Opera House. Also coming up is the 3rd annual Goodwin Trail Challenge on October 12—an outdoor hiking, running, and biking blast that’s a draw for novice and seasoned enthusiasts alike.

Visit ehlt.org for more information.

Connecticut River Salmon Association
Dick Shriver Honored
Connecticut River Salmon Association (CRSA) thanks all the attendees who helped make its 47th Annual Dinner a great success. The funds raised support the Salmon-in-Schools program and advocacy for the Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish of the Connecticut River. Congratulations to Dick Shriver, CRSA 2025 Presidents Award winner, on his retirement as the head coach of the Old Saybrook Girl’s Lacrosse team, publication of his new book, So You Want to Coach Girl’s Lacrosse, and the great success of Estuary magazine. Special thanks to guest speaker Patrick Lynch, author of The Field Guide to the Connecticut River, and Janet & Jerry Connolly from the Audubon Shop in Madison, Connecticut, who facilitated the book signing and sales.

As you receive this issue, Salmon-in-Schools’ 2025 participants are finishing up field trips during which students stock out into designated rivers the Atlantic salmon fry they raised. They are experiencing and learning about the river ecosystem that migratory fish require. If you are interested in providing this opportunity to your school or classroom in Connecticut, please contact salmoninschools@ctriversalmon.org.

Lyme Land Trust
Explore Ethnobotany, Insects, and More!
The Lyme Land Trust (LLT) in Lyme, Connecticut, has something for everyone! Weekly hikes are offered for all age groups, exploring 54 trails. Along with monthly astronomy observation sessions, upcoming talks and walks include a Botanical Walk led by a member of the Connecticut Botanical Society, a presentation on Ethnobotany of Southern New England presented by a botany professor from Connecticut College, and an Insect Identification Walk by a member of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. To learn more about all of LLT’s upcoming events and programs, visit lymelandtrust.org.

Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
Mark National Rivers Month
June is National Rivers Month—a perfect time to reconnect with the flowing heart of our landscapes. Did you know that Connecticut is home to more than 5,000 miles of rivers and streams? That’s 5,000 miles of potential adventure, serenity, and discovery right in your own backyard. This summer, carve out some time to enjoy these remarkable waterways. Hike a trail that winds past a waterfall, paddle through quiet coves, or simply spread out a picnic by a shady stream and let the sound of rushing water clear your head.

Rivers Alliance of Connecticut believes rivers should be treated like national treasures—respected, protected, and preserved for generations to come. Want to know more about your waters and how you can help keep our rivers clean and thriving? Dive into Rivers Alliance’s Resources page at www.riversalliance.org/resources.

Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC)
Community Science Volunteering & Source to Sea Cleanup
 Summer is a time for community science and fantastic riverside events up and down the Connecticut River watershed! Visit ctriver.org/get-involved for a listing of all seasonal opportunities.

Volunteers can help remove water chestnut (an aquatic invasive species) to restore clean water and healthy habitats, conduct sea lamprey nest surveys, or collect samples from the river to provide vital water quality monitoring data. You can also join or lead one of the 100+ groups throughout the Connecticut River watershed in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut as part of the 29th annual Source to Sea Cleanup to remove trash from our waterways. Group leader registration will open in early July, and the cleanup will be in September.

Additional events are listed at ctriver.org/events. Sign up at ctriver.org/email today to get updates in your inbox as new opportunities are listed. You can also contact CRC directly at CRC@ctriver.org or 413-772-2020.

Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Find a Land Trust and Visit
This summer find your Connecticut land trust, get outside, and explore the state’s beautiful open spaces.

Connecticut boasts 120 land trusts that protect more than 200,000 acres of conservation land. Most of these land trusts focus their efforts at the town level, some work across several municipalities, and some protect land statewide. They all have one thing in common: a passion for protecting the environment and making it accessible for all to enjoy.

From the Northwest Hills to the Connecticut River valley and the shoreline of Long Island Sound, to city parks and fields of farmland, Connecticut is a beautiful state. Find your local land trust, locate their preserves, community gardens, and trails, and be sure to spend some time this summer exploring Connecticut’s woodlands, meadows, and marshes. Learn more and find your local land trust at ctconservation.org/find-a-land-trust/.

The Rockfall Foundation
Nominate Your Environmental Champion Today
The Rockfall Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2025 Environmental Champion Awards. These awards honor individuals or groups in the Lower Connecticut River valley who have made significant contributions to the environment in the areas of preservation, conservation, restoration, or education. Nominations may be made for the Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award, for lifelong accomplishments, or for the Certificates of Environmental Achievement Award for impactful programs or projects.

Nominees’ work must impact 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 
www.rockfallfoundation.org/environmental-awards.

Audubon Vermont
Habitat for Birds and You to Enjoy
Summer is a beautiful time to be outdoors in Vermont. The Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington, Vermont, 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!

CT River Museum
Cruises, Rising Waters, and Summer Camp
Plan to visit Rising Waters, on view from June 5 to August 3, 2025, at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, Connecticut. This special exhibition will explore some of the Connecticut River valley’s most devastating floods and consider the impact of future floods.

Embark on unforgettable journeys aboard RiverQuest and Onrust. Cruises run through October. On these scenic voyages, you’ll explore the river’s rich ecosystem and enjoy the stunning natural beauty that defines the Connecticut River valley.

Come back later this summer for Watermark: Capturing the Connecticut, on view August 15 to October 19. This exhibition features the breathtaking work of four New England photographers who each capture the essence of the Connecticut River.

For kids ages 6 to 11, the museum offers a fun and educational Summer Camp in July and August. Visit ctrivermuseum.org for more information and to reserve your spot on cruises and camp.

Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center
Celebrating 10 Years
The Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center invites you to celebrate its 10-year anniversary at a signature fundraising event planned for September 12, 2025. This event will mark a decade of dedication to environmental education, conservation, and community engagement. Since its founding, the center has inspired thousands through hands-on programs that highlight the unique ecology of the Connecticut River estuary, one of the most biodiverse habitats in the region.

Named in honor of famed naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, the center continues his legacy by fostering a deep appreciation for nature among learners of all ages. Over the past ten years, it has expanded its reach through school partnerships, summer camps, public lectures, and citizen science initiatives, becoming a vital resource for environmental stewardship. Looking to the future, the center remains committed to protecting local ecosystems and empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. Join in celebrating this milestone and the vibrant community that makes it possible. For more information about the upcoming event, visit ctaudubon.org/rtpec.

Florence Griswold Museum
Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes
From June 28 through September 14, the FloGris Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut, presents two exhibitions that pay tribute to nature. Working outdoors—often on large canvases or sheets of watercolor paper—painter, printmaker, and educator Nancy Friese (b. 1948) immerses viewers in landscapes that percolate with texture and color. The vivid works on view in Nancy Friese: Living Landscapes, burst with life, expressing not only how invigorating it is for her to make art inspired by nature, but also the vivaciousness of her muse, nature.

In a second show inspired by the museum’s extensive collection of animal paintings by Lyme Art Colony artists, Cow Tales explores the subject of our bovine friends as compelling subject matter. The exhibition features artwork from the mid-nineteenth century to the present by artists such as George Henry Durrie, Aaron Draper Shattuck, William Henry Howe, Matilda Browne, Edward Volkert, Bernard Chaet, Tina Barney, Judy Friday, and Brian Keith Stephens.

Visit flogris.org for information to plan your visit this summer!

Great Meadows Conservation Trust
Bike Through the Great Meadows
Great Meadows Conservation Trust’s (GMCT) “Bird and Hike” event last March, a collaboration with Connecticut Land Conservation Council, was a major success! Led by renowned birder Dudley Edmondson, the group identified nineteen bird species. Participants came from all over the state and included many who are new to birding.

With summer arriving, GMCT’s annual Connecticut Trails Day activities will feature a bike ride through the Great Meadows, including the new Putnam Bridge trail, and an educational and interactive guided nature walk for little kids at its Wood parcel in Wethersfield. GMCT will also have paddling events in Wethersfield Cove in collaboration with the Connecticut River Conservancy. A limited number of kayaks will be made available—so be sure to reserve yours as soon as you can, as they go quickly! A second event for intermediate paddlers who have their own canoe or kayak will include a paddle downriver from Wethersfield Cove to Crow Point Cove. Look for details at www.gmct.org.