Founded 1895
Where learning happens... naturally!
Founded 1895 |
CFPA's Education Programs Where learning happens... naturally! |
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Guided
Hikes & Family Nature Programs
Family Activities: Carve Your Own Hiking Stick With the Connecticut Woodcarvers Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn a new skill, carve your own stick, and enjoy the company of the CT Woodcarvers Association. Watch demonstrations of wood carving methods and safety techniques. Drop in anytime just bring your own knife; wood sticks will be supplied. Program is geared towards adults and families with children ages 10 years and older; no charge for program. Introduction to Letterboxing, Saturday, June 28; 2–4 p.m.; all ages; CFPA, Middlefield Join us for a fun-filled afternoon. We’ll learn all about letterboxing, the adventurous treasure hunt of the trails. Bring a simple design (or we’ll supply you with ideas) in order to create your own family letterbox stamp for use on the trails and take home for other letterboxing jaunts. Venture on the John R. Camp Outdoor Classroom & Demonstration Forest to find your very first letterboxes after following a series of clues. $10/family to help cover cost of materials. Pre-registration required; space is limited. Call 860-346-2372 or email info@ctwoodlands.org to pre-register. WalkConnecticut Family Guided Hikes Last weekend of every month Want to bring your family in the outdoors but not sure what to do? Join us for fun family hikes on the trails led by education staff or volunteer Family Hike Leaders trained by CFPA. Enjoy walking in the woods, traipsing through wetlands, sensing the coolness of streams and fern gullies, and much more! Each guided hike will introduce the beauty of Connecticut’s lands to you and your family. We’ll learn about safety, how to stay found and not get lost and find out what to fill in that day pack. Guided Family Hikes are offered at no cost as a public service to Connecticut’s children and families as part of CFPA’s WalkConnecticut initiative, creating healthy families by connecting them to the land. Pre-registration appreciated for all hikes. Locations are subject to change; please register ahead of time to learn the correct meeting place and ease or difficulty of trail. Call CFPA at (860) 346-2372 or email info@ctwoodlands.org. FEBRUARY Saturday, 2/29; Hike to the Caves, 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM, Plymouth; 5 years+ Cross seasonal brooks, hike on an old woods road, pass Indian Jack Cave and Charlie Krug Cave. Enjoy the scenic overlook on a rocky ledge and watch for turkey vultures soaring in the wind. Follow the trail along a pond and get ready to observe the secrets of nature found in the wintertime. Rain or heavy winds cancel. If in doubt, please call Family Hike Leader by noon (203-723-8150).Directions: Route I-84 towards Waterbury; exit onto RT 69 N. After the junction with RT 322, turn left onto Mad River Rd. Right onto Spindle Hill Rd, which turns into Allentown Rd. Cross into Plymouth from Wolcott and watch for small parking area just south of Marino Pond. MARCH Saturday, 3/29; Walk the Rail Trail, 1 PM – 2:30 PM, Manchester; 5 years+ Enjoy this easy, but bumpy, walk along the former Cheney Railroad, built in 1869, which connected the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End. At 2.5 miles, it was the longest private railroad in the United States. We will hike along the one-mile portion owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust, which will take about 1 ½ hours round trip, with an optional additional walk to Center Springs Pond. Phone Family Hike Leader (860-643-9776) if questions; heavy rain cancels. There are no restrooms, so children should use the facilities before leaving home. Driving directions: Meet at the North End of Main Street in Manchester, behind Farr’s Sporting Goods, 2 Main Street. From Hartford, take I-84 east toward Boston. Take exit 62, Buckland Street. Take a right at the end of the exit ramp onto Buckland Street. At the light, turn left onto Tolland Turnpike, and stay straight as it becomes North Main Street. In about one mile, turn right onto Main Street, Route 83. Parking available at the nearby shopping plaza and Eighth Utilities office building. APRIL – To Be Announced – Watch for updates MAY Saturday, 5/31; Easy Hike at Highland Park, 1 PM – 2:30 PM, Manchester; 5 years+ Let’s discover the beauty of the close-to-home forest at Case Mountain. We’ll follow a gravel path to the summit of Case Mountain for the well-known view of Manchester’s Downtown and the Hartford skyline. Come learn some basic hiking skills and have fun in the outdoors; some steep areas. Directions: Meet at the parking lot one-tenth mile from the intersection of Birch Mountain and Camp Meeting Roads, Manchester. If coming from Hartford, take I-84 to I-384. At exit 4, take a left onto Spring Street, and a right onto Highland Street (which becomes Camp Meeting Road). In about one-half mile, take a right onto Birch Mountain Road, where the lot is almost immediately on the right. If coming from Providence, take I-384, exit 4, and turn right onto Highland Street. In about seven-tenths of a mile, turn right onto Birch Mountain Road, where the lot is on the right. Saturday, 5/31; Cockaponset State Forest, 9 AM – Noon, Haddam; 8 years + A moderately difficult hike of 2¾ miles along the green-blazed trail. This hike leads through an area that has under gone a managed timber harvest designed to sustain a new generation of oak and pine. Learn about timber harvesting in Connecticut and how a forest re-grows. There is a possibility that an active harvest may be in process along the trail. The State Forester responsible for the Cockaponset will be joining us on this hike. Please wear appropriate footwear and clothing as trail has rocky sections and may be muddy. Heavy rain or high winds cancel. Call Family Hike Leader at 860-345-8029 before 8:15 am if in doubt Directions: CT Route 9 to Exit 8 (Beaver Meadow Rd). Meet at commuter lot at exit. We’ll carpool to trail head (limited parking) on Beaver Meadow Road. Saturday, 5/31; Mclean Game Refuge, 10 AM start, Granby; 5 years+ Enjoy this fun hike on a 2 mile loop of easy trails throughout pine groves and oak forests. We’ll find our way to a trap rock hill, a good spot for a snack with possible views of Barndoor Hills. Have you ever seen hills made of barn doors? Our hike loop ends at the old Mclean cabin and an nearby trout pond –wonder what other kinds of wildlife we’ll find at the pond! Directions: Meet at Mclean Refuge entrance on Route 10/202 in Granby one mile south of Granby center; rain cancels. JUNE Saturday, 6/28, Introduction to Hiking, Chester; 9 AM – Noon, Ages 5+. Not sure what you need to know to take the family outside? Let us put your mind at ease and show you and your family how fun and easy walking the trail can be. Join us for the 10 Essentials of a Safe Hike, how to read trail blazes and other hiking information. An easy hike of approximately 2 ¼ miles on the Pattaconk trail to the north end of Pattaconk Reservoir. Heavy rains or high winds cancel; call Family Hike Leader (860-345-8029) before 8:15 am if unsure. Directions: CT RT 9 to Exit 6 (RT 148 in Chester). West on RT 148. Turn right after Cedar Lake onto Cedar Lake Road. Continue on Cedar Lake Road until seeing a brown and yellow sign for the Pattaconk Reservoir Recreation Area. Turn left after the sign and follow to parking lots. We’ll gather at the parking lot on the left hand side. Route will be signed. Hike begins promptly at 9am FOR FAMILIES |
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