Spring Botany Hike
Rettich Preserve
Saturday, April 27 (Raindate: Sunday, April 28)
10:00 a.m.
Explore the meadows and woods at Rettich Preserve to discover wildflowers and other plants with local naturalist Jim Nordgren. This 12 acre property rests at the former Rettich farm along the Hammonassett River. The land was donated to the Land Trust in 2014 by Fred and Rosa Rettich. Meet by the parking lot at 274 River Road.
Wild and Scenic Film Festival
Andrews Memorial Town Hall, Clinton
Saturday, May 4
6:00 p.m.
The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is returning to the shoreline! Once again, the Madison and Clinton Land Trusts are teaming up to bring this globetrotting event to our area. Our goal is to engage our communities, increase environmental awareness, and inspire people to become active in protecting and preserving our beautiful shoreline habitats.
Wild & Scenic is a film festival with a purpose, bringing together storytellers and stories that reflect a love and appreciation of the natural world. The evening will feature a series of short award-winning environmental and outdoor adventure films from around the world.
The Madison and Clinton Land Trusts will co-host the festival in the Andrews Memorial Town Hall auditorium at 54 East Main Street in Clinton. Light refreshments will be served. Both land trusts are non-profit volunteer organizations dedicated to conserving our local natural resources. Purchase tickets and learn more at https://madisonlandtrust.org/film-festival/
Join us at 6:00 for a reception before the show featuring light fare with beer and wine, and time to socialize with friends.
The films start at 7:00. We'll have more treats during intermission.
CCC Camp Hadley Hike
Camp Hadley Trail
Saturday, May 11
10:00 a.m.
Camp Hadley was one of 23 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps providing employment for young men in Connecticut. The CCC was a program of the WPA (Works Project Administration) established by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Depression. It was designed to promote environmental conservation and build good citizens though outdoor work. The 200 men at Camp Hadley planted trees, created parks and were of great benefit cleaning up Madison after the 1938 hurricane. 2024 marks the 89th anniversary of Camp Hadley, which was built in 1935. In 2015, the ruins of Camp Hadley were resurrected by Daniel Hand High School students and the Madison Land Conservation Trust, under the direction of Stewardship chair Joe Oslander. Joe will share details about the restoration and the site's history during this hike. The trail is a short, easy walk with some potential wet areas. The trailhead is at approximately 120 Warpas Road, just north of the junction with Copse Road.https://madisonlandtrust.org/trails/camp-hadley-trail/
Spring Birding Hike
Bauer Park
Saturday, June 1
8:00 a.m.
Join nationally recognized wildlife artist, birder, and MLCT Director Mike DiGiorgio for a walk to look for resident and migrating songbirds. We'll explore the fields, gardens, and woodland trails. Birders of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars! This is a quiet hike, since we'll be locating birds with their calls. No dogs, please. Meet at the Community Gardens parking area, 257 Copse Road, Madison.
GPS Navigation with Avenza
Lowry Woods Community Forest
Saturday, June 1
10:00 a.m.
This is an introduction to GPS navigation with the free Avenza app, and is great for entire families. Learn how to use Avenza to find routes, plot routes and even bushwhack with MLCT director Charlie Shafer. Avenza is the GPS navigation tool of choice for woodland firefighters, search and rescue teams, and off-the-grid adventurers. It’s the only app that is used by the State of Connecticut parks (all state parks are available as free downloads), many local land trusts (like Madison’s) and the Appalachian Mountain Club, with their notoriously difficult to navigate in foul weather trail system in the White Mountains. We will go over basic trail tracking, and if there’s time and willing victims, do a little search and rescue practice. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to know exactly where you are and where you want to get. Participants are asked to download the Avenza app ahead of time, then download the free MLCT Lowry Woods Map. Meet by the Lowry Woods parking lot at 55 Warpas Rd. https://madisonlandtrust.org/lowry-woods/
Amphibian Hike
Blinshed Loop Trail
Sunday, June 2
1:00 p.m.
Join Yale ecologists Kealoha Freidenburg and David Skelly on a Connecticut Trails Day hike to search for frogs, toads, salamanders and newts. Please wear boots and bring a dip net if you have one. The trail features extensive wetlands and old logging roads through the woods. The hike will run rain or shine. No dogs, please. Meet in the parking lot of The Country School at the intersection of Opening Hill and Blinnshed Roads. https://madisonlandtrust.org/trails/blinnshed_loop/
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a common bird in the Land Trust forests. Its name is somewhat odd since the pinkish color on the breast area is seldom visible, but the red cap is prominent. Look for zebra-stripes on the back and flashes of white on the wings when it’s in flight. The male has the red all the way to the bill, but females only have a red crown and brown before their beak. The call is a quick quirrrr, and a ch-ch-ch-chirrrrrrr! Thirty years ago the Red-bellied Woodpecker would have been a rarity in Connecticut, but today it’s one of our most common birds.
Painting © Michael DiGiorgio