Calendar of Events Archive

October 2008

Walk in the Woods and Breakfast at Tulmeadow Farm

Saturday, October 4

8:30 – 11:00 a.m. (Longer hike at 9:00, the shorter loop trail at 9:15, 10 and 10:45)
This event is co-sponsored by the Town of Simsbury

Take a walk in the woods with the Simsbury Land Trust! See for yourself why the SLT is working to protect this final piece of Tulmeadow Farm. There will be two different hikes: a short loop trail through the 73 acre woodlot and a longer hike to Town Forest and the Ethel Walker Woods (easy-to moderate in difficulty, approximately one to one and one-half hours). Coffee and breakfast will be served.

Gersten Property, Metacomet Trail, James Property

Saturday, October 18

9:30 and 10:30 a.m. • Park at Trinity Episcopal Church, Church Street, Tariffville. Hike starts at end of Church Street Ext.

Co-sponsored by the Town of Simsbury and the Tariffville Village Association

Join us for a 2 hour hike (2.5 miles) starting at Laurel Hill at the end of the Church Street Extension. Hikes begin at 9:30 and 10:30 and are guided by the Tariffville Village Association. Visit the remains of Bartlett Tower and learn about its history. Enjoy views from the Metacomet Trail. Water and portable snack provided. Please call Simsbury Land Trust Office to register, 651-8773.

Download a PDF of the event poster.

Geology Hike

Sunday, October 26

1:00 p.m. • Meet at The Master’s School main parking lot.

(Raindate Saturday, November 1)

Walk with Jelle deBoer, Professor Emeritus of Geology, Wesleyan University, to the Western Border Fault Valley in Simsbury. Learn about the valley's formation and why rock on one side of the valley is about 200 million years older than the rock on the other. See an excellent example of a talus slope where cool air moving out of the bottom of the slope results in a microclimate allowing plants typical of northern New England to grow here in Connecticut. Allow 2.5 hours for this walk which includes some rough, slippery and uneven footing. Not suitable for small children. To register call the Land Trust office at 651-8773

September 2008

Tour Des Farms

Saturday, September 20

Tulmeadow Farm • Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Ride begins at 9:00 a.m.
$35 per rider before 9/19, $40 per rider day of event

This is a leisure ride designed to highlight several of Connecticut's beautiful orchards and farms in Simsbury and Granby. There will be a single route for this year's ride- approximately 24-mile loop that will visit many farmstands and contains a variety of rolling hills. Registration is limited to those 12 years and older please. Call John Guszkowski with questions at 860-928-7848 or visit www.tourdesfarms.org.

Registration includes a t-shirt and $5.00 in "Farm Bucks," valid for purchase of farm products (produce, baked goods, pumpkins, wine, ice cream, etc.) on the day of the ride. Proceeds to support nonprofit programs designed to promote the viability of Connecticut's farmland.

June 2008

Volunteer Work Day!

Saturday June 7, 2008

8:30 a.m. • Meet at the parking area at 60 Westledge Road

Teams will fan out to various SLT properties for miscellaneous upkeep. Bring bow saws and loppers if you have them. We will supply other tools. Lunch will be provided. Rain date: same time Saturday June 14. Questions? Call Don Rieger at 658-7317.

Hunt for Wild Food with “Wildman” Steve Brill

Saturday, June 7, 2008

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 Lecture 12:30 – 1:30 Walk
Roaring Brook Nature Center, 70 Gracey Road, Canton, CT

$5.00 per person

Hundreds of overlooked edible and medicinal wild herbs, greens, berries, nuts, seeds, roots, and mushrooms grow wild in natural areas throughout our region Under expert supervision, they're easy to learn, recognize, gather ecologically, and use for food and home remedies.Steve will do a lecture in the Nature Center auditorium at 10:30 AM. This will last about an hour or a bit more with questions, followed by a one hour lunch break. At 12:30, Steve will do a one hour walk, limited to 40-50 people. If there is sufficient interest, he will do a second walk for an equal amount of people. RSVP with prepayment is required by calling Roaring Brook Nature Center at 693-0263, space is limited.

May 2008

Volunteer Work Day!

Saturday May 3, 2008

8:30 a.m. • Meet at the parking area at 60 Westledge Road

Activities are trail building and invasive plant removal. Bring work gloves and drinking water. Bring bow saws and loppers if you have them. We will supply other tools. You should be home for a late lunch. Rain date: Saturday May 17. Questions? Call Don Rieger at 658-7317.

Simsbury Land Trust Annual Business Meeting

Thursday, May 8, 2008

7:00 p.m. • Simsbury Farms Apple Barn

The Annual Business Meeting is open to all members of the Simsbury Land Trust. Learn about the activities and accomplishments of the past year.

April 2008

Simsbury Land Trust Annual Membership Dinner

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

6:00 - 9:00 p.m. • Hop Meadow Country Club

$35.00 for members, $40.00 for non members

Join us for our Annual Membership Dinner. Special guest speaker will be Tom Worthley, Forrester and Extension Educator in Residence from the UCONN Extension Service. His talk, “Stewardship Options and Opportunities on Protected Land” will discuss the public benefit and value of conserved land, and building upon the success of land conservation projects to further additional conservation goals in the community. There will be specific discussion on management and conservation of the Tulmeadow woodlot, the next property to be preserved by the Campaign for Simsbury. Invitations will be sent to members in early March. Non members can RSVP online, or by calling the office at 651-8773.

Volunteer Thank you Breakfast and Sign-up

Saturday, April 12, 2008

9:00 - 10:30 a.m. • Simsbury Farms Apple Barn

Join us for a thank you breakfast and learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Simsbury Land Trust. This event is open to all current and potential volunteers. Bring a friend and stop in for this informal event. RSVP's are requested by April 8 to 651-8773.

Amphibian and Bird Watching Hike

Sunday, April 13, 2008

2:00 p.m. • Great Pond State Park

Join Jay Kaplan from Roaring Brook Nature Center for an amphibian and bird watching hike at Great Pond State Park. Please wear appropriate shoes for a wet trail, and bring along binoculars for bird watching if you have them. RSVP’s are requested to 651-8773 by
April 6.

March 2008

Family Evening Hike

March 1, 2008

3:30 - 6:30 p.m. • Flamig Farm

Members Free

Non members $10 per person, $25 per family

Join us for an evening family hike! Meet in Flamig Farm’s event room. We’ll divide into two groups, beginner and advanced. One group will take a short hike on a slower pace. The second group will have a slightly longer route and a faster pace. For those not wishing to walk, a hayride will leave at 4:30. The groups will cross the street and head through the woods to Tulmeadow Farm. At 5:00 or 5:30, we will regroup in the Flamig Farm event room for a light meal of soup, sandwiches, hot chocolate, coffee and dessert. This event is suitable for ages 10 and over.

Space on the hayride is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Members are free, non members are $10 per person, $25 per family. Space is limited, so RSVP’s (and prepayment for non members) are required by February 25. Call 651-8773 to reserve your space!

February 2008

Wild & Scenic Presentation

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

7:00 p.m. • Apple Barn

The Simsbury Land Trust will host a presentation on the Lower Farmington River/Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Study which is currently underway and involves ten area towns. The towns are Avon, Bloomfield, Burlington, Canton, East Granby Farmington, Granby, Hartland, Simsbury and Windsor.

Come and learn what the requirements are for a “Wild & Scenic” river, how a river is designated Wild & Scenic, and what benefits the designation brings to the river and to river communities. Also, enjoy photographs of the Farmington River and its beauty, and find out about current threats to the river.

To learn more about the Lower Farmington River/Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Study, visit the website www.lowerfarmingtonriver.org or www.salmonbrookwildandscenic.org.

Refreshments will be served at the presentation. To help with planning, we ask that you register online at www.simsburylandtrust.org or by calling the Simsbury Land Trust office at 651-8773.

November 2007

Join us for a walk, a talk and supper!

Sunday, November 4

3:00-6:00 p.m. • The Master’s School Parking lot and cafeteria

Help us celebrate the successful completion of the acquisition and permanent protection of 80-acres of the west ridge by joining us for a hike, a talk and a light supper. Knowledgeable guides will lead small groups of hikers on a one hour hike on the west ridge trail. A shorter one mile loop is available at our adjacent property located on 60 Westledge, at the base of The Master’s School driveway. After the hikes, come inside for a light soup and sandwich supper and an informational talk on the archaeology of West Simsbury by special guest speaker Ken Feder. RSVP’s are requested for those planning to have supper to amyzeiner@aol.com or 651-8773.

RSVP to 651-8773 or reply online.

Pilfershire Hike

Sunday, November 11, 2007

1:00 p.m. • Meet at the northwest corner of Highridge Road, West Simsbury

Join Trustee Fred Feibel on a tour of old cellar holes and remnants of what had once been "Pilfershire Village”. Hikers will step back in time to get a feel for how some of our earliest settlers lived. Learn how the houses had looked and get some insights about the people who had once made them their homes. Explore stone walls, streams and examine native plants, many of which Native Americans had shared the uses of with our colonists. Many hikers will return with a new found appreciation for our forefathers on West Mountain and an urge to look even deeper into this beautiful part of Simsbury. Dress for wet weather, parts of the trail can be wet. Meet at the northwest corner of Highridge Road in West Simsbury.

RSVP to 651-8773 or reply online.

October 2007

Annual Membership Celebration

Saturday, October 20, 2007

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. • Follow signs for parking at Tulmeadow Farm

Join us for the Annual Membership Celebration at Tulmeadow Farm. Free bbq, hayrides, entertainment, and guided hikes will be offered. Membership brochures and information other Simsbury Land Trust activities will be available. RSVP’s are not required. This will be held rain or shine.

Free hayrides
Free BBQ lunch
Guided hikes
Entertainment
Family Fun!

RSVP to 651-8773 or reply online.

Mushroom Foray and Introduction to Geocaching

Saturday, October 27, 2007

2:00 p.m. • Stratton Brook Park

Mycology naturalist and CVMS member Marlene Snecinski and Geocache club member Judy Cooper will lead SLT members and their guests on a mushroom hike and an introduction to geocaching. This one to two hour hike will be on easy terrain within Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury. Marlene and Judy will identify fungus we uncover along the trails while learning how to interpret clues using a GPS system to find hidden "caches" around the park. Please dress appropriately for conditions and ticks: Sturdy shoes or boots, socks over long pants and long sleeves with shirt tucked in. It is not necessary to bring a GPS device. Please meet at the lower parking lot adjacent to the covered bridge and picnic area. RSVP's are requested to 651-8773.

RSVP to 651-8773 or reply online.

September 2007

Farm Bike Tour

Sunday, September 30, 2007

9:00 a.m. • Meet at Rosedale Farms parking lot

Join us on a biking tour of our town's beautiful farms. Bikers will have a choice of three loops, (1) the Weatogue - Simsbury Center loop (7 miles). (This one's great for kids.)

(2) the Weatogue-West Simsbury Loop (15 miles), and (3) the Weatogue -Granby-West Simsbury Loop (25 miles). All loops start and end at Rosedale Farms. Meet at 9:00 a.m. for a guided trip, or check in at Rosedale Farms any time that day and pick up a tour description for a self-guided trip. All bikers please bring helmets and water bottles. RSVP to the Cox Family at 658-6530, and specify guided or self-guided, and your desired loop. Ride will be cancelled in the event of rainy weather.

RSVP to 651-8773 or reply online.

May 2007

Mushroom Hike and Introduction to Geocaching

Sunday, May 20, 2007

3:00 p.m. • Stratton Brook State Park

Mycology naturalist and CVMS member Marlene Snecinski and Geocache club member Judy Cooper will lead SLT members and their guests on a mushroom hike and an introduction to geocaching. This one to two hour hike will be on easy terrain within Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury. Marlene and Judy will identify fungus we uncover along the trails while learning how to interpret clues using a GPS system to find hidden "caches" around the park. Please dress appropriately for conditions and ticks: Sturdy shoes or boots, socks over long pants and long sleeves with shirt tucked in. It is not necessary to bring a GPS device. Please meet at the lower parking lot adjacent to the covered bridge and picnic area. RSVP's are requested to 651-8773.

Annual Business Meeting

Thursday, May 17, 2007

7:00 p.m. • Apple Barn

Celebrate our successes in 2006 and our plans for 2007 at our Annual Business Meeting. RSVP to 651-8773.

Wildflower Photography Hike

Saturday, May 5, 2007

9:00 a.m. • Northgate parking lot, McLean Game Refuge

Raindate Sunday, May 6 at 9:00 a.m.

Hunter Neal, SLT Trustee and professional photographer, will lead a wildflower photography hike. Meet in the Northgate parking lot of the McLean Game Refuge, off of Firetown Road. Please bring a camera, a macro lens if you have one, and a tripod with a remote release. Dress appropriately for wet conditions. RSVP’s are required for this event.

April 2007

West Ridge Hike

Sunday, April 29, 2007

9:30 a.m. • 60 Westledge Road

Join us for a hike starting at SLT's 60 Westledge Road property up to the ridge behind the Master's School. The hike offers an exploration of the Westledge Road woods, with its old stone stairways down into the low area along Hop Brook, and includes a walk to the ridge for wonderful views to the east . The hike will follow the route of the planned red trail which crosses the SLT land, The Master's School land, conservation land and town property. Some of the hike will follow planned SLT trails which are not fully developed, so please wear footwear that is sturdy and suitable for wet spring conditions. Allow 2-3 hours.

Stewardship Work Party

Saturday, April 14, 2007

9:30 a.m. • 60 Westledge Road Property

Join us for a work day Help clear brush and small trees to prepare for our newest trail. Please dress in work clothes, and bring work gloves, lopers and bow saws if you have them. RSVP to 651-8773 so we can plan the days work. Meet in The Master’s School Parking lot. Limited parking is available at 60 Westledge Road.

Annual Membership Dinner

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

6:00 p.m. • Hop Meadow Country Club

Spend an evening with fellow SLT members to celebrate the successes of 2006 and learn about our plans for 2007. David Foster, special guest, will speak about “Wildlands, Woodlands, and Farmlands: A Second Chance to Conserve the New England Landscape.” Hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert and coffee are included in the $30 per member fee. Call the office for additional information, 651-8773. RSVP’s are required.

March 2007

Stewardship Work Party

Saturday, March 31, 2007

9:30 a.m. • 60 Westledge Road Property

Put on your old clothes, grab some work gloves (lopers and a bow saw if you have them) and join us for a work day at the 60 Westledge Property (just past The Master’s School) in West Simsbury. RSVP’s are requested.

Stewardship Work Party

Saturday, March 17, 2007

9:30 a.m. • 60 Westledge Road Property

Put on your old clothes, grab some work gloves (lopers and a bow saw if you have them) and join us for a work day at the 60 Westledge Property (just past The Master’s School) in West Simsbury. RSVP’s are requested.

Bluebird Box Building and Monitoring

Saturday, March 3, 2007

9:00 a.m. • Apple Barn

Join Simsbury Land Trust members to learn about bluebird conservation and help build a bluebird nest box. If you have an appropriate site (a large open area such as a field, meadow or large lawn that is not treated with pesticide), you may take a box to put up following DEP directions. People taking boxes will need to monitor their box weekly from the end to March to September, keep records on the use of the box, and mail a data card to the DEP at the end of the nesting season. This project is an opportunity to learn more about bluebirds, their competitors and preditors. Taking a box requires a commitment to monitoring. Materials and directions will be provided, Limited to 8. Bring an electric phillips screwdriver if you can.

February 2007

Stewardship Committee Meeting

Thursday, February 15, 2007

7:00 p.m. • SLT Office

October 2006

Geology Hike

Sunday, October 22

1:00 p.m. • Meet in the North Saddle Ridge Drive cul-de-sac
(Raindate, Sunday, October 29)

Join Trustee Fred Feibel for a geology hike up to the Cathles property, following along the fault line. Enjoy some leaf peeping while learning about some basic geology, including plate tectonics and rock formation, particularly as it relates to the dramatically different formations found on either side of the fault. We will observe the effects of glaciation and examine the unique habitats created here as well. Please dress appropriately and bring water for this moderately difficult hike. No RSVP required.

30th Anniversary Celebration Event

Saturday, October 14

12:00-3:00 p.m. • Simsbury Farms Apple Barn Complex
(Raindate, Sunday, October 15)

Join us as we celebrate the Simsbury Land Trust’s 30th Anniversary! Open to the public, this special anniversary event will include musical entertainment, free bbq lunch, hayrides, educational speakers, animal exhibits, guided hikes, SLT membership and volunteer booths, and more. Watch for additional information. No RSVP required.

Metacomet Ridge Trail Hike

Sunday, October 8

8:30 a.m. • Penwood Park Parking Lot

Join us for a fall hike along the Metacomet Ridge blue trail, starting at Penwood Park. Hikers will have the option of stopping at Wintonbury Road (for a 1-1/2 hour hike), or going all the way to Tariffville center (for a 2-1/2 hour hike). Shuttle back to Penwood will be provided. We'll have coffee and donuts at Penwood Park, and hikers may enjoy an after-hike brunch in Tariffville. This will be a great hike for kids, with some moderate uphill walking and several great views. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring water. RSVP's are required for this event to info@simsburylandtrust.org or to 651-8773 and specify whether you will hike to Wintonbury Road or to Tariffville.

September 2006

Mushroom Hike

Saturday, September 30, 2007

1:00 p.m. • Town Forest

Enjoy a ramble through the woods surrounding Town Forest Park with amateur mycologist Marlene Snecinski of the Connecticut Valley Mycological Society. We'll walk the varied habitat while identifying fall mushrooms. This hike is flat and suitable for all ages. Wear proper footwear for wet and uneven surfaces and clothing suitable for protection from insects and ticks (socks over long pants/long sleeve shirt, tucked in/hat). Meet at the Town Forest Picnic Pavilion at 1:00 p.m., and allow 2 hours. RSVP to 651-8773 or www.simsburylandtrust.org.

Copyright © 2007 Simsbury Land Trust