Nature awaits
Guided exploration excursions are back
AAfter a year of staying close to home, it’s time to (safely) venture out beyond the confines of our neighborhoods. If you’re looking to offset mindless marathon Netflix binges and also increase your step quota this summer, opt for excursions that combine the great outdoors with an educational component. Learn about whales and other creatures of the sea on a whale watch tour off the coast of Rhode Island, or immerse yourself in the woods, listening for a rare bird song. Here are five ideas to get you started on a season well spent outside.
Take a walk in the woods for Connecticut Trails Day
You can hit the trails in southeastern Connecticut and beyond all summer, but make a special effort to get outside for Connecticut Trails Day the first weekend of June. Part of the two-day national Trails Day event happening June 5 and 6, the Nutmeg State iteration is coordinated by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, a member-based non-profit organization. The goal? To pay tribute to the trails and open spaces that have provided inspiration and offered an escape, perhaps more so than ever during the past year.
Last year’s event became a do-it-yourself celebration, but COVID-19-safe group hikes are back for 2021. These free excursions happening all over the state are headed by volunteer Trails Day leaders. Each can take a group of up to 15 people, leader included, on a guided trail experience of their choosing – whether that’s hiking, kayaking, biking, letterboxing, repairing trails, and more. Leaders are not only responsible for getting a group of people outdoors to enjoy healthy recreation safely, but will also share their knowledge of the natural, cultural, scenic and historical highlights of their favorite route.
Interested in participating in an official Trails Day event? Starting May 20, you sign up for one of the excursions listed in the Connecticut Trails Day directory at ctwoodlands.org/ct-trails-weekend. Pre-registration is required, and social distancing and masking measures
will be in place so everyone can feel comfortable as they connect with Connecticut’s natural beauty. If you prefer to go it alone, self-guided options are available.
Hike & Seek with Avalonia Land Conservancy
Avalonia Land Conservancy conserves 4,000 acres of land across southeastern Connecticut, in Groton, Griswold, Ledyard, Stonington, North Stonington and Preston; preserves that are prime spots for studying nature, hiking, birding, and photography. To better educate and engage the public, Avalonia launched a scavenger hunt format program called Hike & Seek. Hike & Seek allows participants to use technology in a simple way to learn about the nature of each preserve, encourage observation, and share discoveries.
There are 27 Avalonia properties with “targets” to find and photograph as part of the Hike and Seek challenge. The Avalonia website (avalonia.org/hike-andseek) provides the educational component, with information and context describing each of the clues to seek at a given property. It’s up to the observer to explore, snap a photo of a target, and upload to social media with the hashtag #MyAvalonia to share their findings.
Benefit from birding
Each season in Connecticut marks a time when certain types of birds are more prevalent than others. From songbirds to shorebirds, hawks to herons, there are about 160 species of birds nesting in the Nutmeg State throughout the summer, like the American Kestrel or the Carolina Wren. While you can turn to a trusted birding book or Google to assist you with planning your next birding excursion, there are opportunities to learn from local experts through programming at organizations like the Connecticut Audubon Society.
While much of the Connecticut Audubon Society’s offerings turned virtual since the spring of 2020, some guided, in-person programs are available, including bird walks at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center in Old Lyme. Regular bird walks limited to small groups are also scheduled throughout May and June at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Center at Pomfret. For those seeking a challenge, join the Connecticut Audubon Society on May 19 for the 16th annual 90 Bird Day, when participants will travel from spot to spot in pursuit of hearing or seeing 90 different species of birds! Visit ctaudubon.org for details and to sign up.
Hit the trails for history class
As one of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut is steeped in history. Set that history against a beautiful New England backdrop and you’ve got Walk Norwich, a series of historically themed walking trails designed to educate residents and visitors alike about the town’s days of yore. Sponsored by the Norwich Historical Society, Walk Norwich is a pedestrian advocacy movement that provides people with an interactive experience complete with trail marker signs, self-guided trail brochures and maps available at stops along the way, and information about each cultural and historical site that can be easily accessed via smartphone. Currently, there are six Walk Norwich trails to choose from, including the Uncas Leap Walking Trail covering the Native Mohegan Tribe’s rich history in southeastern Connecticut; the Freedom Trail celebrating Norwich’s largely untold story of African-American heritage; and the Benedict Arnold Trail, all about
the Norwich-born Revolutionary War-era traitor and other notable figures from colonial times. Head to walknorwich.org to start planning your adventures through local history!
Take to the seas to watch for whales
Your summertime excursions needn’t stop at land’s end. Take to the seas to scope out arguably the most majestic of all mammals, the whale. You’ll need to head deeper into New England to ports where whale watch tours head out, such as the Port of Galilee in Narragansett, RI, where you can hop on a Frances Fleet trip.
Waters off the coast of Narragansett can reach temperatures in the high 70s, beckoning finback whales to come to feed. Finback whales are huge – second only in size to mammoth blue whales when it comes to waterdwelling creatures. In addition to the majestic finback, you may also spot humpback whales, minke whales, false killer whales, and pilot whales, as well as sharks, giant ocean sunfish, Portuguese Man O’ War, and leatherback and loggerhead turtles. Trips begin at the end of June and run through the start of September. Reservations for Frances Fleet whale watch tours must be made in advance. Visit francesfleet.com to book yours.
Whether you choose to spend your spring and summer days walking, hiking, birding or out on the ocean, good luck and bon voyage!