Trails Day 2010 Celebration
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SaTURDaY & SUnDaY • JUnE 5 & 6 CONNECTICUTTrails Day 2010 CElEbraTION OVEr 160 EVENTS www.ctwoodlands.org STaTEWIDE Take to Our State Parks & Forests With 139 state parks and forests in Connecticut, you are sure to find fun and adventure no matter where you live. Take advantage of these resources and participate in one of the many Trails Day events happening at a state park or forest—FEES WILL BE WAIVED. The success of this celebration would not be possible without sup- port from the Connecticut Department of Environ- mental Protection. To view park maps, visit www.ct.gov/dep/parkmaps. Join the ThisGreat multi-week Park outdoor Pursuit! family adven- ture connects Connecticut children and their families with the wonders of our state parks and forests. It’s a contest that will have you decoding clues and participating in fun activities and challenges. It’s too early to reveal which Connecticut Trails Day events will be part of the Great Park Pursuit. Check out www.nochildleftinside.org/pursuit R for details. This brochure was made possible in part by a grant from the National Recreational Trails Program, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Booklet Design: Angell House Design Photo Credits: Janet Ainsworth, Jennifer Benner, Ann Colson, Amanda Manso, and Robert Pagini Printed by Phoenix Press, Inc. Find Your Happy Place! Connecticut Trails Day Celebration June 5 and 6, 2010 Get ready to find your happy place in Connecticut! Connecticut Trails Day is here. Because of great participation by hundreds of volunteers, Connecticut’s celebration takes place over two fun-filled days and continues to be larger than any other state’s. More than 2,500 Nutmeggers participated in last year’s events. Join your family, friends, and neighbors and enjoy the wonder- ful outdoor opportunities available throughout Connecticut. As always, there is a great variety of events that offers something for everyone—whether it be a long or short hike, history walk, paddle, family walk, orienteering, letterboxing, trail mainte- nance, or cycling. Strong participation by organizations like the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), local and regional land trusts, town agencies, outdoors-oriented businesses, volunteers, and our great sponsors is key to the success of Connecticut Trails Day. This year, Jen Benner, CFPA’s communications manager, led the coordination effort and her new on-line event registry has helped stimulate event leaders to submit more than 160 events. Jen, the rest of the CFPA staff, especially Terri Peters and Jim Lit- tle, and the Connecticut Trails Day Committee, deserve special thanks for their dedicated work in soliciting events, drumming up support, and preparing this booklet. Take a look through the pages, join in the fun, and Find Your Happy Place! – Chuck Sack, Connecticut Trails Day Committee Chairman Connecticut Forest & Park Association has been the state coordinator for CFPA Connecticut Trails Day, part of the Ameri- can Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, since 1993. Visit CFPA’s website, www. ctwoodlands.org, for updated infor- mation on Trails Day events and for information about CFPA and the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System. Would you like to receive this booklet in the mail? Become a member of CFPA— see page 28! CONNECTICUTTrails Day 2010 CElEbraTION Explore Connecticut and Our National Trails! Connecticut is rich in outdoor trails that wind through State Parks and For- ests, land trusts, town lands, and private properties. The Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System (maintained by dedicated Connecticut Forest & Park Association volunteers) is the largest network in the state, totaling over 825 miles of hiking trails in 88 Con- necticut towns. Participating in Trails Day is a great way to experience these and many GEOCACHING other Connecticut trails, Colchester including our two new Simsbury National Trails – see page 4. HIKE Bolton BIKE Madison Branford Groton Mansfield Burlington Hampton Middletown Clinton Hartford Monroe Colchester Naugatuck Portland Durham Stamford Ridgefield East Haddam Rocky Hill East Hampton EDUCATIONAL Salem East Haven WALK Shelton Easton Burlington Stamford Enfield Colchester Storrs Farmington East Lyme Stratford Gaylordsville Farmington Vernon Glastonbury Groton West Granby Greenwich Hamden Willington Groton Hartford Guilford Kent FITNESS WALK Haddam Lebanon Montville Hamden Lyme Vernon Hampton 2 Hebron Union Stamford Kent Vernon Suffield Killingworth Wallingford Torrington Lyme Waterbury Woodbury Madison Waterford Manchester Watertown ORIENTEERING Mansfield West Granby Hebron Meriden Weston Middlefield PADDLE Middletown MULTIPLE Ledyard Mystic ACTIVITIES Madison New Britain (AT ONE Mansfield New Hartford LOCATION) Middletown Niantic Bolton North Grosvenordale North Branford Danbury Putnam North Haven Essex Torrington North Stonington Hampton Oxford Rocky Hill RUN Plainville Shelton North Branford Portland Wethersfield Redding Windsor Locks TRAIL Sharon MAINTENANCE Shelton NATURE WALK Ansonia Simsbury Ansonia Bridgewater Somers Goshen Danbury Southbury Hampton Haddam Southington Hartford Hampton Stafford Lebanon New Haven Stamford Meriden Southbury Thomaston Middletown Southington Tolland Orange Stamford Torrington Southington Voluntown Trumbull Stafford 3 Connecticut’s Two New National Trails New England Trail (NET) - National Scenic Trail This trail includes the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails in Connecticut (CT) and the Metacomet- Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts (MA) and is the first new National Scenic Trail designation in 25 years! The trail winds over 200 miles of rugged, clas- sic New England landscape, including traprock ridges, forests, and waterways on state, municipal, and private lands. It connects 39 communities and gives outdoor access to nearly 2 million people that live within 10 miles of its route. The trail is jointly managed by the National Park Service (NPS), Connecticut Forest & Park Associa- tion (CFPA), and Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). Celebrate Trails Day by attending one of the events held on this new National Scenic Trail. To learn more about the NET, visit www.newenglandtrail.org. Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) - National Historic Trail This route encompasses 600 miles of history, winding from Newport, Rhode Island through Connecticut and 8 other states to Yorktown, Virginia. It honors the Franco-American alliance and the efforts of Generals George Washington and Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau to preserve that alliance as we struggled for our Independence. Many organizations, including the National Park Service (NPS) and state, town, and historical groups, helped to establish the route and continue to develop its management plan. Step back in history, and take part in one of the W3R events that is scheduled for Trails Day 2010. To learn more about the W3R, visit www.w3r-us.org. 4 8 Ways to Prepare for a Fun Trails Day Outing Choose the right event for you. Long-distance hikes are great for those who exercise daily, while short, flat 1 adventures are better for less active individuals and/or young children. Be sure to match your physical condition with an appropriate outing. Follow the leader. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the event to touch base with the leader and sign in. 2 Inform the leader if you have any medical conditions (allergies, etc.) that might become an issue while you are out. Always stay with the leader and group. Wear suitable shoes and clothing. Above-ankle boots (or sturdy shoes) and socks are recommended for most 3 events. Avoid high heels, flip-flops, and other loose slip-on footwear. Bike participants must wear an approved hel- met. Paddle participants must wear an approved personal flotation device. Bring plenty of water and a snack. Hydrate well before long outings and don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. 4 High-energy snacks are always good to have on hand or pack a lunch. Protect yourself. Sunscreen is important, as well as a hat and sunglasses on a sunny day. Bringing an insect 5 repellent of your choice is also a good idea. Carry a cell phone for emergencies, but leave it off. Always check yourself for ticks after outdoor activities. Remember you will be outdoors. Try to use a restroom before an outing. Depending on location, bathroom facili- 6 ties might not be available—come prepared for the woods. Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in. Respect private property, stay on the trails, and obey all rules. Be 7 a good steward; do not leave rubbish, start fires, or injure vegetation. Ask questions. If you have any questions prior to the outing, contact the event leader or coordinator at the 8 e-mail address or phone number provided in the event description. By attending Connecticut Trails Day events I confirm that I have read and understand the event description(s). I verify that I, and any minor children accompanying me, are physically able to participate. I release the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) from any liability that may arise from our participation in Connecticut Trails Day events. 5 _______________________________________________ICoN KEy Difficulty l Easy (Mostly level terrain with a likeliness to encoun- ter few, if any, obstacles) n Moderate (Gently rising terrain with a likeliness to encounter occasional obstacles) u Challenging (Steep terrain with a likeliness to en- counter periodic obstacles) _______________________________________________ Families Leashed Dogs Permitted Universal