ardship. At this forum, you will hear a short presentation, MARCH 20 meet local landowners, engage with conservation ex- perts, and share knowledge with your neighbors. Curious A Special “Vernal Equinox” TLGV Member Hike: 11:30 about growing mushrooms? Backyard sugaring? What am – 1 pm. Join us for a special Vernal Equinox hike at your neighbors are up to? Don’t miss out! Beverages and West Thompson Dam as we celebrate the Vernal Equinox snacks will be served! Please RSVP: bbernard@ctwood- and first day of Spring 2018 at 12:15 pm. We’ll meet up lands.org. For more information, contact Beth Bernard, at the US ARMY Corps of Engineers parking lot on West Program Director at Goodwin Conservation Center: 860 Thompson road adjacent to the dam. From there we’ll 455-9534. hike the Ramsdell Woods Trail to the West Shelter. At the • Sponsored by Connecticut Forest & Park Association, DT shelter we’ll enjoy lunch and the first moments of Spring Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, and the 2018. From there we’ll hike back the Shoreline Road and Friends of Goodwin Forest enjoy the views of beautiful West Thompson Lake. The hike is just over 2 miles round trip. Bring a bag lunch and TLGV will pack in cider and cookies for all to enjoy. • Registration required. Call Chief Ranger Bill Reid at 860- MARCH 23 774-3300 or via e-mail at [email protected] • Sponsored by The Last Green Valley Bark ID for Goodwin Trees: 3:30 -5:30 pm, James L. • Moderate; 2 miles, leashed dogs only Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Ever wanted Woods Forum: 6:30 – 8 pm, Good- to learn how to identify a tree by win Conservation Center, 23 Potter Check Often for the bark and not by the leaves? Join Rd., Hampton, CT. Please join CFPA Master Naturalist Caroline Driscoll as we bring together Connecticut Updates on our as you learn all about bark. Learn woodland owners and conservation about how it’s made, why it’s so professionals to share information website: important, and what it does for the and experiences and create an tree. You will get to go outside and informal, local network of contacts thelastgreenvalley.org identify a few trees of your own. to help provide support for healthy Caroline Driscoll has served on the woodland management and stew- CFPA Board of Directors since 2005. Spring Outdoors is a program of The Last Green Valley and is made possible with the help our partners and members! 203B Main Street (2nd Floor), P.O. Box 29, Danielson, CT 06239-0029 P.O. Box 186, Southbridge, MA 01550 860-779-3300 Spring Outdoors 2018 She has taught at both preschool and college levels. Her • For Information, call Jsaper Sha at 860-455-9534 or email love of the outdoors and teaching led to a position at the [email protected] or visit http://www.friendsofgoodwinfor- Connecticut College Arboretum where she continues to est.org/current-programs.html consult while she works toward a certificate in horticul- tural illustration at the New York Botanical Garden and her Youth Series: Discover Goodwin Forest-Lichen: 1 to 3 Master Naturalist certification at the Goodwin Conserva- p.m., James L. Goodwin Conservation Center, 23 Potter tion Center. Road, Hampton. Join Master Naturalist Lynn Kochiss and • For Information, call Jasper Sha at 860-455-9534 or email guest Master Naturalist Regan Stacey as we explore the [email protected] or visit http://www.friendsofgoodwinfor- wonderful world of lichen! Come discover the patches est.org/current-programs.html of green that grow on trees and rocks, the beards that hang from branches, and the soft pillows tucked along stone walls. A talk and touch session will introduce the MARCH 24 three basic kinds of lichen you can find among our forests. Candlewood Ridge Trail Building: 10 am to noon, Larch- We’ll then take a discovery walk to find as many as we mont Terrace, Groton, CT. Family friendly trail building can! Regan Stacey is a participant in the Master Naturalist work party to enhance a half mile section of trail crossing II Program at Goodwin Forest. She is a practicing artist rugged terrain by removing new growth and building who holds a B.S. in biology, an M.F.A in visual studies, and brush pikes to improve habitat. Hand tools and light pow- is a self-proclaimed forest whisperer. Lynn Kochiss is an er tools will be provided. Organizations, service and youth environmental educator who has been a CFPA volunteer group welcome. Free event. since 2007. She is a certified elementary teacher, a Project • Please register at: 860 536-9811 or dsmith0705@sbcglobal. Learning Tree Facilitator, and a Master Naturalist. Lynn net was recognized as a National PLT Outstanding Educator in • Sponsored by Groton Open Space Association, www.gosa- 2013 for her work in environmental education. online.org • All children must be accompanied by an adult for this • Moderate; .5 mile, NO dogs please program. • Registration is Required Gardener’s Roundtable: 10 – 11:30 a.m., James L. Good- • For Information, call Jasper Sha at 860-455-9534 or email win Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. This [email protected] or visit http://www.friendsofgoodwinfor- workshop is intended for gardeners of all experience est.org/current-programs.html levels. We share best practices and pitfalls for gardening in eastern Connecticut. These monthly workshops cover a wide-range of topics, so please come with your questions, MARCH 25 your expertise, and your own stories of success and failure in your gardens. The Last Green Valley’s Acorn Adventure: Treasure Hunting on the Trails; 1 -3 p.m., Camp Laurel, 175 Club- house Road, Lebanon CT. The Last Green Valley is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut to hold a letterbox- ing Acorn Adventure. Do you like to be outside? Do you like to search for treasure? Letterboxing is a family-friend- ly hobby that gets you outside to follow the clues and find the treasure, a hand-carved stamp that you can add to your personal log book. Acorn Adventurers will get an introduction to letterboxing and their own letterboxing kits, which will include a starter logbook, an inkpad and the chance to make a personal stamp. The group will then hike the trails of Camp Laurel, following the clues to find a series of four letterboxes. The program is open to all kids and their families. To learn more about letterboxing, visit www.letterboxing.org. Spring Outdoors is a program of The Last Green Valley and is made possible with the help our partners and members! 203B Main Street (2nd Floor), P.O. Box 29, Danielson, CT 06239-0029 P.O. Box 186, Southbridge, MA 01550 860-779-3300 Spring Outdoors 2018 • Please register by calling Fran at 860-774-3300, email fran@ Brook, plus some scenic vistas and a historic farm. tlgv.org or message us through facebook. Registering will Planned for March before the leaves pop out on trees, ensure we have enough materials for everyone! the stone ruins of old mills are more visible. Join bus tour • Primary leader: Kim McLean guides from Killingly Conservation Commission to learn how Killingly developed during the Industrial Revolution Buffumville Dam Tour: 1 – 2 pm, Buffumville Dam, 48 Old and how some mills have been repurposed. Oxford Rd., Charlton, MA. Would you like to know why the • Limited seating; reservations are required by March 21, with lake is lower in the winter months? Have you ever won- name, phone and number attending, and find out where to dered what the Park Rangers do in the winter and in other meet. Call 860-779-5311 or email [email protected] seasons? Do you like to learn about weather and perhaps learn a little about flood water storage and protection? Then join Park Ranger Jamie to learn all about it. Meet MARCH 30 at the gate house doors (48 Old Oxford Road, Charlton) for an exclusive tour, inside and out. Rain or shine. Please The Art of the Sit Spot: 4 to 5:30 p.m., James L. Goodwin Note: There are many stairs within the tour. Questions? Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton. Join Beth 508-248-5697. Free tour. Bernard, Program Director at the James L. Goodwin Con- • Sponsored by: US Army Corps of Engineers http://www.nae. servation Center in a unique journey to discover the lost usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Buffumville-Lake/ art of the sit spot. This observation tool increases aware- • Moderate; restrooms nearby, especially for families with ness, calms the body and mind, and opens up a world of children; NO dogs please awesome nature sightings! We will be taking a short hike and participating in exercises that awaken our senses. New Bus Tour -- “Mills and Beyond”: 1 p.m., Killingly During our sit spot, we will stay in one spot and let nature Conservation Commission is offering a new event in its come to us. Be dressed for the weather and bring a small ‘Back Roads of Undiscovered Killingly’ series.This Back mat or towel to sit on if you desire. Age 12-adult. Roads Tour will focus on the mills along the Whetstone Spring Outdoors is a program of The Last Green Valley and is made possible with the help our partners and members! 203B Main Street (2nd Floor), P.O. Box 29, Danielson, CT 06239-0029 P.O. Box 186, Southbridge, MA 01550 860-779-3300 Spring Outdoors 2018 • For Information, call Jasper Sha at 860-455-9534 or email • Please RSVP to Chief Ranger Bill Reid at [email protected] or call [email protected] or visit http://www.friendsofgoodwinfor- 860 774-3300.