Ongoing

Come join FALPS for a multi-level Hike & Seek Scavenger Hunt in American Legion and Peoples State Forests. Beginning New Year’s Day, you can download our Seek Lists, which include everything from historical spots in our forests, to types of trees, overlooks and much, much more, on our website and Facebook page. We will also e-mail the lists. There are different lists for different age levels and fun for all!

We encourage you to take pictures of your finds, then send the completed lists to ctfalps@gmail.com. Fun prizes will be awarded!

Upcoming Events

August 2021

Sunday, August 22nd, 1:30 p.m., Michelle Winkler, the Litchfield County Master Gardener Program Coordinator for the UConn College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, will have a table set up at the Pollinator Garden at Matthies Grove in Peoples State Forest and will speak, along with Erik Landgraf, FALPS Board member and architect of the garden with his wife, Helen Ann. The Master Gardener table will be set up for a few hours as well that afternoon.

Sunday, August 29th, 1:30 p.m., Whittemore Grove, We’re very excited to have local fly fishing guide extraordinaire Zach St. Amand to conduct a fly fishing demonstration on the Wild and Scenic West Branch of the Farmington River, that runs through our forests. Zach has been fishing New England rivers for more than 20 years and fishing has always been a central part of his life. Living on the Farmington River, Zach is in constant tune with the ever-changing river and its environs. Experiencing hatches, varying water levels and environmental changes has given Zach a distinct advantage as a guide and fly tier. Zach has developed his own specialized tying formulas specifically designed to fool trout on the famed Farmington River. Time and date to be announced.

Upcoming Events

September 2021

Sunday, September 19th, FALPS’ Annual Meeting–Matthies Grove Pavilion, Peoples State Forest. Please come and see all that we’ve accomplished in the past and learn about future projects and events.

Saturday, September 25th, 9 a.m. to Noon–Join artist Dana Ehninger for a Plein Air Drawing and Painting Lesson at the Pollinator Garden at Matthies Grove in Peoples State Forest. Dana is a local artist with many years of teaching experience. Please join her in creating a personal “postcard” of the beautiful environment in our Farmington River community. Bring a chair, water and supplies to create one or more works of art. Supplies: several sheets of paper, drawing pencils, eraser, markers, colored pencils, chalk or oil pastels. Perhaps you have an easel, water colors, acrylics? An oversized book or board makes a great surface on which to draw. Dana will bring a collective bin of 2-D supplies for all to use.

Wednesday, September 29th–FALPS’ Fundraiser and Silent Auction, 4-8 p.m.–Little Red Barn Brewery, 32 Lake Street, Winsted (rain date, September 30th). Come help FALPS fund an important trail project in Peoples State Forest. A night of fun and giving with a silent auction, raffle prizes, a band and food truck. Hope to see you there!

Past Events

April 2021

Saturday, April 24, Wildflower hike/ walk, 10:00 a.m. 
We plan to visit the wild flowers along the Henry Buck Trail. We will meet at 10 a.m. at the southernmost trail head of the Henry Buck Trail on West River Road (across from the bridge abutments in the river). Park at the northern entrance to Legion Road. This is normally peak viewing time and we will identify many kinds of wildflowers along the way. Those that are interested can continue on the entire loop (about 2 miles of moderate to difficult hiking) and should return about 1 p.m. Erik Landgraf will stay on the first stretch of the trail (easy walking) from 10 a.m. to noon for anyone who wants to stop by for a short flower identification walk.

May 2021

Saturday, May 15, Learn to Bird Hike.  Begins at 7 a.m. 
It is a great time of the year to see and learn about local and migratory birds. Bring Binoculars!!!  NOTE the 7 a.m. time. Registration is required and we will limit the number of participants. E-mail us at ctfalps@gmail.com if you are interested.
 
Saturday, May 29, the Lady Slipper Ramble hike, 10:30 a.m. 
Meet at the parking area for the Nature Museum off of Greenwoods Road at 10:30 am. Lady slippers should be in full bloom. 3-mile hike, easy to moderate trails.

FALPS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

To be announced.

Past Events

  • Winter Solstice Hike
  • Join Mat Jobin for a talk on what the outdoor enthusiast you are trying to buy for really wants – or look for yourself!
  • Pre-Thanksgiving Day Hike
  • Myths and Legends – Sky Stories from Various Cultures – A presentation by the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club
  • How to Coexist with Bears in our Midst: The Facts, the Myths, the Reality
  • Maple Sugaring: Keeping it Real in New England
  • Signs in the Forest
  • Pre-Super Bowl Hike
  • Mat Jobin of “Reach Your Summit” guide service – Hike
  • First Day Hike
  • Booth at the Riverton Fair
  • Erik Landgraf and poet David Leff hike through Peoples State Forest
  • Annual Before Thanksgiving Holiday Hike
  • Make your own walking sticks with decorations to go with them
  • Friday Night at the Pavilion Civilian Conservation Corps & Youth Conservation Corps program
  • Full Moon Night Hike 
  • Group hike with Jim Starble
  • Nature Photography Workshop with Paul Edwards
  • “Learn to Bird” hike with John Weeks
  • “Vernal Pools” with James Arrigoni
  • Hike and Explore the forest from “Off the Beaten Trails” 
  • Wildflower Walk with Erik Landgraf
  • Bluebirds and monitoring Bluebird boxes with Master Wildlife Conservationist Fred Lowman
  • FALPS 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day hike with Paul“Hart to Hart”land
  • Native Vegetation Plantings for  Wildlife with DEEP Wildlife Biologist, Peter Picone
  • FALPS 2nd Annual Pre-Superbowl group hike with Ralph Scarpino
  • Winter Tree Identification with Master Naturalist, Lynn Kochiss
  • FALPS Pine Cone Ornament Craft and Holiday Nature Gift Wrapping
  • Christmas in Riverton FALPS walking stick crafting activity
  • Hawk Watch with John Weeks
  • Friday Night at the Pavilion
  • FALPS 4th Annual Meeting
  • “S’mores, Meteors and Tales”–About 10 hardy, adventurous souls turned out for our event, S’mores, Meteors and Tales, last night, Saturday, August 11th. What a blast we had learning about meteors, swapping stories and eating s’mores! Meteors, no doubt, were up there in the sky streaking by, but blocked by clouds. Thanks to Shaw from, “The Lakeville Journal” for stopping by! FALPS Friday Night at the Pavilion Civilian Conservation Corps & Youth Conservation Corps program,
  • FALPS Full Moon Night Hike 
  • Group Hike with Jim Starble
  • Nature Photography Workshop with Paul Edwards
  • “Learn to Bird” Hike with John Weeks
  • “Vernal Pools” with James Arrigoni
  • Hike and Explore the Forest from “Off the Beaten Trails” 
  • Wildflower Walk with Erik Landgraf
  • Bluebirds and monitoring Bluebird boxes with Master Wildlife Conservationist Fred Lowman
  • FALPS 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day hike with Paul “Hart to Hart”land
  • Native Vegetation Plantings for  Wildlife with DEEP Wildlife Biologist, Peter Picone
  • FALPS 2nd Annual Pre-Superbowl group hike with Ralph Scarpino
  • Winter Tree Identification with Master Naturalist, Lynn Kochiss
  • FALPS Pine Cone Ornament Craft and Holiday Nature Gift Wrapping
  • Christmas in Riverton FALPS walking stick crafting activity
  • Hawk Watch with John Weeks
  • Friday Night at the Pavilion
  • FALPS 4th Annual Meeting
  • “S’mores, Meteors and Tales”–About 10 hardy, adventurous souls turned out for our event, S’mores, Meteors and Tales, last night, Saturday, August 11th. What a blast we had learning about meteors, swapping stories and eating s’mores! Meteors, no doubt, were up there in the sky streaking by, but blocked by clouds. Thanks to Shaw from, “The Lakeville Journal” for stopping by!