May 2022

Saturday, May 14, 10:00 am. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) talk and beetle release.
We will meet at the Nature Museum off of Greenwoods Road in Peoples State Forest. The museum is about .2 miles from East River Road. HWA has been a serious exotic pest of eastern hemlocks in Connecticut since 1985.  Connecticut’s main strategy for managing HWA utilizes biological control with the adelgid’s native natural predator, a tiny ladybeetle from Japan. Since 1995, >200, 000 have been released throughout Connecticut to protect our hemlocks. Come visit with Dr. Carole Cheah, Research Entomologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and learn about the HWA and help release “the good beetle”! Dr. Cheah is the leading scientist and expert on HWA. No pre-registration. Free and open to all.

Saturday, May 21, Learn to Bird hike.  Begins at 7:00 am.
A great time of the year to see and learn about local and migratory birds.  Bring Binoculars!!!  NOTE the 7:00 am time.  Registration is required and we will limit the number of participants.  Contact us at ctfalps@gmail.com  if you are interested.

June 2022

Saturday, June 4th, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. National Trails Day Hike with Erik and Helen Ann Landgraf.
Join us for a moderate hike along multiple trails in People’s State Forest by rushing streams and through towering pine trees.  There are two overlooks of the Farmington River Valley and two remarkable boardwalks. One stretches 240 feet ending on an observation platform overlooking a beaver meadow/swamp. The second boardwalk meanders over 800 feet thru a Red Maple/Alder tree swamp. We will make multiple stops to describe People’s State Forest’s beauty and history.

From the junction of routes 318/181 in Pleasant Valley near bridge, travel north on East River Road.08 miles to Greenwood Road. Take a right onto Greenwood Road for about 1000 feet to the nature museum parking lot.

July 2022

Coming

FALPS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Past Events

  • Wildflower hike/ walk
  • 7th Annual Barkhamsted Earth Day Nature Festival, Matthies Grove Pavilion, Peoples State Forest
  • 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!