Events & Programs

Invite family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to take the Three Peaks Challenge 2022! Strap on your trail shoes, leash up your dog, enjoy the fresh air, and take in the beauty of fall foliage while boosting your health and wellness. Between Oct. 3 - Oct. 24, hike to the three highest peaks in Steep Rock’s preserves and absorb the sights of our scenic viewsheds in autumn grandeur: the Summit at Steep Rock, the Pinnacle at Hidden Valley, and Waramaug’s Rock at Macricostas. Participants in this friendly adventure are challenged to hike all three Steep Rock peaks in three weeks and register to win prizes for participating. All ages and fitness levels are encouraged to join—there’s no better time to get outside and enjoy nature’s beauty. To be eligible for prizes, you must share photos of your hike on Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #3peaks3weeksSRA by October 30, 2022.  If your Facebook or Instagram accounts are private, we won’t be able to see your photos so please email them to info@steeprocassoc.org by October 30, 2022. Winners will be drawn in early November.

Join us at the 5th A Washington Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 9th, 2022! Admission is FREE. Kids will enjoy fire truck rides, train rides, face painting, arts & crafts, pumpkin carving, games, and “Where’s Waldo” Scarecrow Hunt. For adults: Craft beer mobile pub, wine tastings by Hopkins Vineyard & Spring Hill Vineyards, Bourbon tasting by Litchfield Distillery, local food trucks, antique tractor display, and live music. And don’t miss the Scarecrow Contest. Click HERE for more information. Organized by Washington Business Association and Washington Parks and Recreation.     

Enjoy the spectacular fall colors at Johnson Farm Preserve. Join SRA’s Executive Director for a walk around Johnson Farm Preserve and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of autumn across the landscape.

Put your hands (and not just your boots) on the trails this hiking season by joining Steep Rock Association’s (SRA) Monthly Trail Work Party. The Monthly Trail Work Party meets at 9:30 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October. Participants in SRA’s monthly trail work party learn by doing, tackling new and exciting projects every month, ranging from backcountry trail construction to water and vegetation management. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary. Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Project: We will be continuing work on a trail expansion project at Macricostas Preserve. Note that participants will need to hike over 1 mile through steep terrain in order to reach the worksite. Location: Macricostas Preserve (124 Christian St. New Preston, CT 06777)

Join us for a fun day volunteering at Judea Garden as we wind down this year's season. Clean away plant debris, prep garden beds and plant seeds that will greet us early next spring! Volunteers welcome Saturday 9am-12pm, Sunday 12pm-3pm, or both days! Saturday, Oct. 22, 9:00AM - 12:00PM & Sunday, Oct. 23, 12:00PM - 3:00PM Location: Judea Garden at Macricostas Preserve, 124 Christian St., New Preston

Don't miss this opportunity to hear activists and leaders discuss Washington DC's environmental logjam and spurring climate action. As climate change moves from an imminent peril to a deadly reality for vast swaths of the country, a panel of nationally recognized groundbreakers will discuss the gaping dichotomy between what scientists say needs to be done to moderate an impending disaster and the political reality of what is possible. On October 30, SRA is co-presenting a program on the climate crisis with the PBS show Common Ground with Jane Whitney, where panelists will discuss the dichotomy between what scientists say needs to be done to moderate an impending disaster and the political reality of what is possible. We invite you to join us in person or virtually. Register HERE for FREE using promo code CLIMATE 22.

 

Preserve monitors walk the boundaries of a Steep Rock Association nature preserve in 2019.  
Photo credit: Katie at m3mediapro.com

  Did you know that SRA has nearly 30 preserves scattered throughout town? These preserves range from wetlands to mixed hardwood forest; some are old apple orchards while old growth forests and glacial boulder fields dominate others. The one thing they all have in common is that SRA must walk their boundaries annually, monitoring the preserves for ecosystem health, signs of trespass, and presence of wildlife. This fall, we ask for your help. We will start each day at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and light refreshments during a training, which will take place at the Steep Rock House (116 Christian St. New Preston, CT). Learn how to use your smartphone as a GPS, what to look for as you walk the preserves, and how to mark and record your findings.  Bring a friend or we will match you with a partner, and then drive out to your assigned preserve to begin the outdoor monitoring. After walking the boundaries and recording any findings, meet back at the site of the training to share your experiences and enjoy a complimentary lunch as a thank you for your time and efforts. Participants are welcome to join for one or both days of the program. Terrain and hiking difficulty vary widely. Participants will have the option to register for easy, intermediate, or difficult routes. Easier routes consist of hikes totaling approximately 45 minutes or less through flatter terrain while more difficult routes demand hiking over 2 hours through steeper areas. Please note that in all of the preserves, some degree of bushwhacking will be necessary. Participants should wear/bring sturdy waterproof boots, thick pants, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen, bug spray, a water bottle, and cell phone if you have one. An adult must accompany children under 16.  Registration is required.  

 

Preserve monitors walk the boundaries of a Steep Rock Association nature preserve in 2019.  
Photo credit: Katie at m3mediapro.com

  Did you know that SRA has nearly 30 preserves scattered throughout town? These preserves range from wetlands to mixed hardwood forest; some are old apple orchards while old growth forests and glacial boulder fields dominate others. The one thing they all have in common is that SRA must walk their boundaries annually, monitoring the preserves for ecosystem health, signs of trespass, and presence of wildlife. This fall, we ask for your help. We will start each day at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and light refreshments during a training, which will take place at the Steep Rock House (116 Christian St. New Preston, CT). Learn how to use your smartphone as a GPS, what to look for as you walk the preserves, and how to mark and record your findings.  Bring a friend or we will match you with a partner, and then drive out to your assigned preserve to begin the outdoor monitoring. After walking the boundaries and recording any findings, meet back at the site of the training to share your experiences and enjoy a complimentary lunch as a thank you for your time and efforts. Participants are welcome to join for one or both days of the program. Terrain and hiking difficulty vary widely. Participants will have the option to register for easy, intermediate, or difficult routes. Easier routes consist of hikes totaling approximately 45 minutes or less through flatter terrain while more difficult routes demand hiking over 2 hours through steeper areas. Please note that in all of the preserves, some degree of bushwhacking will be necessary. Participants should wear/bring sturdy waterproof boots, thick pants, long-sleeved shirts, sunscreen, bug spray, a water bottle, and cell phone if you have one. An adult must accompany children under 16.  Registration is required.  

Put your hands (and not just your boots) on the trails this hiking season by joining Steep Rock Association’s (SRA) Monthly Trail Work Party. The Monthly Trail Work Party meets at 9:30 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October. Participants in SRA’s monthly trail work party learn by doing, tackling new and exciting projects every month, ranging from backcountry trail construction to water and vegetation management. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary. Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Project: Project location and additional information will be posted here two weeks before the event. Location: TBD