Events & Programs

 

Join expert ornithologist Olaf Soltau and Steep Rock Association (SRA) for a morning of birding, reaping the benefits of Olaf’s tutelage through the varied habitats in Macricostas Preserve.

This conserved land supports tremendous biodiversity, especially within its avian community, which our group will be sure to witness firsthand.

The program will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 8:00AM – 10:00AM and begin at the main Macricostas Preserve parking lot located at 124 Christian Street, New Preston, CT. Participants should be prepared for a 2^3/4-mile hike over level terrain. Please bring water and binoculars. All ages and levels of experience are welcome.

Registration is required, space is limited, and COVID-19 safety protocols (social distancing and mask wearing) will be practiced.

PROGRAM LEADER:  Olaf's passion for birds began in Litchfield County, CT, nearly 20 years ago. His travels in search of rare birds have taken him across six continents and his life list is approaching 5,000, half of the world's bird species. Back home, Olaf especially enjoys introducing novices both young and old to the fascinating world of birds. He has studied bird biology at Cornell University and is an active member of organizations such as National Audubon Society, Linnaean Society of New York, and The Explorers Club.      

Enjoy an evening with fellow gardeners weeding the vegetables in Judea Garden, then enjoy a glass of wine on us! Judea Garden, The Giving Garden, grows and distributes organically grown produce to our neighbors in need.  Now in our 13th season, we have helped fill plates and bellies with over 40,000 pounds of fresh vegetables.  This could not have happened without our volunteers. Please register and complete the 2021 volunteer registration form (if you haven’t done it yet).  Contact Denise Arturi (denise.arturi@steeprockassoc.org) with any questions. Safety protocols including masks and social distancing will be in place.

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October.

Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love.

The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event.

Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced.

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network.

Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation.

Saturday, June 19, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Project: This month, we will be building a new trail at Johnson Farm Preserve, SRA's newest nature preserve that is open to the public.
Location: 37 West Mountain Road #2, Washington, CT (NOTE: GPS address is approximate, follow event signs from Route 47/Woodbury Rd to small parking area at Johnson Farm Preserve).

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October.

Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love.

The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event.

Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced.

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network.

Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation.

 

Saturday, July 17, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Project: Additional project details will be posted here by July 3.
Location: TBD

 

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October.

Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love.

The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event.

Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced.

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network.

Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation.

Saturday, August 21, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Project: Additional project details will be posted here by August 7.
Location: TBD

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October.

Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love.

The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event.

Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced.

PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network.

Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation.

 

Saturday, September 18, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Project: Additional project details will be posted here by September 4.
Location: TBD

 

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October. Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love. The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event. Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced. PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network. Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation. Saturday, October 16, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM Project: Additional project details will be posted here by October 2. Location: TBD

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

  SRA invites you to scramble through the remote corners of Washington and explore the landscape in a truly unique way. Did you know that SRA has over 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. If you have ever driven the roads of Washington and wondered what lay beyond those yellow “Steep Rock Preserve” property signs, now is your chance to find out.   We will start each day at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and light refreshments during an indoor 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 indoor training to share your experiences and enjoy a complimentary lunch as a thank you for your time and efforts.  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. PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network.   Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation.

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 10:00 a.m. the third Saturday of every month from April through October. Have you ever wondered how trail workers build stone steps through remote forested hillsides or boardwalks that meander through swamps? 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. Whether you participate for one workday or for the entire season, you are sure to enjoy the camaraderie of the group while leaving a lasting, positive impact on the trails you love. The work party meets the third Saturday of every month from April through October from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. Tools and equipment provided. Wear/bring close-toed shoes, a mask, long pants, seasonally appropriate clothing, and a re-usable water bottle. Some hiking to the varying worksites will be necessary.  The monthly work party project will be posted on the SRA website two weeks prior to the event. Families with teens and older children are welcome, but an adult must accompany and participate with children under 16 years of age. Registration is required and limited to 15 participants. CDC protocols regarding mask wearing and social distancing will be enforced. PROGRAM LEADERS: Mike Giapponi, SRA’s Trails and Preserves Manager, will lead the program. Mike leads volunteers in various conservation projects, including the maintenance of SRA’s 46-mile trail network. Steep Rock Association is a nationally-accredited land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes and riparian corridors in and around Washington CT and to enhance the community’s connection to nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation. Saturday, November 20, 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM Project: Additional project details will be posted here by November 6. Location: TBD