Monthly e-Newsletters
VISTA
VISTA Fall 2024
As autumn unfolds, the fields and forests across Steep Rock’s preserves are bursting with vibrant colors, a stunning reminder of nature’s beauty. While many species are winding down for the season, our team is reflecting on a productive summer and gearing up for a busy fall, with exciting plans for 2025. In this edition of VISTA, we’re thrilled to share news about a significant land acquisition for the Macricostas Preserve Expansion Plan, updates on our new trail system in Hidden Valley Preserve, and enhancements at Johnson Farm. We also highlight the passion and dedication of trustees, donors, and volunteers, whose
VISTA Summer 2024
Spring is a bustling time at Steep Rock Association. We are hard at work laying out new trails, cleaning up winter debris in our preserves, conducting species surveys, sowing seeds in Judea Garden, and planning a summer full of fun and engaging activities for you. In this issue of VISTA , we’re pleased to share our progress on completing the Camp House Education Center and Natural History Museum, offer a volunteer’s perspective on building the stone steps on Meeker Trail in Macricostas Preserve, raise your awareness about new invasive species we’re trying to eliminate in Steep Rock Preserve, and reveal
VISTA Summer 2023
In this VISTA, we take you “behind the scenes” of our land trust, offering you a glimpse of the day-today activities and long-term work involved in protecting and stewarding the lands you love. From acquiring critical conservation lands to stewarding our forests and waterways and ensuring high quality hiking trails for your outdoor enjoyment, Steep Rock has been a leader in conservation of the Litchfield Hills for nearly 100 years. This year we are celebrating Judea Garden’s 15th growing season with a full slate of activities. We’re also recognizing some of our Trustees and volunteers for their impact and contributions
VISTA Summer 2022
What’s in this issue: Steep Rock preserves overview; Climate change, big picture; Hillside on the horizon; Events; You impact; and Conservation, Climate, and Community. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2022
VISTA Summer 2017
What’s in this Issue: National Recognition Earned; A generous spirit, Estelle Bronson; Notes from the field, All about bats; Donor spotlight, Eliot Johnson; Farm life, Agronomy through the Ages; News & Notices; From the Garden, Eagle Scout project; and Nest Watcher volunteers. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2017
VISTA Spring 2016
What’s in this Issue: The Valley Station Bridge; Note from Executive Director, Lori Paradis Brant; Notes from the field, Land Management and Stewardship; Meet the team; Explorations in Nature events; In the Garden, Summer Intership; and Land Trust accreditation. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2016
VISTA Winter 2015
What’s in this Issue: A year of bridges, Hauser Bridge, Reich Bridge, and Thoreau Bridge; Return on your Steep Rock Investment; New Board Leadership; Judea Garden Growing; Explorations in Nature Events; Managing Biodiversity, inventory; and Steep Rock Honey. Read this issue: VISTA Winter 2015
VISTA Summer 2015
What’s in this Issue: Vernal pools; Steep Rock Vision; New Trustees; Students lead Judea Garden; Explorations in Nature events; Reich Bridge reopens; and The Van Sinderen family and Hidden Valley. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2015
VISTA Winter 2014
What’s in this Issue: Partnerships and Land Preservation; New staff; Protecting the Nettleton Hollow Area; Future plans; Explorations in Nature events; Hiking routes interrupted by Shepaug River; Steep Rock Tunnel study; and Trail maintenance. Read this issue: VISTA Winter 2014
VISTA Winter 2013
What’s in this Issue: Conservation leaders, Merrell (Ted) Clark and Robert (Bob) deCourcy; Improve trail safety; Explorations in nature events; and Reflection from Executive Director. Read this issue: VISTA Winter 2013
VISTA Summer 2013
What’s in this Issue: From the Executive Director, Respecting rules; Explorations in nature events; Pets and wildlife; Save the Date, Annual Picnic; and New Trail maps. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2013
VISTA Summer 2012
What’s in this Issue: Critical habitats; From the Executive Director, Learning in Nature; Explorations in nature events; Goshawks return; and Volunteers wanted. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2012
VISTA Winter 2012
What’s in this Issue: Land preservation accomplishments; Steep Rock and Kirsten Peckerman honored; Donor dollars, Conservation work; New volunteer coordinator; and Conservation easement monitoring enhancements. Read this issue: VISTA Winter 2012
VISTA Summer 2011
What’s in this Issue: Bronson Farmland; Meet the staff; Conservation easement donations; Pedestrian bridge; and Replacing the highway. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2011
VISTA Spring 2010
What’s in this Issue: Dogs at Macricostas; Asian longhorned beetle; Land trust alliance; Dig at Macricostas; and Goshawks this spring. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2010
VISTA Fall 2009
What’s in this Issue: Judea Garden at Macricostas; Steep Rock challenge: Landscape your yard for Wildlife; Native plants; Steep Rock Members; Shepaug River; Montessori students volunteer; and New Trustees, Waddy Davidson, Larry Gendron, and Eliot Johnson. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2009
VISTA Spring 2009
What’s in this Issue: Steep Rock challenge; Goshawks this spring; Shepaug River; Member hikes; Taft community service day; and New trail additions. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2009
VISTA Fall 2008
What’s in this Issue: New President of the Board; Shepaug River updates; Purple Loosestrife weed; Steep Rock Members; Conservation Easements; Eagle Scouts at Macricostas; Steep Rock challenge; Nesting Hidden Valley; and Northwest Corner Land Trusts Convene. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2008
VISTA Spring 2008
What’s in this Issue: Hidden Valley goshawks; Steep Rock challenge; Shepaug River updates; American Woodcock at Macricostas; Trail preservation; and Garden club & Macricostas. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2008
VISTA Fall 2007
What’s in this Issue: Changes on the Board of Trustees; Macricostas fields & invasive species; Steep Rock Members; Steep Rock challenge; Small Habitats; Monarch tagging day; Plans for Middle field; and Washington horse show. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2007
VISTA Spring 2007
What’s in this Issue: Stephen C. Reich bridge dedication; Washington horse show; Macricostas bird walk; Staff changes; Butterfly garden; Steep Rock won an award; and Conservation tax incentives. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2007
VISTA Fall 2006
What’s in this Issue: Conservation tax incentives; Trustees Elected; Salamanders in love; Steep Rock Members; Gifts of Land & Easements 2005; Annual Membership Drive; and CT Land Conservation Council. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2006
VISTA Summer 2006
What’s in this Issue: Changes at Macricostas; Hidden Valley Memorial Bridge; White pines; and Shepaug River. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2006
VISTA Spring 2006
What’s in this Issue: 2005 Preservation year in review; FAQs; Goshawk Reminder; Educational Trail at Macricostas; Stewardship report; Maps; and Fragile Trails. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2006
VISTA Fall 2005
What’s in this Issue: Hidden Valley bridge lost; Hidden Valley harvest planned; Vinnie Forese retires; Steep Rock Members; New Trustees; Annual Membership Drive; Taft girls volunteer; and Macricostas maps. Read the issue: VISTA Fall 2005
VISTA Spring 2005
What’s in this Issue: Settlement in Shepaug River Litigation, The River Wins; Land preservation, Washington’s land trust; Hemlock Recovery; Steep Rock and Hidden Valley; Goshawks; and Trail preservation. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2005
VISTA Fall 2004
What’s in this Issue: Eagle Scout Project; Plant Invasions; New Trustees; Steep Rock Members; and Task force to preserve farmland. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2004
VISTA Fall 2003
What’s in this Issue: Trails Assistant’s Progress; Migratory bird survey; Macricostas Updates (Yale’s Management plan & more); Steep Rock Members; Giant Hogweed Update; Archive; Trail Maps; New Trustees; and New logo and website. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2003
VISTA Fall 2002
What’s in this Issue: New Trustees; Steep Rock was gifted a house; FAQs: and Steep Rock Members. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 2002
VISTA Spring 2002
What’s in this Issue: Leash law; Illegal ATVs damage trails; FAQs; Macricostas Preserve updates; and Hemlocks doing well (Adelgid Declines). Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2002
VISTA Summer 2001
What’s in this Issue: Meeker Swamp to Macricostas Preserve; Shepaug River; Local Farmers and Macricostas; Trail stewardship; New Trustees; New Steep Rock President; and Dog problems. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2001
VISTA Spring 2001
What’s in this Issue: Presidents’ Trail Dedicated; Shepaug River Lawsuit updates; Seventy five years of Steep Rock book; Meeker Swamp update; and Reminders. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2001
VISTA Summer 2000
What’s in this Issue: New Trustees; 75th Birthday Party for Former Trustee; 10 year Stewardship program; and FAQs. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 2000
VISTA Spring 2000
What’s in this Issue: Happy 75th Birthday Steep Rock; Victory for Shepaug River; Washington horse show; Goshawk season; Membership Drive; Photo search; Spring Thaw; and Meeker Swamp Acquisition. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 2000
VISTA Spring 1999
What’s in this Issue: Letter from the President; Hemlock wooly adelgid; Hidden Valley bridge repair; FAQs; Conservation easement; Eagle Scout project at Steep Rock; Goshawk followup; Trail closed to mountain bikes and horses; and Shepaug River Case. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 1999
VISTA Summer 1999
What’s in this Issue: George D. Ward; New trustees; Dogs; Shepaug student volunteer; and Steep Rock closure. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1999
VISTA Summer 1998
What’s in this Issue: Walter S. Logan Wetlands given to Steep Rock; New Trustees; Town conservation activities; Steep Rock’s land preservation committee; Goshawks gone?; and Shepaug River battle, Trial date set. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1998
VISTA Spring 1998
What’s in this Issue: Wooly Adelgid in Steep Rock; Spring thaw closing trails to horses and mountain bikes; Trail closed for Goshawk: First stewardship project completed; Annual Membership Drive; River Association on the Shepaug Talk Show. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 1998
VISTA Summer 1997
What’s in this Issue: Shepaug River updates; Summer intern; New Trustees; Senior Project: Steep Rock brochure; Washington Webolo Scouts; Waramaug Rock protected by easement; and New booklet available. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1997
VISTA Special Edition 1997
What’s in this Issue: Reservation closed for spring thaw; Stewardship program begun, sponsored by UCONN Cooperative Extension System, the CT DEP Division of Forestry, and the US Department of Agricultural; Restrictions on mountain bikes and horses. Read this issue: VISTA Special Edition 1997
VISTA Summer 1996
What’s in this Issue: George Ward retires; John Millington elected president; Shepaug’s 6th grade and Steep Rock; Gunnery work day; 4th of July Run/Walk; Summer intern; Shepaug Senior project; New Trustees; Shepaug river task force; and Washington horse show Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1996
VISTA Spring 1995
What’s in this Issue: Land Exchange; Steep Rock and Washington; Annual Fund Drive; Bird walk booklets; Washington horse show; New signs for Steep Rock and Hidden Valley; New Trustees; FAQs; and Wooly Adelgid Infestation. Read this issue: VISTA Spring 1995
VISTA Summer 1994
What’s in this Issue: Carter gives 160 acre preserve; Steep Rock crossquiz; Gift planning: A living legacy; Look for the logo; Washington horse show; and New Trustees. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1994
VISTA Summer 1993
What’s in this Issue: Steep Rock preserved; Mountain bikes; New Trustees; Shepaug River; Fauna of Steep Rock; Reforestation program; and Horse show. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1993
VISTA Summer 1992
What’s in this Issue: How to give land to Steep Rock; Land preservation committee; Preserve monitoring initiated; and New Trustees. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1992
VISTA Summer 1991
What’s in this Issue: Hauser Footbridge; Solutions to Hemlock Scale Infestation; Riding Ring; Micheal Harwood Bird walk; Updates; One new Summer Intern; and Steep Rock habitat. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1991
VISTA Summer 1990
What’s in this Issue: Dedication to Micheal Harwood; Miss Helen Schwarz deeds property to Steep Rock; Insect infestation (Hemlock Scale); New Board Members Elected; New Footbridge; Appointing the Executive Director; Two new Summer Interns; and Additions to Jones Bird walk. Read this issue: VISTA Summer 1990
VISTA Winter 1989
What’s in this Issue: Land easement to Steep Rock; Saving land and taxes; Still fishing over fishing; A little surprise from “Modern Maturity”; The forest needs constant tending; Birds in Steep Rock; Horse trails; and Summer interns. Read this issue: VISTA Winter 1989
VISTA Fall 1987
What’s in this Issue: Letter from SRA’s President; Hidden Valley Footbridge; Harvesting Red Pines; Working on Steep Rock parking; Gunnery students help with trail maintenance; Insect Invader (Hemlock Woolly Adelgid); Gifting Land; and Four new interns. Read this issue: VISTA Fall 1987
