Upcoming Events

Great Hollow is teaming up with the Naromi Land Trust and Connecticut Audubon Society to lead a snowshoeing exploration of Deer Pond Farm in Sherman. If we get skunked and there's no snow, we'll simply turn the program into a guided hike! This is a family-friendly event that is open to all levels, including beginners. Come learn about each of these conservation organizations and how to enjoy the outdoors in winter. Registration with Connecticut Audubon is required in advance of…

Join us for this introduction to macro-photography workshop by professional nature photographer and writer, Jeremy Wolff. Mr. Wolff creates stunning macro images of nature with a point-and-shoot camera and standard iPhoto software. In this workshop he will share his methods for using the camera to see beyond what the naked eye can see. The workshop will begin in the field, looking for subjects and taking pictures. Then we will spend some time indoors reviewing these images on a computer and…

Come down to Great Hollow to learn how to make beautiful pieces of jewelry out of materials right from the recycling bin! We’ll learn how to turn cans, bottles, magazines, cardboard, containers, and other recycled materials into cool pieces of wearable art. Jewelry-making supplies (clasps, beads, hooks, tools, etc.) will be provided, along with the contents of our recycling bin. Parents, this is a drop-off program, open to children ages 9-16. $10/child for members; $15/child for non-members. Please email our…

Calling all kids who love to play outside! Great Hollow’s newly formed nature playgroup will run on the second and fourth Saturday mornings in February and March (see dates below). Research has shown that outdoor play boosts the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of children, and is a top factor in establishing life-long conservation values. Each session will be spent almost entirely outdoors on our 825-acre nature preserve, where children will engage in environmental education games and activities, and…

Identifying trees by their leaves can be easy, but how do you tell one species from another during the 6 months that trees in Connecticut have no leaves? Come down to Great Hollow on Sunday, February 9th when our naturalist, John Foley, will teach some basic skills for identifying trees during the winter by  looking at subtle details in their bark and branch structure. There will also be a discussion of the many emerging diseases that trees in our region…

Do you love being outside, having adventures, and learning about nature? Do you want to hang out with other kids who love those things too? If so, Great Hollow’s Kids' Nature Club is for you! Our first meeting will be spent getting to know each other, decorating our nature journals and making pouches for them, learning the basics of nature journaling, coming up with a club name, and discussing the things we want to do as a club. The activities…

Calling all scientists! Spend the evening completing increasingly complex STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) challenges related to the natural world. We’ll learn and then practice the scientific method and engineering design process as we tackle challenges such as building a bird nest that can protect a falling egg; designing and building a stick tower that can hold a fist-sized rock on top; or designing a shelter to protect a UV-sensitive animal from light. We will be outside about a…