Great Hollow

A Retrospective History of Haviland Hollow and Great Hollow
2016-11-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
From Walter Gordon Merritt to Solomon and Roger Haviland, the families and houses of the Hollows’ neighborhood will be traced through pictures and maps to illustrate a more than 250-year history. Some hints about the prehistoric importance of the Hollows will also be discussed. Views of the Coburn school and church, and the Benjamin Haviland house, and the ancestry of Mr. Merritt and of the Gerows of Locust Glen will be among the many items presented.

Make Your Own Bird Feeders - morning session
2016-12-04 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Help out your backyard feathered friends this winter by making your very own biodegradable bird feeders. Join us on Sunday, December 4th as we make bird food garlands and suet log feeders that you can take home and proudly display in your yard to attract cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and more. Two sessions are available, 10:00 am to 11:30 am and 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, and are limited to 10 participants each. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Suggested donation of $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased below for the 10:00 am session. Please go back to events calendar to purchase a ticket to the 2:00 pm session.
*Please note that peanut butter will be used in making portions of the feeders.

Make Your Own Bird Feeders - afternoon session
2016-12-04 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Help out your backyard feathered friends this winter by making your very own biodegradable bird feeders. Join us on Sunday, December 4th as we make bird food garlands and suet log feeders that you can take home and proudly display in your yard to attract cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and more. Two sessions are available, 10:00 am to 11:30 am and 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, and are limited to 10 participants each. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Suggested donation of $10 per person. Tickets can be purchased below for the 2 pm session. Please go back to events calendar to purchase a ticket to the 10:00 am session.
*Please note that peanut butter will be used in making portions of the feeders.

School Break Adventures: Wild Winter session, ages 6-10
2016-12-27 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something exciting and educational for your child to do during the holiday break? Sign them up for the School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! Each day-long session will provide your child with the opportunity to explore all Great Hollow has to offer. Along with indoor and outdoor activities related to the day’s theme, each session will include unstructured time for playing in the woods. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside in the cold. This is a drop-off program. For more information, please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org.
Wild Winter, for ages 6-10
Join us on Tuesday, December 27th as we explore the many adaptations that animals have for surviving the winter months. Through indoor and outdoor games, hands-on activities, and hikes in the woods, children will discover how fascinating nature in winter can be.
Register for this session below. $45 for members, $50 for non-members.

School Break Adventures: Nature Ninjas session, ages 6-10
2016-12-28 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something exciting and educational for your child to do during the holiday break? Sign them up for the School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! Each day-long session will provide your child with the opportunity to explore all Great Hollow has to offer. Along with indoor and outdoor activities related to the day’s theme, each session will include unstructured time for playing in the woods. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside in the cold. This is a drop-off program. For more information, please email our Education Coordinator, Sena at sena@greathollow.org.
Nature Ninjas, for ages 6-10
We will spend the morning learning the basics of map reading and animal tracking. In the afternoon, we will put our new skills to the test by working together to complete a scavenger hunt and solve a mystery in Great Hollow’s woods.
Register for this session below. $45 for members, $50 for non-members.

School Break Adventures: Wild Winter session, ages 8-12
2016-12-29 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something exciting and educational for your child to do during the holiday break? Sign them up for the School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! Each day-long session will provide your child with the opportunity to explore all Great Hollow has to offer. Along with indoor and outdoor activities related to the day’s theme, each session will include unstructured time for playing in the woods. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside in the cold. This is a drop-off program. For more information, please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org.
Wild Winter, for ages 8-12
Join us on Thursday, December 29th as we explore the many adaptations that animals have for surviving the winter months. Through indoor and outdoor games, hands-on activities, and hikes in the woods, children will discover how fascinating nature in winter can be.
Register for this session below. $45 for members, $50 for non-members.

School Break Adventures: Nature Ninjas session, ages 8-12
2016-12-30 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something exciting and educational for your child to do during the holiday break? Sign them up for the School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! Each day-long session will provide your child with the opportunity to explore all Great Hollow has to offer. Along with indoor and outdoor activities related to the day’s theme, each session will include unstructured time for playing in the woods. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside in the cold. This is a drop-off program. For more information, please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org.
Nature Ninjas, for ages 8-12
We will spend the morning learning the basics of map reading and animal tracking. In the afternoon, we will put our new skills to the test by working together to complete a scavenger hunt and solve a mystery in Great Hollow’s woods.
Register for this session below. $45 for members, $50 for non-members.

Winter Tree Identification
2017-01-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us from 11 to 12 pm on Sunday, January 8th for a guided hike around Great Hollow with our naturalist John Foley, who will teach some basic skills for identifying trees during the wintertime and discuss many of the emerging diseases that trees in our region now face. Dress warmly and wear appropriate footwear. Please email John at jfoley@greathollow.org by January 7th to sign up.

Owl Detectives
2017-01-21 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
What’s on an owl’s dinner menu? Find out with us on Saturday, January 21st as we dissect owl pellets and identify the indigestible remnants of an owl’s last meal! Is it poop?! No. Is it puke?! Well, sort of. In this fun and wildly popular activity, kids will sort through tiny bones, teeth, and fur to figure out what animals got nabbed by these amazing predators. Two sessions are available, from 1 to 2:30 pm and 3 to 4:30 pm, and are limited to 12 participants each. Recommended for ages 5+. Suggested donation of $10 for materials. Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org by January 20th to sign up.

Groundhog Day Weekend Hike
2017-02-04 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Any animal holiday is an excuse to set aside time for a great hike! Come join us for a naturalist-led hike exploring our trail system’s newest addition, the White Trail. The hike is moderately easy and leashed dogs are welcome. To register, please contact John at jfoley@greathollow.org

Make Your Own Pan Flute
2017-02-11 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us from 2:00-3:30 pm on Saturday, February 11th to learn how to turn the non-native invasive plant, Japanese knotweed, into something useful — a beautiful musical instrument! Children will harvest the knotweed, cut it to size, and assemble their own flutes. They may even learn a song or two! Recommended for ages 6 and up. Suggested donation of $5. Please contact our Education Coordinator, Sena at sena@greathollow.org to sign up. Space is limited to 12.

Winter Photography Walk
2017-02-18 11:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
The Great Hollow Photographers Club is hosting a winter nature photography workshop on Saturday, February 18th. Come enjoy a wintery hike to Great Hollow’s waterfall to capture scenes of nature under challenging winter conditions. We’ll start off with some classroom tips on cold weather photography and then go for a short walk – hopefully in the snow! Dress warmly, wear gloves and appropriate footwear for winter hiking, and bring a tripod if you have one. All ages and skill levels welcome. No dogs, please. Suggested donation of $5 for non-members. Email John at jfoley@greathollow.org to sign up. (photo by John Charles)

Winter Survival
2017-03-11 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us on Saturday, March 11th as we explore the many adaptations that animals (and people!) have for surviving the cold winter months. Through hands-on activities, games, and a guided hike in the woods, children will discover how fascinating nature in winter can be. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Suggested donation of $5 per child. Please contact our Education Coordinator, Sena at sena@greathollow.org to register. Space is limited to 12.

Bird Photography Presentation and Workshop
2017-03-19 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Halifax) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
The Great Hollow Photographers Club is pleased to host noted bird photographer, Dennis Larkin, who will lead a bird photography presentation and workshop that you won’t want to miss. Dennis will share camera techniques and teach everyone the secrets to taking wonderful bird photographs. Bring examples of your own bird photos for display and discussion, if you have any. All ages and skill levels welcome. Suggestion donation of $5 per person for non-members. Please email John at jfoley@greathollow.org to sign up. (Photo by Dennis Larkin)

**CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE** The Big Night - Vernal Pool Hike
2017-03-31 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Halifax) | Towner Hill Preserve, 35 CT-37, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
NOTICE: Due to weather conditions and the current status of the vernal pools, tonight’s Vernal Pool Hike has been cancelled. Please contact John at jfoley@greathollow.org to receive updates about rescheduling.

Join Great Hollow’s naturalist, John Foley, for a fun hike to a vernal pool to learn about what every naturalist knows as “The Big Night.” The date is tentative because weather conditions need to be just right (light rain with temperatures in the mid to high 40’s), but participants will almost certainly get to witness the yearly mass migration of spotted salamanders and wood frogs to their breeding pools. We will meet at the White Silo Winery in Sherman (32 Route 37) and then hike to the vernal pools at the Naromi Land Trust’s Towner Hill Preserve. The hike is somewhat steep in some sections. Please bring a flashlight or headlamp, rain gear, and sturdy boots. No dogs, please. Reserve a space and sign up to receive updates about the date and time by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org. Suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members of Great Hollow or Naromi Land Trust.

Spring Break - Aquatic Investigations, for ages 6-10
2017-04-10 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something fun and educational for your child to do over the spring break? Sign them up for a School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! In our Aquatic Investigations session, students will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and their feet wet as they explore Great Hollow’s streams looking for signs of life. Through hands-on activities and games, students will learn how to identify a variety of stream organisms, determine the health of the stream ecosystem, and how aquatic invertebrates compare to their terrestrial counterparts. This is a full-day, drop-off program. $45 per child for members; $50 for non-members. Please email Great Hollow’s Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information.
For ages 6-10. Return to events calendar to register for the Aquatic Investigations session for ages 8-12 on April 12.

Spring Break - Nature Art, for ages 6-10
2017-04-11 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us as we spend the day creating nature art masterpieces of our very own, ala Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Shilling, and Clare Walker Leslie. We’ll start the session off by making journals out of recycled materials and learning the basics of nature journaling. Then we’ll venture onto Great Hollow’s hiking trails to begin our land art projects. These creations are ephemeral and can’t be taken home, but your child will have several pictures taken of their work which will be emailed to you at the end of the week (and you can of course visit the masterpieces with your child anytime!). This is a full-day, drop-off program. $45 per child for members; $50 for non-members. Please email Great Hollow’s Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information.
For ages 6-10. Please return to the events calendar for the Nature Art session for ages 8-12 on April 13.

Spring Break - Aquatic Investigations, for ages 8-12
2017-04-12 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Looking for something fun and educational for your child to do over the spring break? Sign them up for a School Break Adventures program at Great Hollow! In our Aquatic Investigations session, students will have the opportunity to get their hands dirty and their feet wet as they explore Great Hollow’s streams looking for signs of life. Through hands-on activities and games, students will learn how to identify a variety of stream organisms, determine the health of the stream ecosystem, and how aquatic invertebrates compare to their terrestrial counterparts. This is a full-day, drop-off program. $45 per child for members; $50 for non-members. Please email Great Hollow’s Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information.
For ages 8-12. Return to events calendar to register for the Aquatic Investigations session for ages 6-10 on April 10.

Spring Break - Nature Art, for ages 8-12
2017-04-13 08:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us as we spend the day creating nature art masterpieces of our very own, ala Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Shilling, and Clare Walker Leslie. We’ll start the session off by making journals out of recycled materials and learning the basics of nature journaling. Then we’ll venture onto Great Hollow’s hiking trails to begin our land art projects. These creations are ephemeral and can’t be taken home, but your child will have several pictures taken of their work which will be emailed to you at the end of the week (and you can of course visit the masterpieces with your child anytime!). This is a full-day, drop-off program. $45 per child for members; $50 for non-members. Please email Great Hollow’s Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information.
For ages 8-12. Please return to the events calendar for the Nature Art session for ages 6-10 on April 11.

The Bear Reality
2017-04-23 13:00 - 14:30 (America/Halifax) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
We are pleased to welcome back Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist and bear aficianado, Felicia Ortner, who will be giving her popular presentation, THE BEAR REALITY at Great Hollow at 1 pm on April 23rd. Ms. Ortner, who has been involved in bear research in Connecticut for 25 years, will discuss the resurgence of this remarkable survivor that was once extinct in the state, and talk about strategies for human coexistence with bears.

Weekday Homeschool Program, Every Friday Through June
2017-04-28 10:00 - 2017-06-23 15:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Due to popular demand, we have extended our homeschool program again all the way through June. Every Friday through June, Great Hollow will be offering drop-off programs intended just for homeschoolers! Students will spend their days at Great Hollow exploring the natural world through hands-on activities, games, hikes, and self-directed play. Over the course of the series, they will learn about local plants and animals, animal tracking, map making, shelter building, fire making, and other topics that will be tailored to their interests. Open to children ages 7-12. You may register your child for individual or multiple days. Members: $45/day for one class or $35/day when you sign up for more than one; non-members: $50/day for one class or $40/day when you sign up for more than one. Please email Sena at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to register.
Dates: May 26 and June 2, 9, 16, and 23.
10 am drop-off, 3 pm pick-up each day

Capturing A Garden - Photography Workshop
2017-04-30 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Halifax) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
The Great Hollow Photographers Club is pleased to announce a workshop for all those who love the beauty of a garden and want to learn more about nature photography. Come hear photographer, Linda T. Hubbard’s tips for using a camera to capture those special moments of nature’s beauty. She will be talking about “Ten Things to Think about When Photographing a Garden.” All ages and all skill levels are welcome. Bring your camera and enthusiasm! Suggested donation of $5 per person.
Linda T Hubbard is a well known photographer, gallery owner and art activist from the Hudson Valley who recently moved to Sherman. For more information about Linda, visit her website http://www.LindaTHubbard.com.

Mother's Day Birding Walk
2017-05-14 07:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us this Mother’s Day, when local birding expert Angela Dimmitt will lead a walk to look for colorful spring migrants that are currently undertaking their journey from their Central and South American wintering grounds to their northern breeding grounds. Ms. Dimmitt will show us where to look and how to identify the more than 50 migratory bird species that can occur at Great Hollow this time of year. Bring binoculars if you have them. We’ll meet in front of the Merritt House, by the trail head to the Red Trail.

Family Night Hike
2017-05-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
By popular demand, we are pleased to offer another Family Night Hike at Great Hollow on Saturday, May 20th. We will start off the evening by engaging in games and activities for kids that demonstrate the amazing adaptions of nocturnal and crepuscular animals. Once the sun sets we’ll hit the trails and discover the different world that comes to life at night. Feel free to bring a flashlight or headlamp. If your light doesn’t have a red setting, you will be provided with red cellophane to put over it so that our vision won’t be hindered. Recommended for ages 4 and up. No strollers or dogs, please. As with most of our programs, a suggested donation of $5 per person is greatly appreciated. Please register by contacting Sena, our Education Coordinator, at sena@greathollow.org.

World Turtle Day®
2017-05-27 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Celebrate World Turtle Day® at Great Hollow with a fun afternoon learning about turtles and tortoises from around the world! Come see live 200 pound African tortoises as well as several species of native turtles from Connecticut. Three turtle experts will be giving presentations on topics such as turtle conservation, rehabilitation, and natural history of native species that live in our area. Saturday, May 27th from 1-4 pm (rain date June 3).

National Trails Day, Hike the Hollow
2017-06-03 10:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Visit Great Hollow for our second annual “Hike the Hollow” event in celebration of National Trails Day®. Come take a naturalist-guided tour through Great Hollow Nature Preserve and the neighboring Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area. The hike might be challenging in spots and include uphill and downhill terrain, so please wear proper footwear, and bring a snack and plenty of water. We’ll meet at the Great Hollow parking area and then carpool to the Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area. Please register by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org.

Eco-Discovery Camp
2017-06-26 08:30 - 2017-08-25 15:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Sign your child up for summer fun at Great Hollow before space is gone! Our new day camp program offers children ages 4-12 the opportunity to forge lasting connections with the natural world on our 825-acre preserve in New Fairfield. Your child will spend the day outdoors, exploring Great Hollow’s creeks, forests, meadows, and trails, learning about the critters that make this special place their home. Each full-day session includes science-based environmental education, activities, games, hikes, and daily time for self-directed nature play. Please visit our Summer Camp page for more information.

Hollow Fest 2017: Live Music, Kid's Activities, and More **Will be held today, rain or shine**
2017-07-01 14:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
**Hollow Fest will be held today, rain or shine. Cross your fingers for nice weather!**
Come out to Great Hollow on Saturday, July 1st for our first annual Hollow Fest extravaganza! There will be fun and entertainment for the whole family, including live music, a variety of activities for kids, live animal demonstrations, and raffles. There will be naturalist-guided hikes, a fly fishing demonstration, a scavenger hunt, craft-making opportunities, and much much more. The Connecticut Wood Carver’s Association will be here, helping children carve their very own walking sticks, and a local bee expert will be here to demonstrate the art of beekeeping. Our local land trusts will be on hand informing visitors about lesser known places to hike in the surrounding area and discussing the pivotal role that land trusts play in protecting our natural resources. We will be raffling off a free week of Great Hollow summer camp, outdoor yoga lessons, a naturalist-guided canoe trip through the Great Swamp, and more. Enjoy all of this over some burgers and hotdogs while listening to live music by Sherman’s very own Don Lowe and Putnam Lake’s finest, Mike Latini. Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and picnic on our Great Lawn. No dogs, please. Tickets are available below for a suggested donation of $12 per person over the age of 12 (no tickets required for children ages 12 and under). Only a limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event, so be sure to get yours in advance.
Click here for a schedule of activities

Astronomy Night
2017-09-09 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
Join us on September 9th for an astronomy event that will be out of this world! The Litchfield Hills Amateur Astonomy Club will be here to teach us “how the sky works” and then take us out for some stargazing with their high-power telescopes. Ever look at the sky and wonder why the stars rise in the East and set in the West? For that matter, why does the Sun rise in the East? Why not the North or the West? And why does a particular star rise 4 minutes later each day? We’ll answer these questions and many more. No prior knowledge of astronomy is required – just curiosity! Please bring binoculars and a red flashlight, if you have them. As with most of our community events, a suggested donation of $5/person for non-members is greatly appreciated.

George Cain 9/11 Memorial Hike
2017-09-10 09:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Cranberry Mountain WMA, Patterson, NY, 12563, United States
On Sunday September 10th, Great Hollow Nature Preserve and the Putnam County Parks & Recreation Commission will be leading a special joint hike in remembrance of FDNY firefighter, George Cain, who lost his life in the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001. Cain, a Patterson NY resident and outdoor enthusiast, was often found hiking, skiing and bicycling throughout the Putnam County park that borders Great Hollow. After 9/11, the Putnam County Parks & Recreation Commission commemorated him with a trailhead and outdoor monument in recognition of his heroism. We will meet at the Great Hollow parking lot at 9am and then carpool up to the George Cain Memorial trailhead on Quaker Hill. The hike will take about 2.5 hours and is moderately difficult in some sections. To register, please contact John at jfoley@greathollow.org.
Photo by Michael Duffy
