*DATE CHANGED* Live Music on the Lawn: An Original Take on the Beach Boys Songbook
2023-08-26 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
*Rescheduled from August 19th*
Unfortunately, due to an illness in the band, this event has been postponed to Saturday, August 26th. If you are unable to attend and would like a refund for tickets you purchased for the originally scheduled date, please email us at info@greathollow.org. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

Celebrate endless summer with award-winning jazz composer, Charley Gerard, and his Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet, who will perform unique reinterpretations of the brilliant music of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys — with a little injection of humor too. Charley Gerard, a local resident of Sherman, CT, is a recipient of the prestigious New Jazz Works award from Chamber Music America and has performed with the Broken Reed Saxophone Quartet throughout New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Connecticut, as well as Austria. This event is BYOE (“bring your own everything,” such as food, drinks, lawn chairs or blankets). And don’t forget to wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt or other Beach Boys attire! Tickets are only $10 and must be purchased online, in advance. No walk-ins will be allowed. Children under the age of 10 do not need a ticket.
Please either print or take a screen shot of your order confirmation to show staff upon entry.
Tickets purchased on or after August 25th are non-refundable. All sales final.
Purchase tickets here

Jazz Night on the Patio
2023-09-15 18:00 - 19:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join us for the return of an annual favorite – Jazz Night on the Patio. Our friends from the BnB Jazz Trio will be back to provide an intimate night of great music by the likes of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington, alongside a roaring outdoor fire. The event is BYOE (bring your own everything), so pack yourself whatever food and beverages you would like to enjoy during the show (alcohol permitted for those 21 and over). Tickets are $15 per person and must be purchased in advance, below. Children under the age of 12 are free and do not need a ticket.
*Rain date September 30th, 6pm*

Foraging for Autumn Wild Edibles
2023-09-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join local farmer, forager, educator, and special guest Sarah Lucas of Harlem Valley Homestead to learn how to forage for wild edible plants and mushrooms of the late summer/early autumn. Wild foods can be rich in antioxidants, electrolytes, anti-bacterials, and phytonutrients that industrial foods increasingly fail to provide. Whether for health, hunger, convenience or curiosity, come and meet some of your backyard resources as Sarah shows us how to find, identify, and responsibly harvest wild edibles this time of year. We will be hiking Great Hollow’s trails, so be sure to wear proper footwear. No dogs, please. Registration is $15 per person and you must sign up in advance by emailing Sarah at sl3026@utsnyc.edu

Kids’ Nature Night: Alien Invaders!
2023-09-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
What do Japanese Knotweed, Red Swamp Crayfish, and Spotted Lanternflies have in common? They are all non-native, invasive species that are now found right here in Connecticut. During this program we’ll learn about the differences between native and non-native species, how invasive species spread, and what can be done to control them. Afterwards we’ll take a hike to find some of these alien species that have invaded Great Hollow. This is a drop-off program open to children ages 6-12. Registration is $10 per child for family-level members and $15 per child for non-members. Space is limited and advance payment and registration are required. Please contact our education coordinator Tara at tewers@greathollow.org to register.

Submission Deadline for 2024 Calendar Contest
2023-10-06 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
The Great Hollow Photographers Club (GHPC) was formed by members of the local community who have a shared interest in nature photography. The goals of the club are to use photography to support the educational and conservation missions of Great Hollow Nature Preserve, improve the photographic skills of members through the sharing of knowledge and experience, and to provide a forum for members to engage in their hobby. The GHPC is open to all ages and skill levels, and both video and still photography.
Each year, the Club organizes a calendar contest and this year’s contest is now open to submissions. Twelve winning photographs will be used for the twelve months of the calendar, which is made available to everyone who participates in the contest, and to the sponsors of the annual Art Show. These images are used each month on the GHPC Facebook page. To submit your photographs (up to four) for consideration in the 2024 Calendar, please visit here.
2024 Calendar Theme: Local Nature and Wildlife If it’s a photo of nature (landscapes, trees, flowers, astronomy and the like) or wildlife (any kind of animals which are not pets like cats or dogs – horses, cows chickens, pigs, etc. are fine), from anywhere in the general area of Great Hollow, or anywhere else in the general Northeast area, submit it! If it is anything else, it will not qualify. (Examples: Deer are fine; alligators are not. Pine trees are fine; palm trees are not. Black bears are fine; polar bears are not.)

Halloween Wreath & Wine Night
2023-10-06 18:30 - 20:00 | CT
Adults, join us for a relaxing evening of crafting and conversation with our next Wreath & Wine Night. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to make a multi-colored, deco mesh wreath. No previous experience is necessary. Please feel free to bring your own wine, beer, or whatever you like to enjoy while crafting. Registration is $25 per member and $30 per non-member. All of the supplies you’ll need are included, but you may also bring anything you want to incorporate into your own wreath. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please email our education coordinator, Tara, to register.

Kids’ Drop-off Program: Buggin’ Out!
2023-10-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Are dragonflies insects? What about spiders? During this program, we’ll bug out learning all about the fascinating world of insects and head out into the field with our nets to see what we can collect. We’ll take our specimens back inside to look at more closely through a scope and talk about what we’ve found. Registration is $10 per child for family-level members and above, and $15 per child for non-members. All supplies included. Space is limited and advance payment and registration are required. This is a drop-off program open to children ages 6-12. Please email our education coordinator Tara at tewers@greathollow.org to register.

Photographing Mindfulness Workshop
2023-10-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
A two hour workshop exploring the integration of mindfulness with the art of photography will be presented by renowned local photographer Jim Stasiak at Great Hollow on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at 2 pm. Jim’s award-winning work has appeared not only in Great Hollow’s Juried Art Shows, but in gallery shows throughout America.
This program is offered through the Great Hollow Photographers Club. Everyone interested in photography is invited to attend, whether pro or advanced amateur or just a beginner – bring any kind of camera you like! There is no cost for the workshop. Please direct all questions to GHPClub@gmail.com.

Photo Club Meeting
2023-10-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
The Great Hollow Photographers Club (GHPC) was formed by members of the local community who have a shared interest in nature photography. The goals of the club are to use photography to support the educational and conservation missions of Great Hollow Nature Preserve, improve the photographic skills of members through the sharing of knowledge and experience, and to provide a forum for members to engage in their hobby. The GHPC is open to all ages and skill levels, and both video and still photography. If you are interested in joining the club, please email GHPClub@gmail.com.
The Club’s next meeting will be on October 17th at 6:30 pm in the Merritt House at Great Hollow. The agenda of this meeting is to select the winners of the 2024 Great Hollow Photographers Club Calendar Contest. Join us to vote for your favorite photos!

*Sold Out* Kids’ Nature Night: Hollow-ween Hike
2023-10-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Kids, join us for a twilight hike to the waterfall where we’ll learn interesting facts about Halloween and some of the different animals associated with the holiday. After our hike we’ll return inside for some Halloween crafting followed by s’mores. This is a drop-off program open to children ages 7-12. Registration is $15 per child for family-level members and $20 per child for non-members. Space is limited and this program typically sells out, so don’t wait to sign up. Please email our education coordinator Tara at tewers@greathollow.org to register.

Guest Seminar: The Wild World of Bats
2023-10-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join us as we celebrate Bat Week with a presentation by bat biologist, Dr. Devaughn Fraser, of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. Bats are one of the most unique, diverse and extraordinary groups of mammals on the planet. Here in Connecticut and across the Northeast, they are also one of the most imperiled. A devastating disease known as white-nose syndrome has been afflicting our bats for over 15 years and has led to 90% declines in several of our cave-dwelling species. Other species that are not affected by the disease face their own unique conservation challenges, including climate change and wind-energy development. Come to Great Hollow on October 28th to hear Dr. Fraser talk about the diversity and natural history of bats in our region, and the efforts being made by the state to monitor and protect these critical members of our ecological communities.
Dr. Fraser has been working with wildlife for over twenty years, studying everything from lynx and mountain lions, to prairie chickens, prairie dogs, and of course, bats. She received her doctorate from UCLA in 2017 where she specialized in the use of genetic methods to investigate human impacts on wildlife. Since joining CT DEEP’s Wildlife Diversity Program, Dr. Fraser has worked to expand the agency’s ability to monitor and protect bat populations across the state.

Hunter Moon Hike
2023-10-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Take a moonlit hike with Great Hollow’s naturalist, Ben Lee, and learn about this month’s “Hunter Moon”. We’ll look and listen for owls and other nocturnal animals as we trek up to the Tucker’s Run waterfall. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring a flashlight or headlamp. The hike is weather-dependent. Appropriate for children ages 8 and up. Please, no dogs. Free for members; a suggested donation of $5/person for non-members is greatly appreciated. Advanced registration is required. Please sign up by emailing Ben at blee@greathollow.org. We’ll meet at 6:30 pm in the visitors’ parking area by Great Hollow’s main entrance.

*Sold Out* Kids’ Fall Fun Day
2023-11-07 09:00 - 15:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Schools may be closed, but Great Hollow is open! Come join us for a day of fall exploration! We’ll go on hikes and get creative with crafts while learning about the changes occurring in nature this time of the year. This is a drop-off program open to children ages 7-10. Registration is $45 per child for family-level members and $50 for non-members. Space is limited and advanced payment and registration are required. Please email our education coordinator Tara at tewers@greathollow.org to register.

Wine & Wreath Night: Fresh Holiday Wreaths
2023-12-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Additional evening added! Adults, join us for a relaxing evening of crafting and conversation with our next DIY & Wine night. In this workshop, you’ll decorate a pre-made balsam fir wreath with winter greens and a handmade bow. You may also bring in any of your own decorations for your wreath. No previous experience is necessary. Please feel free to bring your own wine, beer, or whatever you like to enjoy while crafting. Registration is $40 per person and includes all of the supplies you’ll need. Space is limited and this event regularly sells out. Small groups may be seated at mixed tables. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please email our education coordinator, Tara, to register. *Cancellations after November 25th are non-refundable.

Family Holiday Wreath Workshop
2023-12-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Saturday, December 2 | 1:00-1:45 pm | 2:00-2:45 pm | 3:00-3:45 pm
Families, join us for an afternoon of crafting and fun. In this workshop, you’ll decorate a pre-made balsam fir wreath with winter greens and a handmade bow. You may also bring in any of your own decorations for your wreath. No previous experience is necessary. Children will be given a holiday ornament to decorate. S’mores and hot cocoa will be served by our firepit. Registration is $45 per family (5 people max) and includes all of the supplies you’ll need. Additional wreaths are available for $15 each. Space is limited and this event regularly sells out. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please email our education coordinator, Tara, to register.

*SOLD OUT* Wine & Wreath Night: Fresh Holiday Wreaths
2023-12-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Adults, join us for a relaxing evening of crafting and conversation with our next DIY & Wine night. In this workshop, you’ll decorate a pre-made balsam fir wreath with winter greens and a handmade bow. You may also bring in any of your own decorations for your wreath. No previous experience is necessary. Please feel free to bring your own wine, beer, or whatever you like to enjoy while crafting. Registration is $40 per person and includes all of the supplies you’ll need. Space is limited and this event regularly sells out. Small groups may be seated at mixed tables. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please email our education coordinator, Tara, to register. *Cancellations after November 25th are non-refundable.

*SOLD OUT* Kids’ Drop-off: Holiday Cookies & Crafts
2023-12-15 16:00 - 18:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Kids, join us for some after-school crafting and fun. During this drop-off program, you’ll decorate a large gingerbread man with icing and candy. Children will also create two ornaments. Registration is $20 per child and includes all the supplies. Program open to children ages 6-12. Space is limited and this event regularly sells out. Advanced registration and payment are required. Please email our education coordinator, Tara, to join our waitlist.

*Sold Out* Kids’ January Drop-in Day
2024-01-12 09:00 - 15:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Your school may be closed, but Great Hollow is open! Come join us for a day of winter exploration! We’ll go on hikes and get creative with crafts while learning about the changes occurring in nature this time of the year. This is a full-day drop-off program open to children ages 7-10. Registration is $50 per child for family-level members and $55 for non-members. Space is limited and advanced payment and registration are required. Please email our education coordinator Tara at tewers@greathollow.org to join our waitlist.

Maple Syrup Demonstration
2024-03-09 10:00 - 11:00 | CT
Maple syrup season has arrived! Come to Great Hollow and learn all about making maple syrup right in your backyard. No fancy evaporator systems here; just a hot open fire to gather around for good conversation and to watch the process of turning sap into syrup. We’ll learn how to identify and tap maple trees, hang buckets, and collect sap, and then finally, how to boil it down and filter it. Best of all, we’ll have the opportunity to taste the product of our hard work – pure 100% backyard style maple syrup! If there’s enough, we will also have a limited number of small bottles for you to fill and take home. We’ll meet at 10am in the visitor parking area by the main entrance. There is a suggested donation of $15 for non-members and $10 for members. Advanced registration is required, so please sign up by emailing Ben at blee@greathollow.org. *Rain date is March 17.

Kids’ Drop-off Program: Rabbit Romp
2024-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 | CT
Kids, hop on over for morning of fun at Great Hollow! During this program we’ll learn some fun facts about rabbits and meet our resident rabbit up close. We’ll also set aside some time for fun and games like hopscotch and a rabbit-themed craft. Registration is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Space is limited and advance payment and registration are required. This is a drop-off program open to children ages 6-10. Please contact our education coordinator, Tara, at tewers@greathollow.org to register.

Seminar: The Threat and Spread of the Spotted Lanternfly in Connecticut
2024-04-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Ctr, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from Asia that is quickly spreading throughout the Northeast and presenting a novel threat to native trees and domestic crops — particularly grapes. Join us at the Sherman Library for a special presentation by our education coordinator, Tara Ewers, about the research she has been doing to better map and predict the spread of the spotted lanternfly through Connecticut’s forests and vineyards. During the presentation, you will learn how to identify the spotted lanternfly during its different life-stages, the ecological and economical threats it poses, and what you can do to help slow its spread. This event is being hosted by the Sherman Library and the Sherman Conservation Commission; please note the location is at the Sherman Library (1 Sherman Ctr, Sherman, CT 06784), not at Great Hollow. Please register through the Sherman Library by clicking HERE

Outdoor Yoga Every Sat. and Sun.
2024-06-08 09:00 - 2024-09-22 10:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join master yoga instructor, Beverly Steiger, on Great Hollow’s spacious lawn or deck for Vinyassa Flow-style classes while taking in the beautiful scenery and serenity of our nature preserve. Beverly is the owner and operator of New Fairfield Yoga and Wellness and is a 500-hour Master Holy Yoga Instructor with numerous additional yoga certifications.
Outdoor yoga at Great Hollow is independently operated by New Fairfield Yoga and Wellness. Registration and payment are handled directly through New Fairfield Yoga and Wellness. To register and pay for a class, please visit their website. Please also direct any questions to them.
Schedule: Every Saturday & Sunday, 9:00 – 10:00 am, all summer.

Giants Rising film screening
2024-06-19 18:30 - 20:30 | Bank Street Theater, 46 Bank Street, New Milford, CT, 06776, United States
Great Hollow and the Bank Street Theater are pleased to co-host a special screening of the critically acclaimed, feature-length documentary, Giants Rising, followed by a Q&A session with the film’s director, Lisa Landers.
As summarized in IMDb, Giants Rising “takes us into the heart of America’s most iconic forests and reveals the secrets and saga of the coastal redwoods–the tallest and among the oldest living beings on Earth. It’s an epic tale that explores the wonders of these silent giants and our dramatic, ever-evolving relationship with them. Living links to the past, redwoods also hold powers that may play a role in our future, including their ability to withstand fire and capture carbon, to offer clues about longevity, and even to enhance our own well-being. How do they do it and how will redwoods keep working their magic as they’re pushed to their limits? Through the voices of biologists, artists, Native peoples and others racing to understand and safeguard these trees, Giants Rising reveals the scientific wonders of redwoods, our deep cultural ties to them, and efforts to help these iconic forests overcome the legacy of logging that nearly wiped them out. It’s a story that offers lessons about resilience and connection, and the promise of solutions that will help us all rise up from the past and face the challenges that lay ahead.”
You can watch the inspiring trailer and find out more about the film here.
The program will start at 6:30 pm on Wednesday June 19th at The Bank Street Theater (46 Bank Street, New Milford, CT) with an introduction by Lisa Landers.
Tickets are only $5 per person and proceeds benefit Great Hollow. Please click here to purchase your tickets.

Live Music on the Lawn
2024-07-19 18:30 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join us for a fun evening of outdoor live music featuring The Turnaround. The Turnaround is a Brookfield-based cover band that plays the best of Classic Rock, New Wave, and Alternative from the ’60s to today. They bring your favorite radio hits to life, so be ready to sing and dance all night. This event is BYOE, so bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on and whatever you like to eat and drink while enjoying live music (alcohol permitted for those 21 and older). Tickets are a suggested donation of $10 for active members and $15 for non-members. Children under the age of 10 do not need a ticket. No dogs, please.
Entry begins at 6 pm. Parking is limited, so we appreciate efforts to carpool with anyone else in your party.
Please order your tickets by clicking HERE. No tickets will be available at the door.
*Rain date: Friday, August 2nd

Wild Foraging Workshop
2024-07-21 12:00 - 14:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join local farmer, forager, educator, and special guest Sarah Lucas of Harlem Valley Homestead to learn how to forage for wild edible plants in the summer. Wild foods can be rich in antioxidants, electrolytes, antibacterials, and phytonutrients. Whether for health, hunger, convenience or curiosity, come and meet some of your backyard resources as Sarah shows us how to find, identify, and responsibly harvest 8 wild edible plants that are currently in season. The two-hour class will include printed handouts, identification and nutritional information, and access to Sarah’s extensive foraging library, and culminate with a simple picnic of dishes made with the very same ingredients we’ll learn about. We will be hiking Great Hollow’s trails, so be sure to wear proper footwear. No dogs, please. Registration is $20 per person and you must sign up in advance by emailing Sarah at sl3026@utsnyc.edu. Payment will be collected at the start of the program and can be made by cash or Venmo. Please note, the program will be held rain or shine but will be cancelled in the event of thunderstorms. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as most of the program will be outdoors.

Insect Ecology and Collecting Workshop
2024-07-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Did you know there’s a “National Moth Week” and it’s right around the corner? Come to Great Hollow to learn all about moths and other insects with our very own insect expert, Ben Lee. In this walk & talk program, Ben will take you on a guided hike focused on the fascinating ecology and life-history of insects. You’ll also get try your hand at some of the techniques scientists use to catch insects, and then learn how to identify what you found under a microscope. You can then take what you learned home with you and discover the wild world of insects living in your own backyard. Free for members; a suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated. Please sign up by emailing Ben at blee@greathollow.org.

2025 Calendar Photo Contest
2024-08-27 17:00 - 2024-10-04 17:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Every year, the Great Hollow Photographers Club creates a wall calendar with spectacular nature photography from our preserve and the surrounding area. The deadline to submit your photos for consideration for the 2025 calendar is midnight on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. There is no charge to enter. Click here to submit your photos. And anyone is welcome to join us on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at 6:30 pm at Great Hollow to vote for the winning images!

Photography Club Workshop: How to Create a Photobook
2024-09-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join Gary Stanford and John O’Donnell of the Great Hollow Photographers Club (GHPC) for a free workshop on “How to Create a Photobook.” Whether your photos are of a trip, nature, or treasured moments, anyone is welcome. Gary and John will focus on defining the objectives for a photobook, editing and sequencing the photographs, adding text to the materials, and selecting an appropriate printer or publisher. Because audience participation is a large part of the workshop, attendees are encouraged to bring their own photobooks to show and discuss, whether in draft form, printed form, or just as ideas.
A resident of Danbury for the past 20 years, Gary Stanford is a retired Vice President of JP Morgan Chase Bank and a lifelong photographer. He currently divides his time between his passion for photography, teaching part time at Henry Abbott Technical HS and ministering at New Hope Baptist church, Danbury. In the photographic realm, Gary is a member of Great Hollow Photographers Club and Candlewood Camera Club. His work can be viewed at his website, garystanford.zenfolio.com.
Sherman resident John Charles O’Donnell is currently a principal at Atelier VGI, a Manhattan-based publisher of limited edition, fine art photobooks (www.AtelierVGI.com). John has spent decades in the media and publishing industries. Using his lens name, John Charles, he is recognized world-wide for his specialty of teddy bear photographs. Together with his wife Masumi, John supervises the One Thousand Bears Project, a private charity which donates photographs of teddy bears to children’s hospitals and orphanages, in order to “help people smile.”
There is no cost for the workshop, but seating is limited and advance registration required by emailing GHPhotoC@gmail.com.
For more information about Great Hollow Photographers Club, please visit the GHPC Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GHPClub.

Plein Air Art Day
2024-09-20 09:00 - 13:00, 2024-09-26 15:00 - 17:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join accomplished artist and teacher, Sharon Nakazato, for a plein air art day at Great Hollow. All artists are invited to capture the beauty of Great Hollow through drawing, painting, or photography. Great Hollow provides an array of subjects for plein air artists, including open wetlands, a babbling brook, forested trails, and historic barns and homes. Artists of all media and abilities are invited. Free for members and non-members. **Participants are responsible for bringing all of their own supplies/equipment.** Please email or call Sharon at sharon_nakazato@comcast.net or (845) 612-1046 to register.
