Buildin’ Beavers!

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

Join us for a virtual class all about nature's ultimate engineers: beavers! In this class, we will explore the many adaptations of the beaver, how they build their dams, and how they are essential to the health of the entire ecosystem.This program is most suitable for children ages 6 to 10, but younger and older
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Distance-learning: Masters of Disguise

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

From birds that can mimic car alarms and insects that disguise themselves as plants, to the mesmerizing color displays of a cuttlefish, animals are capable of all kinds of camouflage and mimicry. In this virtual class, we will explore some of the most amazing examples of camouflage and mimicry from around the world, and discover
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Distance-learning: Lynx High Jinks

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

Did you know that we have one of the world's four species of lynx living right here in Connecticut? You probably know it better as the bobcat (Lynx rufus)! Bobcats, like the one above that was recently snapped by one of our trail cameras, are very common in Great Hollow and the surrounding area, but
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Invasive Plant Walk & Talk

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

As stay-at-home orders for Connecticut and nearby areas of New York are lifted, we will be gradually resuming events and programs at Great Hollow that are entirely outdoors and conducive to social distancing. The first such event will be an invasive plant walk on June 13th. Invasive plants are one of the biggest threats to
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Guided Paddle of the Great Swamp

Patterson Recreation Center Marble Road, Patterson, NY, United States

Safely enjoy the outdoors with us on a naturalist-guided paddle of the Great Swamp in Patterson, New York. The Great Swamp is a regionally significant wetland that is home to a wide diversity of plant and animal life, including threatened and endangered species. During our paddle, we are likely to see herons, kingfishers, colorful songbirds,
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“Buck Moon” Hike

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

Cap off your 4th of July with a moonlit, naturalist-guided hike at Great Hollow, and learn what this month’s “Buck Moon” is all about. We’ll also look and listen for owls and other creatures of the night as we trek up to the Quaker Brook waterfalls. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring a flashlight or
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Field App Basics for Citizen Scientists

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

With the advent and explosive popularity of smartphones has come the development of countless apps to help identify and inventory biodiversity. From plants to insects to birds, there's a field-guide app for just about everything and many also allow you to share your observations that can later be used by scientists in myriad ways. Popular
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Autumn Explorations

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

Let's get in the spirit of autumn with an exploration of nature's changing seasons! Join us as we search for weevils hiding in acorns (pictured left), learn why leaves change colors, and hike the woods to look for tell-tale signs of autumn's arrival. After we complete our woodland exploration, we will wrap up with nature
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Stargazing and Folklore

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

Join us around a campfire as we learn about the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies told through the legends of the indigenous people of the Americas. Just as the Greeks created stories with the constellations, the Native Americans also saw figures in the sky. Hear about legends of people who, separated by an ocean,
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Sunset Painting & Photography

Great Hollow Nature Preserve 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, United States

With its diverse landscape that includes mountains, rolling hills, meadows, forests, streams, and historical buildings, Great hollow is a popular destination for plein-air painters and nature photographers. But few have experienced Great Hollow in the changing light of the late afternoon and early evening. Join accomplished artist and teacher, Sharon Nakazato, from Friends of the
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