Seminar: Naturopathic Management of Lyme Disease
2019-04-13 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Approximately 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year, making it the most common vector-borne illness in the United States today. Connecticut is one of the most affected states in the country, with the 6th highest incidence rate per capita. Come to Great Hollow to hear naturopathic physician, Shawn Carney, N.D. of Northeast Natural Medicine, LLC discuss the science of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, and the most sensitive testing available. He will also discuss the role of integrative medicine in addressing other underlying conditions that make Lyme disease symptoms worse and present barriers to wellness.
After graduating with honors as a double major in environmental science and philosophy from Purchase College in New York, Dr. Carney continued to pursue a fusion of these interests by undertaking a career in integrative medicine. He received a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the University of Bridgeport after having worked for several engineering and environmental science firms and serving as a full-time emergency medical technician. Dr. Carney has studied in a wide array of settings including with physicians from the International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), and is a licensed naturopathic physician in both Connecticut and Vermont. He currently practices at Northeast Natural Medicine, LLC in Newtown, CT.

Vernal Pool Series Part 3: Frog Frolic
2019-04-06 11:00 - 12:30 | Towner Hill Preserve, 35 CT-37, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
Join Great Hollow Nature Preserve and the Naromi Land Trust for a guided hike to witness the spring migration and breeding of wood frogs. Every spring, wood frogs emerge from hibernation underground and migrate as much as half a mile to their unique and ephemeral breeding habitats, known as vernal pools. We’ll hike up to the vernal pools at the top of the Towner Hill Preserve in Sherman to see wood frogs in action and listen to their chorus of mating calls. The hike is moderately difficult and includes a fairly short, but steep uphill walk. Kid friendly and recommended!
We will meet at the White Silo Winery parking lot (32 Route 37 East, Sherman, CT) and carpool just up the street to the Towner Hill Preserve’s trail head. Please register in advance by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org. Space is very limited, and please, no dogs. Free for members and non-members.

Vernal Pool Series Part 2: Night Hike at Towner Hill
2019-04-05 19:00 - 21:00 | Towner Hill Preserve, 35 CT-37, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
Join Great Hollow’s naturalist, John Foley, and our co-hosts from the Naromi Land Trust for a fun hike to two vernal pools to learn about what’s known as “The Big Night”. With our flashlights in hand, we will search for salamanders, wood frogs, and egg masses. The date is tentative because weather conditions need to be just right (light rain with temperatures in the mid to high 40s), but with any luck, you’ll get to witness the yearly mass migration of spotted salamanders and wood frogs. We will meet at the White Silo Winery in Sherman (32 Route 37) and then carpool just up the street to 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. Kid friendly and recommended! No dogs, please. Reserve a space and sign up to receive updates about the date and time by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org. Free for members and non-members.
Part 3 in the series will include a daytime visit to these vernal pools, for anyone who is unable to make the night hike or would rather go in the daylight.

How to Make Your Own Maple Syrup
2019-03-31 11:00 - 12:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
With cold nights and warm days in the forecast, it means only one thing… maple syrup season is here! Come to Great Hollow and learn all about making maple syrup the easy way, 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 boiling sap into syrup, or as the old timers call it, “liquid gold.” First we’ll learn how to identify and tap maple trees, hang buckets, and collect sap, and then finally, how to boil it down. Best of all, we’ll have the opportunity to taste the product of our hard work, pure 100% backyard style maple syrup! And if there’s enough, we will also have a limited number of small maple syrup bottles for you to fill and take home.
Please dress warmly and meet in the visitor’s parking area by the main entrance. A suggested donation of $10 per person is appreciated. Please sign up in advance by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org.

Vernal Pool Series Part 1: Vernal Pool Identification and Conservation Seminar
2019-03-30 16:00 - 17:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Aside from robins being the so-called harbingers of spring, another natural phenomenon that ushers in the turning of the seasons takes place in unique wetlands called vernal pools. On cold and rainy spring nights, specialized amphibians, such as wood frogs and seldom-seen spotted salamanders, undertake their migration to these small and ephemeral woodland pools where they will breed. Because of their critical importance to many species of amphibians, vernal pools are of high conservation importance and a major focus in forest management and land use planning. Join our naturalist, John Foley, on Saturday, March 30th for the first part of our 3-part series on the ecology of vernal pools and the critters that call them home. We’ll begin the series with an indoor presentation about the characteristics of vernal pools, how to identify them, and the natural history of the unique species that depend on them. We’ll also discuss the conservation challenges facing these special habitats and how to adequately protect them from development and other threats. Free for members; a suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated.
Click here and here for information about Parts 2 and 3 of the series.

"Is it Spring yet?" Guided Hike of Pootatuck State Forest
2019-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Pootatuck State Forest, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join our naturalist, John Foley, for a late winter/almost spring family-friendly hike of Pootatuck State Forest. We will look and listen for signs of spring as we make our way around a moderately easy trail loop. On the way, we’ll learn some basic tree and plant identification skills, explore a vernal pool, and finally make our way to a beautiful rocky outcrop that overlooks Squantz Pond State Park and Candlewood Lake. Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear proper footwear for trail hiking. Leashed dogs are welcome. Free for members; a suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated. Please register by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org.
We will meet directly at Pootatuck. Directions from Sherman: drive south on Route 37, pass Haviland Hollow Road, and then turn left on Pine Hill Road. Travel about 1.5 miles and bear right at the fork to the trailhead parking area. From the south: drive north on Route 37 and turn right on Pine Hill Road. Go 1.5 miles and bear right at the fork to the parking area.

Green Drinks!
2019-03-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Housatonic River Brewing, 30 Kent Road, New Milford, CT, 06776, United States
Do you work in an environmental field or are you simply interested in environmental issues? If so, join Great Hollow staff and our co-hosts from the Weantinoge Land Trust, Naromi Land Trust, Pratt Nature Center, and Sunny Valley Preserve for Green Drinks on Thursday, March 21st at Housatonic River Brewing in New Milford. Weantinoge’s Green Drinks is Litchfield County’s monthly happy-hour for environmentalists, providing opportunities to make connections and exchange news about conservation initiatives, local farming, land use, and more. All are welcome and no reservations are necessary. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, and light food and refreshments will be provided.

Kids Nature Night: Snow Science
2019-03-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
What exactly is snow? How is it formed? Why are there so many different types of it? What do snowflakes look like up close? How can snow actually keep animals (including people!) warm? We’ll discover the answers to these questions and more in this month’s Nature Night. We’ll even get to make a “snowflake” of our very own!
Parents, we will be outside about a third of the evening, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Campfire dinner before the activities consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and we’ll make our own ice cream for dessert. Please feel free to send your child with a dinner and/or dessert from home if you prefer.
This is a drop-off program, open to children ages 5-10.
$25/child for members; $30/child for non-members.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to register.

Weaving & Wine Part 2
2019-03-02 18:00 - 21:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
*Registration for this event is currently full. Please email us at the address below if you’d like to be contacted if a space opens up or if you would like us to offer this event again*

Weaving & Wine is back by popular demand. If you came last time, come back to either finish your past project or start a brand new one! If you missed the first event, come see what all the fun is about! You’ll enjoy a relaxing evening of good conversation while you learn to weave bird feeders and shelters for our feathered friends. There will be several different feeder and shelter projects to choose from and no prior weaving experience is necessary.
Bring your own wine, beer, or whatever you like to enjoy while crafting. Glasses will be provided. Light refreshments, snacks, and all weaving supplies will also be provided.
$10/person for members; $15 for non-members.
Please contact Sena at sena@greathollow.org with any questions or to register. Space is limited.

Seminar: The Natural History and Decline of the New England Cottontail
2019-02-24 13:30 - 14:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Please join us for guest speaker, Dr. Amanda Cheeseman’s talk about the New England cottontail rabbit, “Living on Borrowed Time: The Life History and Decline of our Only Native Cottontail.” Found only within the densest thickets of New England and eastern New York, the New England cottontail had lost much of its habitat by the beginning of this century. Like many other early successional species, habitat loss, invasive plants, and increasing human development have caused substantial population declines and posed serious challenges toward the recovery of this little-known rabbit. Come hear how biologists are racing to understand the New England cottontail’s biology and relationships with its environment in order to reverse declines and recover the Northeast’s only native cottontail species.
Dr. Cheeseman is a Theodore Roosevelt Postdoctoral Scholar and Coordinator of the New York Mammal Survey at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, where she also earned a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology in 2017 for her research on the New England cottontail.

Kids' Nature Night: Solve it with STEM!
2019-02-16 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
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 third of the evening, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Campfire dinner before the activities consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and s’mores. Please feel free to send your child with a dinner and/or dessert from home if you prefer.
This is a drop-off program, open to children ages 5-10.
$25/child for members; $30/child for non-members.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to register.

Kids' Nature Club
2019-02-09 13:00 - 2019-03-23 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
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 for future meetings will be determined by member interest, though each meeting will have time for self-directed outdoor play.
Parents, please send your child with a snack and water bottle, clothes and shoes that can get wet and dirty, and weather-appropriate outerwear. This is a drop-off program, open to children ages 8-12.
$10/child/session for members, $15 for non-members.
Schedule: February 9 and 23, March 9 and 23. 1-4pm.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to register. You can sign up for however many sessions you like.

Winter Tree ID Workshop
2019-02-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
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 now face. We will be hiking some of Great Hollow’s trails, so please wear appropriate footwear and dress warmly. Meet in the visitor’s parking area by the main entrance. A suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is appreciated. Please sign up in advance by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org.

Recycled Jewelry-making for Teens & Tweens
2019-02-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
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 8-16.
$10/child for members; $15/child for non-members. Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena at sena@greathollow.org to register.

Nature Up Close: Macro-photography Made Easy
2019-01-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
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 demonstrating simple cropping and enhancing techniques. Bring your camera and macro lens if you have one, but you can really use any kind of camera.
Almost everything in nature can be fascinating if we attend to it closely. The tools of digital photography allow us to move farther in and discover a world that is barely visible. You don’t have to roam far to find sights of magic and beauty. Seeing comes before shooting: photography is a reason for being in beautiful places at beautiful times, for looking closely and carefully.
Jeremy Wolff’s writing and photography have appeared in Time, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times Magazine, and The New Yorker. He has created photo-collage art for the Spin Doctors, Soul Asylum, They Might Be Giants, and the Knitting Factory, covers for Newsweek and Fortune, and TV commercials for Coca-Cola and Weber Grills. He is currently the owner of the Front Street Gallery in Patterson, New York.
Open to total beginners on up to experts. Free for members; a suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated. No advanced registration is required.

Travelogue Author Talk and Book Signing: Robert McWilliams
2019-01-26 14:30 - 16:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States

*CANCELED*Snowshoe Hike
2019-01-26 11:00 - 13:00 | Deer Pond Farm, 57 Wakeman Hill Road, Sherman, CT, 06784, United States
**Unfortunately, this event has been canceled due to poor trail conditions following this week’s heavy rains and snow-melt.**

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 the event. Please click here or call them at (860) 799-4074 to sign up. Free for members of Connecticut Audubon; $5 per person for non-members. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Allow for an average of two hours and 1.5 -2 miles of hiking. What to bring: snowshoes, water bottle, walking stick/poles, and a warm hat, gloves, and socks.

*POSTPONED* Kids' Nature Night: Starry Skies and the Wolf Moon
2019-01-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
**This event has been POSTPONED due to weather until Saturday, January 26th, 5-8 pm. **

This latest installment in our Kids’ Nature Night series is all about the night sky! After cooking ourselves some campfire dinner, we’ll turn our attention to the stars above us to learn some of the common constellations of winter. We’ll also learn about this month’s Wolf Moon and the lunar eclipse that will give it the extra distinction of what’s known as a blood moon. We’ll even get to take some of the night sky home with us by making a “constellation jar” craft.
This is a drop-off program. Open to children ages 5-10. We will be outside about half of the evening, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Dinner consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and a constellation treat (graham crackers, frosting, and M&Ms) for dessert. Please feel free to send your child with an alternative dinner and/or dessert from home if you prefer.
Members: $25 per child. Non-members: $30 per child.
Please contact our Education Coordinator, Sena at sena@greathollow.org with questions or to register.

First Day Hike
2019-01-01 10:00 - 11:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Start off your year with a hike in the great outdoors! Get outside and enjoy the winter beauty of Great Hollow with our naturalist, John Foley while burning off some of those holiday calories. We will trek along our Red Trail, talking about some of the behavioral adaptations of animals that help them survive the winter, and if snow is present, we’ll look for tracks. We’ll also check out the new bridge above Tuckers Run waterfall that Great Hollow recently had constructed. Don’t forget to bring your binoculars to look for some of our resident winter birds! The hike is open to all ages and is generally easy. Please make sure to dress for the cold and wear appropriate footwear. A suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated. No dogs, please. To sign up, email John at jfoley@greathollow.org.

Winter Break Adventures Program
2018-12-26 08:30 - 2018-12-28 15:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Looking for something fun and educational for your child to do during the winter school break? Sign them up for Great Hollow’s Winter Break Adventures program! In this full-day, drop-off program, we will spend our days learning about the natural world through fun, science-based environmental education activities, games, hikes, and animal encounters. Each day has a special theme intended to teach your child a range of related topics in natural science. You can sign up for one, two, or all three!
Open to children ages 5 to 10. Members: $45/day for one day or $40/day for multiple days. Non-Members: $50/day for one day or $45/day for multiple days. Drop-off is at 8:30 am and pick-up is at 3:30 pm. Please contact our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org or (203) 546-7789 with any questions or to register your child.
Schedule:
Wednesday, 12/26 — Nature Myth-busters
Do porcupines launch their quills? Does moss only grow on the north side of trees? Do owl eyes glow in the dark? We’ll separate fact from fiction through a variety of hands-on activities and games, and discover that in the natural world, truth is often far stranger than fiction.
Thursday, 12/27 — Crafty Critters
Join us as we spend the day creating nature art masterpieces of our very own. We’ll let our creative juices flow while exploring Great Hollow’s trails for inspiration, then use a mix of natural materials and items salvaged from the recycling bin to create our works of art.
Friday, 12/28 — Skulls, Skin, and Scat
A great deal can be learned about animals by studying their skulls, skin, and scat. Using these tools, we’ll determine what some of the animals that inhabit Great Hollow eat, how they get their food, how they protect themselves from predators, and how they survive the winter. We’ll even make our own animal track and scat plaster molds to take home!

photo credit: Carol Kaliff

Handmade for the Holidays
2018-12-15 13:00 - 16:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Join us on Saturday, December 15th for our second annual Handmade for the Holidays event. Children will be provided with supplies and instruction to make nature-themed holiday gifts for their family and friends. There will be a variety of age-appropriate projects for children to choose from, and each child will leave the event with 2-3 wrapped gifts of their own creation. Hot chocolate will be provided.
Open to children ages 5 to 12.
Parents: This is a drop-off program.
$15 per child (for members and non-members) to help cover the cost of supplies. Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to register.

Kids' Nature Night: Surviving Winter!
2018-12-08 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
This night is all about how to survive the winter. After cooking our dinner and s’mores over the campfire, we’ll head inside for activities and games that will teach us how local plants and animals have adapted to survive the cold winter months in Connecticut. We’ll also make biodegradable bird feeders that you can hang in your yard to help out the birds that stick around and try to tough out the cold.
Open to children ages 5 to 10.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, with questions or to sign up.
Non-members: $25. Members (individual level and up): $20.
Payment will be accepted by cash or check at the time of drop-off, but you must register in advance.
Parents: This is a drop-off program and we will be outside for at least half of the evening, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Dinner consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and s’mores for dessert. Please feel free to send your child with an alternative dinner and/or dessert from home if you would prefer.
**Please note that nuts and peanut butter will be used in the making of bird feeders.**

Weaving & Wine
2018-12-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Adults, join us for a relaxing evening of good conversation and wine while you learn to weave bird feeders and shelters for our feathered friends! There will be several different feeder and shelter projects to choose from, and as the techniques we’ll use are surprisingly simple to learn, no prior weaving experience is necessary.
Bring your own wine, beer, or whatever you like to enjoy while crafting. Glasses will be provided. Light refreshments, snacks, and all weaving supplies will also be provided.
Please contact Sena at sena@greathollow.org with any questions or to register. $15 per person for non-members; $10 per person for members. Space is limited.

Kids' Nature Night: Wildlife CSI
2018-11-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Great Hollow has a mystery to be solved and we need your help to crack the case! We’ll become nature detectives as we learn how to read animal tracks and signs, interpret evidence, and search for hidden clues on our property. Our skills will then be put to the test as we try to solve the mystery! We’ll also have a campfire dinner and s’mores as we discuss the many secrets the forest holds if you just know how and where to look.
Open to children ages 7 to 13.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org, with questions or to sign up.
Non-members: $25. Members (individual level and up): $20.
Payment will be accepted as cash or check at the time of drop-off, but you must register in advance.
Parents: We will be outside at least half of the evening, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Dinner consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and s’mores for dessert. Feel free to send your child with an alternative dinner and/or dessert from home if you would prefer.

School Break Adventures: The Hunters & the Hunted
2018-11-06 08:30 - 15:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
They say nature is red in tooth and claw… for good reason! Let your kids spend their day off from school at Great Hollow, learning all about nature’s awesome predators and their prey. Though hands-on activities and games, we’ll examine the adaptations that predators and prey use against one another and how they escalate over time in what’s known as an “arms race.” We’ll also talk about important plants and animals that make up the food webs within Great Hollow’s ecosystems.
Open to children ages 5 to 10.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org with questions or to sign up.
Non-members: $45. Members (individual level and up): $40
Payment will be accepted by cash or check at the time of drop-off but you must register in advance.
Parents: This is a full day, drop-off program. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside most of the day.

Hunter's Moon Hike
2018-10-24 19:30 - 21:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Let the kids stay out late on a school night and enjoy a spooky moonlit guided hike up to Great Hollow’s waterfall with our naturalist, John Foley. We will learn the folklore of the Hunter’s Moon and listen for owls and other creatures of the night while taking in the beauty of a forest that’s bathed in full moonlight. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring a flashlight or headlamp (please check and make sure the batteries work beforehand!). The hike is weather-dependent and reservations are appreciated. Appropriate for children ages 8 and up. Please, no dogs. Sign up by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org. We’ll meet at 7:30pm in the visitor’s parking area by Great Hollow’s main entrance. A suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated.

Haunting at the Hollow
2018-10-13 19:00 - 2018-10-27 23:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Haunting at the Hollow is back! This year will feature three custom-built haunted houses to scare the pants off you! It officially opens Saturday, October 13th and then runs from 7-11pm every Friday and Saturday night through the 27th. Don’t wait to get your tickets for this haunting experience being run by By Night Productions, the New Fairfield Department of Parks & Recreation, and the New Fairfield Lions Club. Click here for more information and to get your tickets.

Kids' Nature Night: Zombie Apocalypse!
2018-10-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Did you know that a zombie apocalypse of sorts is underway in the natural world? “Mind controlling” parasites are the culprit and a wide variety of plant and animal species become their unwilling victims every day! After cooking our dinner and s’mores over the campfire, we’ll spend the evening investigating the diverse ways parasites infiltrate their hosts and the methods some species have developed to fight back. We’ll also play a round or two of the super cool game, Humans vs. Zombies!
Open to children ages 5 to 10.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to sign up.
Parents: this is an evening drop-off program and we will be outside about half of the time, so please dress your child(ren) accordingly. Dinner consists of hotdogs or veggie dogs with all the fixings, juice, and s’mores for dessert. Please feel free to send your child with an alternate dinner and/or dessert from home if you would prefer.
Non-members: $25/child. Members (individual level and up): $20/child.
Payment will be accepted by cash or check at the time of drop-off, but you must sign up in advance.

Fall Foliage Hike
2018-10-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
Come explore the northern portions of Great Hollow and visit the scenic overlook at the neighboring Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area. Our hike will begin at the trail head for Great Hollow’s purple trail off of Hardscrabble Road and traverse through second-growth forest and thickets of mountain laurel. We’ll then finish at an overlook that provides beautiful views of Great Hollow in fall foliage.
We’ll meet at Great Hollow’s visitor parking area and then carpool up to Hardscrabble Road. The hike will last about an hour and a half and will be moderately difficult in some sections. Leashed dogs are permitted. Please register by emailing John at jfoley@greathollow.org. A suggested donation of $5 per person for non-members is greatly appreciated.

Kids' Wilderness Adventure Challenge
2018-10-05 08:30 - 15:30 | Great Hollow Nature Preserve, 225 CT-37, New Fairfield, CT, 06812, United States
*Enrollment for this program is now full. Please check our event calendar for other upcoming programs that might be of interest.

Spend your day off from school honing your outdoor adventure skills, and see if you have what it takes to survive in the wild! We’ll learn how to build fires (and possibly cook snacks over them!), travel off-trail, build shelters, learn the basics of map and compass use, and practice the art of staying found. By the end of the day, you’ll be well on your way to being a skilled outdoor adventurer!
Open to children ages 7 to 13.
Please email our Education Coordinator, Sena, at sena@greathollow.org for more information or to sign up.
Non-members: $50. Members (individual level and up): $45. Payment will be accepted by cash or check upon drop-off, but you must register in advance.
Parents: this is a full day, drop-off program. Please provide a lunch, two snacks, plenty of water, and appropriate clothing and footwear for being outside most of the day.
