Natures Open House

Come and see 50+ custom built fairy & gnome dwellings set along a 1/2 mile stroll through wooded trails during fall foliage season. Also meet and greet award winning author, Tracy Kane, along with book readings and book signings. There will be a dedication and opening of a permanent wooded village at Winding Trails for families and friends inspired to build their own houses after the tour. Learn more on our Nature's Open House page.

Dates: Saturday, September 29th
Sunday, September 30th
Time: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Where: Nature Hut
Ages: All ages
Fees:
Advance Event Day
Adults: $10 $13
Children: $5 $7

Fall Audubon & Winding Trails Bird Count

Know a few birds but never been on a bird count? No prior experience necessary. Know a lot of birds and love doing bird counts? Come add your expertise. We will be counting the different species or kinds of birds that are flying south and pulling a stop-over to rest, plus those that live at Winding Trails year round. Help us beat our Spring Bird Count record of 41 different species of birds. If you have them, bring your binoculars or spotting scope and a field guide. For those that don’t, we will have extras.

Date: Saturday, October 27th
Time: 7:30am – 9:30am
Where: Garmany Hall
Ages: All ages
Fee: Free

Get Out and Explore Walks

Fall is a season of preparation for winter within the forest for the plants, trees and animals. Our focus this fall will be on how the forest and its wildlife work together. This September, the fall equinox falls on a Sunday so we will explore the day of equal daylight and darkness to see what changes are occurring. In October, we are collecting mast – acorns, nuts and seeds that fall from the trees – to determine how the animals will survive the coming winter. Come November, the forest appears asleep. Come wander through it to see if it truly is. Finally December arrives and we will need a break from the busyness of the holiday to get out and explore the quietness of nature. Miss Judy will help you explore the many changes of fall and the start of winter. She will bring the nets, collection bags, and her love and knowledge of nature. You bring your curiosity, clothes appropriate for the weather to get messy in, and a pair of shoes or boots that are good for walking. Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Collecting Mast – The Bounty of the Forest
Date: Sunday, October 28th

The Sleeping Forest – But Is It Really Asleep?
Date: Sunday, November 25th

A Quiet Walk with Nature
Date: Sunday, December 23rd

Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm – 90-minute walk
Where: September & October – The Nature Hut
November & December – Garmany Hall
Ages: All ages
Fee: Family: $20.00 Individual: $13.00
Member Discount Fee: Family: $12.00 Individual: $8.00
Minimum: 1 Family or Individual Maximum: 8 Families

Explore the Night Walks

Fall is a great season to explore the night sights and sounds, plus check out the constellations and planets. Our September focus will be the Walton Pond bats and the Square of Pegasus constellation. Come October the leaves should be in full color with the Cetus constellation just showing its head and body. In November, late fall moths and insects will be out with the full moon. End December with a quiet night walk under the waning gibbous moon, join friends by the fire and share or listen to some great fireside stories. Miss Judy enjoys hosting these evening explorations and walks. Those who have attended know the great discoveries, the glow of the night fire, and the shooting stars and other finds of the night sky. Dress for the weather – it gets cold some nights, bring your binoculars or telescope, enjoy marshmallows and smores, and the fellowship of other night explorers. Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Bats in the Square of Pegasus
Date: Saturday, September 22nd

Changing Leaves Dance Around Cetus the Whale
Date: Saturday, October 13th

Late Fall Moths & Insects Chase the Full Moon
Date: Saturday, November 24th

Walk under a Gibbous Moon to Stories by the Fire
Date: Saturday, December 29th

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: September & October – The Nature Hut
November & December – Garmany Hall
Ages: All ages
Fee: Family: $20.00 Individual: $13.00
Member Discount Fee: Family: $12.00 Individual: $8.00
Minimum: 1 Family or Individual Maximum: 8 Families

Family Nature on Saturday Afternoons

These new once-a-month explorations with Miss Judy are meant to give parents or caregivers and their children the time to learn more about the nature of the forest and wetlands at Winding Trails. These are hands-on programs that allow you to get dirty, explore a new area, and ask those questions that are in the back of your mind. September starts with learning how to build homes that attract animals, fairies and gnomes in preparation for our big Nature’s Open House Weekend. Get a jump start on the adventure! In October, some animals make a decision to travel south. Join Miss Judy to see why they want to and who’s leaving this day. For November, we all know you’ve been dying to ask how the insects spend winter. Let’s find out whose still out, those that decided to curl up in a log, plus those who left little ones out in the cold. End the year in December with a spontaneous exploration to see what nature might bring. Who knows we could have a dusting of snow or the warmest day on record. See you there! Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Build a Home Fit for Animals, Fairies, & Gnomes
Date: Saturday, September 22nd

Heading South – Why Choose to Leave?
Date: Saturday, October 13th

Hey Bug! How Do You Spend the Winter?
Date: Saturday, November 24th

Let’s See What Nature Brings
Date Saturday, December 29th

Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Where: September & October – The Nature Hut
November & December – Garmany Hall
Ages: All ages
Fee: Family: $20.00
Member Discount Fee: Family: $12.00
Minimum: 1 Family Maximum: 8 Families

After School Science Exploration
For Toddler to Age 5

Want something to do after school on Thursdays? Have a brother or sister doing the After School Climbing Tower program? Join Miss Judy for free form exploration of the great outdoors; hands-on experiments: quiet observation time; and of course to have some fun. Be sure to wear good walking shoes, have a spare pair of water shoes, clothes for the weather so we can explore rain or shine, and expect to get messy. Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Date: Thursdays, September 20th to October 18th
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: The Nature Hut
Ages: Toddler and Age 3 must come with caregiver;
Ages 4 & 5 may be dropped off
Fee: $15.00 per class
Member Discount Fee: $10.00 per class
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

Nature Rangers
For Ages 3 to 1st Grade

Miss Judy takes your children on a journey of exploration to new places and topics or expands on those great things they love to talk about already. Dress them with good walking shoes, clothes for the weather so we can explore rain or shine, and be willing to share the hand-outs between the classes. You’ll be surprised at how much they remember. Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Date: Fridays – See specific dates in the descriptions
Time: 9:45am – 11:00am 3 & 4 year olds
1:15pm – 2:30pm 4 & 5 year olds
4:45pm – 6:00pm Grades K & 1st
Where: September & October – The Nature Hut
November & December – The Lodge

So, Where Do You Live?

Discover the many and varied animal homes that can be found within the forest at Winding Trails. Some are in trees; others are underground, while a few are in the branches. Discover the materials used, their square footage, and help build one that might someday even get occupied by fairies and gnomes.

Date: Fridays, September 14th, 21st, & 28th
Fee: $35.00
Member Discount Fee: $30.00
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

What’s Below Your Feet?

Join Miss Judy as we explore the soil – not the dirt – of Winding Trails. Learn about the decomposers that turn leaves and trees into soil. Dig a hole and check out the soil layers by color. Sift the soil samples to discover what sizes the sand and gravel are. Discover the difference between sand, silt, and clay by checking soil texture and using a little chemistry.

Date: Fridays, October 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th
Fee: $50.00
Member Discount Fee: $45.00 (the $5.00 material fee is included)
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

What’s That You’re Mixing There?

Want to mix things together? Learn about solids, liquids, and gases? Then come help Miss Judy in the chemistry lab as we find out about atoms and molecules, mix up some cool mixtures and solutions, and make a few things bubble and foam.

Date: Fridays, November 2nd, 9th,
16th & 30th (no class November 23rd)
Fee: $50.00
Member Discount Fee: $45.00 (the $5.00 material fee is included)
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

Wander with CT’s Dinosaurs

Do you know that dinosaurs walked here in Connecticut? Bet you don’t know where! Explore Connecticut with Miss Judy to see who these dinosaurs were and where they existed. Enjoy a little geography, some great dinosaur finds, and make some dinosaur tracks to take home.

Date: Fridays, December 7th & 14th
Fee: $30.00
Member Discount Fee: $25.00 (the $5.00 material fee is included)
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

Young Scientists
For Grades 2nd & 3rd or 4th & 5th

Are you too old for Nature Rangers? Do you still want to do science with Miss Judy based on your grade level? Then join her for a special class about topics you enjoy and continue the exploration with take-home activities. In September, experiment with physics to discover how different forces create unique motions. Get outside for October to check the soil – not dirt – at Winding Trails using texture and chemistry. Check out November as we use chemistry to see how the environment is doing. For December, discover how paleontologists measure, identify, and classify using 21 reproduction fossils. Be sure to wear good walking shoes, clothes for the weather so we can explore rain or shine, and expect to get messy. Registration is required two days before the date of the event.

Exert a Force and Check Out the Motion
Date: Saturday, September 22nd

What’s Below Your Feet?
Date: Saturday, October 13th

Mix up the Environmental Chemistry
Date: Saturday, November 24th

Fossil Laboratory
Date: Saturday, December 29th

Time: 9:00am – 10:30am – Grades 2nd & 3rd
11:00am – 12:30pm – Grades 4th & 5th
Where: September & October – The Nature Hut
November & December – The Lodge
Ages: All ages
Fee: $15.00
Member Discount Fee: $10.00
Minimum: 2 children Maximum: 12 children

Planning a Party at Winding Trails?

Invite Miss Judy and her animals or have her lead a nature walk. She can be reached at (860) 582-4902 to check her availability and options for your party.