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Grow your kids' love of nature with a starter kit from Aspetuck Land Trust, "Short Hikes for Short People." The Trust has designed these walks for children four through ten. They begin in May and run through September with each hike taking place in a different, local natural wonderland and including themed activities that help explore its special features.
The first hike on May 14 kicks off at the Trust's one year old Leonard Schine Preserve Natural Playground in Westport. Land Trust members Amy Murray and Karin Layton are the walk's pied pipers who point out sights along the way and schedule stops for art making with natural materials, and a music break, in which hikers use recycled materials as instruments. The hike circles back to conclude at the new Natural Playground, leaving plenty of unstructured time to explore its magical village with pinecone dolls, areas for fort building, tower climbing, tea-parties, and stick art.
Other upcoming hikes include: "The Wonder of Watersheds" at Stonebridge Waterfowl Preserve in Weston on June 18, "Who Lives in the Tidal Marsh?" at Fairfield's Great Salt Marsh Island on July 20, "Welcome to the Farm" at Trout Brook Valley Orchard in Easton on August 3 and "Hike & History" at Newman Poses Preserve in Westport on September 10.
Apetuck Land Trust opened the Leonard Schine Preserve Natural Playground last spring. It includes a meadow area of approximately 10,000 square feet and designated spaces for creative activities where pine cones, sticks and branches are on hand to stimulate imaginative play. The Preserve was created by a committed corps of volunteers. In 1966, other committed volunteers hit on the idea to create Aspetuck Land Trust to preserve open space. After its several decades in existence, more than 1,700 acres in four towns have been set aside as open space.
Reservations for "Short Hikes for Short People" can be made by calling (203) 331-1906 or e-mailing David Brant at dbrant@aspetucklandtrust.org. For more information, visit the Land Trust's website.
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