Upcoming Local Family Rambles

Spring is here! Discover the fun of one of our upcoming WalkCT Family Rambles. Let's get outside for our mental and physical health and share some quality family time with the children in our lives. Join us for one of our end-of-the-month family rambles, or celebrate Mother's Day with a special outing. For more details, outing guidelines, and other upcoming WalkCT Family Rambles, visit www.walkct.org/rambles. See you on the path to health & happiness, Lori Lori Paradis Brant Education Director

April WalkCT Family Rambles Frog Friday Field Forest, Durham Friday, April 29, 2011 2:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. OR 4:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Join us for the magic of spring! Observe the amazing transformations that occur in vernal pools. Our ears will guide us in the direction of frogs "peeping" loudly looking for a mate. We will keep our eyes open to search for frog and salamander eggs, tadpoles, salamanders, insect larvae, and other hidden gems of nature. We will walk approximately 0.3 miles on a dirt trail to the vernal pool. Folks interested in the beauty of spring and who can walk the trail are welcome to attend. Sponsored by Everyone Outside. Advanced registration is REQUIRED. Email info@everyoneoutside.org with date/time of Frog Friday, # of people attending, and ages of children (if any). Directions will be sent via email upon registration. Flat Stanley's CT Outdoor Adventure #2 Giuffrida Park, Meriden Saturday, April 30, 2011 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Help find Flat Stanley! Flat Stanley has gone missing on the Connecticut portion of the New England Trail (NET) and we need your help to find him. Join us for a fun adventure as we embark on a scavenger hunt and search for clues to find the hidden CT Flat Stanley letterbox. Find Flat Stanley as we hike the NET and have your picture taken with him to be entered into a random drawing for a CT Walk Book. Fun for all ages. Bring your own stamp and journal if you have one or borrow one of ours. Wear comfortable, waterproof shoes; bring your camera (optional). Inclement weather postpones to Sunday, May 1, same time. Join any of CFPA's Flat Stanley's CT Outdoor Adventures through August. Visit www.walkct.org/rambles for info.

Mother's Day WalkCT Family Rambles Celebrate Mother's Day Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown Saturday, May 7, 2011 10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Bring your mother or your daughter (or someone like a mother or daughter to you) and explore the beautiful woods and grounds of Wadsworth Mansion. We will walk 1 to 2 miles on trails and look for signs of spring, visit the vernal pool, and perhaps even find a letterbox with a hand carved stamp. It is a great time of year to be in the woods. Bring a lunch and join us for a picnic on the mansion grounds after the walk. Celebrate mothers, daughters, and the outdoors together. Pre-registrations are welcome, but not required, by contacting info@everyoneoutside.org. Moms & Mama Birds Air Line State Park Trail, Hebron Sunday, May 8, 2011 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Con-quer-eeee!!!!" "Drink-your-teeeeee!!!!!" Is this how baby birds sing "Happy Mother's Day"? Find out as we search for nesting families, and signs of beaver, turtles, reptiles, and amphibians during a leisurely 1- to 1.5-mile walk through the Raymond Brook Marsh on the Air Line State Park Trail in Hebron. Bring your Mom, Grandma, Dad, and Grandpa, too! Remember binoculars and bird field guides if you have them, or share ours. Also bring your whispers and quiet feet. Because mama mosquitoes have also found the marsh to be a great place for their children, long-sleeve shirts, long pants, comfortable shoes and socks, and insect repellant (please read directions on repellant) are recommended. Heavy rain cancels. Pre-registration appreciated, but not required, by contacting CFPA at (860) 346-2372 or info@ctwoodlands.org. Wheelchairs, strollers, and babies in secured backpacks are welcome. Click here for directions. Dragonfly rests