Past Events
New Year’s Day 2025 Hike with the Lyme Land Trust

Time: Various times
Place: 3 different locations in Lyme
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Start 2025 off with a refreshing hike in the Lyme woods. The Lyme Land Trust is offering three walks this year. Register with the walk leader for the time and location you prefer. Space is limited. You may sign up for more than one walk if space and time permits.
- 10:00 am: Gillette Castle State Park – Family Trail Time with Tori. Join Tori and family, including 3 yr old Kade and 1 yr old Quinn, for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit! Meet at the parking lot of Gillette Castle near the visitor center. Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT.
Register: vharris1391@gmail.com - 10:00 am to 12:30ish pm: Pleasant Valley Preserve with Tony Irving. Notice glacial geology and its effect on colonial agricultural practices on a moderate 3.5-mile walk with a long gentle incline to a spectacular overlook. Meet at pull-in parking lot, Macintosh Rd, Lyme, about 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Macintosh road and Rte 156.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com - 1:30 to 3:30ish pm: Johnston Preserve with Wendy Hill: Hike to beautiful overlook vistas of the hills of Lyme and to the highest point in Lyme at the headwaters of three watersheds. A moderate 2.5 plus miles. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
For more information about the preserves and directions. Everyone is welcome. End times are approximate. Allow extra time. Bring a bottle of water. Inclement weather cancels. Check for updates on the LLT website.
Start 2025 off with a refreshing hike in the Lyme woods. The Lyme Land Trust is offering three walks this year. Register with the walk leader for the time and location you prefer. Space is limited. You may sign up for more than one walk if space and time permits.
- 10:00 am: Gillette Castle State Park – Family Trail Time with Tori. Join Tori and family, including 3 yr old Kade and 1 yr old Quinn, for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit! Meet at the parking lot of Gillette Castle near the visitor center. Gillette Castle State Park, 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT.
Register: vharris1391@gmail.com - 10:00 am to 12:30ish pm: Pleasant Valley Preserve with Tony Irving. Notice glacial geology and its effect on colonial agricultural practices on a moderate 3.5-mile walk with a long gentle incline to a spectacular overlook. Meet at pull-in parking lot, Macintosh Rd, Lyme, about 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Macintosh road and Rte 156.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com - 1:30 to 3:30ish pm: Johnston Preserve with Wendy Hill: Hike to beautiful overlook vistas of the hills of Lyme and to the highest point in Lyme at the headwaters of three watersheds. A moderate 2.5 plus miles. Meet at Johnston Preserve parking lot on the south side of Rte 82, about 1.5 miles east of the Hadlyme Country Market and 2 miles west of the intersection of Rte 82 and Rte. 156, Lyme.
Register: openspace@townlyme.org
For more information about the preserves and directions. Everyone is welcome. End times are approximate. Allow extra time. Bring a bottle of water. Inclement weather cancels. Check for updates on the LLT website.
Imagining Lyme–Photo Submission Deadline – Fall

Time: midnight
Place: Submit photos to Imagining Lyme website
Contact Email: education@lymelandtrust.org
Submit up to three of your favorite photos to share. The Lyme Land Trust program Imagining Lyme: A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves encourages everyone to expand their visual awareness and highlight the beauty of the Lyme preserves owned by the Lyme Land Trust, the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, or the State of CT by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Amateur photographers may submit photos. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:
- Lyme Preserves owned and/or managed by the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the State of CT. View a map of the preserves
- Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants in Lyme – May be in a backyard, local farm, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
- Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.
For more information and to submit photos
Submit up to three of your favorite photos to share. The Lyme Land Trust program Imagining Lyme: A Visual Exploration of Lyme’s Preserves encourages everyone to expand their visual awareness and highlight the beauty of the Lyme preserves owned by the Lyme Land Trust, the Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, or the State of CT by taking photographs prompted by inspiration from professional photographers and artists. Amateur photographers may submit photos. Photographers do not have to be residents of Lyme but all photos must be taken in Lyme in any of these places:
- Lyme Preserves owned and/or managed by the Lyme Land Trust, Town of Lyme, The Nature Conservancy, and the State of CT. View a map of the preserves
- Pollinator/wildlife habitat with native plants in Lyme – May be in a backyard, local farm, preserve or in a Lyme Pollinator Pathway garden in Lyme, CT.
- Trail 53 – The clear sky above Lyme.
For more information and to submit photos
Family Trail Time with Tori

Time: 10:00 am
Place: Roaring Brook Preserve, Day Hill Road, Lyme CT
Contact Email: vharris1391@gmail.com
Presenter: Tori Harris
Take a walk to the refreshing waters of Roaring Brook. Map of Roaring Brook Preserve. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Take a walk to the refreshing waters of Roaring Brook. Map of Roaring Brook Preserve. Join Tori and family on the 4th Sunday of every month for a “mile-ish” hike geared towards families with children under 5, but no age limit!
Kindly email vharris1391@gmail.com to register.
Tori is a Mom of two littles – Kade, 3 yrs, and Quinn, 1 yr. Hiking and wandering in the local preserves, has really given her family the safe space to let Kade run loose and has a calming effect on Quinn. Working full time, volunteering in many organizations and finding time to enjoy the outdoors with the whole family, can be tough, but it is worth it!
Tree Collective- Teen Hike and Steward Group Meet-up

Time: 1:00-3:30 pm
Place: Register to learn location
Contact Email: reganstacey@gmail.com
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
The Tree Collective is a program designed to engage young conservationists ages 14-18 in outdoor fun and education while working to maintain trails in our beautiful town of Lyme, CT. It is sponsored by the Lyme Land Trust under the leadership of environmentalist/artist Regan Stacey. Each time we meet, we offer a different topic, often with a hike and trail work in a selected preserve.
Tools and gloves provided.
Registration required: reganstacey@gmail.com.
Click on flyer to enlarge.
SOLD OUT – Winter Solstice Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook

Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Place: Banningwood Preserve. 19 Town St., Lyme CT
Contact Email: regan@reganstacey.com
Sold Out. Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook. Renew your connection with yourself and the Earth as we tap into nature’s rhythms and the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air on a guided meditative walk. A small closing ceremony will take place at the water’s edge as we then prepare for our return walk along the illuminated path. A restorative time of year, the winter solstice marks a solar turning point, where the darkest day turns the corner to renewed light and we welcome the season of winter—a rebirth of the sun.
Registration: FREE (donations to support Regan‘s offerings to the community are welcome)
Please register here.
Regan Stacey is an artist and environmentalist whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our beautiful planet, Earth. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, spiritual life coaching, and mindfulness training. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
Sold Out. Celebrate the Winter Solstice with a Luminary Walk along Roaring Brook. Renew your connection with yourself and the Earth as we tap into nature’s rhythms and the four elements of earth, fire, water, and air on a guided meditative walk. A small closing ceremony will take place at the water’s edge as we then prepare for our return walk along the illuminated path. A restorative time of year, the winter solstice marks a solar turning point, where the darkest day turns the corner to renewed light and we welcome the season of winter—a rebirth of the sun.
Registration: FREE (donations to support Regan‘s offerings to the community are welcome)
Please register here.
Regan Stacey is an artist and environmentalist whose passion is to reconnect humans to nature for the betterment of themselves, their communities, and our beautiful planet, Earth. Through her private practice, she offers forest bathing walks, spiritual life coaching, and mindfulness training. She is also co-founder of The Forest Therapy School, training forest therapy guides to share this work around the world. Find out more about her work at reganstacey.com
Gentle Walk Wednesday: Gillette’s Castle State Park – Wendy

Time: 10:00-11:00 am
Place: Entrance is at 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT. Meet at the main parking lot by the visitor center.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
We will explore on the paved park road and on easy dirt trails. We will see the beautiful Christmas decorations at the Castle and the beautiful view of the CT River. Optional walk up steps to the terrace. About 1 mile.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 4th Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be lead by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are easy, fairly flat dirt paths with some uneven footing, unless noted. Gentle pace. About 1 mile. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
We will explore on the paved park road and on easy dirt trails. We will see the beautiful Christmas decorations at the Castle and the beautiful view of the CT River. Optional walk up steps to the terrace. About 1 mile.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 4th Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be lead by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are easy, fairly flat dirt paths with some uneven footing, unless noted. Gentle pace. About 1 mile. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
Tuesday Trek: Walbridge Woodlands/Young Preserve – Wendy

Time: 9:00 am
Place: Meet at the Young Preserve parking lot on Gungy Rd, about 1/2 mile north of the intersection with Beaver Brook Rd.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
A hike of over 2 miles that will take you on ridges, laurel groves, old wood roads and past stone outcroppings.
Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
A hike of over 2 miles that will take you on ridges, laurel groves, old wood roads and past stone outcroppings.
Contact: openspace@townlyme.org
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Tuesday Trek: Selden Creek Preserve – Quinn

Time: 9:00 am
Place: Meet at the entrance to the Selden Creek Preserve on Joshuatown Rd.
Contact Email: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
Presenter: Ryan Quinn
Time for a late fall hike! Lets go on a 2 mile trek to explore this wonderful preserve during the quiet time of the year.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Time for a late fall hike! Lets go on a 2 mile trek to explore this wonderful preserve during the quiet time of the year.
Contact: ryan.p.quinn@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Take-a-Walk Wednesday: Selden Creek Preserve – Wendy

Time: 9:30 am
Place: The parking lot is about 4 miles from the intersection of Rte 156 and Joshuatown Rd in Lyme.
Contact Email: openspace@townlyme.org
Presenter: Wendy Hill
Meet at Selden Preserve parking lot on Joshuatown Rd. 2+ mile hike to beautiful vistas of Selden Creek and surrounding marshlands.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be led by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are moderate, dirt paths with some uneven footing and moderate hills, unless noted. Paced to the group. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
Meet at Selden Preserve parking lot on Joshuatown Rd. 2+ mile hike to beautiful vistas of Selden Creek and surrounding marshlands.
Sponsored with the Lyme’s Senior Center.
Reservations are required. Please email Caitlin Perkins at cperkins@oldlyme-ct.gov or call (860)434-1605 ext. 241. Free to Lyme’s Senior Center members. $5 for non-members.
On the 3rd Wednesday of each month (unless noted) the group will get together at various hiking areas in Lyme and Old Lyme. Hikes will be led by Wendy Hill, Open Space Coordinator of Lyme and the Vice President of Lyme Land Trust. The walks are moderate, dirt paths with some uneven footing and moderate hills, unless noted. Paced to the group. Bring a walking stick, water bottle and dress for the weather. Inclement weather cancels.
View the Take-a-Walk Wednesday Schedule
Tuesday Trek: Thach Preserve – Tony

Time: 9:00 am
Place: Meet at parking lot, 131 Brush Hill Rd.
Contact Email: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
Presenter: Tony Irving
Short 1-mile walk, but with lots of ecology to experience and learn about.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule
Short 1-mile walk, but with lots of ecology to experience and learn about.
Register: anthonyinlyme@gmail.com
View the Tuesday Trek Schedule