“It is wonderful to see the children hiking and enjoying [their] time exploring the preserve…” The Middlesex Land Trust once again partnered with Everyone Outside, a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for people of all ages to spend time outdoors, and nurture a deeper relationship with the natural world. This year, they offered a 4-week Farm and Forest full and half-day summer camp for children ages 5-12 at Fire Ring Farm and Middlesex Land Trust’s Palmer Taylor Preserve. “The children are developing the connection to the natural world that is needed for on-going stewardship.” The Middlesex Land Trust provided scholarship funding to make the program possible for more children...

In 1982, Herman Sheets purchased an 86-acre parcel on Puttker Road in North Stonington. Until Mr. Sheets's death in 2006, the land served as a routine stopover for him and his wife Paulann's six children and seven grandchildren when they visited. Thus, it became known as “granddad’s forest.” In 2016, Paulann listed the parcel for sale with the intention it be sold for conservation. Avalonia Land Conservancy purchased the parcel, now known as the Herman E. Sheets Family Forest, with funding support from CT DEEP's Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant program, the Bafflin Foundation, the Summer Hill Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Sustainable CT, and the Town of North Stonington. The forest is part of the Wood Pawcatuck Watershed, provides critical habitats for wildlife and birds, and will be open for hiking, birding, trail running, and fishing in the Green Falls River…

Without exception, people get involved with their local land trust because they care. They care about wildlife and the environment. They care about their community and quality of life. And they care about the world they will be leaving their children and grandchildren.

Exploring the land, stewarding the land, playing on the land — these are the experiences that mold people and the things they care about — particularly children.

#LoveYourCTLandTrust — for providing opportunities to nuture childhood connections to nature that will last a lifetime.

Children Exploring the Woods courtesy of Middlesex Land Trust;

Sheets Family Forest courtesy of Avalonia Land Conservancy;

GLTYCC and GLT Volunteers courtesy of Granby Land Trust