Walktober In The Last Green Valley

One of the Tanners young "buffs" - actually bison, from our archives.

Austin Tanner of Creamery Brook Bison Farm in Brooklyn, Connecticut named "Mr. Walktober" for 2011.

And it sure is great weather for a walking weekend in the northeast corner of the state. For more about locations visit The Last Green Valley for a PDF brochure with detailed information.

For information visit The Last Green Valley, www.tlgv.org, where walkers can find detailed information, a PDF of all tours and whether or not they allow dogs.

Owls, Hikes, More at D-P Nature Center

The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, located in Mystic offers a wealth of programs in addition to its network of trails, gift shop and learning center with live animals.

For more about the center, a trail map (PDF) or listing of program offerings over the winter holiday, see www.dpnc.org.

Wildlife Tracking Program At Goodwin

Holly berries are beloved as food by many species. The Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center continues its series of wildlife tracking programs for children on Saturday, Oct. 23 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The program is the Nature Notebook series designed for children aged 8 to 12 and their parents. The program will include searching for mammal tracks and signs, and making plaster casts of animal tracks. Pre-registration is requested, but not required. For more information, call (860) 455-9534 The Goodwin Forest Conservation Education Center and the Goodwin State Forest were gifts to the people of Connecticut from James L. Goodwin, one of America’s first professional foresters. Together the center and forest encompass 2,000 acres of forests and habitats, 14 miles of hiking and multi-purpose trails, three large ponds and a nature museum. The center is managed jointly by the Department of Environmental Protection and The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Inc.

Walk + October = Month Of Wonders

October light is stunning in New England.

Walktober is the expanded "Walking Weekend" concept that began on the Columbus Day holiday a decade ago.

The Last Green Valley event offers a month-long menu of some 117 events for walkers of every caliber to explore history, natural resources, farms, archaeology and the arts.

For a complete listing of Walktober offerings see www.tlgv.org. Brochures can be found in some area town halls or at tourism welcome centers, such as Olde Mistick Village.

Walk Into History, Griswoldville, Connecticut

Interested in old mills, dams and water power? An informative walk steps off at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center Saturday, June 5 in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Walkers will follow the course of Goff Brook to see ponds and former mill sites and the human history along the water courses.

Along the way, interesting sites and bird life will be pointed out. Topics include a former ice house and a modern-day turf farm.

Martha Mayer, executive director of the Griswoldville Preservation Association, leads the tour-walk.

The 2.5 mile loop walk is sponsored by the Great Meadows Conservation Trust, Griswoldville Preservation association and the town of Wethersfield. Free.

The walk is part of Connecticut Trails Day and is from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For information e-mail info@gmct.org.