Great reviews from participants of RLT’s first “By the River: Family Nature Celebration” on Sunday afternoon, September 18, 2022 at the River Road Preserve.  The afternoon opened with beautiful, sunny weather and cooler temperatures allowing families to comfortably explore the many nature-themed offerings. 

Environmental groups like Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition (PRWC) and Litchfield Hills Greenprint’s “Follow the Forest” initiative joined farmers like Riverbank Farm and Twilight Dreams Farm, vendors like Elemental Cakes and the Golden Button, and municipal organizations like Roxbury Ambulance and Roxbury Conservation Commission to focus on the enjoyment, excitement, and energy that comes from being in nature. 

Live music by the Willie and Jan Band, arts and crafts, a wildlife talk with rescued animals by White Memorial Conservation Center, fly tying demonstrations by the Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter of Trout Unlimited, guided preserve walks by RLT’s own Brian Duda, pollinator garden talks by Laura Evans and Landscape Architect Karen Cowperthwaite, storytelling by Minor Memorial Library, cornhole games, and more.  

“It was wonderful to see our community come together to celebrate nature here at RLT’s preserve by the Shepaug River,” said Executive Director Ann Astarita. She added, “the rain we had the week before was really a boon to the benthic macroinvertebrates that live in the river.” 

To learn more about water quality sampling and the local macroinvertebrate population, join PRWC for the 17th Annual Macroinvertebrate Survey on Tuesday, 9/27/22 at 6 p.m. at the Woodbury Public Library.  The survey will be held October 1 & 2 for all trained volunteers.  Check out pomperaug.org for more information and to join up!   

Many thanks to RLT’s “By the River” event sponsors Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC, as well as The Kathryn Clair Team at William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, Union Savings Bank, Willie and Jan Band, Elemental Cakes, Ox Hollow Farm, and Maple Bank Farm.