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Two New Family and Children Nature Study-Play Programs

April 24, 2015
Outdoor playtime for children and learning from nature will be the focus of two new family programs beginning this spring.  They are free and open to the public at the Aspetuck Land Trusts 20 acre Leonard Schine Preserve in Westport.

Starting Saturday April 18 at 8 am and continuing thereafter, families with children are invited to attend the free Family Playdates Program at The Natural Playground located at the Schine Preserve, 1 Glendinning Place off Route 57 in Westport.

 

The playground has areas for tower climbing, fort building, trail walking, nature collages, stick stacking, pine cone doll play and other activity.  The Natural Playground appeals to preschool and elementary age children but families are welcome to bring all ages. 

This is a great opportunity for children to have some free play time in nature, for parents to enjoy some free coffee we will provide, for socializing and a sense of community.  There are numerous benefits derived from outdoor play in a natural settingfresh air, exercise, and imaginative play to name a few, said David Brant, Executive Director, Aspetuck Land Trust.

 

In addition, children in first through fifth grades are also invited to join the Aspetuck Land Trust Junior Ranger program.    ALT Junior Rangers explore and enjoy adventures at a variety of ALT preserves.  To become an ALT Junior Ranger, children simply complete a booklet of activities ranging from hiking to leaf identification.  Upon completion of the booklet, ALT Junior Rangers will be presented with a Certificate of Accomplishment and an ALT Junior Ranger patch at a special ceremony.  To receive an ALT Junior Ranger Booklet, contact Celia Campbell-Mohn at ccampbellmohn@gmail.com, 203.293.5707, 18 Timber Lane, Westport, CT 06880.  

 

Aspetuck Land Trust is a local non-profit land conservation organization founded in 1966 to preserve open space in the towns of Westport, Weston, Fairfield and Easton. ALT preserves provide passive recreation and educational opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy nature, while preserving the flora and fauna and rural characteristics of local communities. ALT maintains 44 trailed nature preserves and other conservation-only properties on over 1,700 acres of land. ALT has over 1,000 local members who support us through annual membership contributions.  For more information visit www.aspetucklandtrust.org