As Earth Day approaches, this week’s Spring Outdoors leaders extend invitations to some naturally-terrific places. Horizon Wings in Ashford, Goodwin Forest in Hampton, the “Mill Museum” in Willimantic, Quinebaug Valley Community College and Cat Hollow in Killingly, and Sprague Land Trust’s preserve in Franklin are some of the places you can visit in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor this week!

The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) has two program choices this week. First up is TLGV’s monthly member program. “Cleanup Day at Horizon Wings” is happening Saturday, April 15^th from 9 am – noon. Volunteers will help rake leaves and clear debris. Following the cleanup, TLGV members can enjoy pizza and snacks as well as the chance to meet resident raptors including bald eagle Atka and golden eagle Chrysos. Please RSVP to Bill@tlgv.org  or call 860-774-3300 so he knows whoooo is coming to Ashford to help. Then, TLGV Rangers Geoff & Kim will be “Deep Sky Observing” on Friday, April 21^st at 8 pm in Franklin. Gaze at galaxies, clusters of stars, Red Giants, Nebulae & more! This is a family-friendly event, but no dogs or lanterns please.

Goodwin Forest has a handful of choices to get you digging into nature. The “Gardener’s Roundtable” workshop is for all experience levels on Saturday, April 15^th from 10 – 11:30 am. Best practices and pitfalls, successes and failures, expertise and questions will all be discussed. Also at Goodwin on Saturday April 15^th, cast your attention to “Fly Fishing: How & Why” with Trout Unlimited from 2 – 3:30 pm. Trout streams, strategy, timing, insect id basics, & skills are just some of the topics that very knowledgeable speakers will share. Then, on Monday, April 17^th from 4:30 – 5:30 pm, “Nature Tech Talk” encourages merging outdoors and technology for all ages to connect with nature. Plan to take a stroll on the Goodwin trails to try your new tech skills, then attend the “How Flowers are Affected by Climate Change” from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Fulbright Scholar & UConn Ph.D. student Tanisha Williams will share her knowledge with you. Finally, “Spring Bird Watching” at Goodwin is always exciting! Join Conservation Educator Michael Grady on Wednesday, April 19^th from 11 am – 1 pm for sightings. Bring binoculars and do not wear bright clothing.

Enjoy a spot of tea on Saturday, April 15^th, from 4 – 6 pm at the Windham Textile & History Museum during “Tea & Just Desserts featuring 40 Years of Creative Clothing.” Laura Crow, curator of the current exhibit “The Timeless Art of Dyllis: Forty Years of Creative Clothing” will give a brief talk. Reservations are required to 860-456-2178 or email themillmuseum@gmail.com, $15 per person.

The “Every Day is Earth Day Environmental Fair” brings a robust day full of activities on Tuesday, April 18^th. Start off at 6 am with the “On the Air Water Fair” live on WINY Radio 1350am by heading to the WINY parking lot to receive a water collection bottle from Northeast District Department of Health and the CT Department of Public Health for FREE testing of your well water, a $150 – $200 value! The party moves to Quinebaug Valley Community College from 10:30 am – 2 pm with dozens of earth-friendly vendors, water experts, student murals, music, an upcycle “Trash to Treasures swap” and more. Impressive and much-sought after author, Brenda Ekwurzel, Ph.D. will speak at 12:30 pm in the QVCC Auditorium. Can’t make this time slot? Dr. Ekwurzel will speak again at the CT Audubon Society Center at Pomfret at 7 pm the same day.

Friday, April 21^st closes out the week with something for the family and kids of all ages. Killingly Library’s “Story Walk at Cat Hollow” is a leisurely walk through Cat Hollow Park while enjoying a nature-related story from 10 – 11:30 am. This is perfect for little legs and strollers. Registration required to 860-779-53863 or info@killinglypubliclibrary.org.

To get all the Spring Outdoor choices and clean-up opportunities, visit www.thelastgreenvalley.org or TLGV’s Facebook page. New adventures are being added all the time, so be sure to check in often!

The Last Green Valley is a National Heritage Corridor – the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C.  The Last Green Valley works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. Together we can care for it, enjoy it and pass it on!