The 2025 New Horizons in Conservation Convening

The tribally-owned Pequot Museum and Research Center brings to life the story of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. The 308,000-square-foot building is a major resource for the histories and cultures of Natives in the northeast of the country. The museum features permanent exhibits such as “Life on the Reservation,” “Arrival of the People,” and “The Changing Environment”. The research center has archives and archeological and conservation laboratories. The building has a 185-foot glass tower, which provides views of the swamp and region. The Museum & Research Center is accessible to all visitors.  

The field trip includes a guided tour of the museum and a behind-the-scenes tour of the research center’s archaeology lab.  

Location: Ledyard, Connecticut 
Cost: $60 

Priam Vineyards is an award-winning, 40-acre farm located in Colchester, Connecticut. The Priam property has a rich geological history that contributes to a unique mineral background and acidity to the wine. Priam Vineyards also has a microclimate similar to the winegrowing regions of northern France and Germany. In 2010, Priam Vineyards became the first vineyard in New England to be entirely solar-powered, providing the power needed to run the winery and produce the wines. The wine-tasting bar, tasting room, and wine patio are open year-round.    

The field trip includes a guided tour to learn about the grape growing and winemaking process, Q&A, and wine tastings.   

Location: Colchester, Connecticut 
Cost: $40

Did you know Connecticut is home to over 50 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail? Join us for a hike along approximately 6 miles of the trail in the northwest corner of the state. This trail section goes along the beautiful Housatonic River between the towns of Kent and Cornwall, Connecticut. This part of the Appalachian Trail is famous for being the only northern part of the trail that follows a riverbank for many miles. The trail is well-maintained and relatively flat. It is full of vibrant and varied foliage, diverse wildlife, and is a prime birdwatching area.  

The hike will be guided by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The bus will drop us off on one end and pick us up on the other. If necessary, it is possible to hike only half of the trail.  

Location: Kent, Connecticut  
Cost: $60

The Thimble Islands, nestled off the coast of Stony Creek Village in Branford, CT, are a charming archipelago of 25 small, rocky islands dotted with Victorian-era summer cottages adorned with gingerbread trim. This scenic haven, with its lush thimbleberry bushes, is perfect for boating enthusiasts, where kayakers, paddleboarders, fishing boats, and locals share the peaceful waters. On a 45-minute narrated cruise aboard Sea Mist, you can relax and take in the beauty of this unique maritime community, learning about the islands’ history, natural landscape, and the stories of the cottages that grace them. 

Location: Depart from Stony Creek Dock located at #4 Indian Point Rd, Branford, Connecticut
Cost: $50

African immigrants and refugees living in Rhode Island operate the African Alliance Community Garden and Bami Farm. In Swahili and Zulu, “Bami” means “mine.” African Alliance is a gathering place for new arrivals to the U.S. who have extensive farming knowledge but have difficulty using those skills for employment opportunities in the U.S.  

In 2009, Julius Kolawole started African Alliance to help create a network and support structure for Africans in Rhode Island. They began selling products at local farmers markets in Providence four years later. Immigrant women were critical to the success of the farmers market stalls. In addition to fruits and vegetables commonly grown in the U.S., African Alliance’s farm grows and sells produce like Okra, Uziza, and Ewedu. 

Field trip participants will tour the farm, speak with farmers, and learn about the philosophy and operation of the farm. 

Location: Providence, Rhode Island 
Cost: $60 

Bishop’s Orchards is a 150-year-old, family-owned and operated, solar-powered farm. Bishop’s Orchards has two solar arrays that provide around 80% of the farm’s annual electricity. The farm has over 300 acres and grows a wide variety of produce. They make their own wine from fruit grown on the farm, have u-pick fields and orchards, CSA, and even their own ice cream shop!  

The visit to Bishop’s Orchards will include learning about their farm stewardship practices, a winery and cider mill tour, and wine tasting. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the farm store and ice cream shop.  

Location: Guilford, Connecticut 
Cost: $40 

Hear about Yale’s rich 300-year history and aspects of student life at several of Yale’s fourteen residential colleges. The tour also includes the gothic Sterling Memorial Library which is Yale’s largest and most famous library, and the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Constructed with more than one hundred panels of translucent marble, the Beinecke is home to one of the world’s preeminent collections of rare materials, including the Gutenberg Bible.  Tours last approximately 1 hour (plus or minus 15 minutes).  

The tour is primarily all outdoors with the exception of going inside of Sterling Memorial Library.    

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Cost: free

The Yale Forests stewards 10,000+ acres of forest land across Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The Forests serve as a living laboratory for demonstration, research, and teaching within a working landscape. Join us at our flagship Yale-Myers Forest, located in Connecticut’s “Quiet Corner,” a rural, densely forested landscape in the northeast corner of the state.  

This field trip will begin with a short walking tour of the forest focused on landscape history, forest ecology and management, followed by an introduction to maple sugaring and a visit to our sap house and sugar bush. Though maple syrup production is a winter-time activity, we will enjoy tasting some syrup together! 

Location: Eastford, Connecticut
Cost: $50 

Join us for a scenic and informative walking tour along the Farmington Canal Trail! We’ll meet at YSE (Kroon) and begin our stroll to explore the beautiful and diverse areas along the trail. On Saturdays, there’s a chance to participate in a volunteer activity with a local group helping maintain the pollinator garden at the Newhallville Learning Corridor, which will be an exciting stop on our journey. 

We’ll start by heading north from Hillhouse and make our way up the trail, learning about the local history, ecology, and community initiatives along the way. If you’re up for it, we’ll walk all the way to the Women’s Empowerment Mural at the Hamden line, which is about 1.75 miles north of our starting point—making the total walk about 3.5 miles round trip. Plan for approximately 2 hours for the walk, or up to 2.5 to 3 hours if we take some time to stop, talk, and enjoy the sights. 

The tour will run from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with plenty of time for questions and discussion. We’re hoping that by the time we go, the tunnel under Temple Street will be open, allowing us to explore even further! Whether you’re a local or visiting, this is a great way to learn more about the community and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in nature. 

Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Cost: $20 

The New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence was created by the mothers of victims of gun violence as a special place to remember their loved ones. The garden is a place of hope and healing on Valley Street in New Haven, CT. With each new tree and flower planted, the mothers are taking positive action to build public awareness of the magnitude of the problem of gun violence and invest in the future of our community. 

Location: New Haven, Connecticut 
Cost: $20 

Cherry Ann is a beautiful park tucked away at the end of Cherry Ann Street that has a decade-long history with the Urban Resources Institute. Miss Connie and an awesome group of kids have worked tirelessly over the years to make the park what it is. This summer, Beatrice Seldon became the new group leader, and has done great work with her family doing stewardship in the two garden areas at the front of the park. They weeded, planted new perennials and shrubs, and added mulch. Cherry Ann is a special place that provides children on Cherry Ann and nearby streets a safe space to play and provides a space for adults to meet and gather with their neighbors. Cherry Ann Park serves as a monument to the vision and strength of its community, one that will provide space for children and others to play for years to come. 

Location: New Haven, Connecticut 
Cost: $20

East Rock Park, located in both New Haven and Hamden, Connecticut, is a beautiful urban park offering a blend of natural beauty and historic significance. Encompassing 427 acres, the park is known for its stunning mountainous ridge, East Rock, which rises above the surrounding landscape. Developed with naturalistic landscaping, East Rock Park is a designated National Historic Place and remains a beloved destination for outdoor enthusiasts. 

Visitors to the park can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views from the top of East Rock, where the vistas stretch across the city of New Haven, Long Island Sound, and Long Island. The park is a popular spot for hiking, walking, and nature exploration, and it remains open year-round to all who wish to experience its natural beauty. 

This field trip will provide participants with an opportunity to explore both the history and the natural environment of this iconic New Haven landmark, all while enjoying the area’s scenic trails and stunning viewpoints. 

Location: New Haven, Connecticut 
Cost: $20