Educating locals about the environment is the mission of both the Deep River Land Trust (DRLT) and Bushy Hill Nature Center, so the two organizations have joined up to bring an environmental educational opportunity to the community on Sunday, Nov. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Bushy Hill Nature Center in Deep River.

The event, which is open to all ages, will include a botanical tour through one of Connecticut’s rare cedar swamps. Hikers will have an opportunity to learn how to identify native tree species, why the leaves change color, and what makes cedar swamps unique ecosystems.

The event will also include wilderness survival skills stations at which guests will learn how to make and use a bow drill, a look inside an authentic wigwam, and learn how to use an atlatl and throwing sticks. Sarah Herrick, an environmental educator from the DRLT, will also be on hand at the event with information about how to make exploring nature trails fun and exciting using geocaching, Pokemon Go, and other mobile apps like eBird. She will also discuss public competitions like the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s Sky’s the Limit Hiking Challenge, which was designed to promote hiking in Connecticut’s state parks and forests.

“Our hope is to get as many people as possible involved, so there is a deeper understanding of our innate ability to provide for one another, which includes conservation of land and mother earth,” said Brendan Hyland, associate director of Bushy Hill Nature Center.

Michael Zarfos, a member of the DRLT and former Bushy Hill teacher and camper, agreed, stating, “The idea with this event is to bring two non-profit organizations that have similar values and goals together to help educate people about our environment and offer the community a very cool experience. We want everyone, young and old, to have a better awareness of what’s around them; the plants, animals, habitats, stonewalls, birds, everything.

“We are also hoping this event is an opportunity for networking and for locals to meet their neighbors with similar interests,” he continued. “We also hope to provide attendees with more information about local environmental issues and educational opportunities from Bushy Hill and DRLT.”

Admission for the event is free; breaks will include snacks, cider, and a chance to network and learn more about the DRLT and Bushy Hill programs. Those wishing to attend the event are asked to RSVP to deepriverlandtrust@gmail.com.