This festival has grown to be one of the favorite fall music events in CT. Farmington Valley Acoustic Festival celebrates its 8th year with more top notch national and local acts on the colorful grounds along Dunning Lake. This year's festival headliners will be Toronto based Enter the Haggis. They combine bagpipes and fiddles with a rock rhythm section to create a distinctly eclectic sound. Joining them will be Damn Tall Buildings. This four-member band blend elements of bluegrass, blues, roots-rock, and vintage swing to create a captivating and high energy sound. Rounding out the main stage will be Ruta Beggars and Kala Farnham. On the boathouse stage will be various other talented local acts for your enjoyment. There will also be a beer garden featuring dozens of local breweries sponsored by CLARKHIRTH CPAS.

Come and enjoy some great music in a variety of different venues at Winding Trails. The music is always excellent, and it is a great time to enjoy the park and friends. Feel free to bring your own food and drinks.

Your child will spend 1.5 hours a week participating in a variety of outdoor adventure activities from developing communication skills on our low elements, to learning the basics of rock climbing on our 40' climbing tower consisting of 4 sides; a 15' beginner wall, a 35' intermediate wall, a 35' advanced wall and the fourth side is a 60' x 35' cargo net. Through this program your child can overcome personal fears and develop new self-confidence and trust.

Here is an exciting option to add to your morning sports/half day programs for parents that would like their children to experience all aspects of camp. Campers may sign up for this afternoon program if they are signed up for any Winding Trails Half Day camp that ends at noon. This will include all the best from our sports/half day camps in the morning combined with an afternoon filled with fun and adventure at Archery, Boating, Nature, and more. The fun and excitement is here for you! Transportation can be provided from our summer day camp buses ($15.00 per week for AM or PM) and campers can attend early and late program ($30.00 per week for either). This program will be run as part of our ACA accredited day camp and CT State Licensed Day Camp.

The Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED course incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns, cuts, scrapes, sudden illnesses, head, neck, back injuries, heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies to help victims of any age - adults (12 years and older) and pediatric (infants and children up to 12 years of age). Students who successfully complete this course will receive a certificate for Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED valid for two years This is a blended learning class, with an online requirement before the class starts. A processing fee to the Red Cross is required when registering for the online portion. SESSION ONE is for new certifications, SESSION TWO is for those who need to be recertified.

Come join us for a fun filled creative class that will stir your preschooler's imagination. Every week your child will enjoy 45 minutes of creative arts and crafts projects that they will be able to take home and show off to the entire family.

Strike-in with this great summer program! Participants will learn the fundamentals of baseball including game rules, proper battling technique, pitching, and the various field positions. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, sneakers, baseball glove, and sunscreen. We will provide gloves for those that need them.

Participants will have a great time as they work on their passing, ball handling, shooting, and dribbling skills. Newly acquired basketball skills will be put to the test at an end of the week tournament. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers and sunscreen.

Join Blair Wlochowski, Winding Trails' bird volunteer, as we explore the Winding Trails' property to discover what birds are found here during the changing seasons. Learn tips on how to enhance your birding skills and work on your Bird Life List. The walks will travel through many habitat areas, so a good variety of birds are expected to be seen. Always dress for the weather and wear a good pair of walking shoes. Please bring a pair of binoculars, a field guide, and a bottle of water. We usually have a couple of extra binoculars and a field guide to share with those without.

Have you or someone you know always wanted to learn how to fish? Well, this year we have a new learning experience to get you outdoors and fishing. The CT DEEP Fisheries Division offers an online Let's Go Fishing, course to learn all about fishing from the comfort of your home. Join Certified Fishing Instructors for a quick review of what you've learned at Nature's Porch classroom. Then, we will do hands-on activities that cover all the basic fishing skills from how to set up a fishing rod, casting practice, and putting that line into the water to catch your first fish at Walton Pond for the start of a lifetime of fishing with family and friends. Upon your registration for this program, you will be asked to do your "homework" online prior to the event. Then, come to Walton Pond on April 29th to complete the hands-on field trip for this program and begin your lifetime of fishing.

This year's theme for Earth Day is "Invest in our planet". What better way to do that than by joining the Winding Trails staff as we "spruce" up the park for the coming busy season. Volunteers will be placed in groups and assigned to a project. These will include cleaning up the campsites, splitting wood, waxing the playgrounds, water treating decks, leaf pickup, and more. Come dressed to get dirty and help make your park a better place. Lunch will be provided.

This new program gives kids an opportunity to explore the climbing tower after dark. The excitement grows as nighttime provides a new challenge! Special lights will be installed around the tower for this experience. The climbing tower is 40' high consisting of 4 sides: a 15' beginner wall with incline, a 40' intermediate vertical wall, a 40' advanced wall with incline and over hangs and a 60' x 35' cargo net for the quickest way to the top. Once on top, it's time for the ride, a 300' long zip line down Main Street. This program is for members only. Due to demand, please only register for one session per child.

This winter and spring families with older children will join Miss Judy for a fun Saturday afternoon of learning something new about the great outdoors. The program format is an introduction about the day's topic followed by a hands-on outdoor activity to try out what you learned. Each month, we will be exploring different locations and topics as we discover the many animals and plants that make up Winding Trails' fields, forests, and waterbodies. Since the weather is always fluid, the experience changes from year to year.
The January and February programs will have activities based on the weather on that day -- checking out ice on the pond or building a snow fort or taking a hike. In March, we will be experiencing the entire maple sugaring process from taping the trees to boiling down the sap into syrup. Dress for the weather with layers, snow pants (when appropriate), and boots so everyone is warm in the cold.
With April, we have hopes for the early spring season as we look for skunk cabbage and early spring flowers to listening for calling frogs at the vernal pools. Dress for the weather with good walking shoes. Bring along water boots or shoes for exploring the vernal pool areas up close.

Join Peter Rabbit and your entire family as they scramble for all the holiday goodies scattered about on the trail! We have plenty of treasures and treats for all. In addition to the candy and toys, every family will receive one golden egg with a special prize inside! Don't forget your goodie bag/basket to hold all your findings. The Egg Hunt will take place in a short loop on the trails ending with a continental breakfast at the Owl Pavilion. PLEASE REGISTER EACH MEMBER WHO WILL BE ATTENDING, adults included. We need an accurate headcount, as food is being served at this event.

Participants will learn skills on both sides of the ball including the components of passing, catching, and de-flagging or defensive positioning, all presented in a fun and positive environment. The week will end with a fun skills showcase to show their newly acquired talents. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers and sunscreen.

Our golf program focuses on the fundamental skills needed to participate in this sport. Participants learn the proper techniques in holding the clubs as well as footwork and swing mechanics. Players will also learn the basic rules and etiquette of the game. What to bring: golf clubs if you have them, appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers and sunscreen. We will provide clubs if needed.

Interest in Pickleball is surging across the country. If you are new to Pickleball and looking to learn more about the sport, then this program is for you! We will be offering a four-week program to help beginners learn all about pickleball. Equipment will be provided.

Suit up and find out why lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. Lacrosse combines the basic skills used in soccer, basketball and hockey into one fast-paced, high-scoring game. Athletes will learn all the fundamentals of stick handling, cradling, passing, and shooting in a fun, non-checking environment. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers, mouthpiece, protective gloves, helmet with full mask (or goggles for girls), lacrosse stick and sunscreen. We will provide equipment for those who need it.

Wrona Soccer is proud to be working with Winding Trails to be able to offer opportunities for players of all ages with our camp this summer. Our experienced staff excels at knowing how to get the best out of players through demonstrating techniques and inspiring players to reach higher. Our players learn the fundamentals of the game, ball control, passing, defending, and scoring. We will teach every child at their own pace. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers, shin guards, and sunscreen. Each child will receive a camp t-shirt.

Join the excitement! This 5-session program is designed for your 4- and 5-year-old. Each week your child will spend 1.5 hours learning and practicing their skills participating in outdoor adventure activities. Skills such as balance and coordination will be presented with the emphasis on FUN!

This program is designed for children ages 5-6 years old. Basketball, soccer, tee-ball and tennis will all be included in this 5 day, 1 1/2 hour program. The program will focus on teaching the very basic beginner skills of each sport and will have a big emphasis on having fun.

This winter and spring young children 6-years-old and under with their families will join Miss Judy for a fun Saturday afternoon of learning something new about the great outdoors. The program format is an introduction about the day's topic followed by a hands-on outdoor activity to try out what you learned. Each month, we will be exploring different locations and topics as we discover the many animals and plants that make up Winding Trails' fields, forests, and waterbodies. Since the weather is always fluid, the experience changes from year to year.
The January and February programs will have activities based on the weather on that day -- checking out ice on the pond or building a snow fort or taking a hike. In March, we will be experiencing the entire maple sugaring process from taping the trees to boiling down the sap into syrup. Dress for the weather with layers, snow pants (when appropriate), and boots so everyone is warm in the cold.
With April, we have hopes for the early spring season as we look for skunk cabbage and early spring flowers to listening for calling frogs at the vernal pools. Dress for the weather with good walking shoes. Bring along water boots or shoes for exploring the vernal pool areas up close.

Become a Junior Mad Scientist! This program is a great introduction to science for our younger fans. The junior scientists will explore the science of colors and the way things move, they will become paleontologists by searching for fossils and participating in a mini dinosaur dig. Finally, take an exciting mission with Mad Science to explore the planets, moons and stars. These young scientists will enjoy daily take-home projects related to each subject!

This program includes our NASA and Mad Science collaboration to educate the next generation! Children go on a voyage of discovery with unique hands-on activities, and amazing demonstrations that explore the sun and stars, space technology, rocket science, the atmosphere, planets and moons, exoplanets, and exobiology, and more! (Kindergarten through 5th grade)

Are you planning on racing in our Tri Series? Why not get into the Tuesday evening routine ahead of time with our brand-new mountain bike series. For 5 weeks, on Tuesday evenings, we will be having a 5 mile and a 10 mile race. The course winds through our trail system using open and single track trails. This is a fitness event to get ready for the Tri season or just to get out and have fun.

The Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA) and Winding Trails are teaming up for this timely workshop. Aimee Petras, Executive Director at the FRWA, will present this program that covers how to manage your lawn without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We will outline the steps you need to take including mowing techniques to manage weeds. Additionally, we'll delve into common lawn problems such as grubs and thatch. After the program, time will be available for additional questions.

Calling all Intermediate Pickleball enthusiasts! If you are one the individuals who has caught the pickleball craze you will want to sign up for this new program. Come out and meet new friends, get some exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. We will have an instructor onsite to help with scoring and answering any questions you may have.

Get a great workout and view at our Pilates class under the Boathouse Pavilion. Instructor Lisa McMahon has over 15 years of experience teaching Pilates and group exercise. You will need to bring your own matt and water bottle.

Presented with donations from the Trails Fund.
Come out and see the "darker" side of Winding Trails and the night sky. Join Smith College instructor and children's author, Meg Thacher as she provides
us with a look into the April constellations and tells their stories. She will show us how to use binoculars and what to look at. You will look through a telescope
at the Moon, Mars, Venus, the Orion Nebula, and star clusters.

At the end of the program, Meg will be available to sign her award winning children's book -- Sky Gazing. Copies of the book will be available for $20 or feel to
bring your own. Bring a flashlight, and Meg will teach you how to turn it into a night-vision-friendly Astronomy Flashlight! You are also encouraged to bring
your own binoculars or telescope if you can. Registration for this program opens on March 1st.

Multi-Sport programs are designed to introduce young athletes to a variety of different sports in one setting. Athletes will learn the rules and essential skills of each sport, along with vital life lessons such as sportsmanship and teamwork. (Baseball, Basketball, Flag Football & Soccer)

Introduce your little superstar to sports in our most popular program! This class uses age-appropriate games and activities to explore balance, hand/eye coordination, fitness, sport skills and child development. Parent participation required.

Introduce your little superstar to sports in our most popular program! This class uses age-appropriate games and activities to explore balance, hand/eye coordination, fitness, sport skills and child development. Parent participation required.

Introduce your little superstar to sports in our most popular program! This class uses age-appropriate games and activities to explore balance, hand/eye coordination, fitness, sport skills and child development.

This multi-sport program was developed to give children a positive first step into athletics. Sports are taught in a safe, structured environment filled with encouragement and fun. Through exciting games and activities, campers explore balance, hand/eye coordination and skill development at their own pace. (Baseball, Basketball & Soccer)

Skyhawks Volleyball takes the energy and excitement of this great team sport and puts it all together into one fun-filled program. All aspects of the game are taught through drills and exercises that focus on bumping, setting, spiking, hitting and serving. This program is designed for the beginning to intermediate player.

Shoot and score with our new soccer camp. Participants will learn the fundamentals of soccer including game rules, dribbling and shooting techniques, as well as the proper positions on the field. The program will be a mix of drills and fun games with the intent of getting ready for a full field game on the last day of camp. The main emphasis will be on having fun while playing the world's game! What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers, shin guards, and sunscreen.

Soccer Shots Classic utilizes creative and imaginative games to focus on basic soccer skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting. We also highlight a positive character trait each session such as respect, teamwork, and appreciation. Parent/guardian must be present during the entire class.

Soccer Shots Mini is a high-energy program introducing children to fundamental soccer principles, such as using your feet, dribbling and the basic rules of the game. Through fun games, songs and positive reinforcement, children will begin to experience the joy of playing soccer and being active. Parent/guardian must be present during the entire class.

Join us for lunch and education on the various forest stands Winding Trails has on property. Retired science teacher and Winding Trails volunteer Steve Messier will share with you his research into the age and history of our park forest and the variety of species we have. A lunch will follow the presentation.

Our tennis program focuses on the fundamental skills needed to participate in this life long sport. Participants will learn the proper techniques of grips, footwork, ground strokes, volleys, overheads, and serves. Players will also learn the basic rules and etiquette of the game. What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, snack, sneakers, sunscreen and tennis racquet. We will provide racquets for those who need them.

Set! Bump! Block! New this year! Come see what all the fun is about in our sand volleyball courts. Learn the basics of the game (with soft volleyballs). What to bring: appropriate clothing, water bottle, sneakers, and sunscreen.

Come join Miss Judy, Winding Trails' naturalist, for a casual exploration as we walk along some of our many trails to observe monthly seasonal changes. We'll talk about what we see or some of the current nature topics in the news. Sometimes we'll stop to gawk at an interesting find alongside the trail. A different route and seasonal topic are planned for each date. Always dress for the weather, wear a good pair of walking shoes, and bring your curiosity.