IMPORTANT NEW PROGRAM REGISTRATION POLICIES: Winding Trails is now producing two newsletters per year. The Winter-Spring edition promotes programs
from January through May and the Summer-Fall edition has programs from June through December. The opening of registration for these programs will
occur roughly the first of each month before the month the program is running. Check the program description for specific dates for registration openings.
Also please be sure to check our website and emails for the promotion of new programs or additional program offerings.
Acoustic Festival
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.
Saturday, October 21
11:00am to 6:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Dunning Lake
Ages:
All
Max:
1000
Fees
Member Adult:
$25.00
Member Child:
$5.00
Nonmember Adult:
$30.00
Nonmember Child:
$10.00
American Red Cross Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Training
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 people of any age. Students who successfully complete this course will receive certification that is valid for two years. This is a blended learning class, with an online requirement to be completed before the in-person class begins. A processing fee to the Red Cross is required when registering for the online portion (this is separate from the class fee listed here). Session one is for new learners. Session two is for those needing to be re-certified.
SESSION 2: for anyone holding the certification and needs to be recertified only.
Session 1
Wednesday, October 4
5:00pm to 8:30pm
Full
Session 2
Wednesday, October 18
5:00pm to 7:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Lodge Conference Room
Ages:
13 and up
Max:
10
Fees
Member Individual:
$80.00
Nonmember Individual:
$100.00
Barre at the Boathouse
Barre is a fun, high energy, fusion workout to strengthen and tone your muscles. Class includes cardio, barre work, and mat exercises. This class is for ALL levels, no prior dance or exercise experience is necessary. Bring your yoga mat, wear sneakers, and be ready to make new friends!
Tuesday, September 12 to Tuesday, October 17
9:30am to 10:30am
Full
Details
Where:
Boathouse Pavilion
Ages:
15 and up
Max:
20
Fees
Member Individual:
$75.00
Nonmember Individual:
$90.00
Climbing Tower Days
This is a two hour program allows you to get onto the climbing tower and enjoy the vertical realm! The climbing tower is 40' high consisting of three sides: beginner, intermediate, advances, and a cargo net. Once at the top, it's time to take a ride down Main Street on our 300' long zip line.
Session 6
Saturday, October 14
10:00am to 12:00pm
Open
Session 7
Saturday, October 21
10:00am to 12:00pm
Open
Session 8
Sunday, November 5
2:00pm to 4:00pm
Open
Session 9
Sunday, November 19
10:00am to 12:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Climbing Tower
Ages:
4 and up
Max:
30
Fees
Member Individual:
$30.00
Nonmember Individual:
45.00
Climbing Under the Stars
This new program gives participants the 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. Feel free to bring a headlamp or flashlight to help you when walking around the area and/or climbing. All four sides of the tower and our zip line will be open for this program.
Session 2
Friday, October 13
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Open
Session 3
Friday, November 3
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Session 4
Friday, November 17
6:00pm to 8:00pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Climbing Tower
Ages:
8 to 12
Max:
30
Fees
Member Individual:
$20.00
Nonmember Individual:
$30.00
Fall Adult Luncheon
That's weird!! Hair jewelry? Creepy puppets? Corpse preserver? This presentation explores some of Connecticut Historical Society's strangest items. You will learn how even the oddest artifacts can be gateways into a deeper understanding and appreciation of our state's history. A light lunch will be provided.
Thursday, October 5
11:00am to 1:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Garmany Hall
Ages:
Adults
Max:
60
Fees
Member Individual:
$10.00
Nonmember Individual:
$20.00
Fall Evening Indoor Cycling/Spinning
Looking for a great cardio workout? Spinning offers the calorie burning, energy enhancing, stress decreasing, overall workout that is easy on the joints. This is a 10 week program that will help you stay or get in shape. Indoor cycling allows you the opportunity to work hard and have fun while you spin to your favorite tunes. You provide comfortable workout attires, sneakers or SPD compatible shoes, H20, towel and excitement! No class Thanksgiving week.
Session 1
Tuesday, October 3 to Tuesday, December 12
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Open
Session 2
Thursday, October 5 to Thursday, December 14
6:30pm to 7:30pm
Open
Details
Where:
Lodge Basement
Ages:
18 and up
Max:
16
Fees
Member Individual:
$100.00
Nonmember Individual:
$130.00
Families Exploring Nature
This summer and fall families will join Miss Judy for a fun Saturday morning 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. Dress for the weather with appropriate shoes or boots so you can be comfortable during all activities. Each month we will explore different locations and the many animals and plants that live at Winding Trails. Session 1: Birds Building Nests, Session 2: Fish of Walton Pond, Session 3: Let's Get Wet Exploring Water, Session 4: Migration to Warm Places, Session 5: How Nature Uses Plants, Session 6: Animals Get Ready for Winter.
Session 5
Saturday, October 14
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Open
Session 6
Saturday, November 4
1:30pm to 3:30pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Natures Porch
Ages:
6 and up, with parent
Max:
30
Fees
Member Family:
$15.00
Nonmember Family:
$25.00
Haunted Trails
Calling all zombies, monsters, and witches! Come join Winding Trails for the tenth annual Haunted Trails! Enjoy a 15 minute haunted hay ride through our trail system. Along the way will be various scary scenes and characters. There will also be Halloween crafts, games, pumpkins to carve, a campfire and some light refreshments. Please make sure you sign up for one session, and arrive a at least ten minutes before your start time. Sessions 1-5 will be in the daylight, for those that would not like to ride in the dark. Sessions 6-9 will definitely be scarier. This program is not recommended for young children- parental discretion is advised.
Session 1
Saturday, October 28
4:00pm to 4:30pm
Open
Session 2
Saturday, October 28
4:30pm to 5:00pm
Open
Session 3
Saturday, October 28
5:00pm to 5:30pm
Open
Session 4
Saturday, October 28
5:30pm to 6:00pm
Full
Session 5
Saturday, October 28
6:00pm to 6:30pm
Full
Session 6
Saturday, October 28
7:00pm to 7:30pm
Full
Session 7
Saturday, October 28
7:30pm to 8:00pm
Full
Session 8
Saturday, October 28
8:00pm to 8:30pm
Full
Session 9
Saturday, October 28
8:30pm to 9:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Garmany Hall
Max:
75
Fees
Member Individual:
$12.00
Nonmember Individual:
$20.00
Introduction to Pickleball
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. Please only register if you have not taken this class before!
Session 1
Saturday, September 9 to Saturday, September 30
10:00am to 11:00am
Full
Details
Where:
Pickleball Courts
Ages:
18+
Max:
12
Fees
Member Individual:
$40.00
Kid's Mountain Bike Club
Calling all kids ready to have some bicycling fun on the trails! This club is intended to have fun, sharpen our mountain biking skills and most importantly make some new friends! Mountain bikes only, helmet mandatory. This club is not intended for beginner riders. Participants must bring a helmet and bike.
Wednesday, October 4 to Wednesday, October 25
4:15pm to 5:15pm
Open
Details
Where:
Garmany Hall
Ages:
9 - 12 yrs
Max:
12
Fees
Member Individual:
$20.00
Nonmember Individual:
$30.00
Kid's Night Out
Or should we say 'Parents' Night Out'! Drop your child at Winding Trails and enjoy a night out on your own. Kids will be well supervised and enjoy fun games, crafts, a pizza party, an ice cream sundae bar and a big screen movie. This program has become a very popular one and space fills up quickly. Please bring clothing that is appropriate for outdoor and indoor play as well as a sleeping bag/blanket and pillow for the movie!
Session 1
Friday, September 29
6:00pm to 10:00pm
Full
Session 2
Friday, November 3
6:00pm to 10:00pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Garmany Hall
Ages:
6-11
Max:
40
Fees
Member Individual:
$25.00
Nonmember Individual:
$35.00
Little Kids Exploring Nature
This summer and fall young children 6 years old and under with their families will join Miss Judy for a fun Saturday morning 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. Dress for the weather with appropriate shoes or boots so you can be comfortable during all activities. Each month we will explore different locations and the many animals and plants that live at Winding Trails. Session 1: Birds Building Nests, Session 2: Fish of Walton Pond, Session 3: Let's Get Wet Exploring Water, Session 4: Migration to Warm Places, Session 5: How Nature Uses Plants, Session 6: Animals Get Ready for Winter.
Session 5
Saturday, October 14
9:30am to 11:30am
Open
Session 6
Saturday, November 4
9:30am to 11:30am
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Natures Porch
Ages:
6 and under, with parent
Max:
30
Fees
Member Family:
$15.00
Nonmember Family:
$25.00
Mad Science, Jr.
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 Made Science to explore the planets, moons and stars. These young scientists will enjoy daily take-home projects related to each subject!
Tuesday, October 24 to Tuesday, November 28
10:00am to 11:15am
Open
Details
Where:
Lodge
Ages:
3-5
Max:
20
Fees
Member Individual:
$130.00
Nonmember Individual:
$160.00
Mad Science: Crazy Chemworks
We'll learn about the tools scientists use in their laboratories, as well as atoms, molecules, and reactions, acids and bases, fluorescence, and phosphorescence. We'll also examine and investigate super sticky things by exploring suction, hydrogen bonding and static cling and dry ice demonstrations! Continue the science at home with fun labware take-homes and experiments! No class on October 31st.
Tuesday, October 24 to Tuesday, December 5
4:30pm to 5:30pm
Open
Details
Where:
Lodge
Ages:
6-10
Max:
20
Fees
Member Individual:
$130.00
Nonmember Individual:
$160.00
Nature's Open House
Spend a beautiful fall day at Winding Trails. This event is for all ages and generations. Come and see over 90 custom-built fairy and gnome dwellings set along a half-mile stroll through our wooded trails. Did you always want to build fairy houses? We're looking for new village builders in 2023. Contact Mark at mark@windingtrails.org for more information. Register for the day you wish to attend. You can arrive anytime between 10am and 4pm on that day.
Session 1
Saturday, September 30
10:00am to 4:00pm
Open
Session 2
Sunday, October 1
10:00am to 4:00pm
Open
Details
Where:
Walton Pond Area
Ages:
All
Max:
750
Fees
Member Individual:
$6.00
Nonmember Individual:
$6.00
Pickleball Pickup for Intermediate Players
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.
Session 2
Saturday, September 9 to Saturday, September 30
11:00am to 12:00pm
Full
Details
Where:
Pickleball Courts
Ages:
Adults
Max:
12
Fees
Member Individual:
$40.00
Pilates at the Boathouse Pavilion
Get a great workout and a view of Dunning Lake at our Pilates class under the Boathouse Pavilion. Instructor Lisa McMahon has over 15 years experience teaching Pilates and group exercise classes. You will need to provide your own mat and water bottle.
Wednesday, September 13 to Wednesday, October 11
9:00am to 10:00am
Full
Details
Where:
Boathouse Pavilion
Ages:
15 and up
Max:
20
Fees
Member Individual:
$55.00
Nonmember Individual:
$75.00
Shipwreck: The Ultimate Survival Quest
This new program will offer your group the opportunity to showcase your survival skills! A facilitator will challenge the group with a series of activities including shelter building, catch and release of fish, fire building, and more. Groups will need to work together to accomplish the tasks at hand. This is an outside, dirty activity so be sure to wear clothes and shoes that can get messy. Individuals and families are welcome to sign up! Please register each person who will be participating.
Session 4
Saturday, October 14
1:30pm to 4:00pm
Full
Details
Where:
Natures Porch
Ages:
7 and up
Max:
15
Fees
Member Individual:
$20.00
Nonmember Individual:
$30.00
Sky Gazing at Winding Trails
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 October 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.
Rain/Cloud Date: October 21st
Saturday, October 14
7:00pm to 8:30pm
Open
Details
Where:
Dunning Lake Boathouse
Ages:
7 and up
Max:
75
Fees
Member Individual:
$0.00
Nonmember Individual:
$5.00
Tom Turkey Hunt
Tom Turkey Hunt is a family scavenger hunt through our trail system. You and your family will register online and have your first clue and directions emailed to you. From there, you will follow the clues around our trail system to find your next clues. Once you complete the hunt, email us the answers to all the clues and you will be registered to win a gift certificate from Highland Park Market! You will have nine days to come to the park and complete your hunt. Come out with your family and enjoy the park in the fall and visit some places you may never have been before. Deadline for submitting your clues is 10am on Monday, November 27th.
Saturday, November 18 to Sunday, November 26
8:00am to 6:00pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Natures Porch
Ages:
All
Max:
500
Fees
Member Family:
$5.00
Nonmember Family:
$10.00
Walk, Talk & Gawk- Adult Nature Walks
Come join Miss Judy for a casual exploration as we walk along some of our many trails. We'll talk about what we see or some nature topics in the news. Sometimes we'll stop to gawk at an interesting find alongside a trail. A different route and topic is planned for each day. Always dress for the weather and wear a good pair of walking shoes.
Session 5
Thursday, October 12
9:00am to 11:00am
Open
Session 6
Thursday, November 2
9:00am to 11:00am
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Roosens/Natures Porch
Ages:
Adult
Max:
16
Fees
Member Individual:
$0.00
Nonmember Individual:
$10.00
Winding Trails Hiking Club
This new program will introduce you to the joys of hiking various green spaces outside of Winding Trails. Each session will be at a different location for a variety of views and hikes. You would need to provide transportation to the hiking location and where appropriate apparel. Directions for each hike will be sent out to everyone registration a few days prior to the hike. Session 1: Rattlesnake Mountain, Session 2: Heublein Tower, Session 3: Sleeping Giant Tower Trail.
Session 2
Sunday, October 15
9:00am to 12:00pm
Open
Session 3
Sunday, November 5
9:00am to 12:00pm
Opens October 1st at 12:00pm
Details
Where:
Meet on location- see description
Ages:
8 and up
Max:
20
Fees
Member Individual:
$10.00
Nonmember Individual:
$15.00
Wood Floral Craft- Winter Wreath
Come enjoy a night of crafting with wood florals! Make a winter or holiday themed wreath for your home. We will supply all the materials and instruction for these projects.