Lighthouse Cruise

Sunday, October 13  3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Board the Cecelia Ann, a 143-foot catamaran, in New London for a tour of the Sound’s eastern lighthouses, including lights at Old Saybrook, Little Gull Island, Race Rock, Plum Island, and the famous Bug Light near Greenport, New York. The vessel has two comfortably appointed interior passenger areas in addition to an full outdoor sundeck. Interior areas include panoramic windows to enhance viewing. The vessel has lots of space and cruises very smoothly on its double hull. The addition of a computer-controlled ride control system enhances passenger comfort. Included in the celebration are catered hors d’oeuvres, interesting narration, complimentary parking, and a cash bar.

Fee: $75

For Reservations, click below:

October 13      Click Here for Reservations

RESERVATIONS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.

Classic Day Trips

A tried-and-true experience! If you’ve always wanted to travel with EcoTravel, this is a great way to test the waters. These full-day trips visit locations across Southern New England, Eastern New York State, and Long Island, searching for birds and other natural phenomena. There’s no better way to meet the staff and guides!

Classic Day Trips include transportation from a central meeting spot. Some trips can be followed in your personal vehicle as a Self-Drive Trip.

To sign up for a trip, please call the office at (860) 767-0660.

August

Late Summer Whale Watch
Saturday, August 31     8 a.m. – 7 p.m.     SOLD OUT
Saturday, September 14     8 a.m. – 7 p.m.     SECOND DEPARTURE
Head to Plymouth, Massachusetts, to catch a Whale Watch, looking for Humpback, Fin, and Minke whales. Sightings last year were excellent, and we hope for similar results this year. There’s also the chance of seeing various other sea animals including Basking Sharks and Atlantic White-sided Dolphins. We’ll be looking for some of the not-so-easily-seen pelagic bird species, including Great and Sooty shearwaters, and Wilson’s Storm-Petrel. A few Cory’s and Manx shearwaters are also possible, as well as jaegers, Northern Gannets, and various terns.
Leader: Matt Bell.
Fee: $170. Members: $155. Includes transportation and boat ticket.

September

Paddling Great Island
Thursday, September 5     10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Join CAS staff as they lead a paddle around Great Island Wildlife Management Area in Old Lyme to view Osprey and other birds of the marsh. Great Island provides paddling in secluded back channels, side rivers, and coves that parallel the lower Connecticut River. Wind through 10-foot-tall marsh reeds enjoying late summer serenity. Must be a swimmer to attend this event and bring your own kayak.
Fee: $110. Members: $95. Kayaks may be available to rent for an additional fee.

Long Island Shorebirds
Saturday, September 7     7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Each fall, shorebirds flock to Long Island on their journey south. Large flocks gather both at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and Jones Beach State Park, depending on the water levels. Jamaica Bay, located on western Long Island within Brooklyn and Queens, is one of the most important urban wildlife refuges, hosting a variety of habitats, including salt marsh, several fresh and brackish pools, and an open expanse of bay and islands. Jones Beach is home to staging areas for hundreds of American Oystercatchers, ducks, and more! Join us as we enjoy the signs of fall.
Leader: Matt Bell.
Fee: $110. Members: $95.

October

Concord and Walden Pond
Friday, October 11     8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Enjoy exploring Concord, Massachusetts, the village in which Henry David Thoreau grew up. Learn about Thoreau’s extraordinary insights into life, nature, and social responsibility. He believed in living deliberately, practicing simplicity, and exploring new ideas for positive change. Thoreau’s writings inspired respect for nature and even, some consider, the birth of the conservation movement. After a guided tour of the Thoreau Farm (his birthplace), the group will have a picnic lunch at Walden Pond and enjoy a trail walk of the surrounding Walden Woods.
Leader: Jim Sherwonit.
Fee: $100. Members: $85.

Autumn in Litchfield Hills
Thursday, October 24     8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Enjoy some of New England’s most charming towns and natural preserves. We’ll cross a covered bridge, enjoy a nature walk along the Appalachian Trail and Housatonic River, picnic at Kent Falls, and meander along the Connecticut Wine Trail past pristine farms, lakes, and forests.
Leader: Matt Bell.
Fee: $100. Members: $85.

November

Boston: A Day at Harvard’s Museums
Wednesday, November 20 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
One of Harvard’s most famous treasures is the internationally acclaimed “Glass Flowers” located in their Museum of Natural History. Take a private tour of this unique collection of over 4,000 models, representing more than 830 plant species, created by glass artisans Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, a father and son team of Czech glass artists. We’ll also explore several other exhibits, including the Birds of the World, Arthropods: Creatures that Rule, and the newly designed Climate Change exhibit.
Leader: Andy Griswold.
Fee: $140. Members: $125.

December

Coastal Birding Holiday
Wednesday, December 4 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Join Andy Griswold, EcoTravel Director and expert birder, for an annual favorite as your birding group searches for early winter migrants and coastal birds from Madison to Groton. After this pre- holiday adventure, your group will stop for dinner at one of the fine eateries in the area. Bring a friend to help kick off the holiday season! Meal is not included in price.
Fee: $90. Members: $75.

January 2025

Harlequins of Newport
Thursday, January 23 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Harlequin Duck, the fashion plate of the winter seas, is a rare sight in Connecticut. However, travelers are nearly guaranteed to see more than a few at Sachuest Point in Rhode Island, where a large percentage of the dwindling North American population spends the winter. Look for other winter duck species as you tour additional spots around Newport. Stop for dinner at a favorite local eatery before heading home. Meal not included.
Leader: Jim Sherwonit.
Fee: $100. Members: $85.

February 2025

Winter Gulls of New England
Wednesday, February 5 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Did you know that it is not just “gulls”? There is more than one species of gull that can be found in Connecticut at any time of the year and perhaps as many as eight or more species in the winter. We’ll search for large concentrations of gulls and then practice picking out birds of all different ages, keying in on features that separate the common from the uncommon.
Leader: Matt Bell.
Fee: $100. Members: $85.

Shawangunk Owls
Saturday, February 8 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
When the winter months get long and tiring, join us on an adventure to Shawangunk National Wildlife Refuge in New York as we search for Shore-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, and other winter specialties. If we’re lucky, we may even find a rare Gyrfalcon! Sundown is the best time to view these beautiful birds as they bounce over the open grassland.
Leader: Matt Bell.
Fee: $110. Members: $95.

Birding the Rhode Island Coast
Wednesday, February 12 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Spend the day cruising the Rhode Island coast, visiting Charlestown Breachway and Napatree Point. Take the opportunity to see this summertime destination without the tourists. These two locations are always full of birdlife.
Leader: Andy Griswold.
Fee: $100. Members: $85.

March 2025

Birding the North Fork
Tuesday, March 4 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Enjoy a trip to the North Fork of Long Island, New York, to enjoy the spectacle of large numbers of wintering waterfowl as they begin to move north in sign of the coming spring. On the ferry ride across, keep an eye out for alcids, gulls, and more. Take in the north tip of Long Island before tourist season begins and the beaches become crowded. If you’ve always wanted to explore Eastern Long Island, you don’t want to miss this opportunity! There might even be a stop at one of the local vineyards.
Leader: Andy Griswold.
Fee: $170. Members: $155. Includes transportation and boat ticket.