Education

The Milo Appley Conservation Showcase (MACS) is 83 acres of rolling pasture and forest located behind the University of Connecticut Windham County Extension Center at 139 Wolf Den Road in Brooklyn, CT. Acquired from Windham County by the (then) Windham County Soil & Water Conservation District in 1960 for $1, the parcel was named for Milo A. Appley, a former WCSWCD director. ECCD has a 10-year land management plan to maintain and conserve the parcel, utilizing the most current conservation practices to conduct grassland and forest management and habitat improvement.

ECCD uses MACS to conduct conservation education to residents and environmental professionals in eastern Connecticut. ECCD has partnered with UConn Extension to conduct forestry management programs and The Last Green Valley to conduct workshops for water quality monitoring volunteers. In 2020, ECCD  partnered with UConn Extension Master Gardener candidates to create pollinator habitat. The Master Gardener candidates cleared invasive plants, planted pollinator plants and established a Monarch Watch waystation. Most recently, ECCD has partnered with the University of Connecticut Natural Resource Conservation Academy’s Conservation Training Partnership Program, which brings together high school students with a local partner to conduct a conservation project that will have community-wide benefits. ECCD is currently partnering with local high school students to document birds that use the different habitats at MACS and will develop an ESRI Story Map to display the results. The project was featured In the UConn Today digital magazine https://today.uconn.edu/2020/09/uconn-program-joins-technology-nature-build-conservation-awareness/.  ECCD and UConn will continue to partner through the CTP program to conduct additional projects and add to the MACS Story Map.

MACS features several miles of walking/hiking trails that are open to the public.  ECCD is in the process of updating our trail map, developing a trailhead kiosk, and installing wayfinding and informational signage. You can download our current trail map by clicking here. The trails are open from dawn to dusk. We ask that you carry out whatever you bring in, and if you hike with your canine companion to please pick up after him or her.

ECCD is core member of the Thames River Basin Partnership. Each year TRBP hosts a workshop that features on on-water componant. In 2017, the workshop focused on Little River in Woodstock and Putnam, CT. This is a National Water Quality Initiative watershed. ECCD and many of our partners have been very involved in projects to restore water quality in this watershed. Click here to review a summary of this workshop.

Woodstock Source to Sea Event

In 2009, our staff was on hand to answer questions about aquatic invasive plants, small farm best management practices and provide advice on back yard conservation practices at a 2009 event cosponsored by ECCD and the Woodstock Conservation Commission as part of the 2009 The Last Green Valley Source to Sea Expedition.

Flame Weeding Workshop:

In 2010, ECCD, the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station and the UCONN Cooperative Extension System presented a special workshop on Flame Weeding for Invasive Shrub Control. This method is a potentially useful non-chemical means to control invasive Japanese Barberry but not all types of invasive plant species.

U.N. Children’s Workshop:

In July of 2004 this workshop was held on the the outflow of Miller Pond in Quaker Hill. About 25 kids from all over the world, and their chaperones, were given an afternoon lesson in evaluating water quality by the District.

Best Forest Management Workshop:

This workshop was held on the District’s Stewardship Forest Land. Participants were given practical instructions by professional foresters in the art and practice of sustainable forest management

Annual Thames River Basin Partnership Floating Workshop:

This is one of our most popular workshops that we co-sponsor. It includes a classroom session followed by an on-water field experience. Each year’s workshop centers on a different theme within the greater Thames River watershed.

Town Commissioner Training:

These workshops are conducted at the request of municipal land use commissions. Requests center on erosion and sediment control issues, riparian buffers, invasive plant control, and other environmental concerns.

Real Estate Professionals and Developers Workshops:

These workshops cater to professionals seeking accreditation for their license renewal. Subjects include septic systems, well-water issues, soils and wetlands with an emphasis on conservation of natural resources.

Klemens Planning for Nature (Vernal Pool) Workshops:

These workshops were held throughout the state by the Districts in order to educate commissioners and citizens about the science and the importance of our unique and valuable vernal pools

Erosion and Sediment Control Workshops:

These workshops were held throughout the state by the Districts in order to educate commissioners and professional staff on the updated Connecticut Manual for E&S Guidelines.

If you are interesting in our upcoming workshops or our calendar of events or have further questions please call us

The Connecticut Envirothon is a natural resource based education program started in 1992 by the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts. This high school level program promotes environmental awareness, knowledge, and stewardship through education and team competition.

Throughout the year Envirothon teams work with a teacher/advisor on curriculum materials in the study areas of Soils, Aquatics, Wildlife, Forestry and Current Environmental Issues.

Then in May, teams meet for a day-long, fun filled field competition. Teams work together on practical, environmental problem solving and hands-on challenges. In addition, each team prepares a short oral presentation on a real life environmental problem and presents it to a panel of experts.

The winning Envirothon team earns the chance to represent our state at the annual North American Envirothon, a weeklong summertime event. The Connecticut team competes for scholarships and other prizes against about 60 other teams from the USA and Canada.

Visit the Connecticut Envirothon website (Exit ECCD) to learn about how to “Take the Natural Challenge.”

Currently, the Connecticut Envirothon is seeking sponsors for this great program.  If you can help out, contact Barb at North Central Conservation District at 860-875-3881.