Stewardship Sunday: Chestnut Meadows
Free
The best way to experience nature is to get out there and enjoy it, and our diverse range of community programming brings people closer to the outdoors.
Dedicated volunteers enhance trails, manage meadows, remove invasive species, and restore thriving native habitats. This ongoing commitment ensures that our conserved lands remain healthy, beautiful, and accessible for all.
Through Stewardship Sundays, community members of all ages come together to care for Wilton’s natural landscapes and strengthen their connection to the environment. In just 1.5 hours, participants help maintain trails, restore biodiversity, and support the long-term health of our preserves. This welcoming, hands-on program is open to everyone who wants to make a meaningful difference in our local environment.
In partnership with nonprofits, clubs, and local businesses, we design collaborative projects that restore habitats, improve trails, and deepen the community’s connection to nature.
With over 220 volunteers spending 1,500 hours restoring trails and native habitat at Gregg Preserve, WLT is now one of ASML’s top ten charities by volunteer hours globally.
WLT proudly collaborates with Scout projects, resulting in new footbridges, public seating, information kiosks, new letter boxes, and planting more than 300 native ecotype wildflowers.
Visitors can enjoy the Wilton Garden Club’s designed and planted pollinator garden at Chestnut Meadows, featuring over 700 native ecotype wildflowers.
Our immersive learning events forge lasting connections to the natural world, educate the community on protecting the environment, and inspire a new generation of environmental stewards.
Offered in partnership with the Wilton Library and Wilton Go Green, this one-hour program is held multiple times throughout the spring and fall. Participants enjoy interactive story time, make an up-cycled nature-themed craft, and take a short walk across Chestnut Meadows. Bring a blanket, breathe in the fresh air, and share a joyful outdoor experience with your little one — picnics welcome!
A guided hike through Marble/Van Haelewyn-Richards Preserve led by ISA Master Arborist and CT Certified Arborist Christopher Teeter, offering a unique chance to explore the canopy, learn about native tree species, and ask an arborist your most pressing questions, all while deepening your connection to the forest.
If you’re a fan of our feathered friends, you’ll love Birds & Binoculars, our guided bird-watching hike led by resident bird expert and naturalist Joe Bear. Scheduled during peak migration seasons, this walk through Schenck’s Island invites participants to spot and identify a variety of birds as they pass through Wilton. All ages and experience levels are welcome—bring a friend, enjoy the outdoors, and discover the wonders of birding together.
A guided hike through the Chestnut Meadows with local entomologist Victor DeMasi to learn how to identify bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This family-friendly event includes a special display of butterfly specimens from the Yale Peabody Museum.
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