Sharon Land Trust volunteer work days are a great way to give back, and enjoy a fun morning of good work for any ability with great people. Can you help? Interested volunteers will need to prepare for work by dressing weather appropriately, wearing work pants and solid boots, and bringing gloves if they have them. The land trust will provide gloves if they don’t. No experience is required for this work, and the land trust will give a tailgate safety talk beforehand and training in the field. Please register as a volunteer if you haven’t already. Take a look at our trailwork resources page for more information. We’ll break for a nice lunch at a beautiful spot at the end of each work morning for anyone interested. Email timhunter@sharonlandtrust.org to sign up.
Community Day
Save the date for our 2026 Community Day! From guided hikes to scavenger hunts to workshops, this will be a fun day of activities for children and adults alike. Here is the list of the events we’ll be offering. Most have limited space and require registration, so be sure to sign up quickly! Register using this link: https://forms.gle/yPKwYyFdMyikbiaD7
- Where: Hamlin Preserve, 19 Stone House Rd
- When: June 6th, 2026
BIRD WALK WITH SHARON AUDUBON: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Space is limited. Registration required.
Join Bethany Sheffer of the Sharon Audubon Center for a guided bird walk. We’ll explore a variety of habitats—including open fields, forest edges, and wetlands—using the newly created Hamlin field loop, while listening for and spotting the birds that rely on them. This walk is ideal for older children and adults. Bring binoculars if you have them, and be prepared for a slow, attentive stroll over uneven terrain.
STORIES, SONGS & SCAVENGER HUNTS: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Registration encouraged.
Bring the kids and enjoy a morning of music, stories, crafts, and outdoor exploration designed for families with children 12 and under. The morning includes story time with Ms. Renee from the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, live music from singer-songwriter Danny Tieger, and a group-led nature scavenger hunt. Families can also enjoy crafts and open-ended play throughout the morning. All are welcome to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some time in the fresh air.
HAMLIN LEDGE LOOP—CT TRAILS DAY HIKE: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Space is limited. Registration required.
Join us for a moderate hike at Hamlin Preserve as part of our Community Day celebrations. This year, we’re also marking CT Trails Day along the way! Explore 400 acres of protected land on Red Mountain, including its hardwood forests, glacial ledges, and seasonal wetlands. Hikers will wander through peaceful woodlands, cross streams, and discover the upper slopes where rock outcrops, vernal pools, and occasional wildlife sightings await.
BIRD BOX BUILDING WORKSHOP ($25 FEE): 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Space is limited. Registration required.
Co-led by the Sharon Audubon Center, this hands-on workshop invites you to build your own bluebird box! Using lumber milled from fallen cedar logs on this very preserve, you’ll be guided through the construction of the box, learn about bluebird ecology, and appreciate the troublesome challenges that may impact nesting.
WALKING TOUR OF HAMLIN’S NOTABLE TREES SAVED FROM INVASIVE IMPACT: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Space is limited. Registration required.
Join local conservationist and tree preservationist Tom Zetterstrom for a tour of the notable trees at Hamlin Preserve and a look at the Land Trust’s ongoing invasive plant management work. Participants will visit several remarkable specimens—including a towering American elm, multi-stem paper birches, and the Connecticut Champion wild apple tree—while learning about the techniques used to control bittersweet and porcelainberry vines, buckthorn, and privet. Along the way, Tom will share how these efforts are helping restore and protect this unique ecosystem. Please come prepared for light hiking, time outdoors, and uneven terrain.
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY ON THE TRAIL: 5:00 PM – 6:30PM Space is limited. Registration required.
Join renowned local photographer Jonathan Doster for an outdoor workshop at Hamlin Preserve. Designed for participants ages 12 and up, this session will focus on capturing the natural beauty of the landscape using the camera you already carry—your phone. Jonathan will share simple tips and techniques to help you take more compelling nature photos, with plenty of time to practice along the way. This is a trail-based workshop; please come prepared for light hiking and time outdoors.