Public Swimming Schedules

John S. Martinez School - 100 James Street
Wednesday: 5pm-8pm
Saturdays: 10am-2pm
James Hillhouse High School - 480 Sherman Parkway
Thursday: 5pm-7pm and
Saturday: 10am-1pm

Click here to visit the Parks Sports and Recreation page for more information.

In this Issue:

• Sports and Recreation Programs
• Outdoor Adventure Club
• Small Craft Symposium
• Youth Archery
• Nature Pals - Early Spring
• Article: Spring is Coming
• Ranger Program Schedule
• Edgewood Farmers Market
• Monthly Photo Galleries

Swimming Lessons

Tuesdays and Thursdays Class Times
4:00 - 4:45pm 5:00 - 5:45pm 6:00 - 6:45pm 7:00 - 7:45pm
Session 3 - February 26th - April 4th Session 4 - April 23rd - May 30th

The 2nd Annual Southern Connecticut Small Craft Symposium

To be held March 9th at the Wilbur Cross HS at 181 Mitchell Drive New Haven, Connecticut 06511 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5.

The purpose of the event is to promote safe maritime skills and awareness of environmental issues that affect our waterways. The event will be focusing on the manual powered vessels and the conditions and equipment that affect their safety on the water.

Some of the topic we are looking for but not limited to are:
• Choosing the right boat
• Safety equipment
• Communication from your boat
• Tides and current and how they affect your craft
• Weather
• PFD types and proper fit
• Paddling with your dog and what you need to know
• Building your own boat
• Making a paddle
• Proper clothing
• Hypothermia and how to avoid it
• Protection of marine life
• What lives down there anyway?
• Waterfowl identification

Pool demos will include:
• PFD demo
• Recoveries from a kayak
• Recoveries from a canoe
• Rolling
• SUP

For more information please contact:
Martin Torresquintero
Outdoor Adventure Coordinator
mtorresq@newhavenct.net
203 946 6768
or
Elizabeth O'Connor
Event organizer
203-903-5705 Email:
ChangingTidesPC@gmail.com

Outdoor Adventure Club

Geocaching
March 13, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Edgewood Park, Meet at 720 Edgewood Ave - Parks Administration Office
Ages: 10-13
Cost: $5
Join the New Haven Park Rangers for an animal tracking program. Investigate Edgewood Park for signs of animals in winter.

Signs of Spring Hike
March 22, 10:00 am - 11:00 am/ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Edgewood Park, Meet at 720 Edgewood Ave - Parks Administration Office
Cost: Free
Ages: Family's of all ages welcome

Judge's Cave Hike
March 23, 1-3 pm
Location: Meet at West Rock Nature Center
Ages: 8-12
Cost: $5 per person
Bring Water

To register or for information contact Ranger Joe Milone, call 203-946-6559 or email jmilone@newhavenct.net

Youth Archery

Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19 2013, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Salperto Rink 350 Woodward Avenue, East Shore Park
Ages 8-14 Cost $45

The Beginner Archery series of classes concentrates on range rules, safety rules and fundamentals of archery, and is taught using recurve bows. The beginner session is appropriate for those who have never shot a bow, or those with some previous experience that are seeking a refresher session.

All safety gear and equipment will be provided. (Bow, arrows, finger tab, arm guard, quiver).
Class is limited to 10 students

For more information: call 203-946-6559 or email jmilone@newhavenct.net
To Register: Call 203-946-8027.

Nature Pals Early Spring Session

The Spring 2013 session of Nature Pals goes from February 27 - April 10, every Wednesday from 9:30-11:00am. Join us as we explore nature with stories, crafts, and walks through Edgewood Park. Children ages 2 to 5 with a parent or caregiver (younger siblings welcome). Kosher snack provided. We meet rain or shine! Registration available and fees collected at the first meeting of the session.

Register by emailing NaturePalsFOEP@gmail.com.
$42 for 7 week session ($6/week). $7/week drop-in rate.
Register for the whole session and save $$$!

Scholarships are available through the Friends of Edgewood Park. Email NaturePalsFOEP@gmail.com for more information. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Edgewood Park in partnership with the New Haven Department of Parks, Recreation & Trees.

Spring - Just around the Corner

Spring appears to be right around the corner, in spite of the February blizzard we experienced this year. March can be one of our most variable months for weather here in southern New England. Snow and cold weather can still be possible, along with one of our regions most notable weather events, called a “Northeaster”. Signs of spring are becoming more apparent as you stroll our park woodlands. Birds such as Cardinals and Morning Doves have begun to sing their mating songs. Ravens, Red-tailed Hawks and Peregrine Falcons can be seen performing courtships flights along the cliff faces of East and West Rock. Red-winged Black birds and American Robins numbers build as new arrivals on migration pass through our area, heading north.

Red Cardinal

In the plant world, tree buds are beginning to swell and sap is running in our Maple Trees. Local farmers will be tapping these trees for their sugar rich sap that will be boiled down and rendered into a New England favorite “Maple Syrup”.

Pussy Willow soft furry buds will be appearing in moist areas, along with the first flowers of the spring, Skunk Cabbage, followed by Dutchman’s Britches a little later in the month.

Even some insects will be making an appearance in the form of Flies, Midges and Honey bees on warm days. Spiders can be found hunting in protected grassy areas. Some moths become active and even one Butterfly species called the Morning Clock can be seen fluttering by in our woodlands. The Morning Clock is a good size butterfly, with rich brown wings trimmed with a yellow band.

On March 20th, this year, spring officially begins. On that day the Sun crosses the Celestial equator granting us 12 hours of day and night, this annual happening is called the Spring Equinox and is repeated in September as we welcome in autumn.

The New Haven Park Ranger program encourages you to get outside and take advantage of the natural wonders found through out our City’s parks. To find out more about Ranger lead walks in our parks, check out our monthly program calendars found on our Parks, Recreation and Trees Dept. website.

Ranger Notes by Dan Barvir - East Rock Park Ranger.

Ranger Program Schedules

Left to right: Harry Coyle, Martin Torresquintero, Joe Milone, Wray WIlliams, Dan Barvir

Trowbridge Environmental Center at East Rock Park
Staff: Dan Barvir & Wray Williams, Park Rangers

Registration for programs is requested by the Park Ranger Staff for planning purposes. Contact us at 946-6086 for directions, more information, and to register for these programs. All programs meet at the Trowbridge Environmental Center/Ranger Station and are free to New Haven residents except as noted. A donation of $2 per person is suggested for participants residing outside New Haven. The Trowbridge Environmental Center/Ranger Station is located on the corner of Cold Spring & Orange Streets, opposite Wilbur Cross High School.

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Barnard Nature Center at West River Memorial Park
Staff: Harry Coyle, Joe Milone, Park Rangers

Pre-registration for programs is requested by the Park Ranger Staff for planning purposes. Contact us at (203) 691-3539 directions, more information, and to register for these programs. The ranger program calendar is available on the web at: http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/parks/. All programs meet at the Barnard Nature Center are free to New Haven residents except as noted. A donation of $2 per person is suggested for participants residing outside New Haven. The Barnard Nature Center is located on the corner Route 34 and Ella T Grasso Boulevard. The park entrance is located on Route 34.

* Fee required, For information please contact: naturepalsFOEP@gmail.com.

Edgewood Park Farmers Market

The Edgewood Park Winter Market is back with a huge assortment of local eggs and dairy products, fresh meats and poultry, fresh greens and root veggies, award-winning breads and other baked goods, delicious prepared foods, maple syrup & honey, wool & yarn and MORE! Additional Edgewood Winter Market dates are: Sundays, 10:00am-1:00pm, March 3 & 17, and April 7 & 21.

Go to the CitySeed website for a full list of products and vendors. Edgewood Park at Whalley West Rock Avenues

Monthly Photo Gallery

Snowshoeing in East Rock Park

Parks Visitor Submission - Photos by Kirk Wheaton

East Rock Park - - - - Long Wharf Cleanup after Sandy