Exploring Nature

Exploring Nature at East Rock Park’s Trowbridge Environmental Center

This program was active in 2022 and 2023 and led by Urban Resources Initiative (URI) in collaboration with the Friends of East Rock Park (FERP), Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) volunteers and Yale students. Exploring Nature opened up the previously dormant East Rock Park’s Trowbridge Environmental Center for several hours three times a week (Tuesday, Thursdays and  Saturdays) to provide free youth and family programming that focused on the development of youth of all ages and enrichment of New Haven families. Exploring Nature’s goal was to encourage more New Haven area residents to get outside, explore nature and feel welcome at East Rock Park. When FHCHC practitioners write prescriptions for their patients to spend more time in nature, this program helped many families fulfill their Rx. 

Currently, the Friends of East Rock Park have continued to activate Trowbridge on the first and third Saturdays of the month.  The FERP volunteers host service activities outside and provide refreshments, access to the bathroom and other resources in the building from 10 am to noon (sometimes 2 pm).  Questions?  Email: friendsofeastrockpark@gmail.com

The new City of New Haven Park Rangers also activitate the space.  Follow their programs and activities on Instagram. 

evening nature walk group in Nov 2022     Cyril the Sorcerer Magic Show

Sign up to volunteer for service projects in East Rock Park and other New Haven greenspaces: tinyurl.com/NHVgreenspace

Foraging Walk and Talk in October      devining in East Rock Park      Friends of East Rock Park including former FERP leader Betty Thompson  Friends of East Rock Park    FERP leader David Shimchick and youth volunteer    entrance to College Woods and Trowbridge Environmental Center    Friends of East Rock Park in Trowbridge