Outdoor playtime for children and learning from nature will be the focus of two new family programs beginning this spring. They are free and open to the public at the Aspetuck Land Trust’s (ALT) 20-acre Leonard Schine Preserve in Westport.

Starting April 18 at 8am and continuing thereafter on Saturdays, families with children are invited to attend the free Family Playdates Program at The Natural Playground located at the Schine Preserve in Westport. The playground has areas for tower climbing, fort building, trail walking, nature collages, stick stacking, pine cone doll play and other activity. The Natural Playground appeals to preschool and elementary age children but families are welcome to bring all ages.

“This is a great opportunity for children to have some free play time in nature, for parents to enjoy some free coffee we will provide, for socializing and a sense of community. There are numerous benefits derived from outdoor play in a natural setting—fresh air, exercise, and imaginative play to name a few,” said David Brant, executive director of Aspetuck Land Trust.

In addition, children in first through fifth grades are invited to join the Aspetuck Land Trust Junior Ranger program to explore a variety of ALT preserves. To become an ALT Junior Ranger, children complete a booklet of activities ranging from hiking to leaf identification. To receive an ALT Junior Ranger Booklet, contact Celia Campbell-Mohn at [email protected] or 203-293-5707.

Aspetuck Land Trust is a local nonprofit land conservation organization founded in 1966 to preserve open space in the towns of Westport, Weston, Fairfield and Easton. ALT maintains 44 trailed nature preserves and other conservation-only properties on over 1,700 acres of land.

For more information, visit AspetuckLandTrust.org. Schine Preserve is located at 1 Glendinning Pl, Westport.