Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day
Due to the current situation presented by COVID-19, Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day will not be held in 2020. Once the situation improves, the Bureaus of Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation hope to offer a fun day of free activities in September 2021.
Thank you to everyone who helped out and attended this fun-filled event in September 2019 at Hammonasset Beach State Park.
Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day is also part of the National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration. This year, National Hunting and Fishing Day is observed on Saturday, September 28. Hunters and anglers have been at the forefront of the conservation movement for over 100 years. They showed their support by requesting taxes and special fees on hunting and fishing equipment to help pay for wildlife and fish management, habitat restoration, and other conservation programs through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program.
Each new hunter and angler created helps fund conservation. Every time someone buys firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, motorboat fuel, or fishing tackle, they contribute to habitat conservation and science-based wildlife management through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) program.
Visit the National Hunting and Fishing Day website to learn the history of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
2019 Discover Outdoor Connecticut Photo Contest
The Discover Outdoor Connecticut Photo Contest was held for a second year in a row as part of our 2019 event. We received approximately 330 entries in 4 categories: Wildlife, Scenic, People in the Outdoors, and Youth. A panel of judges selected first through third place winners in each category (winning images are below). Judges also awarded honorable mention to several photos. All of the photo entries were on display at Discover Outdoor Connecticut Day in the new Meigs Point Nature Center. Attendees had a chance to vote on their favorite photo -- the one with the most votes was given the People's Choice Award.
Wildlife
1st Place -- Playhouse
Maxx McKinlay
Granby
Wildlife
2nd Place -- Northern Metalmark
Peter DeGennaro
Plainville
Wildlife
3rd Place -- Frog in a Fountain
Sheryl Haraghey
Enfield
Scenic
1st Place -- Amber Light
Kristen Fallon
Bloomfield
Scenic
2nd Place -- Summer Glow
Deb Swaney-Jones
Ivoryton
Scenic
3rd Place -- Snowfall along the Quinebaug
Marcy Lamiras
Putnam
People in the Outdoors
1st Place -- Painting at the Point
Daniel Reinwald
Branford
People in the Outdoors
2nd Place -- You Go First
Kristen Fallon
Bloomfield
People in the Outdoors
3rd Place -- Splashing Fun
Kelly Hunt
Deep River
Youth
1st Place -- Dragonfly
Avery Rogulski
Lisbon
Youth
2nd Place -- Blades of Orange
Signar Cohen-Tyler
West Hartford
Youth
3rd Place -- Flower
Emma Kowalchuk
Farmington
Content last updated on May 1, 2020.