Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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02/03/2023

DEEP to Host 17th Annual No Child Left Inside® Winter Festival

Bundle up for outdoor winter family fun this Sunday, February 5, from 11-3 at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington

(HARTFORD, CT) – Winter is a great time to celebrate the outdoors, so children and their caregivers are invited to join the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) No Child Left Inside® 17th annual Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park, 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington. Multiple outdoor winter activities for the entire family are planned for Sunday, February 5, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Winter Festival is a partnership between DEEP’s No Child Left Inside® and Fish with CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) programs along with the City of Torrington.

“Winter is a wonderful time to be outside enjoying Connecticut State Parks, which drive tourism and the local economy,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “I'm proud of DEEP’s mission is to provide Connecticut’s families various ways to learn and care about the environment. Through our annual Winter Festival, staff, volunteers and partners are determined that No Child is Left Inside through this free and fun opportunity to experience Connecticut's great outdoors.”

DEEP rescheduled the event from Saturday to Sunday in order to avoid the worst of the cold weather this weekend. With temperatures expected to reach the low 40’s, it will be a great day to enjoy the outdoors. The NCLI Winter Festival is free, and registration is not required; everyone is welcome to attend. Activities planned for the day, depending on outdoor conditions, include winter games, bonfires, outdoor play, marshmallow roasting, winter hikes, visits from Resources in Search and Rescue as well as the CT Valley Siberian Husky Club, and more. While this year’s winter conditions didn’t create ice for ice fishing, DEEP’s Fish with CARE staff and volunteer instructors will be on hand to demonstrate and teach fishing techniques. Dress for the cold weather and bring a sense of fun and adventure. CT Boy Scout Troop 1 will also be selling food at the event (cash only).

Limited on-site parking is available at Burr Pond State Park in Torrington and at the Burr Pond Boat Launch Ramp. Off-site, parking is available during the event at the Burrville Fire Training School located on Burr Mountain Road in Torrington and at RBC Bearings Aircraft Products Inc., located at 2788 Winsted Road in Torrington. Shuttles run between the event and these parking locations throughout the day during event hours. Please note that the last shuttle leaves Burr Pond for the off-site parking areas at 3:15 p.m. 

Please note:

CT DEEP reminds those venturing outdoors in the cold that safety comes first. Burr Pond will not have any safe ice on it for the Winter Festival. Ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to several environmental factors, including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover, and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please do not venture out if any ice has formed on the pond as it will not have sufficient ice thickness. Please visit DEEP’s ice safety page: www.ct.gov/deep/icesafety to learn more about ice safety.

Keeping Warm Outdoors During the Winter

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) www.healthychildren.org has some valuable tips on how to keep children safe and warm on a cold winter day.

  • Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Remember warm boots, gloves, or mittens, and a hat. Layering is a good idea as are moisture-wicking fabrics.
  • The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
  • The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.

Visit No Child Left Inside® at www.NoChildLeftInside.org for more programs and visit Burr Pond State Park at www.ct.gov/deep/BurrPond for directions. Updates will also be posted to CT State Parks social media platforms.

Established in 1913, the mission of the Connecticut State Park System is to provide natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities through a system of state park and forest recreation areas, environmental centers, and nature centers that provide an understanding of, access to, and enjoyment of, the state’s historic, cultural, and natural resources. Connecticut has 110 state parks and 32 state forests attracting around 17 million visitors each year, generating over $1 billion in economic activity for the state and supporting 9,000 private sector jobs. Those driving Connecticut registered motor vehicles are provided free entrance to the parks thanks to the Passport to the Parks program. For more information on Connecticut State Parks visit: www.ct.gov/deep/stateparks.
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Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110