Midcoast Conservancy will offer two days of nature exploration, just in time for Earth Day. First, join us in Montville Thursday, April 21 from 7 to 8:30 p..m, where local ecologists and amphibian fanatics Larkspur Morton and Buck O’Herin will lead a family-friendly springtime exploration of a vernal pool and protected wetland and their amphibian residents. Bring a good flashlight/headlamp and wear footwear appropriate for wet areas, preferably tall rubber boots. If you have an empty white plastic container, bring that, too (we'll have some to share as well). Meet at the Bog Brook trailhead on Halldale Road in Montville (off of Route 220 on south Halldale, about a mile in). No registration required.

Spend Earth Day at Hidden Valley Nature Center on Friday, April 22, and tour one or two exciting spring destinations. At 10:30 a.m., we’ll venture out to the bog, a very special and fragile environment, via our 220-foot boardwalk.The magic of the bog should be evident with the pitcher plants showing their color, the sundews emerging and the vast array of life rebounding.

Meet at the HVNC gate on Egypt Road in Jefferson for a prompt 10:30 departure. The trails may be wet for the short (400 yard) walk to the bog so wear appropriate footwear.

At 12:30, we will visit several vernal pools which, though fleeting, provide valuable habitat for a number of amphibians as well as a host of other plants and animals. They provide the primary breeding habitat for four indicator species: wood frogs, spotted salamanders, blue-spotted salamanders, and fairy shrimp.

We’ll learn to identify the different egg masses and perhaps even get a chance to see frogs mating or salamanders in the pools. These seasonal forest pools occur in a shallow depression that typically fills during the spring or fall and may well be dry during the summer, hence the name “vernal” meaning “relating to spring”. These springtime gems typically are isolated and often go unnoticed.

Meet at the gate (or the nearby vernal pool) promptly at 12:30. The best footwear for vernal pool exploration is high rubber boots (to allow access to the pools), but Bean boots, Muck boots or hiking boots are adequate. A hiking stick, polarized glasses, and binoculars are helpful; bring water and sun protection.

Space on the boardwalk is limited, so please register at hvnc.org. Free to members of Midcoast Conservancy. Suggested donation is $5 for all others.