Community Corner

Perfect Holiday Gifts For The Outdoor Enthusiast

The state DEEP has you covered. Check out this long list of gift ideas.

 

Those outdoorsy types are nearly impossible to shop for.  You can’t really wrap a kayak, after all, can you? But have no fear, because the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has a gift for even the most Jeremiah-Johnson-type on your list.

And you can shop online at www.ct.gov/deep/store or in person at 79 Elm Street, Hartford.

Online orders placed by December 18, 2011 will arrive at your home in time for holiday gift giving.

DEEP Store Hours

  • Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Phone: (860) 424-3555
  • E-mail: dep.store@ct.gov

 

For the hiker in your life

State Park Vehicle Pass 2012: Allows unlimited vehicle access to any state park or recreation area that has a parking fee. Valid every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. $67.00   (Non-resident $112.00) Now available for immediate shipping.

Lensatic Compass: Liquid filled for fast readability, this compass also features a floating luminous dial that can easily be read at night, adjustable luminous marching line, thumb hold, magnifying viewer and sighting hairline. Folds easily to fit in your pocket and protected by a durable cast gold zinc case.  $14.95

For the fisherman (or woman) 

Candlewood Lake Navionics HotMap: This premium high-definition fishing map features unmatched detail derived from surveys conducted by the Navionics Official Survey Team. Key features include color shaded depth contours, top-down satellite photo overlay, detailed area insets, and a 3D lake overview. Tear-resistant and water-resistant. $14.95

For the wild on the inside but doesn’t like to go outside

Connecticut Wildlife Magazine: The DEEP Wildlife Division’s bi-monthly color magazine is the perfect gift for those who like to stay informed about wildlife issues and events in the state. Excellent photographs and illustrations add to the publication’s readability. Subscriptions available for one year ($8.00), two years ($15.00), or three years ($20.00).

Connecticut Wild & Scenic 2012 Wall Calendar: The Connecticut River dusk from Watch Rock Nature Preserve; Salt marsh off Baker Cove near Groton; Sand dunes near Madison; Daffodils in Moore Meadow, Fenwick borough; these are just a few of the images captured by photographers William H. Johnson, Paul Rezendes, Ian L. Barker, Laurence Parent, Robert Cushman Hayes & Susan Cole Kelly that adorn this stunning wall calendar. Perfect for adding a piece of Connecticut's natural beauty to your home or office!  $13.99

Trout Note Cards: Showcasing vibrant watercolor illustrations by acclaimed artist, author, and fly-fisher James Prosek, these note cards provide the perfect place to write down a few friendly lines to send family, friends and fellow fishing enthusiasts. 16 note cards, 4 of each design, with 17 envelopes. $12.00

For the bookworm

Books For Adults

A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut: This guide is the first to present multiple, high resolution, full-color photos of most New England and all Connecticut freshwater fish species.  With detailed information for each species including identification, distribution, size, abundance, habits, how to observe and catch them, how to keep them in aquariums, and what’s unique about them, this easy to read book simplifies the process of fish identification. $19.95

A Shared Landscape: A guide and history of Connecticut’s state parks and forests. A tremendously informative and visually exciting book, every page is vibrant with color, fact, history, legend and lore. $25.00

AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Connecticut: This popular guide from the experts at the Appalachian Mountain Club leads beginner and experienced hikers alike along 50 of Connecticut’s most spectacular trails, from short family nature walks to long day hikes that reward with magnificent views. $16.95

Connecticut Butterfly Atlas: One of the DEEP Store’s bestsellers, this Atlas details all of the 117 butterfly species in Connecticut. A great resource for those who are interested in learning more about butterflies and watching them in their natural habitat, featuring beautiful photographs of every species described. $19.95

Connecticut by Bicycle: This is the first full-color guide to the state of Connecticut for the moderate-level rider. With an introduction to riding and to the resources available, this durable hardcover book covers six diverse geographical regions of Connecticut in fifty rides. Each ride is represented by a four-page spread with color photographs of the sights, a narrative description, a map, and a concise cue sheet with directions and mileage. $39.99

Connecticut River: A photographic journey through the heart of New England, which follows this major waterway from its origin near the Canadian border to its wide mouth on Long Island Sound, giving us a vivid portrait of a living artery of the New England landscape. Author and photographer Al Braden presents 136 full-page color photos, ranging from close-ups to dramatic aerials, to reveal the river as few people are privileged to experience it. $35.00

Connecticut River Boating Guide: The classic, authoritative guide for boaters, canoeists and kayakers on the Connecticut River. This third edition covers the entire waterway from its source at the Canadian border to Long Island Sound, dividing the river into 28 reaches with accompanying GPS-compatible maps. $19.95

Connecticut Walk Book – East and West are the official guides to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the trails. The trails were mapped using GPS to produce crisp, concise, removable two-color topographic trail maps. $24.95 each.

Doggin’ Connecticut: Selects the 57 best places to take your dog for an outing in the Nutmeg State and ranks them according to criteria including the variety of hikes available, opportunities for canine swimming and pleasure of the walks. $12.95

Dr. Mel’s Connecticut Climate Book: Beloved Connecticut meteorologist "Dr. Mel" Goldstein explains how the weather in the state changes from season to season, and how weather and climate work together. The book also delivers a fascinating account of Connecticut's weather history covering the past three centuries. $24.95

Fishing Long Island Sound: Whether you fish from a boat or from the shore, this book is the single best way to learn the fishing hot spots and improve your odds for a successful outing on this special body of water. Covers all the best shore- and boat-fishing locations on Long Island Sound, with GPS coordinates provided for numerous navigational markers, boat launches, state parks and fishing hotspots including reefs, wrecks, beaches and piers. $18.95

Fishing Without Falling in Connecticut: Connecticut is an angler’s wonderland. This comprehensive guidebook has been created for those anglers who have left the rivers because they need easier access: the nervous elderly fly fisherman, injured vets, scared children, and others. All eight counties in the state are represented, and one page is dedicated to each tested location across the state, with color photos, descriptions, and directions. $20.00

Roadside Geology of Connecticut & Rhode Island: Introduces readers to the sequence of mountain-building collisions that welded the pieces of land together and to the subsequent upwelling of magma that nearly broke them apart again. Twenty road guides, complete with maps, photographs, and diagrams, locate and interpret the rocks and landforms visible from the state's highways and at nearby parks and historic sites. $26.00

Salt Marsh Diary: NPR contributor and nature writer Mark Seth Lender chronicles the daily life of a salt marsh near his home. From his front porch and back yard he is witness to an astonishing array of wildlife, and for the first time he has chronicled the marsh’s life in a book penned from his perch. With the soul of a poet and the precision of a naturalist, Lender transports the reader to the edge of his salt marsh and makes us both see and hear kingfishers, terns, bluebirds, egrets and other wonders that fill the sky above us. $19.99

Seasons of Connecticut: A full-color, season-by-season celebration of the Nutmeg state by celebrated television and radio reporter Diane Smith. She presents more than sixty vignettes that will make you feel good about living in Connecticut, or make you want to visit. The stories reveal the beauty and the personality of the state throughout the year. $24.95

Stories in Stone: In a series of entertaining essays, geoscientist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer describes how early settlers discovered and exploited Connecticut's natural resources. Illuminated by 50 illustrations and 12 color plates, Stories in Stone describes the marvel of Connecticut's geologic diversity and also recounts its impact on the lives of the people who made Connecticut their home. $24.95

Window into the Jurassic World: A journey through time explaining the geologic history that led to the formation of Dinosaur State Park’s famous track ways. Features over 100 stunning color photographs taken by local photographer Richard Bergen.  The Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum are the publishers and financed the creation of the book. $19.95 paperback / $30.00 hardcover

Books for Children

Bug Book & Bug Bottle: Complete kit including The Bug Book, The Bug Bottle, Magnifier, Bug Identification Chart and My Bug Journal. The ingeniously designed, safe plastic bottle is perfect for catching and viewing creepy crawlies, then letting them go unharmed. Here are all the tools kids need to become bona fide bug experts. Ages 8-12. $13.95

Good Night Connecticut: The great state of Connecticut is artfully celebrated in this board book designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for Connecticut's natural and cultural wonders. Features many iconic state attractions, including Mystic Seaport, Dinosaur State Park, Lake Compounce, Gillette Castle and the Essex Steam Train. Ages 4-8. $9.95

Nature Connection: An interactive workbook full of creative exercises for kids that offers dozens of fun things to do during every season. Sure to engage the whole family in outdoor fun and year-round nature activities. Ages 8-12. $14.95

You Can Be a Nature Detective: Why do a tree's leaves change color in autumn? How can mushrooms suddenly appear overnight? What made those tracks in the snow? This book helps you delve into these and other intriguing mysteries of the natural world. With the goal of getting kids outside exploring, author Peggy Kochanoff uses breathtaking watercolors and informative text to spark readers' interest in investigating the wonders of Mother Nature. Ages 8-12. $14.00

For those on a budget

Be sure to browse the DEEP Store’s sale inventory. To save 25-50%, look for the books with the pink price stickers, or view the selection by visiting www.ct.gov/deep/store and entering the “on-line store’ and selecting “Bargain Books.”

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