EcoTravel at Connecticut Audubon Society

Andrew Griswold, Director of EcoTravel
35 Pratt Street, Suite 201
Essex 06426
860-767-0660
Fax: 860-767-9988
E-Mail Us Anytime!

professional bird watching adventure tours, professional nature adventure tours, exotic professional adventure bird watching nature tours, international natural history tours, international and domestic bird watching tours, nature travel, nature tours, professional birding tours, environmental nonprofit tours, ecotravel, eco-tours, affordable nature tours, luxury nature tours, eco-adventures, exotic nature tours, professional bird watching adventure tours, professional nature adventure tours, exotic professional adventure bird watching nature tours, international natural history tours, international and domestic bird watching tours, nature travel, nature tours, professional birding tours, environmental nonprofit tours, ecotravel, eco-tours,

As one of the original Audubon Societies in the country, Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) has held a 112 year responsibility to educate people about sound conservation practices. Today we have six teaching facilities, a legislative office, numerous sanctuaries and preserves, and an office devoted to EcoTravel. We are excited about continuing this growth and helping others to learn about the natural world around them. CAS has long been at the forefront of developing environmental and natural history education programs in Connecticut, and now does so on a national level through its EcoTravel program. CAS is a non-profit organization founded in 1898 and has 501(c)(3) status.

A Short History of EcoTravel:

Connecticut Audubon Society first offered organized field trips in the 1950s. CAS board member Ulie Hellman and his wife Hildegard were both very active in CAS after World War II and led all the field trips in the 1950's until 1975, when their health began to fail.

The Hellman's led no international trips, however, and only got as far as Block Island. They always traveled with their dachshunds and wouldn't go anywhere that wouldn't allow the dogs in their rooms! As the Hellman got older, Milan Bull began leading trips for CAS with Dennis Varza (then a CAS employee), who planned and led trips to Chincoteague and Hawk Mountain in the 1970s. Carl Trichka also began leading trips as well. In 1981, Milan began international trips, first to East Africa and the Galapagos, but then (late 80's) to Borneo, Australia/New Zealand, and many others.

It was mainly a one man operation with volunteers helping with day and weekend trips. Milan raised separate dedicated funds to produce a yearly Field Trip Program. Duties at CAS changed, however, and CAS hired Lauren Brown who then took over Birdcraft Museum and the Field Trip Program on a part-time basis. Lauren ran the field trips until it was decided that it needed to be more than a part-time operation. That is when staff members Alison Olivieri and Cathy O'Donnell, along with Milan and others began pushing to hire current EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold to run the program full-time starting in November of 1996.

At that time, the name of the Field Trip Program was changed to "EcoTravel." The newly formed branch of CAS found a home at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, where it stayed for eight years. The need for space forced EcoTravel out of the Museum and into the Kleinschmidt Building, also in Essex, where EcoTravel now resides at 35 Pratt Street.

Andrew has been running the EcoTravel program for the past fourteen years. With the help of EcoTravel Assistant Mary Dowdell (hired in 1998), EcoTravel expanded its offerings to more than ten international destinations and more than fifteen domestic overnight trips per year. In addition, EcoTravel now runs over 100 day trips to interesting places in and around Connecticut. Day trips concentrate mainly in Connecticut but also reach to neighboring states and visit sanctuaries and museums of special interest. Overnight travel from two days to two weeks has included most US states, several countries, and all seven continents. Places visited are among the most environmentally significant and interesting habitats in the world and tour leaders are experienced, personable, and enthusiastic about sharing these special experiences with travelers. We are currently expanding our family oriented environmental education to offer more opportunities for families.

There are two full-time staff members who run EcoTravel: Andrew Griswold, Director, and Priscilla Wood, EcoTravel Assistant. Other CAS staff members lend their time to lead tours, including Milan Bull, Twan Leanders, Frank Gallo, and Andy Rzeznikiewicz. In addition, EcoTravel is grateful to its many volunteers who help with both day trips and overnight tours, with special thanks to botanist Bob Kuchta who leads all of our botanical tours and James Restivo for his many volunteered hours leading bird tours. You can find a list of EcoTravel’s trip leaders on the EcoTravel Team page.