Wilton Shoppers: Gift Ideas for Outdoor Enthusiasts

From the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP):

Shop online at the DEEP Store

Perfect holiday gifts for the outdoor enthusiast

The store at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) offers a wide variety of unique and affordable holiday gifts for children and adults -- whether you’re shopping for an avid hiker, birdwatcher, angler or hunter. Books for adults or children, pocket guides, maps, and other “environmental” gifts are available online at www.ct.gov/deep/store or in person at 79 Elm Street, Hartford.

Online orders placed by December 18, 2014 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: deep.store@ct.gov

Visit www.ct.gov/deep for directions.

“Once again, DEEP encourages you to do your holiday shopping at our store – either online or in person – where you will find unique, unusual, and affordable gifts for everyone on your gift list, especially those who like to spend time outdoors and care about the environment,” said Robert Klee, Commissioner of DEEP. “Our extensive collection of books, maps and more will make your shopping experience easy, enjoyable, and fun and can all be done in one place.”

Highlights include:

State Park Vehicle Pass 2015: Allows unlimited vehicle access to any state park or recreation area that has a parking fee. Valid year-round, including weekends and holidays. $67.00 (Non-Resident -- $112.00)

Fishing and Hunting Licenses for the 2015 season: Licenses are valid for the calendar year and may be purchased through the Online Sportsmen Licensing system (www.ct.gov/deep/sportsmenlicensing), at participating bait and tackle shops, town clerks, and DEEP field offices. Besides giving the great gift of fishing and hunting, 100% of the funds from your purchase go to support Connecticut’s fish and wildlife conservation efforts.

Youth Fishing Passport: A great way to pass angling on to the next generation, this personalized free product is available for youth 15 and younger through the Online Sportsmen Licensing system.

Unique Gifts

Connecticut Wildlife Magazine – A subscription to the DEEP Bureau of Natural Resource’s 24-page, full-color, bi-monthly magazine is the perfect gift for those who like to stay informed about fish, wildlife, and natural resource issues and events in the state. It is published six times a year, and is available by subscription for $8 a year, $15 for two years, or $20 for three years. To receive a subscription or order a gift subscription, send a check or money order payable to: Connecticut Wildlife, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013-1550. Credit card orders can be taken through the DEEP Store via the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep/WildlifeMagazine. Recipients of gift subscriptions will be sent a postcard to notify them of their gift.

Bluebird Nest Boxes: Visitors to the DEEP Wildlife Division’s Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area and Conservation Education Center in Burlington have the opportunity to purchase bluebird nest boxes for $8 each. Helpful information on installing, monitoring, and maintaining boxes to encourage nesting bluebirds on your property accompany each box. The nest boxes are being sold by the non-profit, volunteer Friends of Sessions Woods to raise funds for educational projects and programs at Sessions Woods. Please Note: Nest boxes are only available at Sessions Woods, 341 Milford Street, Burlington – they are not available online or at the DEEP store. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. (860) 424-3011.

Connecticut Wild & Scenic 2015 Wall Calendar: Venture into wild and scenic Connecticut with this stunning wall calendar. Perfect for adding a piece of Connecticut’s natural beauty to your home or office! $14.99

DEEP Bestsellers

A Fisheries Guide to Lakes & Ponds of Connecticut: The DEEP Store’s bestselling book is a perennial holiday favorite. It contains full page color depth maps of popular fishing waterbodies including 113 lakes and ponds, in addition to 20 pages of excellent color plates depicting and describing the natural history of 25 fish common to Connecticut’s waters. $24.95 (Paperback only)

Connecticut Butterfly Atlas: Details all of the 117 butterfly species in Connecticut and features beautiful photographs of every species described. $19.95

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

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. $19.95

Shared Landscape: A guide and history of Connecticut’s state parks and forests. $25.00

Books for Adults

Barns of Connecticut: Featuring more than 100 stunning full-color photographs along with helpful diagrams and historic photos. $35.00

Connecticut – America the Beautiful: Top photographers contribute their best images of both well-known destinations and hidden gems, and clear and informative captions bring each scene to life. $19.95

Connecticut by Bicycle: This durable hardcover book covers six diverse geographical regions of Connecticut in fifty rides, each represented by a four-page spread with color photographs of the sights. $39.99

Connecticut Miscellany: Extraordinary tales abound in Connecticut. Author and historian Wilson H. Faude chronicles these exciting tales and more in this eclectic collection of Connecticut history. $16.99

Connecticut Waterfalls: Richly illustrated by both photographs and antique postcards, this book provides directions and descriptions as well as historic and stratigraphic context for these thrilling yet peaceful places. $18.95

New Haven’s Sentinels: West Rock and East Rock are bold and beautiful features, and this lavishly illustrated book will delight those who appreciate landscape painting. $30.00

Books for Children

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. Ages 4-8. $9.95

Lost in the Wild - A Choose Your Path Book: Your relaxing vacation becomes an endless struggle to stay alive! Do you have what it takes to save yourself from unknown dangers or will your choices lead to a tragic ending? Put yourself in this adventure and find out! Ages 8-12. $7.95

Where Do Mountains Come From, Momma?: Detailed illustrations with numerous rock layers, fossils, and even animals will thrill preschoolers, and the whimsical yet scientifically accurate descriptions about planet Earth will capture the imagination of budding elementary-age scientists. $12.00

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. Ages 8-12. $14.00

Clearance

For those seeking a bargain this holiday season, be sure to browse the DEEP Store’s sale inventory. To save up to 75%, look for the books with the pink price stickers, or view the selection by visiting www.ct.gov/deep/store, entering the “online store’ and selecting “Bargain Books.”