Rockhouse Sanctuary In Oxford Thrives During Pandemic

OXFORD, CT — Rockhouse Hill Sanctuary is reporting an increase in visitors since the beginning of the pandemic.

"In order to stave off the Covid Blues, everyone rediscovered the natural world of being outdoors rather than gathering indoors," a statement reads. "This is true for our small town, Oxford, as well."

The 700-plus-acre sanctuary was purchased over twenty years ago.

"We experienced a spring awakening with individuals and families for the first time in their lives getting out in the woods," the statement reads. "The summer surge was expected keeping our numbers well above normal with more and more folks from around the entire Valley finding Rockhouse."

The trend continued with increased traffic in the fall.

Rockhouse has engaged the town's youth through the Youth Conservation Corps at Oxford High School. Over the last twelve years, the Youth Conservation Corps engaged over five hundred students who volunteered nearly 15,000 hours on trail service projects.

Two hundred students successfully completed fifty hours of service earning a paid internship on the YCC trail crew.

The YCC is partnering with Sustainable CT on our online crowdsourcing campaign. Sustainable CT is committed to make a "dollar for dollar" match for all donations made up to $7,500.

First Selectman, George Temple said in a statement, "I urge all those who support access to our natural beauty to lend this support to these worthy projects. We are the stewards of our open space and your gift will share this bounty with all future generations."