A Journey Through Connecticut’s Rivers with Janet Cunningham
Janet Cunningham, a former middle school earth science teacher and passionate kayaker, has a deep love for the outdoors. Living in Wallingford, she finds solace and inspiration in exploring Connecticut’s rivers by boat. Her recent venture, Wanderlust Ecotours, reflects her adventurous spirit and passion for nature.
The name of her company stems from her natural inclination to travel and explore. Cunningham began planning this initiative last year, starting by collecting kayaks from Facebook Marketplace in January. She now offers a series of excursions on the Mattabesset River in Cromwell and Middletown, as well as other locations like freshwater and saltwater marshes, the East River Marsh Wildlife Area in Guilford, and the Great Island Waterlife Area in Old Lyme.
These trips are designed to be beginner-friendly, with all necessary equipment provided, including kayaks, paddles, personal floating devices, and custom field guides. “We don’t go far. We poke around, I give out the field guides, and we stop and look,” explained Cunningham, who is also an Audubon Society naturalist. The experience allows participants to immerse themselves in the “living landscape” and find a serene escape from daily life.
Cunningham believes that connecting with nature is essential, especially for city dwellers who may not have the opportunity to experience it regularly. “You have to get out in nature and away from all that to see how beautiful this place is,” she said. Her tours offer a chance to observe various wildlife, such as great blue herons, painted turtles, kingfishers, and osprey. Recently, kayakers even spotted a juvenile and adult bald eagle on the Mattabesset River.
The scenery along the rivers is constantly changing, with flowers and plants evolving throughout the seasons. “That’s fun to watch as that happens, and they become fruit,” Cunningham noted. “Birds come and pick them off. In the fall, the rice is ripe, so all the birds are going nuts on the grasses and the rice before their migration.”
As a “big plant person,” Cunningham often points out species like buttonball bushes, pickerelweed, and yellow water lilies. She also highlights the dynamic nature of Connecticut’s rivers, which are tidal and experience fluctuating water levels. These levels are typically lower in the summer and higher in the winter when snow melts up north. Lack of rainfall can also impact the water levels, as seen during a recent morning tour of a floodplain forest where the water was lower than ever recorded.
Such conditions reveal hidden activity, such as exposed muskrat holes and new beaver trails. “It was completely different,” Cunningham said. Floodplain forests, located next to rivers, offer unique experiences in the spring when high water levels float over the land. Submerged trees in the Coginchaug River, knocked over by floods, have root-sprouted up, creating giant root balls with new growth visible.
Golden hour, the period just before sunset when light hits the water sideways, provides a peaceful and beautiful experience. “It’s serene,” Cunningham added. Morning and afternoon paddles offer different perspectives, with misty mornings creating a warm, quiet atmosphere. “You could be underneath the forest in the Mattabesset,” she described.
Looking ahead, Cunningham hopes to partner with the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to use state boat launches. She is currently hosting tours at the Cromwell Meadows Wildlife Area from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays, as well as on Saturdays and July 20, 24, and 31. For more details, including specific locations, visit wanderlustecotours.com or follow Wanderlust Ecotours on Facebook.
