Star Gazing Tour with Guest Astronomer

This tour features a unique learning experience led by Jeffrey Dunn, a longtime astronomy educator and former planetarium director. Bring your curiosity as Jeffrey tells us stories of the constellations and teaches us the art of "star hopping"—a classic, practical technique stargazers use to navigate the night sky and locate distant celestial objects by tracking easily recognizable constellations.

About Your Guides: In addition to your two kayaking guides, Jeffrey joins us to bring a wealth of knowledge to our tour. He is the former President of the Seattle Astronomical Society and the founder and the President of the Shoreline Astronomical Society.

Experience the magic of the Mattabesset and Coginchaug rivers after dark on a beginner-friendly starlight paddle through a freshwater tidal marsh. We will navigate the calm, silvery currents and use star maps and compasses to identify constellations in the vast night sky. With a red light and star chart included, this unique tour offers a serene and safe way to witness the marsh’s nocturnal beauty under a canopy of stars.

$35 BYO Kayak or Paddleboard

• Must wear a life jacket. ($10 life jacket rentals available on site)

$75 All Inclusive:

• 12 foot sit inside kayak (Wilderness Systems Pungo 120)

• Paddle

• Life Jacket

• Dry Bag

• Cell Phone Pouch

• Lights

5% of the proceeds from this trip will be donated to the DarkSky Connecticut for their role in reducing light pollution. Learn more about their work at https://darksky.org/ 

Per request of Middletown, please park on North Main Street. It is around the corner from the launch site with plenty of parking.