Shop online at the DEP Store

Perfect holiday gifts for the outdoor enthusiast

What’s the perfect answer for your holiday shopping needs? Do you have a family member or friend who seems to have everything? Are you trying to buy “greener” gifts this year? Do you want to encourage outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, biking or kayaking? If you can answer “yes” to any of the above then the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Store is the place for you to holiday shop this year.

The DEP store 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, the DEP Store has the ideal gift selection for any budget. Books for adults or children, pocket guides, maps, and other "environmental" gifts are available whether you shop online at www.ctdepstore.com or in person at 79 Elm Street, Hartford.

Online orders placed by December 19, 2010 will arrive at your home in time for holiday gift giving.

DEP Store Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Closed December 24, 2010.
Phone: (860) 424-3555
E-mail: dep.store@ct.gov
Visit www.ct.gov/dep for directions.

DEP Commissioner Amey Marrella said, “Save energy this holiday season by shopping online at the DEP Store. It’s easy and convenient to shop for books, maps and novelty items, all with an environmental theme. There is something for everyone.”
Highlights this holiday season include:

State Park Vehicle Pass 2011: Allows unlimited vehicle access to any state park or recreation area that has a parking fee. Valid every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. $67.00 (Non-resident $112.00) Available starting in early December.

Unique Gifts

Connecticut Wildlife Magazine
The DEP Wildlife Division’s bi-monthly color magazine is the perfect gift for those who like to stay informed about wildlife issues and events in the state. Excellent photographs and illustrations add to the publication’s readability. To receive or send as a gift a one-year subscription (6 bimonthly issues), send a minimum contribution of $8.00, plus an optional donation for the DEP’s Non Harvested Wildlife Program, to: Connecticut Wildlife, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06103-1550.

Connecticut Wild & Scenic 2011 Wall Calendar: Dawn on the mouth of the Housatonic River; Tussock sedge in the Natchaug State Forest; Kent Falls; these are just a few of the images captured by renowned photographers William H. Johnson, Paul Rezendes & Ian L. Barker that adorn this stunning wall calendar. Perfect for adding a piece of Connecticut's natural beauty to your home or office! $13.99

Trout Note Cards: Showcasing vibrant watercolor illustrations by acclaimed artist, author, and fly-fisher James Prosek, these note cards provide the perfect place to write down a few friendly lines to send family, friends and fellow fishing enthusiasts. 16 note cards, 4 of each design, with 17 envelopes. $12.00

Lensatic Compass: Liquid filled for fast readability, this compass also features a floating luminous dial that can easily be read at night, adjustable luminous marching line, thumb hold, magnifying viewer and sighting hairline. Folds easily to fit in your pocket and protected by a durable cast gold zinc case. $14.95

Books For Adults
A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut: This brand new guide is the first to present multiple, high resolution, full-color photos of most New England and all Connecticut freshwater fish species. With detailed information for each species including identification, distribution, size, abundance, habits, how to observe and catch them, how to keep them in aquariums, and what’s unique about them, this easy to read book simplifies the process of fish identification. $19.95

A Shared Landscape: A guide and history of Connecticut’s state parks and forests. A tremendously informative and visually exciting book, every page is vibrant with color, fact, history, legend and lore. $25.00

AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Connecticut: This popular guide from the experts at the Appalachian Mountain Club leads beginner and experienced hikers alike along 50 of Connecticut’s most spectacular trails, from short family nature walks to long day hikes that reward with magnificent views. $16.95

Connecticut Butterfly Atlas: One of the DEP Store’s bestsellers, this Atlas details all of the 117 butterfly species in Connecticut. A great resource for those who are interested in learning more about butterflies and watching them in their natural habitat, featuring beautiful photographs of every species described. $19.95
Connecticut Coast: A richly illustrated exploration of the vast, varied and unique heritage of the Connecticut coast. A surf-and-turf sampling of the Nutmeg State's storied shoreline, it covers twenty-four towns with a compelling narrative by historian Diana Ross McCain and archival images from the Connecticut Historical Society. $29.95
Connecticut River: A photographic journey through the heart of New England, which follows this major waterway from its origin near the Canadian border to its wide mouth on Long Island Sound, giving us a vivid portrait of a living artery of the New England landscape. Author and photographer Al Braden presents 136 full-page color photos, ranging from close-ups to dramatic aerials, to reveal the river as few people are privileged to experience it. $35.00

Connecticut River Boating Guide: The classic, authoritative guide for boaters, canoeists and kayakers on the Connecticut River. This third edition covers the entire waterway from its source at the Canadian border to Long Island Sound, dividing the river into 28 reaches with accompanying GPS-compatible maps. $19.95

Connecticut Walk Book – East and West are the official guides to the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System and commemorate the 75th anniversary of the trails. The trails were mapped using GPS to produce crisp, concise, removable two-color topographic trail maps. $24.95 each.

Doggin’ Connecticut: Selects the 57 best places to take your dog for an outing in the Nutmeg State and ranks them according to criteria including the variety of hikes available, opportunities for canine swimming and pleasure of the walks. $12.95

Dr. Mel’s Connecticut Climate Book: Beloved Connecticut meteorologist "Dr. Mel" Goldstein explains how the weather in the state changes from season to season, and how weather and climate work together. The book also delivers a fascinating account of Connecticut's weather history covering the past three centuries. $24.95

A Fisheries Guide to Lakes & Ponds of Connecticut: The DEP Store’s bestselling book features full page color depth maps of 113 lakes and ponds. In addition there are 20 pages of excellent color plates depicting and describing the natural history of 25 fish common to Connecticut’s waters. $19.95

Roadside Geology of Connecticut & Rhode Island: Introduces readers to the sequence of mountain-building collisions that welded the pieces of land together and to the subsequent upwelling of magma that nearly broke them apart again. Twenty road guides, complete with maps, photographs, and diagrams, locate and interpret the rocks and landforms visible from the state's highways and at nearby parks and historic sites. $26.00

Seasons of Connecticut: A full-color, season-by-season celebration of the Nutmeg state by celebrated television and radio reporter Diane Smith. She presents more than sixty vignettes that will make you feel good about living in Connecticut, or make you want to visit. The stories reveal the beauty and the personality of the state throughout the year. $24.95

Stories in Stone: In a series of entertaining essays, geoscientist Jelle Zeilinga de Boer describes how early settlers discovered and exploited Connecticut's natural resources. Illuminated by 50 illustrations and 12 color plates, Stories in Stone describes the marvel of Connecticut's geologic diversity and also recounts its impact on the lives of the people who made Connecticut their home. $24.95

Window into the Jurassic World: A journey through time explaining the geologic history that led to the formation of Dinosaur State Park’s famous track ways. Features over 100 stunning color photographs taken by local photographer Richard Bergen. The Friends of Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum are the publishers and financed the creation of the book. $19.95 paperback / $30.00 hardcover

Books for Children
Bug Book & Bug Bottle: Complete kit including The Bug Book, The Bug Bottle, Magnifier, Bug Identification Chart and My Bug Journal. The ingeniously designed, safe plastic bottle is perfect for catching and viewing creepy crawlies, then letting them go unharmed. Here are all the tools kids need to become bona fide bug experts. Ages 8-12. $13.95

Connecticut Rookie Read-About Geography: Colorful photos, maps and simple text highlight basic geographic facts about Connecticut, including its location within the northeast and its climate, terrain, people, wildlife and industries. Ages 4-8. $5.95

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. Features many iconic state attractions, including Mystic Seaport, Dinosaur State Park, Lake Compounce, Gillette Castle and the Essex Steam Train. Ages 4-8. $9.95

Nature Connection: An interactive workbook full of creative exercises for kids that offers dozens of fun things to do during every season. Sure to engage the whole family in outdoor fun and year-round nature activities. Ages 8-13. $14.95

For those on a budget this holiday season, be sure to browse the DEP Store’s sale inventory. To save 25-50%, look for the books with the pink price stickers, or view the selection online by visiting www.ctdepstore.com and clicking on “Bargain Books.”