Seabird Safari on Long Island Sound with the Seaport Association

 

New this year, the Norwalk Seaport Association has just announced that they will be starting their popular bird cruises on Sunday, May 1 and May 15, and on Saturday, May 28, and Sunday, May 29th from 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Regardless of whether you are a veteran bird enthusiast or a beginner, this on the water avian adventure will give your birding routine a new perspective. This cruise is ideal for adults as well as children because it gives participants a sense of connection with the beauty of Long Island Sound resulting in the joyful feeling of being ‘one with nature.’ 

As the old saying goes, the early bird catches the worm, which is why many bird enthusiasts head outdoors in the early morning. With this in mind, the Seaport Association’s Bird Cruise will leave the dock on 4 North Water Street in Norwalk at 8 a.m. “Birds sleep at night and are hungry in the morning, so they have to go out and eat,” says Will Schneck, a passionate bird enthusiast that will be leading the cruise. “We are leaving at 8 a.m. because this is the time of day when birds are most active, particularly in the spring and early summer. Just like humans have daily schedules, birds also have daily patterns for feeding, roosting, and other activities.” On this guided tour with Schneck, a member of the esteemed Connecticut Young Birders Club, passengers will learn about local bird behavior and biology and, most importantly how to spot them. Every cruise is different because you never know what bird species might fly your way, making this excursion an adventure in itself! 

A highlight of this eco-styled bird cruise is the chance to spot birds close up in their natural habitat in a way, you would never see from shore. Among the types of birds, you may see on this eco-adventure cruise are nest sites and nest colonies of ospreys, and long-legged egrets with their graceful S-curved necks and long dagger-like bills, as well as playful American oystercatchers, herons, terns, gulls, and cormorants to name a few. 

A special feature of this cruise is the chance to spot birds at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge on Sheffield Island. Here you will see a variety of habitats that support nesting and wading birds. This spot is known for its small population of herring and great black-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield Island's rocky shoreline. The importance of the Norwalk Islands to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and the special Bird Cruises hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association give nature enthusiasts the chance to spot these magnificent seabirds up close with the added benefit of a knowledgeable guide. 

Bird Cruise Details 

Passengers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to the 8 a.m. departure. The vessel leaves from the Seaport Dock that is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk. Parking is available at the adjacent lot or at the Maritime Center Parking Garage. Tickets are available online in advance HTTP://www.seaport.org , tickets are $25 for children and $30 for adults. The Seaport Association advises reserving your Bird Cruise early because these popular excursions sell out. Make sure you include your email when reserving your ticket. If the tour is canceled due to inclement weather the Norwalk Seaport Association will contact you via your email. 

Before embarking on this cruise, be sure to pack sunscreen, your camera, binoculars, water and snacks, and your sense of adventure! 

About the Norwalk Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Summer Camp Registration Open @ Institute for American Indian Studies Scholarships Available

 Spend the summer of 2022 @ The Institute For American Indian Studies! Our camp program offers immersion into the natural world and the culture of Connecticut's Eastern Woodland Native Americans through the exploration of our replicated 16th century Algonkian Village, our forests, trails, gardens, and museum.

The 2022 Summer Camp program will offer six weeks of programming best suited for children from six to twelve years old. Starting June 27 through August 12 camp programs run from 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Institute’s experienced and professional educators that continually engage young and curious minds with exciting team-building programs conduct the camp. Each week has a different theme, but all sessions are fun-filled and designed to help children learn valuable life skills while appreciating nature and connecting to a culture with more than 10,000 years of history.

 

Unique activities of this program include exploring the interactive exhibits in our museum and in our outdoor replicated 16th century outdoor Algonkian Village, going on hikes in Steep Rock Reservation and along the Shepaug River, and visiting our traditional herb and flower gardens. Each week camp activities will vary and may include participating in mock archaeological digs, learning how to track animals and identify plants, how to survive outside without access to modern technology, and how to practice survival methods using traditional skills. A highlight is a camp program on Etuaptmumk which refers to learning how to see the benefits of both traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western scientific thinking.

Once again this year is the chance to apply for a scholarship that is being offered by the Institute due to the generosity of our donors. To find out more about the scholarship program email Camp Director, Gabriel Benjamin @ gbenjamin@iaismuseum.org

The deadline for scholarship applications is June 1, 2022.

 

For complete registration information, visit http://www.iaismuseum.org. Pricing is $310 for members of the Institute and $345 for non-members, with special pricing for the week of July 5. To register click here. https://www.iaismuseum.org/summer-camp

 

The Institute will follow the most up-to-date COVID-19 policies for our summer camp in 2022, based on guidelines released by the Centers for Disease Control, Connecticut’s Office of Early Childhood, and the American Camp Association. Given the fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation, families should be aware that policies are subject to change.

About Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16^th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Opens April 7 featuring Contemporary Expressionism

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum located at 295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT will feature a new exhibition titled, Fragments of Light, Impressions of Color. The exhibition will open on April 7, 12 p.m. and run through Aug. 28, 2022. An opening reception will be held on Thurs., April 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission will be included with the purchase of a guided tour ticket and available online at www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com. The exhibition will feature emerging and established artists working in the style of contemporary impressionism and focusing on the effects of light and color, whether through portraiture, painting nature, or depicting the urban landscape. 

Jean Marcellino, “Elusive Skyline”, oil on mounted linen, 18 x 24, courtesy of J. Marcellino

The exhibition was juried by Artist and Trustee Gail Ingis, who selected approximately 33 works from digital submissions. “I am excited by the array of talent and submissions we received,” said Ms. Ingis, “and look forward to introducing their diverse interpretations and techniques, optical effects, and luxuriant color palettes offering unique visual experiences to LMMM’s viewers.” 

Featured artists will include Elizabeth Hasegawa Agresta; Huey-Min Chuang; Joseph Dermody; Katharine Draper; Yuko Ike; Richard Koleszar; Anni Lorenzini; Jean Marcellino; Kathie Milligan; Peter Millward; Judith Patterson-Lanyi; Jason Pritchard; Alex Ranniello; Malina Schneider; Clarice Shirvell; and Dmitri Wright. 

Dmitri Wright, “Weir Farm Daffodil Series - Go Gently Monarch and Blue Jay”, oil, 24 x 48, courtesy of D. Wright

Jean Marcellino, whose portrait of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is in the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection, won a 2020 Merit Award from the Salmagundi Club and was the winner of the 2019 Cecilia Cardman Memorial Award under the auspices of the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club at The National Arts Club, among others. 

Elizabeth Hasegawa Agresta studied painting, printmaking, and exploratory mixed media at Silvermine Arts Center. She is a leading member of the Fairfield County Plein Air Painters and is active with the New York Society of Women Artists, the Federation of Canadian Artists, and the Loft Artists Association. 

Dmitri Wright was the winner of the national scholarship at The Cooper Union and the Max Beckmann International Scholar Program at Brooklyn Museum Art School. He was valedictorian at the Newark School of Fine & Industrial Arts and majored in Fine Arts. His work is in hundreds of museum and corporate collections and focuses on the preservation and progress of Impressionism. 

Alex Ranniello received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting & Drawing from Hartford Art School (‘17) and completed his master’s degree at The University of Hartford (‘21). In addition to his role as a studio artist, his involvement in his community has been multifaceted and highly widespread across Connecticut. 

Alex Ranniello, “Peachy Keen”, oil on canvas, 24 x 24, courtesy of A. Ranniello

The 2022 Season is made possible in part by CT Humanities with generous funding provided by Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) from the Connecticut State Legislature and LMMM’s Founding Patrons: The Estate of Mrs. Cynthia Clark Brown; LMMM’s Leadership Patrons: The Sealark Foundation; and LMMM’s 2022 Season Distinguished Benefactors: The City of Norwalk, The Maurice Goodman Foundation and Lockwood-Mathews Foundation, Inc. For more information on tours and programs, please visit www.lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, email info@lockwoodmathewsmansion.com, or call 203-838-9799.