An Ecology Walk Along the Shepaug River

A summer walk along the Shepaug River that runs through Washington is a rewarding experience, especially when guided by IAIS Educator and ecologist, Susan Scherf on Saturday, July 9 at 10 a.m. The cost of this program hosted by the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for children, and $5 for members. This hike is perfect for nature lovers and will have them looking at the natural world in a new and exciting way.

The Shepaug River whose Native American name means "rocky waters" has a long history of habitation.  Native Americans have lived overlooking this river for thousands of years. Many stone tools and items such as bone needles and punches, wooden spear shafts, tool handles, and much more have been found in archeological excavations along the banks of the Shepaug.

Rivers are considered the lifeline of ecosystems around the world. On this guided walk participants will learn that Native peoples traditionally recognized that all beings are interconnected. An important life lesson of this walk is to realize that we can learn about our environment by observing wildlife, plants, trees, and flowers. Summer is one of the best times to observe wildlife along the Shepaug from watching a great blue heron hunt to listening to frogs croaking, and feeling the exoskeleton of a crayfish. Walking along this babbling river Susan will discuss animal adaptations and explain what to look and listen for when trying to identify different species in the Eastern Woodland environment.

Participants should wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes, and be prepared to walk about a mile along the river with frequent stops along the way. Participants are encouraged to bring water and extra shoes or sandals to change into down by the river if you plan to get your feet wet. Space on this hike is limited and pre-registration is required. To reserve your space visit http://www.iaismuseum.org to reserve a space through Eventbrite. If you have questions, call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.

Go on a Mushroom Walk @ Sugar Hill in Salisbury

 Salisbury in the far northwest corner of the Litchfield Hills is a quite bucolic town replete with the White Hart Inn, a New England classic on the village green. Known for its unspoiled natural beauty, Salisbury is the perfect place to go on a mushroom hike. 

On July 9 at 10 a.m. rain or shine, join Dave Patton, who has been foraging and writing about mushrooms for over 30 years, will lead a walk looking for mushrooms on Sugar Hill in the Amesville section of Salisbury.  The program will focus on common and easy-to-identify species that are edible, toxic, and also known to have medicinal properties. 

 Dave will give an introductory talk and show various specimens before leading the group.  He recommends bringing:

• Hiking shoes
• Magnifying glass for better viewing
• Camera or phone for taking photos
• Rain gear or umbrella if weather is wet

The Sugar Hill meeting location is the beginning of an Appalachian Trail access spur at the end of Sugar Hill Road in the Amesville hamlet of Salisbury. Sugar Hill Road is 0.4 miles north of the Amesville/Water Street bridge. Parking is next to the trailhead at the very end of the paved roadway.

This event is sponsored by the Salisbury Land Trust. For more information call 860-435-0566 or email info@salisburyassociation.org.

Norwalk Seaport Association Offers Sunset Cruises July, August, and September

 

Departing from Norwalk Harbor at the Seaport Dock located on 10 North Water Street in Norwalk, guests are in for a picture-perfect experience at sunset with the Norwalk Seaport Association. Imagine relaxing on comfortable seats and watching the stunning scenery of Long Island Sound glide by as you sip on your favorite glass of wine and nibble on the goodies that you have packed to bring aboard the vessel. 

This summer the Association is offering Sunset cruises Wednesday – Sunday from June to September. Sunset cruises depart at 6:30 p.m. and return at 8:30 p.m., just in time for a late-night snack at your favorite restaurant. On a sunset cruise time seems to slow down giving you the opportunity to unwind and toast the end of the day or celebrate the end of a busy week! A special perk of taking a sunset cruise is that it allows you to spend some quality time with whomever you are with. 

The friendly crew welcomes passengers as the Captain tells stories of merchants and sailors that have used this scenic waterway for centuries. Learn how Native Americans introduced oysters to English settlers and how captains of industry used this area to develop trade routes that went as far as the West Indies. The narrative gives a new understanding of Norwalk historically, and also reflects the importance of this scenic harbor today. 

As the vessel travels into Long Island Sound it will give passengers a close-up view of several of Norwalk’s islands and the beautiful homes that are built on them. The cruise also passes three historic lighthouses, Peck’s, Green Ledge, and, the maritime icon of Connecticut, Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Architecturally stunning the Sheffield Island Lighthouse is a perfect example of Victorian stone masonry. Green Ledge and Peck’s are fine examples of sparkplug lighthouses, of which only 33 remain in the United States. The view of these three lighthouses up close as the sun begins to set is magical. 

Guests will travel in safety and comfort with no more than 49 passengers on board the vessel owned by the Seaport Association. Passengers can eat, drink, and be merry on the sunset cruise because alcoholic beverages and snacks are allowed, just don’t forget to bring cups and openers! A sunset cruise is a magical time of day. The sky is filled with various hues of blue, yellow, pink, and orange making it a relaxing experience that is hard to forget. 

Sunset Cruise Schedule & Parking 

The boat leaves from the dock on 10 North Water Street at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday – Sunday evenings, June through September. The Seaport Dock is adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and North Water Streets. Parking is available in the adjacent lot or at the Maritime Center Parking Garage. For tickets visit http://www.seaport.org or call 203-838-9444. Sunset cruises are $33 per person. The boat sails promptly as scheduled so it is best to arrive at the dock 30 minutes before departure to facilitate the boarding process.

An Evening of Celebration Glebe House Garden Party June 25

 In the early summer, there is nothing better than an alfresco Garden Party amid the fragrant blossoms of a historic house and garden. The Glebe House, one of the oldest house museums in Connecticut with a nationally famous garden, is the venue for the epitome of a perfect garden party. This year, the Glebe House located on Hollow Road in Woodbury is hosting its annual Garden Party on Saturday, June 25 from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets to this fundraising event are $40 per person and can be purchased online @ https://www.glebehousemuseum.org or by calling 203-263-2855. For the direct link for tickets click here. 

A Warm Welcome Awaits at the Glebe House

Each year, friends, and guests enjoy this spectacular garden designed in 1926 by famed English horticultural designer, writer, and artist, Gertrude Jekyll, who had a profound influence on modern garden design. Today, it is the only remaining example of Jekyll’s work in the U.S., making this garden party a celebration of an American garden designed from across the pond! 

In June, the flowers are beginning to pop in waves of colors, patterns, textures, and fragrances. Tables and chairs are placed amid the backdrop of the garden and blankets are spread out under large shade trees. There will be sweet and savory hors d’ oeuvres packed in beautifully decorated individual boxes, wine bottled in Woodbury, from Walker Road Vineyards, sparkling water, lemonade made from fresh lemons picked from the Glebe House lemon tree, and a signature drink, “The Seabury Swing,” created by the Nutmeg Wine and Spirit Shoppe in Woodbury. 

To add to this convivial event there will be a strolling 4-part Cappella Barbershop Quartet, the Valley Chordsmen, who are affiliated with the International Barbershop Harmony Society. They have been entertaining folks throughout the state for more than 73 years and are sure to add to the fun. Speaking of fun, the Silent Auction will feature a number of tantalizing items to bid on. One of the most sought-after items will be the catered “All Hallows Eve Cocktail Party for Ten” at the Glebe House. Imagine the spooktacular time your friends and family will have at this exclusive private event when the Glebe House is all decked out for Halloween! 

As an added highlight, the first floor of the Glebe House will be open. This simple 18th-century farmhouse is furnished as the home of the Reverend John Rutgers Marshall and his family that lived here, in the “glebe” during the Revolutionary War. It is especially atmospheric to tour the house in the early evening imagining this is the way the family lived here with no electricity. 

Attending the Glebe House Garden Party is an unforgettable experience – with good fun shared by all, delicious food, and drinks enjoyed in a magical garden. The Glebe House Garden Party is the major fundraising event of the year for the museum. Proceeds support the maintenance of the Glebe House and Garden and educational programs. 

About The Glebe House 

Built about 1750, the Glebe House was saved by a committee that eventually became known as the Seabury Society for the Preservation of the Glebe House and was restored in 1923 under the direction of Henry Watson Kent, founder of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It opened to the public as a Historic House Museum in June of 1925. 

The Glebe House was the farm homestead of Woodbury’s first Anglican Minister, Rev. John Rutgers Marshall, his wife Sarah, their nine children, and three enslaved persons. It is historically significant because it is where the first Bishop of the American Episcopal Church, Reverend Dr. Samuel Seabury was elected in 1783. 

At the time, this was a momentous decision because it assumed the separation of church and state and religious tolerance in the new nation. This significant historic house museum is beautifully appointed with period furniture, some of it locally made, and, it is surrounded by the only extant garden in the United States designed by Gertrude Jekyll, one of Great Britain’s most famous 20th-century garden designers. The garden includes a classic English style mixed border in Jekyll’s signature drifts of color, foundation plantings, and a planted stone quadrant.

Lacrosse – More Than Just A Game New Exhibition @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 

Lacrosse was originally played by eastern Native Americans and Canada’s First People. The Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut has just opened a fascinating special exhibition, “More Than a Game: The Story of Lacrosse,” that will be on view at the Institute through August 2022. 

This well-researched exhibition touches on a variety of subjects, many of which are unexpected in light of the game many of us know today. Some of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition relate to the spiritual importance of lacrosse and how it connects to creation stories, the way they settle differences, and its continued social and communal significance. 

This exhibition also explores the appropriation of lacrosse by Euro-Americans and Canadians. In the 1860’s Dr. George Beers of Canada wrote the first standardized rulebook for lacrosse in an attempt to “civilize” the game. By the 1890s, Native American communities were banned from participating in national competitions. This part of the exhibition includes documentation in the form of newspaper clippings and images that depict the history of lacrosse in popular culture and how it was interpreted. 

More Than a Game also highlights how traditional lacrosse sticks evolved in North America. Several lacrosse sticks on display showcase the three major styles of Native American lacrosse and demonstrate the different regional interpretations of the game. This exhibit touches on the relationship between lacrosse and Native communities today. It delves into the saga of the Iroquois Nationals, the only Native American athletic team permitted to compete in international competitions. Don’t miss the exhibition’s video that shows Native Americans making wooden sticks in the traditional way and relating why it is important to the future of their culture. 

This exhibit can be summed up by a quote by Rex Lyons, Onondaga, “Lacrosse is part of the story of our creation, of our identity, of who we are. So when we play the game, we always say that there’s a simultaneous game going on in the Sky World and our ancestors are playing with us.” 

The Institute for American Indian Studies is open Wednesday – Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and admission is $12 for adults, $8 for children 3-12, $10 for seniors, and members are free. 

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 16th 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.

This June Enjoy the Beauty of Birds on Long Island Sound with the Seaport Association

Bird Cruises are one of the most popular excursions operated by the Seaport Association in Norwalk. Although Connecticut is a small state, it is rich in birdlife with more than 430 different bird species to spot. If you are a veteran or novice birding enthusiast and want to add seabirds to your list, hop on board the C.J. Toth, a 49- passenger vessel with the Seaport Association on Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, and Saturday, June 25, and Sunday, June 26 from 8 am to 10:30 a.m. for the June Bird Cruises that welcomes adults as well as children. 

An avian adventure on Long Island Sound in June provides a unique opportunity to see birds in their natural habitat. Every cruise is different because you never know what will fly your way, making this excursion an adventure in itself. The bird cruise in June offers different things to see than the bird cruises offered in May. June is the month when many birds breed making it the perfect time to look for birds where they nest. On this guided tour escorted by Will 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. “One thing that we will be looking for is birds that are nesting, raising their families, resting, and feeding,” says Schneck. 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. 

Another 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, adults, and children alike, 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 Norwalk Parking Garage. Tickets are available online in advance by clicking here and are $25 in addition to a small ticketing fee. 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.

This Father’s Day Take Dad on an Adventure to 1518! Wigwam Escape @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 

This Father’s Day it is time to celebrate your one-of-a-kind dad in an unexpected and fun way that he will cherish for years to come. If you are looking for something special, why not give him the gift of a unique experience with Wigwam Escape, a nationally award-winning Escape Room that is located at the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut. 

If the dad in your life is a history buff, loves to solve puzzles, and enjoys being challenged while having fun, Wigwam Escape will be an unforgettable bonding experience for the whole family. A highlight of the Wigwam Escape experience is gaining a better understanding of how Native peoples thrived prior to European contact. This is a gift that keeps on giving. After playing the game, you can continue your experience by visiting the museum whose core exhibition follows the 10,000-year-long story of Connecticut’s Native American people, and hiking the Institute trails to a replicated Algonkian Village. 

In honor of Father’s Day, the Institute is running a promotional code that is 20% off the booking and includes gift certificates when using code DAD1518 at checkout. For more information and to book, click here. 

Wigwam Escape – The Story 

You, the game player, find yourselves in a Native American village in the woodlands of Connecticut in the year 1518. You’ve just received word that an illness is affecting the neighboring fishing village of Metachiwon and they are asking for help. It is seven miles to Metachiwon so you have to act quickly. It’s up to you to figure out how to gather and prepare supplies for your journey ahead. You have one day (roughly one hour of game time) to hunt, gather and cook using only the resources found in the village and surrounding forest. This empathetic experience connects players to the ways Native peoples lived and the skills they relied on 500 years ago in their daily lives. 

 FAQs - Wigwam Escape 

Wigwam Escape allows two to seven players to experience the room. To enhance the experience the room caters only to private groups, so when you book the room, it is for your group only. The ticket prices are $25 for General Admission, $20 for Students, and $22 for Seniors. Your ticket also includes museum admission to the Institute for American Indian Studies which can be used on the day of your visit. 

The suggested age for Wigwam Escape is 12 and up; however, as long as there is a parent or guardian present during the game kids under 12 are welcome. The suggested age for Wigwam Escape is 12 and up; however, as long as there is a parent or guardian present during the game kids under 12 are welcome. 

Wigwam Escape is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday by reservation. Office hours are Wed. and Thurs. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase your tickets, visit www.wigwamescape.org or call (860) 868- 0510.

The Sharon Historical Society & Museum Announces Call for Works The Summer Show” Juried Exhibition Open Call

 The Sharon Historical Society & Museum is pleased to announce an open call seeking entries for its upcoming show in Gallery SHS, “The Summer Show”, a juried exhibition and sale running from July 16 through August 26, 2022.

Gallery SHS invites artists to submit for consideration original works in any medium (e.g. Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Photography, Pastel, Ink, Graphite, Drawing, Print, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Assemblage, Fabric, Stone, Clay, Metal). The show has no requirements limiting the subject matter or size of the artwork. Judge or judges to be announced.

There is a non-refundable entry fee of $25.00 for up to two (2) works of art and $10.00 for each additional submission. The show’s judge will select the art to be exhibited and award cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 to three pieces. 

In addition, guests who attend the show’s opening night will have the opportunity to select their favorite work of art which will receive the “SHS Crowd Pleaser” award. Submissions must be delivered on Saturday, July 9 between 9 and 11am. 

Please provide high-quality images of your artwork at that time, especially if your work is behind glass, so that they may be posted to the Gallery SHS web page. The Prospectus, Entry Forms, and detailed Terms and Conditions are available on the Gallery SHS page (follow the link under Gallery SHS) of the Sharon Historical Society & Museum’s website, sharonhist.org, or can be picked up at the SHS during regular hours.