Free Admission this Summer at Institute for American Indian Studies Funding Provided by a Grant from CT Humanities

 

The Institute for American Indian Studies was awarded a grant from CT Humanities for participating in Connecticut Summer at the Museum 2023 initiative. This program invites Connecticut children ages 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult to visit participating museums free of charge from July 1 through September 4, 2023. CT Humanities is honored to partner with the CT Office of the Arts again to administer the CT Summer at the Museum Initiative in 2023. The Department of Economic and Community Development, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, Connecticut State Department of Education, Office of Early Childhood, and Connecticut Humanities, will deliver these financially accessible summer enrichment opportunities to families and children of all ages using funding provided through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act). 

“The Summer at the Museum program in 2022 was very successful. We were delighted to be able to introduce so many new children to Native American culture and history and can’t wait to do it again this summer. We are very proud to be among the grant recipients,” said Chris Combs, Executive Director of the Institute for American Indian Studies. “This grant program allows us to expand our reach and also helps us achieve our mission of education by introducing children from Connecticut to the 12,000-year-old history of eastern woodland Native Americans,” Combs continued. 

Children are welcome to explore the Institute’s galleries that trace the 12,000-yearlong stories of Connecticut’s Native American peoples from the distant past to their lives and culture today. The core exhibit takes children from a time at the end of the Ice Age to modern times. A second gallery presents artifacts, images, and themes reflecting both early colonial and modern tribal lifestyles across North America. The Children’s Discovery Room is an interactive space that shows children what life would have been like if they were Native American living 600 years ago. An indoor longhouse is an elongated wigwam that contains both original and replicated artifacts and provides an immersive experience. A highlight of any visit is taking the trail to the replicated Algonkian Village that depicts life common to an Algonkian village of 350 to 1000 years ago. 

About The 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 a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allow 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 at 38 Curtis Road, in Washington, Connecticut. 

About Connecticut Humanities 

CT Humanities (CTH) is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants, partnerships, and collaborative programs. State and federal matching funds, community foundations, and gifts from private sources support CTH projects, administration, and program development. Learn more by visiting cthumanities.org. 

About Connecticut Office of the Arts 

The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) is the state agency charged with fostering the health of Connecticut’s creative economy. The State of Connecticut as well as the National Endowment fund part of the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development, the COA for the Arts.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Joins the State’s “Connecticut Summer at the Museum”

 

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is pleased to announce that the Zoo will participate in the state’s “Connecticut Summer at the Museum,” offering free admission to Connecticut children from July 1 through September 4. Under the program, Connecticut children aged 18 and under plus one Connecticut adult can visit the Zoo for free. 

Mexican Grey Wolves  Photo Jack Bradley

Tickets will be available on the Zoo’s website beginning at midnight on June 30. Residents must register for tickets at www.beardsleyzoo.org, and show an ID with an address at the front gate. The Zoo is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to visit anytime during the day, with the most crowded hours often occurring between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The last entry to the Zoo is at 3:00 p.m. The program is intended for individuals and families only; groups should register at https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/field-trips.html. 

“A visit to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a beloved summer tradition for the state’s children and families,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “We’re proud to join the list of participating facilities throughout the state in offering free admission to children. Spending the day at the Zoo is a wonderful way to connect with nature, learn about wild animals and wild places, and spend time together as a family.” 

The program was established in 2021 to provide children with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences. Funded through a $15 million investment in Covid-19 recovery funding Connecticut received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Zoo joins more than 130 museums across the state in offering the “Connecticut Summer at the Museum” program. This is the third year the Zoo has participated. 

 About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo 

Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tiger and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Andean Bear Habitat, Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.

Farm Stays, Music, and More @ Husky Meadows Farm

 

If you are a music lover that is looking for a special way to savor the summer season, look no further than booking a farm stay at Husky Meadows Farm, a working, certified organic farm in Norfolk, Connecticut. During the all-inclusive weekend farm stay guests are invited to experience, firsthand, the many facets of the thoughtful, and sustainable food production on the farm. There is always a multitude of activities offered that range from cooking classes and behind-the-scenes farm tours to sumptuous meals, guest speakers, hikes to the native wildflower meadow, and canoeing on the pond, all in a setting of great natural beauty with luxurious accommodations. 

Since the bucolic village of Norfolk has had a long love affair with music, Husky Meadows Farm is offering a special weekend farm stay from Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 23, to celebrate Norfolk’s musical tradition that includes coveted concert tickets to the world–renowned Yale in Norfolk Summer Chamber Music Festival. Norfolk is known worldwide for the Yale in Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, which traces its roots to a prominent family in the town that began hosting concerts in the 1880s. The Music Shed which was built in 1906 went on to host performances by such legendary artists as Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, and Padrewski. Currently, it is the home of the Yale Summer School of Music and Art which has hosted musicians from all over the world since 1941. 

The “Husky Meadows Celebrates Music” farm stay package available, from Friday, July 21 through Sunday, July 23rd includes lodging, a perfect picnic cooking class, a welcome dinner, a sumptuous Sunday Brunch, a behind-the-scenes tour with Farmer Brett, plus plenty of time to explore this 300-acre farm property. The highlight of this package, especially for music aficionados, is that it includes tickets for two evenings of concert performances at the acoustically perfect, air-conditioned Music Shed, on the grounds of the Battell-Stoeckel Estate that is minutes away. 

The concert on Friday features the Miro Quartet, one of America’s most celebrated string quartets performing the works of Mozart, Caroline Shaw, and Antonin Dvorak. Saturday’s program is part of the new Insight Series titled “From Baroque to Beatles.” It will feature the works of Handel, Melanie Bonis, and a selection of Beatles songs arranged by Luciano Berio. It's always a special treat to listen to talented fellows that are the next generation of chamber music musicians playing alongside world-renowned festival artists. To book your all-inclusive farm stay visit huskymeadows.com. 

About Husky Meadows Farm 

 Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May - October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.

Rooted in Tradition a Strawberry Festival @ Institute for American Indian Studies

 

Traditionally, Native American communities tracked time by observing the change of seasons and following the lunar full moon cycle. Native American named each full moon cycle after activities or events that they associated with that time of year. Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American full moon names and applied them to their own calendars. These descriptive names are still in use today. 

The Algonquian’s of Connecticut named June's full moon the "Strawberry Moon" because this is the time of year when the wild red strawberries began to ripen. To celebrate this treasured fruit, the Institute for American Indian Studies located at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut is hosting a family-friendly series of activities honoring the gifts and the significance this fruit has to many Native American communities. This fun-filled cultural event is being held on Saturday, June 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

 Most of us would agree that it is difficult to resist a perfectly ripe strawberry, which is one of the most popular fruits in the world! At this event, guests will learn how strawberries were used as a medicine, in cuisine, and in ceremonies. Visitors of all ages will enjoy strawberry refreshments as they listen to traditional Native American stories. A high point of the afternoon will be a guided plant walk along the museum’s trails with Jesse Rose Komaromi, a member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. Along the way, guests will learn about reclaiming relationships with the natural world as seen through an Indigenous lens. A takeaway from this experience is that this humble fruit represents life, good health and so much more. 

Pre-registration for this event is advised because space is limited on the walk. To register, visit https://www.iaismuseum.org, email events@iaismuseum.org, or call 860-868-0518, ext. 453. The price to participate is $15 for non-members, $5 for members, and an additional $5 for the guided forest walk. 

About The 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 a 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 at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Savor the Season @ Husky Meadow Farm Stand Now Open in Norfolk, Connecticut

 

This summer and fall, at Husky Meadows Farm Stand, pick up certified organic fresh produce, a curated assortment of baked goods, and other culinary delights that will help you plan a meal while savoring the season! The Farm Stand at Husky Meadows is located at 26 Doolittle Drive in Norfolk, Connecticut, and is open to the public on Fridays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

In the summer and fall, the farm stand at Husky Meadows offers a treasure trove of produce to choose from. On any given weekend, look for a selection of hard-to-find produce like Julia Child tomatoes, Mara dus Bois strawberries, Ichiba Kouji melons, and Amarosa potatoes, to name a few. 

Don't feel like cooking? Husky Meadows Farm's kitchen also offers a delectable array of prepared foods, honey, free-range eggs, and fresh from the oven baked treats. A highlight of any visit to the farm stand is to enjoy a cup of locally roasted Ilse coffee while nibbling a freshly baked scone and relaxing in the fresh farm air scented that is fragrant with herbs and flowers. For many, the best part of the visit is to stroll through the massive garden for a sneak peek of what produce is on the horizon for the rest of the season. 

Today, farm stands like Husky Meadows are more important than ever because people want transparency about where their food is coming from. The farms stand at Husky Meadows first opened in 2020 at the height of the Covid pandemic because people wanted to know that their food was freshly harvested, organically grown, and raised in their own community. Since that time, Husky Meadows Farm has seen this trend increase. 

To meet the demand the farm team has revamped the Farm Stand experience by expanding the hours of operation and increasing the types of fresh produce and culinary goodies offered. "As the weather gets warmer and we have more and more food coming out of the ground, we hope to offer a variety of grab-and-go salads and other picnic fares for people to enjoy when visiting the farm," says Farmer Brett Ellis. “Getting field-fresh produce and artisan-baked goods has never been easier,” added Ellis. 

About Husky Meadows Farm 

Situated on three hundred bucolic acres in Norfolk, Connecticut, Husky Meadows Farm grows certified organic produce for its kitchen, farm stand, and community-supported agriculture membership. The farm kitchen offers year-round prepared foods. At the height of the growing season from May - October the farm also offers intimate farm stays, cooking classes, community dinners, and special workshops on a variety of farm-to-table and ecological topics.