February Fun at White Memorial Foundation

Litchfield's White Memorial Foundation is planning late February events that will entertain the whole family.  On Feb. 20 for example, visitors are invited to a "star party".  This astronomy program is organized by members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society. Weather permitting, there will be Star gazing after the program. 7:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

A winter walk with staff member Gerri Griswold at 10 a.m. is a "pot luck" walk on the trails.  Participants will figure out what trails are most favorable for a stroll! On this walk you are sure to drink in the beauty of winter! 10:00 A.M., Meet in front of the A. B. Ceder Room.

To round out the month, on Feb. 28 there will be a program titled:  Magic Light Show: the Science and Beauty of the Aurora Borealis with Tom Alena.  Participants will  learn about one of nature's most striking and compelling phenomena, The Northern Lights, with Conservation Center favorite Tom Alena. Tom has the extraordinary ability of taking complicated science and making it easy to understand. This afternoon's program will be beautifully illustrated with photographs by the Keeper of the Northern Lights, Olgeir Andresson www.olgeir.com  beginning at 2:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room.

All events are free but donations are appreciated to help defray the cost of programing.  For more information on White Memorial visit http://www.whitememorialcc.org

For more event information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

November Naturally at White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation located just off Rte. 202 on Whites Wood Road in Litchfield has planned a fun filled November for nature lovers. 

On November 5 take a brisk walk with Gerri Griswold  then relax with a super healthy meal.  The objective is to share recipes, learn how to use herbs and spices to create wonderfully delicious meals that will keep you focused on your goal and to use this beautiful property to help you become the very best you can be. As for the featured dish of the night it is a Hearty Vegetarian Chili, Mesclun Greens with Oranges, Avocado, and Toasted Almonds, and Fresh Fruit. Make sure you dress for the weather and pack a flashlight!  And, don't forget to bring your own place setting! This event starts at 6:00 P.M., at the  A.B. Ceder Room, Members: $15.00 Non-members: $25.00. Limited to 20 people! Pre-registration and prepayment are required.

On November 8, stop by Point Folly on the grounds of the Foundation anytime between 9 am and 12 pm to do some birdwatching with the new Education Director Carrie Szwed and don't forget your binoculars to spot winter migrants and arrivals at this free event.  

On November 15, get your paintbrush ready for a class with world renowned botanical artist Betsy Rogers-Knox!  This is a great opportunity to learn techniques of botanical illustration from a pro. The class is for all levels of experience. All supplies are included. Ages 12 and up. 1:30 P.M. – 4:00 P.M., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $35.00 Non-members: $45.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

If you give a "Hoot" then the felting workshop with Robin McCahill should be on your calendar for November 22 from 10 am - 4 pm. This is a perfect opportunity to create a handmade gift for a loved one (or to keep yourself!). Using soft wool and a special barbed felting needle, sculpt a night time owl of your choice. This one day workshop will enable you to finish your bird in time to adorn your home for the holidays. Learn some of the nocturnal habits of the famed owls while you work. All materials included!   Members: $55.00, Non-members: $65.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

On November 23, there will be an afternoon Green Man Concert with with Michael McDermott and Friends Benefit Concert Supporting The White Memorial Conservation Center. he Green Man is a mysterious, eerie figure depicted mainly in medieval European stonework, believed to represent an ancient vegetation deity. It is nearly always depicted as a "foliate head," that is, a face made of leaves and vines. Sometimes it appears as a human face peering out from leaves, other times with animal features. This joyful afternoon with ridiculously talented purveyor of joy, Michael McDermott and his band "Cead Mile Failte" Gaelic for "A Hundred Thousand Welcomes", will include music by Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Irish singer / songwriter Luka Bloom, and many more. What a splendid way to spend the Sunday afternoon before Thanksgiving! 100% of the proceeds from this concert benefit the Conservation Center. 2:00 P.M., Carriage House, Members: $15.00 Non-members: $20.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

To finish the month, on November 29, take a walk with Gerri Griswold along the Cranberry Pond Trail and cap off the walk with a cup of hot coffee and a thick wedge of Crimson Pie swimming in a pool of thick ginger crème anglaise! Meet in the Museum. 2:00 P.M., We'll drive over to the trail head together. FREE...Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center's programming expenses.

For more information about White Memorial Foundation visit http://www.whitememorialcc.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

NEGLECTED MANSION TO MODEL MUSEUM: WHITE MEMORIAL CONSERVATION CENTER MARKS 50 YEARS IN THE LITCHFIELD HILLS

Alain White might not believe his eyes. The mansion he once called home has been transformed into a model nature center and museum celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The changes did not come quickly or easily.

Alain, a Litchfield native, and his sister, Mae were pioneer environmentalists, turning their 4,000-acre property into a nature preserve and founding the White Memorial Foundation over 100 years ago.

 However, after the two passed away in the 1950s, their mansion, Whitehall, was left to the elements. The 50th anniversary of the foundation in 1963 sparked a move to do something about the building.

The Conservation Center was incorporated in 1964 with the challenge of converting the rundown manor house to a museum.  Initially it was known as the Litchfield Nature Center and Museum. The founders wanted the best, with many of the early dioramas put together by experts at New York’s Museum of Natural History.

But initially there was little “flow” as the rooms were designed for a home, not a museum space. Visitors came through a front hall and went in and out of rooms to see the displays.   It took over 30 years, but in 1996, everything changed, with a two-year renovation adding a modern exhibit building that puts it into the top ranks of nature centers.

 The Museum Today

Now known as the White Memorial Conservation Center, the building includes a nature museum with state-of-the-art exhibits on natural history, conservation, and ecology, as well as a dormitory, and a nature store and classroom facilities for the many school groups that visit.

The Conservation Center's Nature Museum offers a picture tour with exquisite dioramas and artwork telling the story of this unique 4,000 acre wildlife refuge, its diverse habitats using giant photo murals and animal mounts. A special exhibit on the Art of Taxidermy explains how the mounts were made.

A live snake habitat, beaver dam, fluorescent rock cave, bird sculpture garden, and children's room with books and activities guarantees a fun and informative experience for the whole family. The thousands of surrounding acres add many opportunities for first-hand contact with the natural world.

More than 35 miles of trails are open year-round for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and horseback riding. These include interpretive nature trails and a boardwalk trail for observing the extensive bird life found in a wetland environment.  Bantam Lake and the Bantam River offer fine fishing and canoeing and the grounds have ample scenic spaces for picnicking and camping.

The White Memorial Conservation Center is located at 80 Whitehall Road in Litchfield and is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission to the museum is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 6 through 12.

For more information on White Memorial www.whitememorialcc.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com

Pathways: Exploring White’s Woods

From the first day Kerwin Mayers stepped onto the boardwalk at White’s Woods, which is part of White Memorial Foundation located off Rte. 202 in Litchfield  she knew this special area would beckon her again and again. Before moving to Litchfield Hills in 2007, she had not been a landscape painter, but the beauty of the region became a beacon that directed her work down this path.

Two years ago, she thought she would try a series of twelve paintings representing each month. Quickly the project expanded to more than thirty paintings taken from many spots in White’s Woods at all times of the year and all times of the day.  She is indebted to the Alaine White family for providing this amazing preservation for all to enjoy and for her, a blank canvas to fill. 

Kerwin started painting in oil at Sarah Lawrence College and has since studied for many years with Pamela duLong Williams. Her art education has been broadened through workshops with Wolf Kahn, Charles Sovek and Robert Burridge. In recent years her paintings have been in juried shows at the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Rowayton Arts Center and Kent Art Association.

A portion of all art sales benefit the Oliver Wolcott Library.  In addition, the artist will be giving an additional portion to the White Memorial Foundation for their boardwalk. In the gallery: through June 28. The Oliver Wolcott Library is located on 160 South Street, Litchfield, CT. 06759. 860-567-8030. www.owlibrary.org

From the first day Kerwin Mayers stepped onto the boardwalk at White’s Woods, which is part of White Memorial Foundation located off Rte. 202 in Litchfield  she knew this special area would beckon her again and again. Before moving to Litchfield Hills in 2007, she had not been a landscape painter, but the beauty of the region became a beacon that directed her work down this path.

Two years ago, she thought she would try a series of twelve paintings representing each month. Quickly the project expanded to more than thirty paintings taken from many spots in White’s Woods at all times of the year and all times of the day.  She is indebted to the Alaine White family for providing this amazing preservation for all to enjoy and for her, a blank canvas to fill. 

Kerwin started painting in oil at Sarah Lawrence College and has since studied for many years with Pamela duLong Williams. Her art education has been broadened through workshops with Wolf Kahn, Charles Sovek and Robert Burridge. In recent years her paintings have been in juried shows atthe New Britain Museum of American Art, the Rowayton Arts Center and Kent Art Association.

A portion of all art sales benefit the Oliver Wolcott Library.  In addition, the artist will be giving an additional portion to the White Memorial Foundation for their boardwalk. In the gallery: through June 28. The Oliver Wolcott Library is located on 160 South Street, Litchfield, CT. 06759. 860-567-8030. www.owlibrary.org

About White Memorial Foundation

The White Memorial Conservation Center, an Environmental Education Center and Nature Museum, is located in the heart of the 4000-acre White Memorial Foundation in the hills of northwestern Connecticut.

In 1964 the Center was established in the former home of Alain White and his sister, May. Their vision and generosity led to the formation of the White Memorial Foundation in 1913. A non-profit tax exempt organization, the Center was incorporated to add the goal of Education to the Conservation, Research, and Recreation purposes for which the foundation was formed.

The Conservation Center operates a Nature Museum with exhibits focusing on the interpretation of local natural history, conservation, and ecology, as well as a museum store, classrooms and dormitory. The outdoor arena includes the wildlife sanctuary maintained by the White Memorial Foundation. The Foundation today comprises 4000 acres of fields, water, and woodlands, trails, campgrounds, boating facilities, and special areas for large outdoor education and recreational gatherings. 

For more information about White Memorial www.whitememorialcc.org.  For information on Litchfield Hills www.litchfieldhills.com.  

White Memorial Foundation located off of Rte. 202 is the State's largest nature sanctuary that offers a series of nature related programs that will intrigue and educate young and old alike.

On April 5 for examples, there is a llama walk with Deb Elias from Country Quilt Llama Farms.  This is your chance to walk a llama and find out how easy it is. Along the walk you will also learn all kinds of llama information. This is appropriate for children and adults. Sign-ups are necessary with a limit of 10 people per walk. 1:00 P.M., Meet in the Museum parking lot. $15.00 per person. Register directly through Deb by calling 860-672-2753 or emailing cqlf6@hotmail.com. A portion of the fee will be donated to White Memorial.

April 12 begins with a bird language club event with Andy Dobos and Deneen Berier that will help participants identify bird songs and their meanings. Bird language is the study of the songs, calls and body language of birds and other animals giving their running commentary of the world around them. Among other things, they announce the presence of predators and threats. Birders, hunters, photographers and outdoors people can use this understanding to move through the landscape without disturbing the wildlife they came to see as well as predicting the arrival of other animals.

While the club may spend some time observing birds to identify their species, it is not the focus of the club. The goal is to recognize the baseline of a specific area and what any change may indicate. The benefit of returning to the same location allows them to observe the impact of the progressing season. They invite participants in the club to share their knowledge so that  all grow in this new and exciting understanding of how we relate to our environment.

The club's event will take place outside sitting very still so bring an outdoor chair and warm clothes along with a notebook and binoculars. Meet in front of the A.B. Ceder Room, 7:00 A.M. — 10:00 A.M., Members: $15.00 Non-members: $20.00, Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

On April 12, White Memorial is offering a road trip to the Studio of Wood Turner Bodger Richard Heys. Participants will admire the stunning work of Mr. Heys that includes decorative and utilitarian wooden bowls, vases, lidded vessels and sculptural objects made on the lathe and/or by carving. Evolving from a hobby in the early 1990s to a serious pursuit since he retired from a career in chemistry research in 2005, his work aims to reflect both the skills of the craft and an aesthetic response to the character of the wood. Heys obtains most of his wood locally from stormfelled or otherwise unwanted trees. Meet in front of the A.B. Ceder Room at 9:45 A.M. and join the carpool that sets off at 10:00 A.M. — 12:00 P.M.  This event is limited to 10 people. Pre-registration is required. FREE...Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center's programming expenses.

Also, on April 12, Reggie Delarm, a Connecticut native, and potter for over 40 years comes to White Memorial Foundation from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. The incomparable Reggie Delarm will be demonstrating wheel thrown bird houses on her 1800s wooden treadle wheel. Her wooden treadle wheel is a replica wheel of local potter Hervey Brooks from Goshen CT. Foot-powered, hand-made wooden wheels were used throughout New England even after the invention of electricity!

Reggie will make a variety of birdhouses on her wheel. Round houses, face houses, and carrot houses are her specialty.

After the demonstration, you will learn to make little hand-made fairy garden pinch houses. These cute little clay houses will look great in a terrarium, garden, or around your yard. Clay houses must be fired. Reggie will fire your little pinch house at her studio. You can return to White Memorial to pick them up one week later.

This event will be held in the . B. Ceder Room, and is $30.00 per person which includes all materials and firing. Limited to 10 participants ages 8 and up. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

To finish off April 12, there will be an evening with photographer and musician Gary Melnysyn, a Conservation Center favorite that has been delivering delicious photography programs and workshops to us for several years. Tonight he will share with you some of his favorite wildlife photographs BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE...he will also break out the guitar and sing for you! This man has many hidden talents! Come out for a tasty potluck supper and an evening of music and nature unlike any other! BYOB and a pot luck dish plus your own place setting! 6:00 P.M., A.B. Ceder Room. Members: $20.00 Non-members: $25.00 Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

For Litchfield Hills information www.litchfieldhills.com and for information on White Memorial Conservation www.whitememorialcc.org

February Fun at White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield Hills

The White Memorial Conservation Center, an Environmental Education Center and Nature Museum, is located in the heart of the 4000-acre White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield.

The Conservation Center operates a Nature Museum with exhibits focusing on the interpretation of local natural history, conservation, and ecology, as well as a Museum Nature Store.

The grounds includes the wildlife sanctuary maintained by the White Memorial Foundation that comprises 4000 acres of fields, water, and woodlands, trails, campground and boating facilities.

In February, White Memorial is planning some exciting programs for children and adults.  On Feb. 3 for example, at 1 p.m. learn to paint a winter sunset in watercolor with internationally celebrated botanical artist Betsey Rogers-Knox. Step by step instruction will be offered for all levels for ages 12 and up. The cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members and pre-registration and payment is required.

The Center is also hosting the 2nd Annual Adult Museum Sleep In: A Sense of Wonder!  So, pack your sleeping bag, your love of nature, sense of childlike wonder, and hearty appetite and stake out your floor space in the Museum or the Carriage House Bunk Room and celebrate the life and times of Rachel Carson! Night walks, day walks, and readings by Ilvi Dulac and David Leff, sing-alongs too are all part of the fun. This program is limited to 20 happy campers! All meals provided but BYOB! Members: $70.00 Non-members: $ 90.00. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required.

If you are interested in winter wildlife tracking, don’t miss the free walk on Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. with Deneen Bernier to look for clues left behind by animals that tell the story of how they live this time of year.

The Star Party, an astronomy program organized by members of the Litchfield Hills Amateur Astronomy Club and the Mattatuck Astronomical Society is back on February 15.  The topic will focus on our magnetic sun and weather permitting there will be star gazing after the program at 7 p.m. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. You are invited to bring your own telescope or binoculars.

 

On February 16, Gerri Griswold leads participants on a winter walk through five ponds to look for animal tracks and listen for birds.  This brisk stroll is capped off with hot chocolate and a sweet treat in the A.B. Ceder Room.  Meet at the museum at 2 p.m. and head to the trailhead to start this invigorating walk.

White Memorial Foundation is located on 80 White Hall Rd. in Litchfield.  For program information call 860-567-0857 or http://www.whitememorialcc.org.  For area information www.litchfieldhills.com.