Have you ever wanted to go on a nature walk that explains so many of the hidden things going on around you? If this appeals to you and your children, don't miss the chance to take a walk with the Institute for American Indian Studies on August 22, from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. with IAIS Educator and Ecologist, Susan Scherf. Participants will learn about the ecology of the Shepaug River and the way plants and animals live in the Eastern Woodlands.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Walk with Along the Shepaug River on August 22 with the Institute for American Indian Studies
Monday, August 9, 2021
Farm to Flanders – The Ultimate Gourmet Picnic & Auction
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Kids are Free @ CT's Beardsley Zoo
There is still time to visit Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo. The Zoo is participating in Connecticut's Kids are Free Program that welcomes kids and an accompanying adult to enjoy the zoo for free. New tickets are released at beardsleyzoo.org every Saturday evening for the following week. We want everyone to have a chance to visit this summer!
A highlight of any visit is to catch a glimpse of the Zoo's newest resident, the Giant Anteater's pup that was born June 15! Giant anteaters are listed as vulnerable to extinction, due to habitat destruction, hunting and road kills. The Beardsley Zoo is proud to be one of the AZA-accredited zoos working to increase their numbers through the Species Survival Plan.
Don't forget your camera as the Zoo is also hosting its third annual photography contest. "Photography Goes Wild," sponsored by Milford Photo, will be a hybrid event this year, combining digital submissions with an in-person exhibition. Photo submissions are due by September 12. You can find rules and information on how to submit your photos on the Zoo's website.
Friday, July 30, 2021
Summer Fun Abounds @ Weekend in Norfolk July 30, 31 and August 1
Summer brings family road trips, ice cream sundaes, and playing water tag. One of the best warm-weather activities for families that want to bond and have fun at the same time is to attend a festival like Weekend in Norfolk (WIN). This town-wide celebration was created to offer something for everyone, with activities that won't break the bank, because all are free!
Native American Green Corn Festival August 15 in Washington Connecticut
Corn is an integral part of the annual lifecycle of Native American people. Traditionally, corn was an important source of food, as well as a significant element of religious and ceremonial life that brought communities together. For generations, many Native American communities have welcomed the season when corn ripens with a celebration. In recognition of this time-honored tradition, the Institute for American Indian Studies, located in Washington, CT, is holding their 16th annual Green Corn Festival on August 15 from Noon to 4:00 pm at the Riverwalk Pavilion, 11a School Street, in Washington, CT.
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Experience a New England Clam Bake On Sheffield Island Every Tuesday in August
New England clambakes are one of the pleasures of summer with their classic combination of lobster and clams fresh from the ocean, corn on the cob, and potatoes. The Norwalk Seaport Association's New England Clambake on Sheffield Island is one of the best places to experience this time-honored seafood feast!
Thursday, July 22, 2021
Celebrate the Music of Billy Joel with Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot and More @Norwalk Oyster Festival 2021 September 10, 11, and 12
Three days of fun, food, and dazzling free entertainment on multiple stages, plus a myriad of special events for families and friends, from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities planned for the 2021 Norwalk Oyster Festival hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association on Friday, September 10, Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, 2021, at the 35-acre Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk. For tickets and information https://www.seaport.org/norwalk-oyster-festival
A fabulous festival seaside! |
“We are so happy to be able to welcome people back to this year's Norwalk Oyster Festival, an event that has brought families and friends together for 43 years. Our volunteers have been working around the clock to make this year’s festival extra special because we know people have been looking forward to it since last year. The 43rd Norwalk Oyster Festival is packed with value-added extras this year especially when you consider that all the entertainment including the headliners' Mike DelGuidice who performs with Billy Joel and Big Shot, Eliot Lewis from Hall and Oates, and Live at Daryl’s House, nationally and internationally acclaimed SteelHeart, the Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Band, and many other top-notch bands are included in the ticket price,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk Oyster Festival. For tickets click https://www.seaport.org.
SteelHeart loved around the world for high octane performances |
Friday, September 10, Entertainment Line Up
Headliner, September 10 - SteelHeart - Nationally and Internationally Acclaimed @ 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Artifact Identification Day @ Institute For American Indian Studies
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Learn A Technique Used by Archeologists on Saturday, June 26, 2021
If you are interested in learning about the techniques used by archaeologists then register for the Flotation Workshop being held at the Institute for American Indian Studies located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut on Saturday, June 26 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. To register click here. Space is limited for this program and pre-registration is required. For additional questions, call 860-868-0518 or email events@iaismuseum.org.
Not all of the information archaeologists learn about the past comes from artifacts. Some of the most telling information can come from the dirt. When things like hearths, or burned areas are found the soil is removed and packed up to be taken back to the lab. This is done so that all of the soil can be saved.
In the lab, the dried soil is placed in a tub that has been filled with water. The lighter organic materials "float," which gives this technique its name. The remaining soil is run through a series of sieves that catch even the finest materials. This technique is used to find charcoal, fish scales, nut fragments, and even grass seeds. These small bits can tell archaeologists so much!
Participants in this workshop will join the Institute's Research Department for an in-depth demonstration of this useful technique. A highlight of this program is the chance to try this process out for yourself.
About The Institute for American Indian Studies (IAIS)
Located on 15 woodland acres the IAIS preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. We have an outdoor replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village, the 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 in Washington Connecticut.
Monday, June 21, 2021
Family Nature Hour @ White Memorial Foundation...Looking Under Rocks!
Turning over logs in the woods is like nature’s ultimate treasure hunt; you just never know what is going to be hiding under them! Join Education Director Carrie Szwed at White Memorial Conservation Center on Thursday, June 24 from 4 to 5 pm. There will be a very intimate gathering of families as we carefully roll over logs to find invertebrates, salamanders, and even mycelia…what’s that? Find out all sorts of new terms and meet some cool and crawly critters. Families with children ages 6 and older are welcome to attend.
This special program is limited to 15 lucky folks interested in what they will see when looking under rocks! There are no online reservations for this event -- so get there early as it is first come first serve! Participants must wear masks. The meeting point is on the lawn between the Main Parking area and the Museum. The cost is $5 per person.
Courtesy White Memorial Foundation |
About White Memorial
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 educational and recreational gatherings.
Friday, May 28, 2021
Sounds of Waterfalls Herald Summer in Litchfield Hills
Some people listen for birdsong and look for early summer flowers but in Litchfield Hills, it's the rippling rhythm of waterfalls that herald early summer. Swollen from the runoff of a snowy winter, waterfalls are at their splashiest this spring, and there are many falls around the region beckoning hikers, picnickers, and photographers with their call.
Kent Falls State Park |
For a show of waterpower, the Great Falls of the Housatonic in the Falls Village section of Canaan is unsurpassed. During planned water releases in spring, the dam-controlled falls put on a spectacular show, flowing over a 50-foot drop. A short hiking path leads to an upper viewpoint to savor the splash. The falls are found off Route 126 north following the signs on the road marked for Falls Village. Dean’s Ravine Falls in Canaan is another beauty, with cascades and slides down a steep 50-foot drop, and once again an easy trail leads to the water. The trail to the falls begins to the left of the parking lot at Music Mountain, the headquarters of the oldest continuously running Summer Music Festival in the United States.
The scenic trail to Prydden Brook Falls in Newtown parallels the west side of the Housatonic River most of the way. The waterfall begins and ends with a plunge with 40 feet of cascades in between.
A choice spot for a picnic is Southford Falls State Park on the Oxford and Southbury town line where Eight Mile Brook runs down from Lake Quassapaug in a bubbling cascade on its way to join the Housatonic River. Romantics can picnic on a rock adjacent to the falls or on one of the secluded picnic tables by a classic covered bridge. The bridge is based on a traditional 18th-century arch design and was built by a talented local carpenter, Ed Palmer, with the assistance of Americana Artist Eric Sloane. The banks of the pond above the falls are popular with both fishermen and picnickers. Hiking in the park is excellent on a system of loop trails through the woods and hills. One of the trails offers a tower lookout with a prime view. Located just south of Southbury on Route 188, the park provides a shelter with water and visitor facilities.
Campbell Falls State Park |
A lookout tower is one of several rewards for hikers who take the loop three-mile Beaver Pond Trail at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area in Burlington. The path, canopied by chestnut, red oak, red maple, and black birch, leads through acres of woodland past a 38-acre beaver pond, the Negro Hill Brook flowing through a jumble of boulders and a side trail leading to a splashing waterfall. The entrance to the wildlife area is found on Route 69, three miles north of the Route 6 intersection in Bristol.
The sound of rushing water guides visitors through the pines and hemlocks to Campbell Falls, a scenic treasure formed where the Whiting River tumbles over the rocks through a narrow gorge. The water plummets down 60 feet in two steep steps, each ending in a small pool. The weathered rocks make an idyllic picnic setting. The falls are found off Norfolk Road, five miles north of Haystack Mountain on Route 272 in Norfolk, not far from the Massachusetts border.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Explore Mill Hill Historic Park in Norwalk on June 5
If you are up for a historic stroll in June, why not head to Mill Hill Historic Park located on 2 East Wall Street in Norwalk on Saturday, June 5. The Norwalk Historical Society is offering a series of self-guided tours at 12 noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. For tickets click here.
Visitors are invited to explore the 1740 Governor Fitch Law Office which has been completely renovated and reinterpreted. The new interpretive panels provide information about Colonial life and Governor Fitch. The colonial herb garden on the grounds of this complex is another highlight. Visitors will learn about plants that would have been grown and used during this time period.
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Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Woodcock Nature Center and Wilton Land Conservation Trust Hike Together
Wilton is home to more than 23 preserves that are open to the public and range from 16 to nearly 200 acres. Wilton also has access to open space and trails at Woodcock Nature Center, Weir Farm, and Ambler Farm.
The free 90-minute guided nature tour will be led by staff naturalists from Woodcock Nature Center alongside Land Trust Executive Director. Leaders will talk about the diverse wildlife, ecosystems, native and invasive plants, and provide insights into Wilton’s land-use history. With any luck, participants might even spot some local wildlife.