An exciting schedule of talks on a variety of topics takes place this summer at the Nature Center. Bring a picnic and enjoy Sherwood Island’s late-afternoon beauty beforehand. All lectures in this Thursday series begin at 6 p.m.
The schedule will be updated through the season.
June 23: “The Bear Reality: Connecticut’s Black Bears.” Wildlife conservationist Felicia Ortner talks about the state’s black bears, whose population is on the rise. For adults and teens.
June 30: ”Piping Plovers and Least Terns.” Department of Environmental Protection wildlife technician Laura Saucier updates the audience on two of Connecticut’s endangered species of birds. For adults and teens.
[Note: DEEP Commissioner Dan Esty's talk, "Connecticut Parks: Back to the Future has been re-scheduled for July 28.]
July 7: “Horseshoe Crabs: Their Connection to Your Health and the Long Island Sound Ecosystem.” Jennifer Mattei, an associate professor of biology at Sacred Heart University, is the chair of Project Limulus, a community-based research project involving the tagging of horseshoe crabs. Hear more about these “living fossils,” and find out how to become a citizen scientist volunteer. For adults and children.
July 14: “Coyotes!” Chris Vann, a nuisance wildlife biologist with DEP, discusses the biology and control of Eastern Coyotes in Connecticut. For adults and teens.
July 21: “Dinosaurs in Connecticut.” Back by popular demand, Meg Enkler, the environmental education coordinator at Dinosaur State Park, presents an interactive program with dozens of early Jurassic fossils from Connecticut and other locations. A great opportunity for dino-loving children and adults.
July 28: “Connecticut Parks: Back to the Future.” A talk by Dan Esty, the Commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), will be followed by a Q. & A. with the audience. Expect to hear about his plans and ideas for the future, including the greening of Connecticut State Parks, maximizing social networking to attract visitors, the rationale behind the newly created Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, and other topics. Co-sponsored by Green Village Initiative (GVI). For adults and teens.
August 4: “Global Climatic Change: Consequences and Cures.” Lewis Clark, a chemical engineer and a specialist in water- and air-pollution abatement projects, is the speaker. For adults and teens.
August 11: “Land Preservation in Fairfield County.” With David Brant, executive director of the Aspetuck Land Trust. The subject of his talk will be the history of the Aspetuck Land Trust and its preservation efforts and new programs and initiatives, which include the recently opened 38-acre Newman Poses Nature preserve and the new Natural Playground for children at the Leonard Schine Preserve. For adults and teens.
Black Bear cub. Public domain photo from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, via Wikimedia Commons.
