Center at Glastonbury
Our Natural World: Photography Exhibit & Sale
Now through March 3, 2012, Tuesday – Saturday, 1-5 p.m., at the Glastonbury Audubon Center
All lovers of nature photography are invited to view the exhibit of more than 250 entries and purchase one (or more!) framed photos to enjoy in your home or as a gift. Beautiful photos of plants, animals, birds, butterflies and bugs, landscapes, nature’s miracles, and people in relationship with nature will adorn the gallery.
The exhibit is open Tuesday – Saturday, 1-5 p.m. at the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury. A $3.00 donation is appreciated.
Purchased photos must be picked up between March 6 and March 17.
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Friday, February 24, 2012, 7-10 p.m. at Smith Middle School Auditorium, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, CT
An outstanding collection of award-winning mountain films from around the world. Highlights include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, paddling, BASE jumping, mountain culture and much more! Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury. Hosted by North Cove Outfitters, Old Saybrook, CT. $15/person; advanced ticket purchase suggested. Call 860-388-6585 or visit www.northcove.com.
Guided Nature Walks in Earle Park
March 10 and the second Saturday of each month thereafter, 11 a.m – noon, conditions permitting.
$5 (CAS members $3).
Reservations: 860-633-8402 Tue-Sat 10-5.
Nature lover and bird watcher Rachel Caldwell invites adults and children to join her for guided nature walks in Earle Park. The pace is moderate, with some up and down hills. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are permitted. Walks leave from the CT Audubon Center at 1361 Main St., Glastonbury, and continue year-round, conditions permitting.
As a courtesy to Rachel, and to insure that the walk will be held, please call ahead to put yourself on the list. A walk may be canceled if there is no one registered.
Coffee House Concert – Yovianna Garcia Alvarado
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 pm. $15 Members, $17 Non-members, Under 12 half price.
![[Photo]](http://www.ctaudubon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Yovianna-Garcia-Alvarado-Photo.jpg)
Yovianna Garcia Alvarado – Classical Guitarist. Known for her musically expressive and charismatic performances, Puerto Rican guitarist, composer and teacher Yovianna is a unique, young promise in the classical guitar scene.
Proceeds from this concert benefit the educational programs of the CAS Center at Glastonbury.
Earth Fair
Saturday, April 28, 10 am – 4 pm. Connecticut Audubon Society at Glastonbury. Entrance by donation.
The theme of this year’s Earth Fair is: Birds and Their Habitats. Fun for the whole family at the Audubon Society’s annual fair. See birds of prey, watch the Peter Pan Players perform, participate in the All Creatures Parade, and dance around the Maypole. Stay for lunch and enjoy a treat at the bake sale! Crafts for children and so much more!
Coffee House Concert Series
Mark your calendar now for these spring concerts:
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. – Yovianna Garcia Alvarado, Puerto Rican classical guitarist, plays expressive music from Baroque to contemporary, at the Glastonbury center. Click for details.
Saturday, May 5, 3-4:30 p.m. – Dr. Rosokoff (“Dr. Uke”) & Daughters, at Gideon Welles Middle School, 1029 Neipsic Road, Glastonbury.
Proceeds from these concerts benefit the educational programs of the CAS Center at Glastonbury.
General Information
Center at Glastonbury
Located near the Connecticut River, the Connecticut Audubon Center at Glastonbury has taken full advantage of its unique location since its opening in 1982. This Center’s focus is to promote awareness of the Connecticut River ecosystem and the birds and habitats it supports, and to foster their preservation through education and related activities.
The Center’s 4,000 square-foot facility offers a full range of environmental programs and a full calendar of events throughout the year for people of all ages. The Center contains a Discovery Room with hands-on exhibits, wildlife mounts, interpretive natural history exhibits, a diorama of Connecticut River’s Great Meadow, and small live animals. The grounds surrounding the Center contain the Four Seasons Wildlife Garden, a bird-feeding station, and a picnic area.
The Center is adjacent to the 48-acre town-owned Earle Park, with its forest trails and scenic vistas of Tom’s Pond, meadows, and bluffs overlooking the Holland Brook river. The park is home to a maturing forest of beech, tulip, and red oak trees and contains the state champion bitternut hickory tree. It contains trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding.
School Science Programs
School Environmental Education Programs for Pre-K through Grade 8.
For over 25 years, the Center at Glastonbury has provided curriculum-related nature programming to schools in Central Connecticut. We offer 26 different innovative and hands-on programs that conform to both the National Science Standards and the Connecticut Science Framework. Each hour-long program focuses on the natural world; most include an outdoor component so students can experience their environment and learn to develop their science skills and senses, under the guidance of our trained naturalist.
Programs are offered at our Center at Glastonbury (which adjoins Earle Park, a 48-acre town park with a variety of habitats), as well as in your classroom or at an appropriate site of your choice. Due to the interactive nature of our programs, the maximum class size is 25 students.
Our current program offerings include:
- Adaptations (Grades 5-8)
- Animals from the Center (Pre-K through Grade 3)
- Birds of a Feather (Grades 2-6, indoors only)
- Birds of Prey (Grades 2-8)
- Life Underground (Grades 2-5)
- Native Americans Along the Connecticut River (Grades 1-3, indoors only)
- Skulls and Skeletons (Grades 3-8)
- Strictly Seasonal (Grades Pre-K through 5)
We have many more classes listed in our Educator’s Guide and our teacher/naturalists can customize a program for your classroom. To register or for further information, call our Center at 860-633-8402 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday – Saturday; or click here for our Educator’s Guide with a complete list of programs, fees, and registration information. We want to work with you!
Events at the Center at Glastonbury
Banff Mountain Film Festival
Friday, February 24, 2012, 7-10 p.m. at Smith Middle School Auditorium, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, CT
An outstanding collection of award-winning mountain films from around the world. Highlights include skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, paddling, BASE jumping, mountain culture and much more! Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury. Hosted by North Cove Outfitters, Old Saybrook, CT. $15/person; advanced ticket purchase suggested. Call 860-388-6585 or visit www.northcove.com.
Coffee House Concert – Yovianna Garcia Alvarado
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 pm. $15 Members, $17 Non-members, Under 12 half price.
Yovianna Garcia Alvarado – Classical Guitarist. Known for her musically expressive and charismatic performances, Puerto Rican guitarist, composer and teacher Yovianna is a unique, young promise in the classical guitar scene.
Proceeds from this concert benefit the educational programs of the CAS Center at Glastonbury.
BEES!
Wednesday, April 4, 7:00 pm. Members $8, 12 and under $4, member family max $24; non-members $10, 12 and under $5, non-member family max $30.
Here is your chance to learn about the many species of wild bees that live in Connecticut with researcher and bee expert Kimberly Stoner. Kimberly will describe the important function of bees to pollinate native plants as well as crop plants, and explain the differences among the 325 species of bees. You will learn how to recognize them when they buzz by in your own back yard, and gain a new appreciation for bees and their role in the environment.
Spiders!!!
Saturday, April 21, 3:00. Member $8, 12 and under $4, family max $24. Non-members $10, 12 and under $5, non-member family max $30.
Learn everything you always wanted to know about spiders, from the tiny to the huge! Spiders are generally viewed as dangerous because of their bites, but not all spiders produce venom. Did you know that most spiders have poor vision, but there are some species with extraordinary vision? Have you heard of amblypygids, uropygids, ricinuleids, mites and scorpions? You will learn all about these spider relatives too. With a Powerpoint presentation and movies, Louis Sorkin will demonstrate interesting species behaviors. Louis Sorkin is an arachnologist and entomologist at the American Museum of Natural History who has an enthusiasm for spiders and other arachnids, and in the science of entomophagy, the use of insects as food. He has appeared on many TV, radio and internet news programs and interviews. Click here for the flyer.
Earth Fair
Saturday, April 28, 10 am – 4 pm. Connecticut Audubon Society at Glastonbury. Entrance by donation.
The theme of this year’s Earth Fair is: Birds and Their Habitats. Fun for the whole family at the Audubon Society’s annual fair. See birds of prey, watch the Peter Pan Players perform, participate in the All Creatures Parade, and dance around the Maypole. Stay for lunch and enjoy a treat at the bake sale! Crafts for children and so much more!
Coffee House Concert Series
Mark your calendar now for these spring concerts:
Saturday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. – Yovianna Garcia Alvarado, Puerto Rican classical guitarist, plays expressive music from Baroque to contemporary, at the Glastonbury center. Click for details.
Saturday, May 5, 3-4:30 p.m. – Dr. Rosokoff (“Dr. Uke”) & Daughters, at Gideon Welles Middle School, 1029 Neipsic Road, Glastonbury.
Proceeds from these concerts benefit the educational programs of the CAS Center at Glastonbury.
News and Announcements
Wees Winter Time Fun!
Wednesdays 10-11 am. Wees (ages 3-5). Members $10 per class/$28 per monthly session, Non-members $13 per class.
Call to pre-register: 860-633-8402.
February
Feb. 15: WINTER SNAKES - Have you seen snakes slithering around in the snow? No? Where have they gone? Visit with our center’s snakes to learn about how they get around.
Feb. 22: STORY BOOK - It’s fun to make a book that tells a story. We’ll use pictures and your drawings to help you put together your own story book. What will you put in it?
Feb. 29: CRITTER ROAD SHOW - Come and visit with many of the animals from the center. Children will pick six animals that they would like to have a close-up encounter with.
March
March 14: ICE AND SNOW - With winter almost over, the snow and ice will be melting. It changes into something else. Where will all the snow and ice go?
March 21: SPRING! - There is more light during the day now. What changes can be seen in the park? Are the spring flowers coming up? Who is at the pond?
March 28: TREES, TWIGS and STICKS - Bring a bag or small basket to collect twigs and sticks. Look at the buds and flowers on the trees. The birds are coming back to visit their favorite trees.
PeeWees Winter Time Fun!
Tuesdays, 10-11 am: PeeWees (ages 1-3) Members $10 per class or $28 per monthly session; Non-members $13 per class or $39 per monthly session.
Call to pre-register: 860-633-8402.
FEBRUARY is for HEARTS!
2/14/2012: Sweet Hearts – On Valentine’s Day, make a special card and gift for someone you love.
2/21/2012: Story Book – It’s fun to make a book that tells a story. We’ll use pictures and your drawings to help you put together your own storybook. What will you put in it?
2/28/2012: Critter Road Show – Come and visit with many of the animals from the center. Children will pick six animals that they would like to have a close-up encounter with.
MARCH looks ahead to SPRING!
3/13/2012: Ice and snow – With winter almost over, the snow and ice will be melting. It changes into something else. Where will all the snow and ice go?
3/20/2012: Spring is here! – There is more light during the day now. What changes can be seen in the park? Are the spring flowers coming up? Who’s at the pond?
3/27/2012: Trees, twigs and sticks – Bring a bag or small basket to collect twigs and sticks. Look at the buds and flowers on the trees. The birds are coming back to visit their favorite trees.
Early Morning Spring Bird Walks
Thursday mornings, April 19 – May 17, 2012, 7-9 AM
Join experienced birder, Larry Lunden on early morning walks in Earle Park to spot new migrating birds. Bring your binoculars and field guides if you have them. Meet at the Connecticut Audubon Center on Main Street. CAS members $6, Non-members $8.
Guided Nature Walks in Earle Park
Second Saturday of each month, 11 a.m – noon.
$5 (CAS members $3).
Reservations: 860-633-8402 Tue-Sat 10-5.
Nature lover and bird watcher Rachel Caldwell invites adults and children to join her for guided nature walks in Earle Park. The pace is moderate, with some up and down hills. Walks leave from the CT Audubon Center at 1361 Main St., Glastonbury, and continue year-round, conditions permitting.
As a courtesy to Rachel, and to insure that the walk will be held, please call ahead to put yourself on the list. A walk may be canceled if there is no one registered.
Bird Seed, Bird Ornaments & Nature Store
Feed the Birds! We have wide selection of bird seed available for order, and the most popular varieties are usually in stock for immediate pick-up. Visit our Center or call 860-633-8402 for an order form.
Our Nature Store‘s selection of gifts for the birding and wildlife enthusiast changes frequently, so stop in regularly to see what’s new in the display case. Currently on sale are our exclusive annual pewter bird ornaments, originally $8.75, now only $3.95 while supplies last. These include the 2008 ornament featuring Trinity, our resident Red-tailed Hawk, 2007 Screech Owl, 2006 Wood Thrush, 2005 American Goldfinch, 2004 Cedar Waxwing, 2003 Carolina Wren, 2002 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 2001 Downy Woodpecker, 2000 Nuthatch, 1999 Titmouse, 1998 retired Connecticut Audubon Society Logo Owl, 1997 Wood Duck, 1996 Bluebird, 1995 Cardinal, 1994 Chickadee, 1993 Great Horned Owl and 1992 American Robin. Your purchases help support our Center’s year-round programs for children, families and adults and also help us feed and care for our resident education animals.
Bird Houses Made of Recycled Barn Wood
If you are looking for truly unique, colorful bird houses for your own yard, to give as a gift or to dress up your view at work, check out our newest nature store additions. We have a few on display and more than 30 styles to choose from.
Bird House Style #56
Bird House Style #06
Volunteers Needed at our Center
We will provide full instruction and information, you just need to bring a willingness to learn and a cheerful smile! If you are interested in any of the volunteer opportunities described below, call Center director Cindy Bartholomew (860-633-8402 ext. 205) or send Cindy an e-mail (cbartholomew@ctaudubon.org). Our Center is fully handicap-accessible. If you have allergies to fur or feathers this may not be the place for you! Click here to download a printable application form (please print the two pages back to back).
A Fix-It or Handy Person for our Center: If you enjoy small fix-it projects such as repairing wall corners, fixing the vacuum cleaner, bolting things together, cutting wood for shelves or animal shelters, and many other small tasks, WE NEED YOU! A weekly commitment of just an hour could make a big difference for us and for our animals. We have some tools, and some materials. We are always looking for materials that can be reused at our Center.
Volunteer Coordination-Would you like to learn how to recruit, screen and train volunteers? Did you know that this is a career that you can get certification in? Our Director has managed volunteers for more than 30 years and would love to teach a couple of people how to work with volunteers to the best advantage for the CT Audubon Center. Learn to organize groups of volunteers, schedule volunteers to cover office, events and animal care, work with court-ordered volunteers, involve teens, and recruit for specific needs. Volunteers are wonderful to work with and they need guidance, training and encouragement in order for them to have a good time and be the most help to the Center. Help us do our very best!
Publicity Volunteer Needed: Help us fill our Center for all of the wonderful programs we do! We are looking for someone who will come in once per week for at least an hour to work on entering our event information on-line into community calendars, and event and tourism websites. An organized person with some publicityexperience would be very helpful. Keep track of our on-line listings, update as needed, and provide a list to our publicity volunteer team of which events have been listed and where.
Phone & Reception Hosts: We need cheerful, helpful people (you can bring a friend & work in twos!) who enjoy talking to the public on the phone and in person. Phone and reception volunteers need to be empathetic and helpful to people who have found hurt or orphaned animals. Some office or clerical help is also appreciated. We need volunteers between 10am-5 on Tuesdays and Fridays, and once experience is gained, Sundays 1-4 p.m. Work with other experienced volunteers.
Animal Caregiver Supervisor: Do you work well with children & animals and are you kind & patient? We need volunteers 18 years & older with some knowledge of reptiles, birds & amphibians and who are not squeamish. Volunteers are needed 3-5 p.m. to be available to our Youth Volunteers while they care for our animals. Involves assisting children ages 7-14 with locating materials and proper foods. Cutting and preparing foods when supply is low. This help is needed Wednesdays through Saturdays and, whenever our Youth Volunteers are unable to come, must be willing and able to clean cages and provide food and water to our animals.
Nature Store Volunteers: Unique & fun opportunity! We’re looking for help researching items to sell, recommending items to purchase for resale, displaying our “store” items, dusting and organizing our store display. Nature Store items are mostly related to birds and their habitats. Work with the Center’s director to determine pricing, devise marketing strategies and maintain inventory.
Event Committee Volunteers: Our events raise money, raise awareness and are fun to work on. There is something for everyone to do! From publicity, to taking minutes, planning public education programs, hanging photographs to setting up tents, cooking or baking, setting up or cleaning up, asking for donations or putting up posters, you name it we need your help! Current committees are Adult & Family Education Programs, Photo Contest, Banff Film Festival, Earth Fair, Harvest Dinner, and Art for Nature’s Sake (fine art sale and community event). Join a committee and find yourself in the midst of community members who enjoy doing what they are doing and have fun doing it!
Directions
From I-84 in East Hartford: Take Exit 55/Route 2 East to Route 17 Exit (Portland/South Glastonbury). Our Center is on the right, 2.5 miles from the exit.
From I-91 North: Take Exit 25 to Putnam Bridge/Route 3. Follow Route 3 over the Connecticut River to Route 2 East. Move quickly into the left lane to take the Route 17 Exit (Portland/South Glastonbury). Our Center is on the right, 2.5 miles from the exit.
From I-91 South: Take Exit 25N to Putnam Bridge/Route 3. Follow Route 3 over the Connecticut River to Route 2 East. Move quickly into the left lane to take the Route 17 Exit (Portland/South Glastonbury). Our Center is on the right, 2.5 miles from the exit.
From Middletown: Go east on Route 66 to Route 17 North. Follow through South Glastonbury. Our Center is on the left.
From Marlborough and Southeast: Take Route 2 West to Exit 10. Turn left, then turn right at first stop sign. At first stop light, turn left onto Chestnut Hill Road. Follow for 3 miles to Main Street. Turn right onto Main Street. Our Center is ¼ mile on the left.
