Happy first day of winter

 Cardinal captured in forsythia last February.

❄ The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will be at 11:28 a.m. today. 

Summer solstice sunset

Wednesday's sunset reflected in clouds over West Haven. 

Yes, I got as far as West Haven today! 
We attended the annual meeting of the West Haven-based Center for Disability Rights, where we are members.

After the meeting the longest day of the year offered us a lovely sunset on the way home.

Mark CT Trails Day, learn outdoor skills, drumming at Ansonia Nature Center

ANSONIA - The Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield Road, has scheduled a variety of activities in June.

NATURE’S CHILD: Creatures of Redwing Pond – June 3, 10 a.m.

Join the Nature Center staff for a fun morning catching frogs and other creatures of Redwing Pond. We’ll start with a small talk on the animals that inhabit the pond. Then we will use our collection equipment to catch, observe, and release these critters. TUITION:  $7 per child ($5.00 for family-level FANCI members and Ansonia residents).  Please pre-register for this class for preschoolers and their adults.

CT TRAILS DAY – June 4, 9 a.m.

Join Nature Center director Alison Rubelmann and Ranger Dan Bosques for this morning walk.  Discover the flora and fauna of our typical New England woodland. This moderate hike will also visit the settlement of the Paugasucks. Bring water and snacks, and wear sturdy shoes. Suitable for older children and adults. FREE; call to register.

TREE I.D. HIKE – June 5, 1 p.m.

The towering giants that fill our forests have many uses and many names. Learn all about the trees we have here in CT, what they are used for, where they grow, which ones you can use for food, and which ones are best for lighting fires. You’ll learn not only how to I.D. trees by their leaves, but also by their bark! 

FREE. Please register and wear appropriate shoes.

FANCI ANNUAL MEETING – June 8, 5:30 p.m.

Join the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. to see what new and exciting projects they’ve been working on. Bring your own table setting and a casserole, salad, dessert, or other dish to share. Election of FANCI officers will take place at this meeting. Bring ideas for next year’s programs and projects.  Please register in advance.

PRIMITIVE FIRE SKILLS – June 11, 10 a.m.

Join Tom Nedweden, primitive technologist, in the art of fire making. Two hundred and fifty years ago this skill could have meant life or death. This ability, no longer widely known, will be shared with you. Learn where to find the best firewood when you’re stranded in the wilderness, the types of trees and other plants used to make tinder bundle, and how to create our very own coals to ignite the blaze! FEE: $5 per person.  Please register; all children must be accompanied by an adult.

OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS: Lashing Project III – June 18, 10 a.m.

Join Ranger Dan for the final session of his Lashing Projects. Hike into the forest, find a suitable group of trees, and build a raised platform using what we find in nature! Our goal is to build a tree house using our lashing skills. 

FREE; please register in advance.

SUMMER SOLSTICE DRUMMING WITH CHE CARTAFALSA – June 18, 2 p.m.

Che Cartafalsa is a musician, instrument maker, and educator whose work has ranged from concert halls and orchestras to rock bands and West African street weddings. He has played in the Northeast as a member of Toubabou and the White-Eyed Lizard 

Band, Che passes on to his students what he has learned from African percussion masters, emphasizing instrumental technique, listening skills, and multilayered rhythms in percussion. Authentic instruments will help us learn traditional African rhythms. 
FREE; please register for this family program.

FULL STRAWBERRY MOON HIKE – June 20, 8 p.m.

The Algonquin tribes knew this moon as a time to gather the ripening strawberries. It is also known as the Rose Moon. Join the Nature Center rangers for this nighttime exploration of the park’s trails as we follow the scents of the summer through the forest and fields. This adventure is geared toward adults and children. Wear sturdy shoes. Enjoy the summer fire too! FEE: $1; please register.

SUMMER NATURE DAYS – Open registration; choose one or more of our week-long sessions, each held Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates: Aug. 1–5, Aug. 8–12, and Aug. 15–19.

For children 5 to 11 years old who love the outdoors and wildlife, these popular classes will be not only educational but also a chance to explore the 156 acres the park offers. We will visit a variety of habitats in the park such as wetlands, fields, and woodlands. A great choice for a fun late-summer experience! 
TUITION PER WEEK: $150 priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level FANCI members); $175 all others.


This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center. 

Make a wreath, help count birds at Ansonia Nature Center

Winter Wreath Workshop
ANSONIA - Celebrate Ansonia’s 125th anniversary and the festive season at 10 a.m. Dec. 13 as you create a wreath with fresh, locally grown greens, then decorate your masterpiece with natural trimmings. 

Enjoy some warm mulled cider and a cookie too. Wreath frames and wire will be provided.
There is a $10 materials fee. Please register by Dec. 10.

Winter Solstice Drumming Circle
Come to the nature center at 6 p.m. Dec. 19 with your own percussion instruments as we drum in the beginning of winter, when our portion of the planet takes a nap! 

Please bring a nutritious canned good donation for Spooner House in Shelton. Dress for the cold. Children over 10 and adults welcome.
Free, but please register in advance.

Annual Christmas Bird Count
Join the New Haven Bird Club at noon Dec. 20 for this traditional bird count, which has been taking place for over 110 years! 
Bird count results are sent to the National Audubon Society, and are included in the international census of early winter bird populations.

Dress for the weather. Rain or shine. Free. Middle-school age children and their adults are welcome. Please register in advance.

Winter holiday nature days
For children who love the outdoors and wildlife holiday nature days will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 29-31.
These popular educational classes are designed for children ages 5-10.
We’ll have a chance to explore the park’s 150 acres and visit a variety of habitats.
Come meet new friends, play games, create beautiful and useful items using natural objects and recycled materials, and much more.

Tuition: $30/day ($90 all three days) priority students (Ansonia residents and current family-level Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center, Inc. members); $35/day ($105 all 3 days) all others. Advance registration only.

The nature center is at 10 Deerfield Road.

For more information on activities, call 203-736-1053.

This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.