Newsletter of The White Memorial Conservation Center Vol. XXXVII No. 1 Winter 2019

Museum Hours: Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.

For Information Phone: 860-567-0857 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.whitememorialcc.org

Mr. ABC: Art Ceder (right) and Former WMCC Education Director, Gordon Loery In the Footsteps of Arthur B. Ceder By Lee Swift, Local Historian & Gerri Griswold, Director of Administration and Development, WMCC

Gerri Griswold: You see their Connecticut fell as often as I did but I for The Connecticut Parks Department. names attached to landmarks around the eventually improved.” To strengthen his Eventually Ceder was hired as a surveyor property: The Mott ~ Van Winkle Class- son, Ceder’s father sent him on a quarter for the City of Bridgeport. He continued room, Ongley Pond, Ceder Pond, The A. mile hike several times a day to fetch pails expanding his knowledge by taking classes B. Ceder Room, The Kienholz Fire Pit, of water or to make numerous “runs” to in carpentry, architecture, and accounting, Catlin Woods, Bissell Road, but who are the local store to pick up this or that. turning down an offer from General Elec- these ghosts of White Memorial? What are Ceder attended Collinsville High tric to move to the Midwest to manage 200 the stories that inspired us to memorialize School nearly five miles from his home. accounts. The family farm sold in 1935. them by adding their names to landmarks? He traveled by wagon or sleigh. Upon His mother had purchased a house in Certainly each person has profoundly im- graduating in 1924, he hayed fields and Bridgeport that needed a good deal of re- pacted the White Memorial Foundation in eventually landed a position with the City pair. Ceder stayed to fix it and added a some way, but how? Local historian Lee commercial law course to his resume. Swift and I pondered this question last Around 1939 the State of Connecticut summer when we decided it was high time began licensing land surveyors and engi- to flesh out the life of one of these charac- neers. Although the test was daunting and ters. We chose Art Ceder, the forest super- the chairman made a speech that anyone intendent for The White Memorial Foun- who had not taken it in college should just dation from 1945 – 1969, because his pack it in, tenacious Art Ceder took the name is attached to a pond as well as our exam, passed it, and after years of on -the - beloved A. B. Ceder Room. Art, or Mr. job training, became licensed. ABC as he was affectionately known, left Ceder’s first big job was as a head quite a paper trail, having written an auto- inspector for a large sewage project in biography in 1995 entitled, “Working Bridgeport, but the war was on and nearly Wandering and Wondering.” I was not at everyone lost their work. Art grabbed a all prepared for what I was about to read. Whitehall in 1951. job with the US Government testing In addition to the rich tapestry of duties he Renovated as the Museum in 1959. “Tommy Guns” and from there he went to performed at White Memorial, Art Ceder of New Britain. Ceder had taken a shine to Remington Arms for more firearms test- was a poet, a prophet, an inventor of surveying and mapping and began an ing. The lack of ear protection leveled games, a jack-of-all-trades, an explorer, an evening correspondence course to broaden Ceder’s hearing. As the war drew to a utterly delightful worldly man with a real his knowledge. From New Britain he close, Ceder received a letter from Mr. story to tell. I was smitten. found his way to jobs laying streets in Mi- William Van Winkle offering a job as Su- Arthur Bronx Ceder was born on a ami and roads in Santa Barbara, Califor- perintendent at The White Memorial barge owned by his father near 133rd Street nia. In California he took night classes to Foundation, a position once held by his in the Bronx, February 11, 1906. His fami- learn about petroleum technology. “Most long-time friend Clifford Ongley, whom ly relocated to Burlington, Connecticut in interesting”Ceder returned to Connecticut he had met in the Civil Conservation January 1912. Tuberculosis had taken its in 1929 on the cusp of The Great Depres- Corps days. He accepted and traveling up toll on his mother’s family and since she sion which he describes as “a real dozzie the long road to Whitehall began building was developing TB, the local doctor (sic) and jobs were almost non-existent.” his legacy. strongly recommended to “Pa and Ma” to He settled back on his father’s farm. He Lee Swift: On January 1, 1945, a rainy “Go up in the country where there is good bopped around from 1933 to 1938 work- and dreary day, Arthur Bronx Ceder drove air.” They did and she recovered nicely, ing for the Civil Conservation Corps on icy roads to Whitehall and to his new living 84 years. As a child Art had polio Camps as a Forestry Foreman. He then job as Superintendent of The White Me- and wore braces until he was eleven or shuttled around the state of Connecticut morial Foundation. twelve years old. “Probably no one in performing various tasks in many places Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1 He recalled in an interview in 1981 that for the first two or three months he shared Whitehall with Mrs. Ongley, her two daughters, Alex Olsen, and his wife. Alex had been the temporary Superinten- dent after the accidental death of Clifford

Ongley in a storm in September 1944. Mr. Ongley had earlier offered Art the job of Asst. Superintendent after the two had The sawmill in 1951: Located on the ice house field become friends while serving as foresters at a Civilian Conservation Camp. the home for other WMF staff. The Foun- Whitehall had been the summer home of dation crew made picnic table, boats, and Alain and May White until 1932 when ill treated logs for fence posts and telephone health required that they stay year round poles to be sold. in a warmer climate. Christmas trees and greens, hemlock At the time that Art started working at rope, and small plants were sold along WMF, the primary activities were lum- with other forest products including char- Charcoal was sold in paper bags. bering and maintaining more than 25 coal and maple syrup. miles of woods roads. Products from the Foundation property were used on the Art retired in 1969 and a home was built property or sold to help pay expenses and for him from Foundation lumber on North property taxes. Art found ways to make Shore Rd. He was involved in the design complete use of the thinning of the for- and building to make it energy efficient. ests, both for the improvement of the Although he wintered in Florida, he con- woods and for game habitat. tinued to spend summers here until 2002 The first sawmill on the ice house and was always interested in the ongoing field was destroyed by the 1955 flood and forestry operations. was replaced by a new one east of what is now Ongley Pond. Used in conjunction with a planer, all results of lumbering The sap house was across the road from the green barn. were used - firewood, slabs, bark, saw- dust, and lumber. Sawdust and chips were The WMF Trustees honored Art in popular with farmers for cow bedding. 1965 by naming the ninth pond on the Lumber was used for buildings and property after him. The pond had been cottages – over twenty during Art’s ten- created as a result of digging into some ure including what is now the Office springs while excavating sand to build a Building where Art resided and later was new bridge over the Bantam River. Continued on page 4 White Memorial Conservation Center Announces Annual Year-End Appeal By Gerri Griswold

How fortunate we are to live in a property. This species has been brutalized reach programs, and creates beautiful place where there is still so much open by White Nose Syndrome, which has so videos of the people, places, and things space. We can observe the changing sea- gravely impacted our bat populations on our property, defining just how pre- sons. We marvel over the variety of cious White Memorial is. Our entire abundant wildlife coming and going staff hopes that we are honoring this with these changes. We watch the land and YOU in the best possible hawk migration each September and way. eagerly await the calls of the first Your tax deductible donation, no spring peeper or the sighting of the matter how small, to our Annual Year first Marsh Marigold along the bed End Appeal supports our devotion to of a babbling stream in spring. We serving your interests. You can also know that White Memorial will al- donate securely online by visiting our ways be here for us because Alain website: and May White designed it that way. https://whitememorialcc.org/product/ What a gift! donate-to-our-year-end-appeal/ The Conservation Center Staff Carrie, Jamie, Lois, Marlow, and I toils throughout the year hoping to thank you for your generosity. May properly honor the vision of the your holidays be as joyful as a moon- Whites. Carrie Szwed’s education pro- Photo credit: Leo Kulinski, Jr. set / sunrise hike up Apple Hill. We hope grams and summer camp programs draw to see you and your loved ones frequently sold out audiences. Research Director since 2006. Gerri Griswold strives to de- in 2019 at our rich array of programs for James Fischer and his staff discovered the velop a rich tapestry of Saturday pro- children and adults or traversing the only known colony of Little Brown Bats gramming to suit all interests. Marlow fields, forests, and wetlands that make up in Western Connecticut right here on our Shami leads meditations, delivers out- this glorious sanctuary. 2

The 37th Annual Family Nature Day: SIMPLY SENSATIONAL! Story : Gerri Griswold Photographs: Marlow Shami

The Conservation Center wishes to thank card to the Beaverkill Valley Inn in the every guest, volunteer, and sponsor who Catskills went to Nikki Mans of Fort Worth, helped make the 37th Annual Family Nature Texas. Gail Silvernail of New Hartford sailed Day the second highest attended in history! away in the two-person kayak, and Caroline On a perfect autumn day, 1318 adults and Valle of Morris will be shopping at Cabela’s children wandered through the pillars of with her $350 gift card. Whitehall into the welcoming arms of bats and Thanks so much to our sponsors who porcupines, turtles and snakes, birds of prey, helped defray the costs of this wonderful party: honeybees, alpacas and llamas, and Bradley Krummi Travel LLC, Foxgloves, Northwest the Museum Dog. Community Bank, Litchfield Bancorp,

The Litchfield Lions Club, Cups and Cones, Hardcore Cupcake Truck, and Winter Winds Farm (OHHHH that maple popcorn and maple cotton candy!) filled happy bellies. Our first ever pie sale was a sell out. The Nature Tag Sale and Silent Auction were triumphs. Music from the Zolla Boys and the Redwood Hill Band kept toes tapping along with Heather Twyeffort’s fiddling and a Vendors selling beautiful handcrafted showcase of talent from Litchfield High wares lined our “midway.” Information about School. Under the tent was a buzz of colorful Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation, the birds, bees, The Little Free Library, activity with nature crafts, touch tables, a Connecticut Community Foundation, the Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, The Forest gratitude table to write thank-you notes to The family of Raymond Packard, and an Wolf, Vern’s Flint and Steel, Flanders Nature Whites, and much more. Anonymous Donor. Center, The Institute for American Indian The day came to its pinnacle with the The 38th Annual Family Nature Day is Studies, primitive skills, weather, astronomy, drawing of our sold out raffle, sending Ann September 28, 2019! geology, bats, wood carving, and wolves were Combs of Litchfield to Iceland as the first prize waiting to fill the minds of our guests while winner. Second prize winner of a $1500 gift

UPCOMING PROGRAMS FOR THE KIDS

Nature’s Nursery Series After-School Adventures

First Thursday of Every Month Grades 1 - 3: Tuesdays in March Ages 3 - 6 years Grades 4 - 6: Wednesdays in March 3:45 - 5pm 4 - 5pm Members: $9/child per session Members: $8/child per session or $30 for the whole series or $25 for the whole series Non-members: $13/child per session Non-members: $12/child per session or $48 for the whole series or $45 for the whole series Go on a new adventure! Learn about local wildlife and Every session includes a story, a live animal, and an have fun at the same time! Parents are welcome to stay, activity or craft. Parents, we ask that you stay for the but it is not necessary. Meet in the Ceder Room. duration of the program. Meet in the Ceder Room.

“Sense-sational” Spring Break Camp 29th Annual Museum Sleep-In

Tuesday, April 16 - Friday, April 19 Friday, April 26, 5:00pm Grades 1 - 3: 9:30am-12:30pm to Saturday, April 27, 12:00 Noon Grades 4 - 6: 1:30pm-4:30pm For Kids in Grades 4 - 6 Members $20/session or $70/week Members $60/child Non-Members $35/session or $120/week Non-Members $120/child

Compare your senses to wild animals while playing games, Take part in a real-life “Night at the Museum!” Go on a night making crafts, meeting live animals, and exploring WM. Parents hike, sit by a campfire, meet live animals, and sleep by your welcome to stay, but not necessary. Meet in the Ceder Room. favorite exhibit. No parents allowed! Meet in the Ceder Room.

Advanced registration is required for all programs. Please call 860-567-0857 or visit whitememorialcc.org. 3

In the Footsteps of Arthur B. Ceder Continued from page 2

New Zealand and Australia and talked to Professor David Smith from the Yale Forestry School about it. Smith had bril- liant credentials being a published author but also having done his Doctoral experi- mental work at White Memorial. Smith taught most foresters in New Zealand and Australia and wrote letters of introduction on Art’s behalf. (Smith once called Art Ceder the best self-taught forester he had ever met.) A local travel agent found a three month ticket to Australia and New This room was dedicated when the Museum Zealand for $1,100.00 but later in the was renovated in 1997. evening told Ceder for $50.00 more he could get a one year round-the-world Art not only tended to WMF business, ticket. Even better, there was no baggage including writing articles for the WMF limitation, he could travel anywhere for Friends newsletter – topics covering eve- an unlimited amount of time and use any rything from chain saws to water dowsers airline of his choosing. The ticket was and conservation in New Zealand but he purchased, passport obtained, shots ad- was an active member of the Litchfield ministered. Art’s Big Adventure com- Camera Club and Lions Club. He served menced at Bradley Airport in Hartford on “Execution Day” in Havana, Cuba that as Deputy or District Fire Warden for 25 January 18, 1965 with the temperature a left my mouth agape. years and was awarded a gold badge from cool 5 degrees. First stop: San Francisco, Art Ceder lived a good long time. the Litchfield County Fire Wardens for then Hawaii, off to Fiji, New Zealand, 101 years to do all sorts of great stuff. He service as an outstanding fire warden. and to Australia where he developed kid- wrote a book of poetry. He developed ney stones, had surgery, and continued on “Home Games,” a 1979 booklet of home to Hong Kong, India, Beirut, Lebanon, golf which could be adapted to other Egypt, London, and to New York in un- games. der three months. His musings along this In the mid 1990s he said he only had journey regarding flora, fauna, people, time to “wonder.” In his autobiography, religion, food, hotels, etc. had me laugh- Ceder paints a portrait of how some of ing out loud. He also mentions trips to the earth’s features might have been cre- Europe and a harrowing account of ated. Australia was a big ball that landed

hard, and it thrust the Andes and Rocky Mountains into position (I am paraphras- ing BIG TIME). Ceder wonders about adding trace minerals to soil to make gar- dens and people healthier, he wonders about electric cars and solving world hun- ger and even speculates about global warming. Many of his wonderings may At age 101, Arthur Bronx Ceder died seem unsavory or even politically incor- in Florida on July 14, 2007. A Celebra- rect by today’s standards, but I can assure tion of Life service was held in the WMF you that this splendid man’s wonderings room named in his honor and he was bur- were nothing but caring. He only pon- ied in the Burlington, Connecticut Center dered how to make our planet a better Cemetery. place. Gerri Griswold: I would be remiss for I wish I had known Art Ceder. We not sharing a bit about Art Ceder’s wick- would have been thick as thieves. ed case of wanderlust. He was immensely The first paragraph of Ceder’s auto- well traveled. In 1965, having not taken biography states, “In some ways I am, a day of work off at WMF for twenty compared to University degrees, rather years and shortly after the death of his uneducated.” I personally believe Arthur beloved Mother, Mr. ABC discussed va- Bronx Ceder holds several honorary de- cation destinations with John Mott. Mott grees: a Bachelors in Hard Work, a Mas- suggested tiger hunting in India but the ters in Curiosity and Tenacity, and a PhD riskiness of it did not appeal to Art. He in How to Properly Execute a Most Ex- was very much intrigued by the forests of traordinary Life.

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Volunteer Spotlight: Fran Zygmont Story and Photo by Gerri Griswold

Fran Zygmont’s life has been One of Zygmont’s biggest claims to have pictures of Venezuela.” The two tethered to the outdoors for as long as he fame is that of being a MOVIE STAR! love to travel. Fran has his binoculars and can remember. The New Hartford native www.opposablechums.com The movie, Liz has her cameras. Everybody wins! had a huge family. Fran is the youngest Opposable Chums: Guts and Glory at the Fran Zygmont loves White of seven children. His parents grew World Series of Birding, focuses on this Memorial. He is always eager to jump on Christmas trees. The family raised annual event held in New Jersey. It is board with programming ideas and loves German Shepherd dogs. He recalls his competitive birdwatching. One day in the the feeling of giving back. At one older sisters taking him outside and program a woman was confounded over placing birdseed in his hand. Black- her new pair of binoculars which capped Chickadees landed and accepted appeared to be broken. Fran told her that his offerings. He has been hooked on the two focuses were off. The happy birds ever since. woman said, “Nobody ever told me how In fourth grade he met Dave Tripp. to do that!” That’s Fran Zygmont… Tripp also shared a love of birds. They caring, sharing, humble, passionate, became birding buddies and to this day obsessed, fun, and always game to get up are a highly regarded team. While at 4:00 am on a winter morning to search attending sixth grade at the Antolini for Owls or in springtime to help us School in New Hartford, Zygmont’s identify the tapestry of voices which blossoming passion for birding was make a Dawn Chorus. Throw in a acknowledged by teacher Cheryl Barker. breakfast at Patty’s to recap it all She brought Zygmont and Tripp to White afterwards. TOTALLY worth rising at Memorial and introduced the youngsters such a horrific hour! He is the best sort of to members of the Litchfield Hills guy. Thanks for all of the wonderful Audubon Society. Fran and Dave became things you do for White Memorial and regulars on the adult bird walks offered our feathered friends, Fran. by LHAS. “I would go ahead of the My Evergreen Cathedral group and dip into the bushes. I could do By Arthur Bronx Ceder a really good towhee.” Young Zygmont fooled the adults with his call. There’s a grove of ancient pine trees Coming from a very musical family, With a trail that thru it wends it makes perfect sense that Fran would To an Evergreen Cathedral gravitate to the calls of birds. His brothers Feathered Friends: Where the Bantam River Bends and sisters sang or played instruments but Fran Zygmont & Zygmont’s strength was his ear for Shakespeare the Barred Owl Here the works of the Creator sound. “I would go into the woods to Are plain for all who sees where a bird was calling and try to see spring, international teams congregate, From the slowly flowing river what was making the noise. Of course the and over a 24 hour period, see how many To the tall and stately trees. bird would fly away! So I decided I species can be identified. Any vehicle but would make the birds come to me!” He aircraft can be used, all birds counted Many times when I needed solace first perfected the Tufted Titmouse, the must be alive and unrestrained. Teams In the years that long have flown Black-capped Chickadee, and the can begin anywhere in the state and take I would visit my Evergreen cathedral Northern Cardinal. any route but their tallies must be handed And I no longer felt alone. Dave Tripp became the eyes and in at the finish line by midnight. The Zygmont the ears of a dynamic birding event generates millions of dollars for I’ve seen Buddhist and Hindu temples team. In fact, Dave Tripp started the conservation. I won’t be a spoiler! Buy it Great cathedrals and churches without Barkhamsted Christmas Bird or rent it. I am sure Fran would be happy end Count,which Zygmont has participated in to autograph! But the Creator made a Living cathedral for 30 years. Fran became a delegate to Participating in this event led to the Here at the Bantam Rivers Bend. the Audubon Council (bridge between creation of Connecticut’s Big Day, a National Audubon and local chapter similar event which occurs each spring Many times have I come here Presidents). He served on the Audubon and for which Zygmont and his team Seeking serenity for my soul Council for six years, was President of members have raised over $30,000 for And in this Evergreen Cathedral Litchfield Hills Audubon Society for four conservation. “White Memorial is I’ve always reached that goal. years and was a member of the LHAS considered a place for target species.” Board of Directors for four years. Today A guy with this much passion for Here I have my bride beside me Zygmont focuses on outreach programs, birds must have the most amazing We’ll make vows only death will end for which he draws crowds and (patient) wife! Fran Zygmont married Liz In this Evergreen Cathedral accolades: Owl Prowls, Bird Call Frazier on September 5, 1998 (Fran Here at Bantam Rivers Bend. Identification, Dawn Chorus, and Macro- proudly sports the binoculars Liz gave Photography. He gushes over his him on their wedding day). The two met When my earthly chores are ended participation in the 2013 BioBlitz at at work. Liz is an avid traveler and I could not ask for more White Memorial. “This is a payback: photographer and Fran had all the right Than to have my ashes scattered giving back all I have learned.” moves. “I walked up to her and said, I On this living Cathedral Floor.

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Winter Calendar of Events For more information on any of our programs, please call us at 860-567-0857 or register online: www.whitememorialcc.org .

7 Nature’s Nursery Series: See page 3 9 Winter Wildlife Tracking with JANUARY Andy Dobos, The Forest Wolf 9 Winter Wildlife Tracking with 1 HAPPY NEW YEAR! See page 7 for details and registration. Andy Dobos, The Forest Wolf Museum Closed See page 7 for details and registration.

3 Nature’s Nursery Series: See page 3

5 Mindful Eating and Living 9 NATURE TRIVIA NIGHT! with Marlow Shami 9 Cut It Out! The Local History with Carrie, Jamie, and Gerri 10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room and Practice of Ice Harvesting See page 7 for details and registration. Members FREE, Non-members: $5.00 Ice once harvested from Bantam Pre-register by calling 860-567-0857 or register Lake was used throughout the online: www.whitememorialcc.org year! Enjoy a presentation featuring old tools of the trade, 12 - 18 Museum Children Free Week* then watch Jeff Greenwood and 16 Animal Architects with Gerri Griswold Courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. John Morosani James Fischer demonstrate ice cutting the 2:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room In Memory of Remy Edmund Morosani old fashioned way! Gerri Griswold mans Members: FREE, Non-members: $5.00 the canteen! Dress for the weather! Please 12 Winter Tree Identification To register call 860-567-0857 or register pre-register. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Meet in online: www.whitememorialcc.org with Lukas Hyder the A. B. Ceder Room. 10:00 a.m., Meet in the Museum parking lot. 16-22 Museum Children Free Week* 22 Star Party! 12 Winter Wildlife Tracking with Courtesy of The Laurel Ridge Foundation Program and star gazing. Andy Dobos, The Forest Wolf In Memory of Francesca M. Thompson, M.D. 7:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room. See page 7 for details and registration.

16 Arctic Blast! 23-29 Museum Children Free Week* A full day of programming In Memory of Louise W. Willson celebrating the far north! 12 Art Opening and Reception: See page 7 for details and 23 March Along the Pine Island Trail and Pat Morris: Paintings on Feathers registration. 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room Little Pond Boardwalk with Gerri Pre-registration is required. 18 Presidents Day 10:00 a.m., Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. Call 860-567-0857 or register online: Museum Closed 29 The Town of Litchfield’s Tercentennial! www.whitememorialcc.org The Conservation Center is honored to be 22 Star Party! collaborating with sister organizations Program and star gazing. Topsmead State Forest, Livingston Ripley 7:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room. Waterfowl Conservancy, Litchfield Land 19 Winter Wonderland Watercolor Trust, Litchfield Hill Audubon Society, and Workshop with Betsy Rogers-Knox 23 An Evening with Abe: See page 7 for details and registration. The Litchfield Community Greenway in 1863 ~ Lincoln’s Remarkable Year presenting a lecture series that will focus See page 7 for details on the remarkable impact each and registration. organization has had on Litchfield as we launch into its 300th birthday! Wine & 21 Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Cheese reception. Museum Closed MARCH The Litchfield Community Center 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 26 Family Ice Fishing Workshop 2 - 8 Museum Children Free Week* CT DEEP Fisheries experts teach you Courtesy of Arthur and Tara Stacom Diedrick 30 Climate Change Impacts everything about water, fish & fishing, in Honor of Claire and Matthew Stacom and Connecticut: how to think like a fish and have some safe What the Future Holds in Store fun! An outstanding opportunity to learn with Juliana Barrett, Ph.D 2 The Secret Lives of Owls from the best in the classroom and on the ice! 2:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room. Bring a lunch and dress for the weather! Mary Beth Kaeser FREE admission. Pre-registration Horizon Wings Raptor Center required. Register online or call See page 7 for details "I wonder if the snow loves the trees and and registration. 860-567-0857. 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. fields that it kisses them so gently? And A. B. Ceder Room and Bantam Lake 3 Owl Prowl with Fran Zygmont then it covers them up snug, you know, 4:00 a.m. (yep...not a typo!) with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes Coffee & treats served before the prowl. again.” ~ Lewis Carroll FEBRUARY After School Adventures!!!! 2 Live Concert and Contra Dance Tuesdays and Wednesdays in March with Robert Messore’s Wry Bred! See page 7 for details See page 3 for details. and registration. 7 Nature’s Nursery Series: See page 3 * Free admission to Children ages 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. 6

Adult Nature Study Workshops and Saturday Workshops: Winter 2019 You can now register online for these programs: www.whitememorialcc.org

Winter Wildlife Tracking with Andy Dobos Andy Dobos takes you on a wildlife tracking walk through the winter Saturdays, January 12, February 9, March 9, 2019 woods. There are always clues left behind by the animals for us to 10:00 a.m., Meet in the Museum decipher, telling a story of their habits and lives. Get to know our Price per session: Members: $10.00 Non-Members: $20.00 beloved wildlife that much better. Children should be accompanied by an adult and all should dress extra warm and wear good boots!

Winter Watercolor Workshop with Betsy Rogers-Knox Shed the winter blues and enjoy an afternoon painting a simple New Saturday, January 19, 2019 England winter scene in watercolor! All levels welcome in this step- 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room by-step workshop which includes all materials. For ages 15 and up. Registration Fee: Members: $35.00 Non-Members: $60.00

Concert & Contra Dance with Robert Messore’s Wry Bred! Strap on yer dancin’ shoes, BYOB, and heat up on a cold winter’s Saturday, February 2, 2019 night with Conservation Center favorite Robert Messore and his band, Wry Bred! Tonight the Carriage House will undulate with the gleeful 7:00 p.m., Carriage House sights and sounds of Contra! Dancing is not mandatory this evening, Registration Fee for Members and Non-Members: $15.00 but we DARE you to stay seated!

Arctic BLAST! A full day devoted to the far north! Presentations from: Saturday, February 16, 2019 10:00 a.m.: Gerri Griswold: Iceland in Winter, 11:00 a.m.: Ester Rut Unnsteinsdóttir: The Arctic Fox, 12:00 p.m.: Tom Alena: The Aurora 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room Borealis, LUNCH BREAK, 2:00 p.m.: Joseph Meehan: The Narwhal, Members and Non-Members: $10.00 per program 3:00 p.m.: Moki Kokois: Arctic Explorer Members Only All Day Pass: $30.00 An Evening with Abe: 1863 ~ Lincoln’s Remarkable Year Being in the presence of Howard Wright as President Abraham Lincoln is an experience you will not soon forget. Dressed in precise period Saturday, February 23, 2019 attire and speaking with a Kentucky accent, Lincoln’s mannerisms, 7:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room speaking style, and humanity flows over the listener with each moving Members: $15.00 Non-Members: $30.00 sentence, witty observance, or eloquent description of a tortuous time that was the Civil War. The Secret Lives of Owls with Mary Beth Kaeser It seems that owls have always been surrounded by an air of mystery, Saturday, March 2, 2019 probably because most are nocturnal and not easily spotted in the wild. 2:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room This is your chance to be only a few feet away from four different spe- Members: $5.00 Non-Members: $10.00 cies of owls. Discover the extraordinary features of owls, including exceptional eyesight, hearing, and ability to fly silently. Are you even remotely prepared to test your Nature Knowledge at our Nature Trivia Night with Carrie, Jamie, and Gerri 3rd Annual Nature Trivia Night? Teams of up to six will compete for a Saturday, March 9, 2019...DINNER INCLUDED “valuable” prize. A chili supper will be served. BYOB and your own 7:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room place setting! Form teams beforehand, or register individually and we’ll Members: $10.00 Non-Members: $25.00 put you on a team when you arrive. Come on, Brainiacs! Accept the We HIGHLY encourage team costumes! challenge! WE DARE YOU!

Clip & Mail Become a member of The White Memorial ___Winter Wildlife Tracking Jan 12__Feb 9__Mar 9__....Member: $10.00 Non Member:$20.00 Conservation Center ___Winter Watercolor Workshop…………...………..…....Member: $35.00 Non Member: $60.00 and take advantage of the

___Concert & Contra Dance with Robert Messore’s Wry Bred!…………..…..All Tickets: $15.00 member discount, along with free admission to the ___Arctic Blast Iceland __Fox __ Aurora __ Narwhal__ Arctic Explorer__ $10.00 per program Nature Museum, a discount ____Member: All Day Pass: $30.00 ___An Evening with Abe………………………………….….Member: $15.00 Non Member: $30.00 in the Gift Shop, and receipt of the quarterly newsletter ___The Secret Lives of Owls……………………….………....Member: $5.00 Non Member: $10.00 and calendar of events. ___Nature Trivia Night……………………….…...………….Member: $10.00 Non Member: $25.00 Your tax-deductible fee will help sponsor programs like these. A Family membership is Name ______$60.00 annually. An Address ______Individual membership is City ______State ______Zip______$40.00 annually.

Phone ______e-mail ______For more information call 860-567-0857.

Please circle one: member non-member Make Check Payable to WMCC Payment enclosed: Program fee: $ ______Membership fee: $ ______Total $ ______Mail to: WMCC P.O. Box 368, Litchfield, CT 06759

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What’s Inside This Teachers, Homeschool Parents, Edition of

and Group Leaders, Annual Appeal…...………..2 White Memorial Conservation Center has established a tradition of providing quality Nature Day………………...3 environmental education programming since 1964. Let us help you incorporate Children’s Programs………3 environmental education into your curriculum or enhance your current studies. Volunteer Spotlight…...... 5 Poetry: Art Ceder.………...5 Education programs can be conducted at White Memorial or at your facility. Events Calendar…………..6 Adult Nature and Saturday The Program Possibilities are Endless… Workshops………...………7 Amazing Adaptations CT’s Native Wildlife

Do the Locomotion Give the Gift of Nature To Yourself or a Loved One. Endangered Species Habitat Chat Become a Member of Pond Prowl White Memorial Conservation Center. Take a Hike We are also happy to design a program The Power of Plants that caters to your Wildlife in Winter needs. Just ask!

...and so many more! Individual Membership: $40.00 Family Membership: $60.00

Visit whitememorialcc.org for more information and a complete list of programs Call 860-567-0857 or with detailed descriptions, including the curriculum standards they meet. www.whitememorialcc.org

A Planned Gift Have you signed up for our weekly can make a email newsletter, The Habitattler? difference in your future Calendar of Events Notable Sightings and ours. The Tail End Video www.whitememorialcc.org Happy Picture of the Day and more!

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