In this Issue: Food Truck, Vendors Lining Up to Participate in Scarecrow Fest; Land Stewards Program Fosters Community; Donation Needs for Festival; RSVP for Ramble Event; and Bird of the Month

Eat, Explore and Engage at Scarecrow Fest

Join Us Sept 20 on the Comeau's Shakespeare Lawn

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald

We are excited to turn the calendar to September in a few days and finalize plans for our 4th annual Scarecrow Fest. Please make plans to stop by the Comeau's Shakespeare Lawn Sept. 20 from 1-4 p.m. to try good food, get engaged with local organizations and explore the Comeau trail after enjoying arts and crafts opportunities and eco-themed workshops.

From the Ground Up will be bringing its mobile kitchen to Woodstock to sell tasty plates of fresh-made selections. We are finalizing plans for a second food vendor, so come hungry!

Elly Wininger is returning to provide live music and lead a sing-a-long for the whole family, while community nonprofits will be filling you in on their latest projects. You might get a head start on holiday gifts by visiting with vendors, and you will want to grab a trail guide to enjoy the Comeau trail before you depart.

Scarecrow Fest is free, but we do ask for a $10 per adult donation to help defray the costs. Parking is free, and the workshops are free.

Mark your calendars now for Scarecrow Fest 2025! Please bring your reusable water bottle and either a blanket or lawn chairs if you'd like to relax on the lawn.

Sharing a Meal, Sharing a Commitment

WLC Land Stewards Build Community from Service

WLC's Land Stewards paused from their volunteer duties last week to gather for a potluck social, and there were as many smiles as there were empty plates. Miranda Javid, WLC's volunteer coordinator, said, "It was a beautiful evening to gather with the Land Stewards team, share delicious food and enjoy each other’s company. Many stewards even brought fresh bouquets from their gardens, filling the space with color and care, just another reminder of the thoughtfulness this group brings to their work."

Our Land Stewards are truly the heart of WLC’s volunteer community, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their energy, dedication and good humor. David Frutkoff and Patty Lyons hosted the event. David is a Land Steward at our newest preserve, Rock Oak, and Patty volunteers with WLC when her travel schedule allows.

Would you like to join the WLC Land Stewards or learn more about what they do? Miranda is hosting an information session and guided hike at our largest preserve, Israel Wittman Sanctuary, Sept. 13 from noon - 1:30 p.m. The session and walk are free, but reservations are required. Click here to register. Can't make it? Email Miranda for more information about volunteer opportunities.

Arts, Crafts Donations for Scarecrow Fest

Drop Offs are Encouraged at Our Office

Do you have scarecrow essentials? How about kid-friendly craft supplies? We can help you clean out part of a closet, craft bin or kitchen drawer while saving us money and reducing consumption.

We are looking to reuse supplies whenever possible, so please let us know if you have the following materials to donate for our 4th annual Scarecrow Fest. We will be taking donations starting Thursday, Sept. 4. There will be a bin on the porch of our office, which is located at 74 Mill Hill Road, right across from Sunflower Market. We will be taking donations from Sept. 4 through Sept. 18.

• Straw hats: adults or kids
• Flannel shirts: adults or kids
• Paper plates: white only with no design
• Paint brushes: kid-friendly size for tempera paints
• Kids scissors with blunt ends
• Straw to decorate handmade hats
• Pieces of burlap

If you have any questions, please email us here. Thanks for helping us make Scarecrow Fest an eco-friendly event for the whole family!

It's Ramble season, and WLC is proud to host one of the myriad of outdoor events available throughout the Hudson Valley region.

Join us for a late summer nature walk at Israel Wittman Sanctuary, led by staff member Miranda Javid, as part of the 2025 Hudson River Valley Ramble.

The guided walk will explore the ecology of this mixed hardwood and coniferous forest, offering insight into seasonal changes and native habitats. As we follow the Sanctuary’s scenic loop trail, participants will learn about the land’s history, current restoration efforts and ways to observe nature with curiosity. We'll also talk through WLC's plans for a fourth trail, which is tentatively scheduled to be developed in 2026.

This family-friendly event is free, but reservations are required. Please sign up before spots fill up with other ramblers.

The American Redstart is part of the warbler family. While the females are typically gray, the males have colorful bodies that might make you think of Halloween or candy corn. They actually use their colorful tails and wings to startle they insect prey out of foliage as they forage. Maybe those trick-or-treaters at your door are trying the same trick!

Males also have a distinctive song, which they sing rather vigorously in order to protect their territories while also attracting mates. They can have two families, working to attract a second mate once the first one completes the nest and is busy incubating her eggs. Both parents share in caring for their offspring, however, so a male with two families is busier than his monogamous brethren.

American Redstarts are in our area for breeding, so they will be heading south soon as part of their migration. Until then you can find them in deciduous woodlands hopping around in a hyperactive manner searching for food. This male was spotted in Wittenberg this summer by WLC Board Member Hank Starr.

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