Bobcat

Photo credit: Matt Balnis

White Memorial Conservation Center Announces

Its Annual Year-End Appeal

By Gerri Griswold, Director of Administration and Development,

White Memorial Conservation Center

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer

is the chance to work hard at work worth doing."

~ Theodore Roosevelt

The Conservation Center thrived in 2023. Carrie Szwed’s Education Department experienced growing pains…the kind that resulted in the hiring of Environmental Educator, Colleen Harrak. Colleen emerged with an arsenal of talents both as an educator and as an artist. Perhaps you have never noticed “Nature’s Window” upon entering the Museum? We guarantee that Colleen’s handiwork will command you to stop and admire her creativity.

Research Director James Fischer made waves with Bats Count! White Memorial and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection partnered on a five-year program involving the installation of live cameras in our Green Barn to monitor our precious Big Brown Bat maternity colony. You can help both bats and biologists by becoming citizen scientists. Simply watch the cameras online between April and October, count the bats, and submit your findings!

She wears many hats around here…Social Media Guru, Babies in Backpacks leader, and Gift Shop Manager. Kelly Orr has tripled sales in our gift shop since her arrival in spring 2022. Orr has stocked our shelves with beautiful inventory, much of which is locally sourced and a diverse complement of White Memorial branded merchandise. Holidays are upon us! Shop local!

I spear-headed a record-breaking 41^st Annual Family Nature Day! The weather was frightful and a third of our guests stayed home. A sell-out raffle and an unprecedented Upscale Tag Sale Online Auction along with our generous sponsors, ensured that the Conservation Center would not lose money that day. We surpassed our 2022 total by twelve-hundred dollars! My enthusiasm and belief in virtual programming attracted speakers via ZOOM from Great Britain, Australia, Vermont, Egypt, California, and Upstate New York.

Your tax-deductible donation, no matter how small, to our Annual Year End Appeal supports our endeavors and the vision of our Founders, Alain and May White. You can donate securely online by stopping by our Facebook and Instagram pages, or by visiting our website: https://whitememorialcc.org/product/donation/. Be sure to indicate that your donation is for the Annual Appeal. Do you have a program idea? Virtual or in-person, for children or adults…we are all ears! Your interests are paramount to us. Email: [email protected]

On behalf of Lukas, Carrie, Jamie, Kelly, Colleen, and Ronnie, I wish the very best to you and yours for Happy Holidays and a New Year filled with peace and immeasurable joy.

NEW SUNDAY HOURS THROUGH MARCH!

Nature Museum Hours

Closed Monday

Tuesday through Saturday

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Museum Children Free Week

January 12 - 18, 2024

Courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. John Morosani

in Memory of Remy Edmund Morosani.

Free admission to children ages twelve and under when accompanied by an adult.

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Monday, January 15, 2024

Offices and Museum Closed

Dark of Winter Yoga with Judith Ehrman-Shapiro

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

ZOOM

$10.00

A portion of the fee is donated to White Memorial.For mor information call 860-309-9489 or email Judith: [email protected]

This class will run for 17 weeks, from the change of the clock in November to the change of the clock in March, specifically November 8 to March 20. The class will meet on Wednesdays from 4:30 – 5:30 p.mThere is no previous yoga experience required. The purpose of the class is self-care during the winter season; increasing self-awareness, emotional balance, physical strength, flexibility, and muscular endurance. The class will integrate mindfulness, breath technique, yoga postures, kinesthetic awareness, and alignment in an hour of relaxing, quiet, guided movement. Money can be exchanged on Venmo, Square, Cash, or Check. Please contact Judith to make these arrangements. Each class attended donates $1 to White Memorial Conservation Center!! After you Contact Judith, the link for the class will be provided.

Contact Information: Judith’s phone and text is 860-309-9489. Email can be sent to [email protected] .

Judith Ehrman-Shapiro, PhD, BC-DMT, NCC, RYT is a psychotherapist, dance-movement therapist, nationally certified counselor, and registered yoga teacher. Her private practice, the Evolving Center, is in Winsted. She is a proud member of White Memorial Conservation Center, where she has been sharing her love of yoga for over 6 years!

Babies in Backpacks with Kelly Orr

Thursday, January 18, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Meet in the Pollinator Garden.

Members: $9.00 Non-Members: $13.00

Pre-registration is required: Babies in Backpacks Registration

Children ages newborn through 2 years can spend about an hour exploring the great outdoors with us on the third Thursday of every month from January – March. This is a place for caretakers to learn about being outside in all safe weather with babies and toddlers, to try out different hiking carriers, swap suggestions on gear, and help encourage each other to be outside more! The very flexible schedule will typically be a half hour of walking and a half hour of outdoor sensory exploration. Having fun is our only expectation! Bring any milk, snacks, and supplies you will need, but we won’t go too far from your car.

 Dress for the weather! We will go out in snow, rain, and sun, as long as it is safe!

Artistry with Animals with Colleen Harrak

Saturday, January 20, 2024

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

A. B. Ceder

Room Members: $20.00 per session

or $50.00 for the series

Non-Members: $30.00 per session

or $80.00 for the series.

All materials provided!

Pre-registration is required.

Register online: Artistry with Animals Registration

Unleash your creativity at these unique ANIMAL Life Drawing classes, led by our own artist and educator, Colleen Harrak. “Artistry with Animals” will be offered in 3 sessions – Jan. 20, Feb. 17, and Mar. 23, 2024. At all sessions, you will create realistic 2-D art using both taxidermy and live animals as your visuals. In Session 1, you’ll use charcoal and pencil to make sketches that capture both stillness and vitality. Session 2 invites you to explore mixed media, blending the textures of preserved and living subjects in your artwork. Finally, Session 3 brings this dynamic fusion to life with vibrant acrylic paints. Don't miss this chance to blend art and animal anatomy in a one-of-a-kind setting. Reserve your “easel” today! We will provide art materials, paper, and drawing boards, but you’re welcome to bring your own materials.

All skill levels welcome. For Ages 10 and up.

Mystery Morning Hike with Gerri Griswold

Saturday, January 20, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Meet in the Museum.

LIMITED TO 15!

FREE....Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center's programming expenses.

Please pre-register: Mystery Hike Registration

You never know what trail conditions will be! Join Gerri for a hike to SOMEWHERE! Will it be Pine Island? Apple Hill? Beaver Pond? Mother Nature will choose one and we'll gleefully follow! Dress for the weather. Hiking poles and sturdy, water-proof boots are essential gear!

1. Bobcat ~ North Shore Road

2. Red Fox ~ Marsh Point

3. Red-breasted Nuthatch ~ Main Area

4. Redhead ~ Point Folly

5. Gadwall ~ Bantam Lake

6. Gray Catbird ~ Bantam Lake

7. Great Blue Heron ~ Point Folly

8. Swamp Sparrow ~ Bantam Lake

9. American Robin ~ Point Folly

10. Common Raven ~ Camp Townshend

"Bobcat" 

Photo credit: Leo Kulinski, Jr.

The 42nd Annual Family Nature Day

 Upscale Tag Sale Online Auction is Accepting Donations!

We are already working on the Upscale Tag Sale Online Auction to benefit the

42nd Annual Family Nature Day on September 28, 2024! Just check this link and watch it grow! If you would like to donate an item,

an antique, a service, an expensive getaway, please email: [email protected]

All donations are tax deductible.

Thanks for your enthusiastic support!

Watch the auction evolve here: https://www.32auctions.com/natureday42

SANCTUARY ~ WINTER 2024 IS NOW AVAILABLE!

SANCTUARY ~ WINTER 2024

THE GIFT SHOP

Kids Activities! Magnetic dress up, reusable sticker sets,

finger puppets!

New Pottery! Perfect for Dad!

Wool Dryer Balls! $18/set of 3. Such adorable designs!

New Children's book!

New items coming in all the time!

Find the perfect one-of-a-kind gift!

Save time! Shop Online!

Click the link below...

Online Gift Shop

MY WHITE MEMORIAL

PHOTO CHALLENGE!

Our Sanctuary is alive with the sights, sounds, and scents of the seasons.

Why not share photos of your explorations around White Memorial? 

Photos will be published each week in the Habitattler.

Please send all photos to Gerri Griswold: [email protected]

Happy Photographing!

The Tail End

Hilariously Inaccurate Medieval Art of Animals

Video credit: Curious Archive

.

January 27

DEEP CARE Family Ice Fishing Workshop

February 1

Nature's Nursery

February 3

Winter Festival at Burr Pond

February 7 & 21

Dark of Winter Yoga

February 10

Cut It Out! The Local History and Practice of Ice Harvesting

February 15

Babies in Backpacks

February 15

Happy Hour Hiking Club with Gerri Griswold

February 16

STAR PARTY!

February 17

Artistry with Animals with Colleen Harrak

February 17

The Arctic Fox with Ester Rutt Unnsteinsdottir (Virtual)

February 19

Presidents Day: Offices and Museum Closed

February 19 - 23

Crash Course in Icelandic with Marc Daníel Skipstað Volhardt (In person & Virtual)

February 24

An Evening of Music and Dancing with The Bog Hollow Boys



The 42nd Annual Family Nature Day

Saturday, September 28, 2024!

Thank you

....for keeping alive the Whites' dream 

of inspiring appreciation, understanding,

  and respect for the natural world.