May
Spring Wildflower Walks
All ages
The Pomperaug Valley Garden Club will again lead Wildflower Walks on its award winning Botany Trail at Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust. All ages are welcome on the walk. Please meet at the Sugar House parking lot, located off Church Hill Rd, 1/4 mile east of the intersection of Flanders and Church Hill Roads in Woodbury. The program is free, although donations are welcome. Prior registration is not required. Inclement weather cancels the walks.
Date/Time: Sundays, May 5, 12 and 19/ 2 PM
Location: Sugar House parking lot
Cost: Free, donations welcome
To download a flyer, click here.
Firefly Theater Informational Meeting for Volunteers
Calling all volunteers! On July 12, Flanders will present their first “Firefly Theater” production of The Native American story of the “star creation” as retold in the words of Samantha Dunbar. Volunteers are needed for all facets of the production: storytelling, acting, dance, puppets, music, props and scenery. Drama, art, dance, and music teachers are encouraged to get involved. If you cannot attend the meeting, call (203) 263-3711, x 12 to volunteer.
Date/Time: Thursday, May 2/ 8 PM
Location: The Studio
Cost: Free to attend and volunteer!
To download a flyer about Firefly Theater, click here.
The Edible Ornamental Garden
Adults
A production vegetable garden can be a feast for the eyes when attention is paid to design, color, interesting structures and plants’ ornamental qualities. Garden photographer and writer Karen Bussolini’s inspiring presentation shows many inventive ways to tuck edibles into flower beds, use herbs and fruit trees as landscape plants, and assemble colorful edible container gardens to create biodiverse yards humming with life and good things to eat.
Date/Time: May 4/ 2:30 pm
Location: New Morning Market, 128 Main St. N, Woodbury
Cost: $15
To download a flyer, click here.
Bird Walks in May
Have fun exploring our local natural habitats to learn about birds in our area and improve your identification skills. Binoculars and field guides are encouraged and all levels of birders are welcome.
Date/Time: Saturdays, May 11, 18 and 25/ 8 AM
Location: Sugar House Parking Area
Suggested donation: $5
To download flyers, click here for May 11and here for May 18
Three Season Gardening with Eric Frisk
Enjoy fresh vegetables from your garden from very early spring through the last days of fall by Following Eric Frisk’s tips for three season gardening. You will learn plant selection, rotation and the use of cold frames and crop protection techniques to extend your yield by several months. Eric has served as “Garden Guardian” of Drew Park’s community garden in Fairfield for 15 years sharing his passion and expertise with community gardeners and producing food for the food pantry. The gardens have just been named the first All-American Selections Display Garden in Connecticut.
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 14/ 7 pm
Location: The Studio
Cost: $12 members; $15 non-members
To download a flyer, click here.
Flanders Film Series – The Future of Food
The Future of Food has won numerous awards and has been shown globally at conferences such as The Soil Association Convention in London, the Japanese Organic Farmer’s Convention, Dr Andrew Weil’s Nutrition and Health- State of the Science Conference and Slow Food’s “Terra Madre.” The film provides a thorough overview of controversial questions about Genetically Modified foods such as “What are the long-term effects on humans of consuming genetically engineered food, which is still largely unlabeled in the U.S.?” and “Can the crossbreeding of wild and genetically modified plants be controlled?” We are fortunate to have John Pittari, president of New Morning Market to lead a discussion following the film.
Date/Time: Friday, May 17 / 7 pm
Location: New Morning Market, 128 Main Street North, Woodbury
Cost: $5 includes organic popcorn.
To download a flyer, click here.
Farm Day
All ages
Recapture the sights and sounds of a real New England farm. Build memories for kids that will last a lifetime at this one-of-a-kind celebration. Interact with live farm animals, such as alpacas, sheep, rabbits, horses, cows and chickens. Take a tractor ride. Listen to gardening talks, get planting tips, watch demonstrations of crafts and outdoor cooking and much more! Live music and family-friendly entertainment all day.
Date / Time: Saturday, May 18/ 10AM – 4 PM
Location: Van Vleck Farm and Nature Sanctuary
Cost: $5 per person/$15 per family/$30 for groups of 8 or more.
To register your group, call (203) 263-3711, x 12
To download a flyer, click here.
Third Annual Fiber Arts Exhibition and Sale
Held in conjunction with Farm Day and also on Sunday, May 19, the exhibit will feature fiber art handmade by local artists. Some of the categories featured are knitting, quilting, weaving, crochet, spinning and needle felting. All local fiber artists are encouraged to submit entries. Entry applications are due by May 13 and art must be submitted by May 17.
Date/Time: Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19/ 12 PM – 4 PM
Location: The Studio
Cost: Free to attend exhibit; Entry fees apply for exhibitors
To download a flyer, click here.
For complete rules and more information, call (203) 263-3711, x 12.
Full Moon Hike/Pot Luck
Adults
The full moon in May is known as the “Flower Moon.” Please join us for a fun potluck dinner inside the cozy Sugar House, followed by a hike in the moonlight on the beautiful trails at Flanders. Please bring a home-cooked dish that serves 4 to 6 people, comfortable shoes and a flashlight.
Date/Time: Friday, May 24/ 7:00 pm
Location: Sugar House
Cost: $10 plus a dish to share
To download a flyer, click here.
Needle Felting with Rachel Gerowe
Adults
Learn to make a 3-D sculpture of fairies or elves out of wool using needle felting, an easy to learn technique. To register, call (203) 263-3711.
Date/Time: Friday, May 24/ 7 pm
Location: The Studio
Cost: $35 per class includes materials. Save $5 if you bring your own needles and foam.
June
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust Hike & Tour | Geoff Whan & Nancy Bailey
Celebrate Connecticut Trails Day Weekend 2013 at Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust during our 50th year. We’ll hike the Van
Vleck Sanctuary plus talk about other beautiful trails including the Botany Trail. We will learn about why this 200+ acres
preserve was so cherished by foundress Natalie Van Vleck, who lived and worked here in the 1900’s.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 1st / 10 AM – Noon
Location: Sugar House Parking Area
Cost:Free
The Pitmen Painters Preview Talks by Marc Chabot and Marija McCarthy Dramatization of a scene from the play, & wine and cheese reception
You are invited to what promises to be an entertaining and enjoyable Preview for The Pitmen Painters, a play at The Gary–The Olivia Theater at The Abbey of Regina Laudis from June 14 through 23. The play is an inspirational story about a group of miners in Northern England who enroll in an art class and become a briefly celebrated group of painters in the 1930s and 40s.
The fascinating play asks the question: what is art, and does it enhance our lives in some way? The Preview will commence with a social time with wine and cheese, and will include a talk by Flanders Curator and artist Marc Chabot, a dramatization by several actors in character from the play, and remarks by life-long painter and educator Marija McCarthy.
Date/Time: Saturday, June 8/ 7:30 pm
Location: The Studio
Cost:$15. Seating is limited. Please call 203-263-3711 x10 to reserve a seat for the Preview.
To download a flyer, click here.
Ongoing
Flanders’ Fabulous Summer Series – NOW ENROLLING! SESSIONS BEGIN JUNE 17!
Youth
On our 200-acre campus of forest, field, farm and pond, children explore nature, art, agriculture and ecology in a healthy and stimulating outdoor environment. From farming fun to outstanding outdoor explorations, art adventures or creative cooking, Flanders’ Summer Series offers more than 60 programs to keep your child, ages 3 to 14 entertained, while learning to appreciate and respect the natural world around us. Mix and match weekly themed programs to create the perfect series for your child’s interests and special talents, all summer long!
Flanders’ member families receive a discount on our already-affordable program fees. Plus register your child for multiple weekly classes and save 10% off regular series fees. Financial assistance is also available, as is morning and afternoon extended care.
To download a Summer Series brochure and registration form, click here.
To register online, click here.
Youth Programs
Outdoor Rangers
Children ages 3 – 5
Lambing season is here which means that there will be lots of baby lambs to visit at the farm! Classes include crafts, projects, games, songs, hikes, stories, puppet shows, music and time to snack.
Date/Time: Mondays and Tuesdays/ 9 – 11:30 am or 12:30 – 3 pm
Location: The Trail House
Cost: $20 members/ $27 nonmembers
Be Smart With Art
Children ages 3 – 5
Discover the amazing world of art! Connecting science, nature and art, children get ready to paint and create a masterpiece.
Date/Time: Wednesdays and Thursdays/ 9 – 11:30 am or 12:30 – 3 pm
Location: The Trail House
Cost: $20 members/ $27 nonmembers
To register online, click here.
To download a flyer, click here.
Explore Flanders After School
Children ages 5 – 10
Activities each day focus on art, farm and nature. Lambing season is here which means that there will be lots of baby lambs to visit at the farm! Everyone helps feed the farm animals at the end of the day! Dress for a mess and the weather outdoors. Bus transportation is available from Bethlehem and Mitchell Elementary Schools.
Date/Time: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 3:15 – 5:30 pm
Location: The Studio
Cost: Bethlehem Elementary: $14 members/ $19 nonmembers
Mitchell Elementary: $10 members/ $15 nonmembers
Extended care until 6 pm, $5 per class.
To register, call (203) 263-3711 or flanders@flandersnaturecenter.org
Download a flyer for Bethlehem here or for Mitchell here.
Flanders Story Time Adventures NEW!
Flanders invites you to join us for exciting story time adventures. Weekly topics are designed to encourage children (and adults) to explore nature, discover art and learn about farming together. Live animal demonstrations, specimens to observe and touch, nature walks and crafts are all part of investigating the great outdoors! Join us for a special story adventure on Friday, May 17, when Nancy Bailey and Rosemary Paul of the Pomperaug Valley Garden Club will present a flower seed story.
Date/Time: Fridays through June/ 9:30 – 10:30 am
Cost: Free for members/ $5 for nonmembers
If you are coming, call 203-263-3711 ext 10 to let us know in advance so that we will have enough materials for every child to participate. Mom's Groups, Play dates and Day Cares welcome!
To download a flyer, click here.
Firefly Theater
Children
Join us for the excitement of campfire storytelling! A Native American-Star Creation story will be retold by Samantha Dunbar, in the field near the South Farm Welcome Center. A cast of characters including Great Bear, Crafty Coyote and other woodland creatures will be sure to entertain you as we learn a life lesson that all earth creatures, whether big or small, have great value.
Date/Time: July 12 and August 9/ 7:30 pm (Rain date: July 13)
Location: Filed near South Farm Welcome Center
To download a flyer, click here.
Flanders’ Forest Fairies & Woodland Wizards Festival
For all
Flanders will become inhabited by the “wee folk” this July! Join us for a magical day of viewing faerie houses at Flanders, music, vendors, crafts show, kid’s activities and faerie and wizard storytelling/ The magic continues with a Costume Contest and Faerie & Wizard Parade, performances by Main Street Ballet and a presentation by Zoo on the Go. We also invite you to get started building your own Faerie/Wizard house for display at the festival! Vendors are also wanted.
Date/Time: Saturday, July 20/10 am – 3 pm (Rain date: Sunday, July 21)
Location: Sugar House and Trail House
Cost: $5 per person/ $15 per family/ $30 for groups of 8 or more
To download a flyer, click here.
To download a Faerie House application, click here.
Vendors, click here for rules and application
Flanders Bee-ginnings Workshops
Adults
Flanders invites you to join our Bee-ginnings Bee School for hands on experience with honey bees. The Bee-ginning workshops promote the importance of pollinators and provide an opportunity for participants to learn all about keeping honey bees. Monthly meetings from February - December with Kevin Barry, an experienced local beekeeper will offer educational opportunities to monitor hives during the entire season.
Cost: $50 members/ $65 nonmembers covers all of the workshops for the year.
Hive Inspection
This workshop will let us see how the bees are doing one month after installation.
Date/Time:(please note new date) Sunday, June 2/ 3 pm
Location: Bee Yard on Flanders Road
To download a flyer of the entire list of ongoing workshops through December 2013, click here.
To register for any of the adult programs, call 203-263-3711.
To download a flyer of the current calendar of adult events, click here.
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