Have You Considered Becoming a Member, or Have You
Renewed Your Membership, With ELCCT Yet?
2023 is well on its way! Have you considered becoming a member, or have you renewed your membership, with ELCCT yet?
Membership is a great way to support the organization while being able to take advantage of discounted classes/workshops, events, and admission to the Barnes Nature Center. Membership also allows families to enroll their child(ren) at the Indian Rock Summer Camp and a 10% discount at the Barnes Nature Center gift shop.
Executive Director, Scott Heth,
Assists in the Release of a Barred Owl
Executive Director, Scott Heth, recently assisted in the release of a Barred Owl.
While ELCCT is not permitted to take in injured or orphaned wildlife, we'd like the public to know that we are a resource that you can use in order to get in touch with a more suited facility. Way to go Scott!
Rose Lombardi is the newest educator at Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut. She graduated from Central Connecticut State University last December with a degree in Biology with an environmental science focus. She’s worked at Camp Carlson in Bristol the summer of 2018 and 2019. In 2021, she spent her summer at Wyonegonic, a residential girls camp in Denmark, Maine where she discovered her interest in outdoor education. She grew up here in Bristol and is excited to be helping in the community she grew up in. Rose is most looking forward to working with our birds of prey and doing programs with them.
Welcome Rose!
Education
Attention Teachers - It's Maple Sugaring Season!
Call today to schedule your field trip to Indian Rock Nature Preserve for Maple Sugaring (past-present). Through hands-on activities, students will experience:
• How to identify a maple tree, tap a tree, collect sap, and make syrup at the sugar house.
• Learn about the structure of a maple tree and why sap only flows in the spring.
• Native American legends, traditions, and techniques for making maple sugar.
• Historical and modern methods used for turning sap into syrup including a visit to our mobile sugar house.
• Sample 100% pure maple syrup.
NGSS: K-ESS2-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-PS1-4, 4-LS1-1, 3-5ETS1-1
This is a 1.5 hour outdoor program. Students and chaperones should be dressed for the weather and wear warm coats, hats, mittens and boots if the weather is cold.
Dates available: March - Early April
Fee: $120.00 per class up to 20 students, $6.00 for each additional student
Maximum Classes: 3
For more information or to schedule a school program,
please contact Kirsten Tomlinson at ELCCT: ktomlinson@elcct.org or 860.583.1234.
Bristol Eastern High School
Forest Ecology Students - Week 1
Students from Bristol Eastern High School placed over a dozen insect traps, constructed from rolled cardboard, out on the Indian Rock Preserve recently. Students are studying insect behavior in winter and will be surveying the diversity of insects, located in different habitats on the preserve, and if there is a preference on shelter location (under snow, ground level, or elevated).
Along the way they spotted a lot of evidence of animal activity in the snow - footprints and a tasty meal!
Bristol Eastern High School
Forest Ecology Students - Week 2
The students of Bristol Eastern are at it again; kicking off our Forest Ecology unit! Last week, students used increment borers to retrieve core samples from trees located in three different plots around the Indian Rock Nature Preserve. Core samples included white oak, red oak, yellow birch, and black birch. The plots are three different habitats, that they picked out to conduct research. One plot includes a stream, the second is relatively dry and uphill, the third includes more widespread wetlands.
Next week, students will examine the core samples. Allowing students to estimate the age of the tree and any factors that may have impacted growth.
Bristol Eastern High School
Forest Ecology Students - Week 3
On this week's outing, Bristol Eastern students placed 9 track tubes across their 3 experimental plots in the Indian Rock woods. Each student placed a tube with an ink pad, on either end, and a platform with bait - peanut butter! Once a mouse enters the tube for the peanut butter, it will leave behind footprints on the paper insert. Students will be able to evaluate which of their plots has more of a mouse presence.
Where do you think we will find more mouse tracks? The swamp, stream, or hillside? Stay tuned for the results!
News
Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center
Center Closed, Trails Open!
The Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center will be closed for the Winter Season of 2023. Due to heating issues, the Visitor Center will remain closed until April. ELCCT has grant funding to fix this issue so we can remain open year-round moving forward. The hiking trails will remain open daily from dawn to dusk. Enjoy!
ELCCT incorporates many faux Christmas Trees into decorating the Indian Rock Farm for our annual Santa’s Walking Wonderland event. If you plan on replacing your faux tree this year, please consider donating your gently used tree to ELCCT. Working lights desired.
Contact Lauren Prior at ELCCT:
860-583-1234 x 106 orlprior@elcct.org to schedule a donation drop-off.
ELCCT in Pictures
All was quiet in the woods at Indian Rock recently. There was one red fox out, by our main building, completing it's daily loop of the property. Too quick for a picture!
Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE:
Annual Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, March 18, 2023
Location:
Indian Rock Nature Preserve
501 Wolcott Rd., Bristol
Breakfast begins at 8am and goes until 12pm.
Take out and dine-in options are available.
$10/Adults
$7/Children
Children under 12 months are free.
Enjoy a selection of pancakes and sides after learning how we tap trees and boil sap to create a delicious topping of syrup. Breakfast will be served in person or to-go.
SAVE THE DATE:
Annual Egg Hunt
Friday, April 7, 2023 10am-1pm (ongoing)
Location:
Indian Rock Nature Preserve
501 Wolcott Rd., BristoL
More event details forthcoming!
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, May 20, 2023 10am-4pm (ongoing)
Location:
Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center
175 Shrub Rd., Bristol
More event details forthcoming!
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, June 17, 2023 11am-3pm (ongoing)
Location:
Bristol Eastern High School
632 Spring St., Bristol
More event details forthcoming!
Looking to get involved in your community? We have many opportunities where you can meet new friends, put your unique skills to work, and expand upon your interests.
Training is provided!
At Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, our Mission is "to inspire the appreciation and enjoyment of nature through education and conservation, fostering a healthy environment and an improved quality of life".
ELCCT's Core Culture Values: 1) Educate - We are committed to providing opportunities for all to learn about and experience the environment thus inspiring appreciation and enjoyment by present and future generations. 2) Protect - We are committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment through sustainable practices and promoting a culture that heightens awareness of conservation and preservation. 3) Respect - We are committed to respect for the environment and to teach respect for all. 4) Collaborate - We are committed to engaging the power of an open and inclusive community to ignite creative thinking and solve problems to nurture a healthy environment and improve the quality of life.
