White Memorial Conservation Center

Alphabet Soup: From Alpha to Ö with Marc Daníel Skipstað Volhardt, University of Iceland
2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-18 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
November 18, 19, 20, 2025
After last year’s successful crash course in Icelandic, Marc has returned with more linguistic tricks up his sleeve! Take a three-night journey into the written word. From the ancient Greek alphabet to the elegant letters of Latin, Cyrillic, and more, we’ll uncover how Europe’s writing systems evolved, why they look the way they do today, and how they are used across the continent. Along the way, you’ll learn how to pronounce names and cities, and spot the hidden histories in everyday words and letters. Designed for curious minds—no language background needed. 6:00 p.m,- 8:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room and Microsoft Teams. Members: $30.00, Non-Members: $50.00, Pre-registration is required.
Register online: Alphabet Soup Registration
A link to Microsoft Teams will accompany your registration.
About Marc: Marc Daníel Skipstað Volhardt, is a Danish/Icelandic hybrid both linguistically and personally who has lived the first half of his life in Denmark and the second half in Iceland, and a few other places across the Nordics. Volhardt is a linguist and works for the University of Iceland teaching Icelandic as a second language as well as general and Scandinavian linguistics. Marc has studied abroad at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark as well as the University of Tromsø in Northern Norway. He has done fieldwork on the Otomí language of Central Mexico and has created a written standard for a Western Danish dialect. The most important thing for him is to share his passion for language whether it be in the classroom, on TV, in podcasts, or through adding it to personal Facebook photo posts.

Llama Walk with Debbie Labbe, Country Quilt Llama Farm
2025-11-16 12:00 - 13:30, 2025-11-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-18 10:00 - 11:00
From November 2025 through March 2026!
Llama Walks are back!! Walk your own llama on the Cranberry Pond Trail, 87 Webster Road. Minimum 4 walkers. $55.00 per person ages 8 and up, $35.00 ages 4 – 7. Cash or Venmo on the day of the walk. Call Debbie to reserve your llama at 860-248-0355. A portion of the fee will be donated to White Memorial.

Late Bloomers with Colleen Harrak
2025-11-15 14:00 - 15:30
Saturday, November 15, 2025
In this hands-on, family-friendly program, we’ll meet the wild “late bloomers” of Connecticut—animals that hatch, are born, or come into their own just as the leaves begin to fall. From tiny box turtle hatchlings to woolly bear caterpillars preparing for winter, you’ll discover the secret autumn lives of creatures great and small. With live animal ambassadors, we’ll explore how nature times its surprises—and why being born at the edge of winter might be the smartest survival strategy of all. Suitable for all ages. 2:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $5.00..Non-Members: $10.00, Pre-registration is required. Register online: Late Bloomers Registration

MEMBERS ONLY: Point Folly Bird Walk with Education Director Carrie Szwed
2025-11-14 10:00 - 23:30 | White Memorial
Friday, November 14
MEMBERS ONLY: Point Folly Bird Walk with Education Director Carrie Szwed
10:00am
Point Folly is a unique peninsula on The White Memorial Foundation property that juts out into Bantam Lake and lies adjacent to the outlet of the Bantam River. It provides ideal habitat for both songbirds and waterfowl. Join Carrie Szwed on a walk around Point Folly Campground in search of all sorts of birds! We’ll be using scopes, binoculars, and all of your “eagle eyes” to look for fall migrants, as well as winter arrivals, both onshore and off. Bring your binoculars if you have them; otherwise, they will be provided. Dress warmly! Meet Carrie just beyond the gate to Point Folly, 130 North Shore Rd., Bantam, CT. 10:00am. To register, donate, and/or become a member in advance, visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857. FREE … Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.
REGISTER HERE: https://pci.jotform.com/241306619361150/prefill/68a4cfd5373535d10a298390b654

Happy Hour Hiking Club with Gerri Griswold
2025-11-13 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-10-09 16:00 - 17:00
Make a monthly resolution to keep your body moving! Skip that Happy Hour cocktail and calorie-laden appetizer, and take a walk with Gerri! It may be rainy…snowy…or just plain hot or cold…but you can do it! Each one-hour walk will cover a different trail on the property. At the end of each hike, you’ll receive a recipe for a healthful, tasty meal to keep you on track. Dress for the weather. 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Meet in the Museum. Please pre-register here: Happy Hour Hiking Registration FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Museum Children Free Week
2025-11-09 09:00 - 2025-11-15 17:00
November 9 – 15, 2025
In Honor of Louise W. Willson. Free admission to children ages twelve and under when accompanied by an adult.

Owl Prowl with Fran Zygmont
2025-11-08 04:00 - 06:00
November 8, 2025
The early bird gets the….er….OWL! Venture out into the silent early hours in search of our native owls with expert Fran Zygmont. We’ll be listening for the calls of Barred Owls, Screech Owls, Saw-Whet Owls, and Great Horned Owls. Dress for the weather! A briefing on what you can expect to see or hear will precede the prowl. Coffee and comestibles will be served beforehand to keep you awake or as a bribe to show up. Optional breakfast at Patty’s après program. Limited to 15 participants. 4:00 a.m., A. B. Ceder Room,
You must pre-register: Owl Prowl Registration
FREE….Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Nature's Nursery Series, Fall 2025 - SOLD OUT
2025-11-06 16:00 - 17:00 | White Memorial – A.B. Ceder Room
October 2, November 6, December 4
Ages 3-6 years
Nature’s Nursery Series
4:00pm
Join us on the first Thursday of each month from October – December for an engaging program designed just for your young nature lovers. Every session will last 45 minutes – 1 hour and include a story, an encounter with a live animal, and an activity or craft. Some of our activities might be outside, so dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes. Advanced registration is required. To register, visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857. Space is limited. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. We require that one parent/caretaker stay for the duration of the program, but our room cannot accommodate more than one adult per child. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $9/child per session or $24/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $36/whole series
THIS PROGRAM IS SOLD OUT.

Fresh Start Hiking Club
2025-11-04 07:30 - 09:00
Tuesdays, January 6, February 3, March 3, 2026
Hop out of bed and head to White Memorial on the first Tuesday of each month for a one-hour hike! It’s the perfect way to engage with Nature, spend time with old friends and meet new friends! With over 40 miles of trails from which to choose, you never know where Gerri will take you! 7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., Meet in the A. B. Ceder Room. FREE…but you must pre-register online: Fresh Start Hiking Club Registration Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Macabre Curiosities of Nature with Colleen Harrak
2025-11-01 14:00 - 15:30
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Dare to discover the darker side of the natural world. From blood-drinking bats to fungi that turn insects into zombies, nature is full of real-life nightmares—and they’re stranger (and cooler) than anything imagined. In Macabre Curiosities of Nature, we open the Cabinet of the Wild and Weird to explore & meet nature with creepy powers, sinister survival strategies, and haunting habits. Bring your courage—and your questions. Ages 8 & up, 2:00 p.m., A. B. Ceder Room, Members: $5.00, Non-Members: $10.00, Pre-registration is required. Register online: Macabre Curiosities Registration

Forest Management Walk with WMF Forest Manager, Mike Berry
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00
Saturday, November 1, 2025
Learn all about forest management at Five Ponds with White Memorial Foundation Forest Manager, Mike Berry. Mike will lead you through a recent timber harvest and answer questions like:Why do we need to cut down trees? How do you choose a tree to harvest? What do you hope will be the outcome of a timber harvest? Mike will have all of these answers and more. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Meet at the Trailhead Routes 61/63, Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. FREE…Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.
To register or make a donation: Forest Management Registration

After-School Adventures, Grades 4-6 - October 2025
2025-10-29 16:00 - 17:15, 2025-10-22 15:45 - 17:00, 2025-10-15 15:45 - 17:00 | White Memorial – A.B. Ceder Room
Grades 4-6: Wednesdays in October (except the 1st)
After-School Adventures
4:00-5:15pm
Bring your kids out to White Memorial for programs designed to awaken curiosity and foster an appreciation for the natural world. Every session brings a new adventure, whether it’s exploring a new part of White Memorial property, meeting a live animal, or taking part in an outdoor activity. Children should be dressed for the weather with appropriate footwear. Adults are welcome to stay, but it is not necessary. Transportation must be provided to and from White Memorial. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. Advanced registration and payment are required. Visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857 to register. Space is limited. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $9/child per session or $32/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $48/whole series
REGISTER HERE: https://pci.jotform.com/242345945614157/prefill/66cf50056533373db7474bb3d439

After-School Adventures, Grades 1-3 - October 2025
2025-10-28 16:00 - 17:15, 2025-10-21 16:00 - 17:15, 2025-10-14 16:00 - 17:15 | White Memorial – A.B. Ceder Room
Grades 1-3: Tuesdays in October
Grades 4-6: Wednesdays in October (except the 1st)
After-School Adventures
4:00-5:15pm
Bring your kids out to White Memorial for programs designed to awaken curiosity and foster an appreciation for the natural world. Every session brings a new adventure, whether it’s exploring a new part of White Memorial property, meeting a live animal, or taking part in an outdoor activity. Children should be dressed for the weather with appropriate footwear. Adults are welcome to stay, but it is not necessary. Transportation must be provided to and from White Memorial. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room. Advanced registration and payment are required. Visit whitememorialcc.org or call 860-567-0857 to register. Space is limited. Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $9/child per session or $32/whole series, Non-Members: $13/child per session or $48/whole series
REGISTER HERE: https://pci.jotform.com/242448833397165/prefill/66d52b32636165a8106322aeb285

Museum Children Free Week
2025-10-26 09:00 - 2025-11-01 17:00
October 26 – November 1, 2025
In Memory of Ron Hummel from His Family and Friends. Free admission to children ages twelve and under when accompanied by an adult.

It's My Fault! Living with Earthquakes
2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:30
Saturday, October 25, 2025
October is Earthquake Awareness Month! Today our favorite physicist, Tom Alena along with some international guests, discuss what it’s like living with earthquakes.
Tom Alena lives about 35 air miles from California’s most notorious fault, the San Andreas. This is a transform or slip fault in which two plates slide along each other. Remarkable geologic features, as well as deadly destruction, have resulted from this motion. In Pinnacles National Park two halves of an ancient volcanic field are separated by 195 miles, representing over 20 million years of motion. Smaller time intervals are evident in dry creeks that have been displaced. The notorious San Francisco earthquake of 1906 caused destruction that almost destroyed the city. Tom will take you on a virtual field trip through some of the most amazing aspects of this fault zone.
The primary tectonic plate associated with Chile is the South American Plate. However, Chile’s location at the edge of this plate makes it a region of intense tectonic activity. Specifically, the Nazca Plate is subducting (sliding beneath) the South American Plate along the Peru-Chile Trench, creating a subduction zone. This ongoing process is responsible for the Andes Mountains, frequent earthquakes, and volcanic activity in Chile. Vanessa Fuentes Gandolfi resides in Chile’s capitol, Santiago. She’ll share some of her experiences.
Iceland is called The Land of Fire and Ice for its immense volcanic activity and numerous glaciers. Where there are volcanoes, there are tectonic plates. The precursor to every volcanic eruption is a series of hundreds and in some cases thousands of earthquakes of various magnitudes. Jón Baldur Hlíðberg knows a thing or two about this. His entire life has been spent living on The Rift. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge diagonally slices Iceland in half. Experience what life is like on the North American Tectonic Plate and the Eurasian Tectonic Plate.
3:00 p.m., Microsoft Teams, Members: FREE Non-Members: $10.00 Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. A link to the presentation will be included with your receipt.
Register here: It’s My Fault Registration

"Alumni" Hike Up Bear Mountain
2025-10-25 09:30 - 15:30 | White Memorial – A.B. Ceder Room
Saturday, October 25
For Grades 9-12
“Alumni” Hike up Bear Mountain
9:30am-3:30pm
High schoolers, do you miss the fun you had at White Memorial’s summer camp or other nature programs? Let’s meet up again for the “ultimate” climb in CT – Bear Mountain in Salisbury! If you are in 9th-12th grade and have attended summer camp or any other kids-only program at White Memorial, here’s your chance to reunite with old friends and scale CT’s tallest peak together. Education Director Carrie Szwed will be your leader. Please be advised that portions of this hike are steep and difficult to climb. Wear your best hiking shoes and bring a snack, lunch, and water. 9:30am-3:30pm. Transportation will be provided by White Memorial to and from the site. Meet in the A.B. Ceder Room promptly at 9:30am. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. To register, visit whitememorialcc.org to call 860-567-0857. Space is limited! Please inquire about financial aid as needed. Members: $30/person, Non-Members: $45/person
REGISTER HERE: https://pci.jotform.com/252296536740159/prefill/68a383e4623735fd413eadb896f8

SOLD OUT! Tower to Tower: A Road Trip to Mohawk State Forest in Cornwall / Goshen
2025-10-18 10:00 - 13:00
THIS HIKE IS FULL!
Saturday, October 18, 2025
1683 foot Mohawk Mountain was used by the Tunxis and Paugussett tribes for smoke signals in order to warn others of impending attacks by the Mohawk tribe. Today you will hike along the Mohawk Trail in beautiful Mohawk State Forest to Cunningham Tower and Mohawk Tower. Along the way you’ll learn more about the history of this beautiful property and the important role Alain and May White played in the creation of one of Connecticut’s most beloved State Parks. Bring water, a snack, a hiking pole, and wear sturdy hiking boots. The hike will be about two miles total ascending and descending Mohawk Mountain.

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day
2025-10-13 07:00 - 17:00
Monday, October 13, 2025
Offices Closed

Museum Children Free Week
2025-10-12 09:00 - 2025-10-18 17:00
October 12 – 18, 2025
In Memory of Tish Samponaro from Her Husband, Philip G. Samponaro. Free admission to children ages twelve and under when accompanied by an adult.

An Autumn Hike through Slab Meadow with Gerri Griswold
2025-10-11 10:00 - 12:00
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Enjoy the peak of autumn as we wander the two loops of this lovely trail; one of the greatest secrets of the White Memorial Foundation! Slab Meadow is a wonderful mix of conifers and deciduous trees, wetlands and forest. The hike is capped off by a visit to the stunning overlook. Keep your eyes open for Great Blue Herons, signs of Black Bears, and more! 10:00 a. m. Meet in the Museum. We’ll caravan over to the trailhead in Morris. Please pre-register: Slab Meadow Hike Registration
FREE….Donations will be accepted to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses.

Tiny Trekking: On the Water Edition!
2025-10-10 10:00 - 11:00
Friday, October 10, 2025
Join Kelly Orr to experience the Bantam River at a child’s pace! Bring your own boat and snacks! This will be a family friendly paddle, but all are welcome to join. We will hit the water hoping to see beavers, herons, turtles and more! Life jackets will be required, and must be worn for the duration of the paddle. Kayaks or canoes will work! 10:00 a.m., Meet at the Boat Launch off Whites Woods Rd. Rainy weather will cancel, cancellation will be confirmed by an email the day before.
The program is FREE! $5 donation per family suggested to help defray the Conservation Center’s programming expenses: Please register here: Tiny Trekking on the Water Registration
Don’t have a boat? Call Litchfield Paddle at (860) 567-8820 to rent one!
