Woodcock Nature Center

Ice Dam Workshop – Ridgefield Library

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:27:12 +0000

Don’t Pay the Price, Lose the Ice!

Come discover what really causes ice dams and how to prevent them and the costly damage they can inflict on your home. Get information about available CT tax incentives, and rebates for energy efficiency upgrades!

The Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge’s Energy Advisor will be present to answer your questions, along with a Home Energy Solutions technician. Every attendee will have the opportunity to have a one-on-one meeting with the on-hand technician!

What: Ice Dam Workshop

When: Monday, February 13th from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

Where: Ridgefield Library’s Dayton Program Room, 472 Main Street

RSVP to Katelyn Hope at khope@CTEnergyChallenge.com or (860) 372-4406 by Thursday, February 9th

Ridgefield Newcomer’s Winetasting Event

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:04:47 +0000

The Ridgefield Newcomer’s Association is sponsoring a winetasting HERE at Woodcock Nature Center on Saturday, February 25. The cost is $40 for tasters; $30 for non-drinkers. There will be wonderful wines, an amazing raffle and great people. Monies raised will go partially to WNC and partially to The Ridgefield Emergency Fund, an organization in town that pays for fuel oil, food certificates, electricity, clothing and other basic needs for families who are struggling. To sign up, follow this link or email winetasters@ridgefieldnewcomers.org. The event will begin at 7:30 pm.

Wilton Land Trust Annual Meeting: come and hear Henryk speak!

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:14:42 +0000

Thursday, February 16

7:30-9:30 PM

Rimer Room, Wilton Library

Henryk will address the audience at this year’s Annual Meeting of the Wilton Land Conservation Trust, which will be held at Wilton Library and is open to the public.

Henryk, an enthusiastic and energetic educator and environmentalist, will speak on Conservation of Tomorrow, Overcoming Nature Deficit Disorder Today, the importance of introducing children and families to the natural world. He will talk about the benefits of developing a positive attitude toward nature and the land in childhood, when minds are open to learning and exploring new ideas, with the hope of developing future conservationists to work on preserving the land.

The Wilton Land Conservation Trust is a private, non-profit organization with some 450 Wilton members whose mission is to acquire and manage open space to retain some of Wilton’s rural character forever. Founded in 1964, the Land Trust manages more than 100 properties, representing some 750 acres.

No charge. Co-sponsored by the Wilton Land Conservation Trust and the Wilton Library. Registration requested. To register, please phone 203-762-3950, Ext. 213.

Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton.

“Weir Was Here – Secret Rooms, Doors, and Windows” Now On Exhibit at Weir Farm NHS

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:24:14 +0000

In the summer of 2011, Weir Farm National Historic Site commissioned New York photographer and former Artist-in-Residence Xiomáro to create a photographic record of the interiors of the Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio. Xiomáro was tasked with documenting the present state of the buildings’ interiors, prior to the completion of the four-phase restoration project now underway. A selection of these images comprise the new exhibit on display at Weir Farm National Historic Site titled Weir Was Here – Secret Rooms, Doors, and Windows, offering visitors a small glimpse into the historic structures while they remain closed to the public. All three buildings are currently empty, allowing Xiomáro the chance to focus on the details of these spaces — features that might otherwise go unnoticed in a fully furnished setting. This is the first artistic collection of photographs of the building interiors in the site’s history, and captures the beauty and texture of these intimate spaces. “There is a mystery and secrecy to these relatively empty spaces,” Xiomáro explained, noting how “the same eyes and hands that created works of Impressionism also unlocked these doors and opened the shutters to take in the inspiring landscape framed by the windows.”

Weir Was Here – Secret Rooms, Doors, and Windows can be viewed in the Burlingham House Visitor Center on Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., now through March 31, 2012. From April 1st through May 31st, the exhibit can be viewed Thursdays – Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Xiomáro will present five gallery talks about his photographs titled In the Footsteps of Weir from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the following weekends:

Sunday, February 5
Sunday, March 4
Sunday, April 1
Sunday, May 6

There is no fee to participate in the gallery talks, but registration is required. For more information on the exhibit, or to register for one of the gallery talks, please call (203) 834-1896 x12.

To learn more about Xiomáro and his photography, visit www.xiomaro.com.

N2N Energy Challenge

admin — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:08:48 +0000

The challenge in our area: to enlist 10% of Ridgefield’s and Wilton’s residents to reduce their home energy use by at least 20% and boost the use of clean, renewable energy.The best way to join the Challenge is by signing up for a CL&P sanctioned Home Energy Solutions (HES) visit where you will receive a comprehensive home energy assessment, on the spot weatherization, and other energy conservation measures.

The HES visit alone results in an 8-10% energy savings and for a limited time costs homeowners only $75.

AND, for every completed Home Energy Solutions assessment the Woodcock Nature Center receives $25! Just go to this link to sign up for your assessment and be sure to mention Woodcock Nature Center!!

Contribute Now!

admin — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:39:08 +0000

Every penny counts at Woodcock Nature Center – to do your part, follow this link. Thank you!

2012 Summer Camp

admin — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:55:21 +0000

Follow this link to the new schedule.

Information about how to register will come in February, so stay tuned!

Credit Card Checkout

admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:02:33 +0000

Woodcock Nature Center current uses Paypal for processing payments for Registrations.

We accept Credit Card and Paypal payments via Paypal.

If you plan to use a credit card for payment, please note the following steps:

Step1:

Select Credit Card as your payment option.
On the next screen, completeyour credit card details

Step 2:

If you have ever had a Paypal account in the past, you will have the option to login and pay with your Paypal account.
If you do not wish to use your Paypal account and choose to still pay with your credit card, select the “Continue without logging in” option circled in red below.

Step 3:

Be sure to click the “Pay Now button” on the final screen to confirm your payment.
If your payment has been successful, you will receive a payment confirmation from Paypal.

Have Your Child’s Birthday at WNC!

admin — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:15:36 +0000

We offer AMAZING Saturday and Sunday birthday parties but can accommodate Winter Birthdays only by request. Please go to our Birthday Party page by following this link:

http://woodcocknaturecenter.org/programs/birthday-parties/

We were also featured on a Martha Stewart blog: http://thefamilyroom.marthastewart.com/2011/08/08/a-birthday-party-for-pixies/

February Winter Break Enrichment Program

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:43:02 +0000

We will offer an enrichment program for children ages 4-8 during the February break which this year is from February 20-24 . Ridgefield has two days off, Monday and Tuesday; Wilton and Redding have the entire week off. Many preschools are also closed. Come for as many days as you want – mix and match!

This program will be from 9-12 and each day will include an outdoor component, craft and story focused around a topic, with live animal presentations.

$35 a day for members; $38 a day for non-members. Call the center for more information or to sign up.

Blue-Trail Bridge

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:15:56 +0000

A low spot on our blue trail often floods and becomes impassable for the groups of children who visit WNC regularly. We need someone with carpentry skills to build and place a small overland bridge.

Stop / Slow Sign for Driveway

admin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:13:40 +0000

We would love an eye-catching (but not distracting) sign to post along our lengthy driveway to remind drivers to slow down, and to keep an eye out for children and crossing wildlife. Volunteers should submit a design before building a final version.

WNC Promotional DVD

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:09:32 +0000

Great project for an aspiring film maker! We would love someone to shoot footage of the center, the grounds, the animals and of some of our programs that would be used in a promotional dvd (5-15 minutes long).

Prepping for the Wreath Festival

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:06:23 +0000

Our Wreath Festival begins after Thanksgiving, but we begin prepping for it in the early fall. We need volunteers to spray paint dried materials, tie ribbons, prepare cardboard boxes for storing materials during the event (wrapping them in festive paper or spray painting the boxes gold or silver) and then, close to the event, organizing and setting up the facility. This could include decorating our pavilion, stringing lights, etc.

Craft Organization

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:03:41 +0000

Here at Woodcock Nature Center, we go through a lot of craft supplies and with all the different programs we run, our craft supplies sometimes end up in disarray. If you are a person who loves to restore order, we have a job for you! We need someone to go through our supplies and give us a rough estimate of what we have and what we need. Then we need that person to make sure that the supplies are organized and easily accessible. If this sounds like a great job for you, give us a call!

Build us a Tool Shed!

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:57:43 +0000

We have two existing tool sheds that are in bad shape and not big enough for all our stuff. We’d love to have those either rebuilt or replaced with a water tight, weather proof tool shed or sheds with shelving, hooks, proper locks, etc.

Invasive Plant Clean up

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:56:52 +0000

We would love a team of volunteers to come eradicate some of the bittersweet and wine berry vines that surround our buildings.

Tree Work

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:56:22 +0000

We are looking for professional tree workers who can’t get enough of their chosen profession. We have dead and dying trees adjacent to our road and parking area. It would be great to get these cleaned out. Trees could just be dropped or cut into small sections and we’ll burn the wood later in the year in our fireplace!

5K Race/Walk and Kids’ Fun Run May 6

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:50:22 +0000

On Sunday, May 6, come to Woodcock Nature Center for the fourth annual “Where the Wild Things Run” 5K through scenic North Wilton. Preceding the race, the kids will have a fun run on a course that takes them through the woods and over a bridge. Registration begins at 7:30; Kids fun run at 8:30; 5K starts at 9 am.

For complete information, follow this link:

(Race shirt included for the first 200 racers!)

Costume Design & Sewing

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 02:47:28 +0000

We would like to add one or a few characters to our group of Woodland Creatures who appear during our “Family Howl Prowl” event. Though we will only introduce one new character each year, a volunteer would make one or more full-body adult-sized costumes that depict a creature of the night. Please contact us regarding specific animals and design. Undetermined hours.

Mailbox Hut

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:23:15 +0000

The years have not been kind to the Woodcock Nature Center mailbox out on Deer Run Road. Our mailbox is dinged, the protective wood mailbox hut is slanted and weather-beaten. Help us by building a new mailbox hut, or by refurbishing and painting the old one. Cleaning up the ground around the mailbox itself would also be appreciated – there is bittersweet growing around it and scrubby brush that could be cut back. Some nature-themed designs on the mailboxes would be great, too. Since this is a “first look” at Woodcock, we’d love it if our mailbox was fixed! 5-10 hours of work at the WNC or elsewhere.

Gutter Repair & Maintenance

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:22:08 +0000

Our rain gutters have an unusual design – for whatever reason, one dumps vast quantities of water directly in front of the main door to the nature center. We’d love a redesign or at least a temporary fix that might alleviate this problem.

In addition, the gutters frequently become blocked by leaves; in addition to cleaning them out, we need a helpful handyperson to fix/finish/re-route them to help prevent future build-up. The blockage has resulted in water going where it shouldn’t and making a trench / huge puddle right where we need to walk.

Boardwalk Maintenance

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:21:25 +0000

Some boards on our everglades-style boardwalk need replacing. Volunteer must be (or must be accompanied by) an adult with some carpentry experience. Volunteer may have to stand in water at points, waders provided if necessary. In addition, trees and shrubs along the side of the boardwalk need to be trimmed regularly. Job will take about 5-10 hours total.

Trail and Grounds Maintenance

admin — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:58:32 +0000

We need ongoing help clearing trails and keeping them safe for hikers and school groups that visit our center. Must be willing to work outside and have written permission from a guardian. No specific time-frame, we can match our needs with your available hours.

WNC Preschool

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:42:51 +0000

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