JULY – AUGUST

UPCOMING EVENTS

VIEW A MAP OF FLANDERS BUILDING LOCATIONS

PLEASE NOTE: ALL VIRTUAL PROGRAM LINKS WILL BE E-MAILED BY NOON, DAY OF PROGRAM

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Farm to Flanders: Ultimate Gourmet Picnic & Auction

This important annual fundraiser will bring together a devoted crowd of Flanders advocates for a fun send-off to summer with cocktails and delicious food sourced from local farms and prepared by our famous local chefs. The Van Vleck Farm & Nature Sanctuary promises scenic views, gardens in bloom and farm animals in the pasture! More Information

Photography Club 2020

Want to join the Flanders Photography Club? Our focus is outdoor nature photography “to foster understanding and appreciation of nature, art and the wonders of the natural world . . .” The Club’s purpose is to promote the development of photographic skills and the art of photography. Meetings will include instruction on the basics of outdoor photography, camera operation, features, techniques and tips as well as presentations, forums, and guest speakers. Plus there will be outdoor exercises and projects, such as macro, wildlife and bird photography.
Meetings are currently postponed. The Photo Club Chairman will contact you regarding the next meeting date & time |$20 members & $40 non per year | REGISTER

Flanders Trail Blazers 4-H Club

Do you have a child age 5-18 that loves animals and being outdoors? Then joining the Flanders 4-H Club is the perfect fit! UCONN 4-H is a youth organization whose mission is engaging youth to reach their fullest potential with a motto “To Make the Best Better.” Members will learn all about caring for a variety of farm animals, beekeeping, responsible land care, gardening and forestry. Also, as a club member you will have the opportunity to attend educational meetings, go on field trips or show off your new skills at a 4-H Fair. In the process, you will make new friends, solve problems and make a difference in your neighborhood or even in the world!

The Van Vleck 200-acre campus with our North Barn animals presents perfect opportunities to learn the responsibilities of raising livestock and many land management challenges. For more information, please contact the Flanders office at 203-263-3711 x12.
Every 2nd Wednesday of the month | 6:30 PM | Location Varies Monthly (to be announced) | Complimentary, but registration required | Registration will resume in August

CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS

Summer Camp is Open!

In our popular summer camp series, children can explore nature, art, agriculture, and ecology in a fun healthy and stimulating outdoor environment. From farming fun to outdoor explorations, art adventures or creating cooking, Flanders’ summer camp offers more than 60 programs to keep children ages 3 to 13 entertained! Great spaces, great programs – for all ages!

Fun Nature Activities At Home

While at home with your family here are some fun nature related videos of activities that you can do right in your own backyard. From building fairy or troll houses to decorating rocks there is so much to do. So get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather and your time together creating beautiful memories! Don’t forget to post your creations to our Facebook page and Instagram – we look forward to seeing the creativity! Watch our videos!

Birthday Parties at Flanders!

We offer birthday parties on Saturdays or Sundays year round! Affordable and fun there are a variety of nature themed parties to choose from including animals and art to fairy fun. Hiking, games and stories, live animals and even tractor rides can all be made a part of the celebration! Download a flyer or call us for more information to brainstorm what will make for an unforgettable party for your birthday child!

SPRING / SUMMER TRAIL HIKE SERIES

Marzahl Refuge Hike

Flanders Land Management Committee Chair, John Trainor, will lead a hike of our Marzahl Refuge. This property has a spectacular, quintessential new England stream with multiple small waterfalls that winds its way through a pine forest.

Saturday, August 28 | 9 AM | Marzahl Refuge @ Route 132, Woodbury | Complimentary members & $5 non | REGISTER

ADULT & FAMILY PROGRAMS

Goat Yoga

Connect with nature and furry baby Nigerian dwarf goats at Goat Yoga classes being held at Flanders’ Van Vleck Farm and Sanctuary. Experienced yoga instructors will be leading guests in this one-hour gentle class suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced yogis & yoginis! Adorable Nigerian dwarf goats will be frolicking & cuddling with you as you flow through the class on the picturesque Van Vleck Farm. Participants should keep in mind that they’ll be outside, practicing with live animals and some degree of messiness (and a LOT of silliness) may be involved so they should dress accordingly, wearing comfortable clothes and bring along a yoga mat or towel.

Sundays, August 15 & 29, Sept 12 & 26 | 9:30 AM | North Barn | $20 members, $25 non for adults & $10 ages 15 & under | REGISTER

What’s Under A Log?

Have you ever been out enjoying a hike in the woods and notice a rotting log or two somewhere along the trail? Eyesore? Obstacle to stumble over? Perhaps the tree is dead, but that log is teaming with life – living creatures, plants, and fungi that we often overlook as we simply step over it. Put down the binoculars and pick up a magnifying glass and join us to uncover the diversity of life we’ll find in a rotting log.

Saturday, July 10 | 10 AM | Studio | $10 members & $15 non | Postponed, new date TBD

Insects At Night!

Are you curious about nocturnal insects? Everyone’s familiar with daytime insects, but rarely have a chance to see the array of moths, beetles, and other insects who wait until dark to emerge from their daytime hiding places. We will be collecting, observing, and learning about nocturnal insects and their relatives. This is a great family program. Please bring a headlamp or flashlight and a sense of adventure!

Friday, August 13 | 8 PM | South Barn | $10 members & $15 non | REGISTER

Needle Felting Virtual Class

Join Rachel Gerowe of Redbarn Originals for virtual needle felting nights! Rachel will guide confident beginners as well as needle felters with some experience through the individual steps to make their own unique needle felted sculpture out of wool. Needle felting is a simple craft in which wool is poked with a special barbed needle to shape it into anything imaginable. Participants can attend for $15 and purchase a kit for an additional fee of $25 (plus tax). Class size is limited and participants must register in advance!

The August kit is pumpkins & gourds. Kits can be picked up at the Flanders office or mailed for an additional fee.

Thursday, August 19 | 7 PM | Online – Virtual – link provided by noon, day of program | $15/per class plus $25/per kit | REGISTER

Creating A Pollinator Garden

Cynthia Rabinowitz, soil and wetland scientist, horticulturist and ecological landscape designer is leading this virtual program. Pollinator insects and other essential and beneficial creatures are threatened by loss of healthy habitat and other factors. To counter these threats, a widespread movement of grass-roots efforts around the state and across the country is creating connectivity for habitat and migration of many insects, birds, and other creatures. Conserving these species, and the habitats on which they rely, is a significant issue impacting agricultural and native ecosystems which provide a wealth of services such as clean water, air, food, and healthy soils. This presentation will show how, using simple principles of permaculture, we can all develop multi-functional landscapes, very small or very big, that provide for these essential animals.

Thursday, August 26 | 7 PM | Online – Virtual – link provided by noon, day of program | $5 members & $10 non | REGISTER

Hiking Under The Moon

Join An Average Jill for a hike under the night sky. Experience the spell of the moon’s magical iridescence, while you thrill over the unique sounds of nature at night. We’ll make a short trek to a wide clearing that offers views of the sky. There, we’ll take in the brilliance of the majestic moon before we hike back under the stars. It’s an exhilarating experience. Bring a flashlight or headlamp for safety on the trails.

~~Sunday, March 28~~ – Postponed, new date TBD | 7 PM | Van Vleck Studio Parking Lot | $5 members & $10 non | REGISTER

The Magic Circuit Eco-Tour

Visit three diverse eco systems in the Andes Highlands, Cloud Forest and Upper Tropical Rainforest. A wildlife and photographic paradise, home to hundreds of bird species, reptiles, mammals, butterflies, flora and fauna, wild orchids, waterfalls and observation decks overlooking the canopy.

March 22 – 29, 2022| 7 Nights & 8 Days | More Information

Flanders Letterbox Series – New Botany Trail Hike Added!

Flanders has planted several letterboxes on the family friendly trails at their preserves and sanctuaries. Combining art and nature in a fun interactive way, letterboxing is a popular treasure hunting activity done world-wide. GET MORE INFORMATION

Volunteer At Flanders!

Interested in giving back to an organization that is making a difference by preserving land and educating people on the importance of caring for the environment, meeting kindred spirits and making new friends? AND the good feeling that comes with knowing that your time is being spent in a worthwhile way that truly makes an impact?

TO LEARN MORE
Please contact Flanders’ volunteer coordinator Ana Jordan to learn more about becoming a Flanders ambassador or other available volunteer opportunities today!

Flanders Wish List!

Flanders’ mission is to foster the understanding and appreciation of nature, art, and the wonders of the natural world through land preservation, stewardship and education. To help reduce expenses, the donation of supplies, services and/or equipment that are used for fulfilling our mission are greatly appreciated! >Learn more

TO REGISTER
for any programs, call 203.263.3711
or click on the registration link next to the program.