To register for programs, please print and return our Summer 2012
Registration Form. If you would like to be added to our mailing list to receive
a printed copy of our program, please email us here or call 860-486-4460.


May
The Japanese Barberry: Controlling An Ecosystem Disaster, Saturday, May 19

June
Historic Transit of Venus! Tuesday, June 5
Beacon in the Wilderness: The Barkhamsted Lighthouse, Saturday, June 9
Phyto-what? Discoveries In Archaeology Through Plant Remains, Saturday, June 23
Field Entomology-The Basics, Saturday, June 30

July
Scientific Illustration-Wildlife! Saturday, July 21
Project O-Fun in the Lab and On the Sea! Saturday, July 28
KAST Archaeology Field School for Kids, Monday, July 30 - Friday, August 3

August
CSMNH Adult Archaeology Field School, Monday, August 6 - Friday, August 10
Fish Field Sampling, Saturday, August 11
Historic Cedar Hill Cemetery Walk, Saturday, August 18



The Japanese Barberry: Controlling An Ecosystem Disaster
Thomas Worthley, Cooperative Extension System, UConn
Saturday, May 19, 10 am to 12 noon
Storrs, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $10 ($5 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Arriving in the United States from Japan in 1875, the attractive Japanese barberry flourished as an ornamental plant due to its low maintenance care and deer-resistance. However, over time it began to spread into the wild, pushing out native plants and creating an ideal environment for earthworms, ticks, and mice. This interconnected relationship between the different species has ultimately created some unhealthy forest ecosystems affecting soil and water quality, growing space for native wildflowers and tree seedlings, and increasing the risk of exposure to Lyme disease.

During this program explore the complex relationships between the different species connected to the Japanese barberry, and the impact these relationships have on the ecosystem. Then learn techniques for an integrated program of invasive plant control in forest understories, including treatment techniques (flame weeding, mechanical control, and herbicide application), site evaluation, time estimations for treatments, and field safety. There will be a hands-on demonstration of techniques and equipment.



Historic Transit of Venus!
Dr. Cynthia Peterson, Physics, UConn
Tuesday, June 5, 5:45 pm to 8:30 pm Local Time
Physics Building, 4th Floor Corridor, UConn Storrs
No registration required - FREE
Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

As the Sun sets over Connecticut on June 5th, the transit of Venus across the Sun will begin. Recently seen shining brilliantly in the night sky, Venus will emerge as a small black disc as it passes between the Earth and the Sun. One of the rarest of predictable astronomical events, transits of Venus occur in pairs separated by eight years; the first half of this pair took place in 2004. The next pair of Venus transits will begin 105 years from now-in December 2117 and December 2125.

Weather permitting, take a few moments to witness the historic 2012 Transit of Venus from the 4th Floor Corridor of UConn's Physic's Building anytime between 5:45 pm and 8:30 pm on June 5th, where Astronomy Professor Dr. Cynthia Peterson will be operating a solar telescope. 1st Contact (when the silhouette of Venus first touches the edge of the sun) is predicted to begin at 6:10 pm. Prior to 1st Contact, Dr. Peterson will talk about the significance of the transit as well as point out sunspots visible from the solar telescope. 2nd Contact (when the full silhouette disk of Venus has entered the sun) is predicted to occur at 6:30 pm. Once you have had a chance to see the transit using the solar telescope, stop by room 408 to view a live online feed of the transit being broadcast from a Pacific Ocean location, which will offer the best views of the transit. A variety of astronomical atlases, star charts, binocular guides, and books about celestial objects and previous transits will also be available for browsing. Should weather conditions prevent local viewing of the transit, Dr. Peterson will present a "Transit of Venus" talk. Visit http://astronomy.uconn.edu and click on "Observing Session Status Check" the day of the program to view program status updates due to inclement weather.

CAUTION: Trying to view the transit by looking directly at the sun without proper eye protection, such as the solar telescope available in this program, can cause serious and permanent eye damage. Even so-called "eclipse glasses" are unreliable if they have pinholes or tiny cracks.


Beacon in the Wilderness: The Barkhamsted Lighthouse
Dr. Kenneth Feder, Anthropology, Central Connecticut State University
Saturday, June 9, 10 am to 12 noon
Barkhamsted, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $15 ($10 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Legend has it that in the mid-1700s, Molly Barber of Wethersfield declared she would marry the next man who asked, because her wealthy and difficult father had rejected all of her previous suitors. It was around this time that a young Narragansett Indian man named James Chaugham arrived at the Barber's estate looking for work and lodging. Enamored with Molly, he proposed. Against her family's wishes, Molly accepted. They escaped into the wilderness of northwestern Connecticut, where they built a home and raised eight children. As time went on, their homestead expanded, eventually becoming a village of outcasts for those of Native American, European, and African descent.

Join Professor Kenneth Feder, the archaeologist who originally excavated this site, and learn about the unique history of the Lighthouse community, how it got its name, and the archeological legacy its residents left behind. Then Dr. Feder will lead a hike along the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Trail, featuring a quarry where the setters extracted stones for home foundations, a cellar-hole, a large grinding stone used to prepare corn meal, charcoal mounds used to produce fuel for iron furnaces, and the cemetery where James, Molly, and many of their descendants are buried. Wear appropriate footwear for hiking.

Phyto-what? New Discoveries In Archaeology Through Microscopic Plant Remains
Thomas Hart, Anthropology, UConn
Saturday, June 23, 3 pm
Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UConn Storrs
No registration required - FREE
Adults and children ages 8 and above.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Over the past 30 years, microscopic plant remains called phytoliths and starch grains have played an increasingly important role in helping archaeologists explore the past. Phytoliths are remnants of silica produced by plant cells. They resemble pieces of hard glass, and thus remain well-preserved when plants decay over time. Recently, this line of research has led to discoveries such as the origins of the chili pepper in Venezuela, the reconstruction of the ancient Mayan landscape, and the plant diet of Neanderthals. Join Thomas Hart from UConn's Department of Anthropology as he introduces you to the world of phytolith and starch grain analysis and illustrates how these commonly found microscopic relics can inform us about our past.

Field Entomology: The Basics
Geert Goemans, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UConn
Saturday, June 30, 10 am to 1 pm
Mansfield, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Insects are an extremely diverse class of living creatures, which surpass all other animals, both in abundance and biomass. From the tiniest fairyfly to the biggest Goliath beetle, insects in all their variation and complexity can be found across the far reaches of the planet, and their relationship with humans can be complex. Some are beneficial, such as bees, which pollinate plants essential to our survival. Others can be destructive, such as desert locusts, which can destroy valuable crops and property. And some can be downright dangerous like the tsetse fly, spreading pathogens and parasites that debilitate and even kill. Yet no matter their impact on humans, the characteristics of insects are immeasurably fascinating.

Join Geert Goemans from UConn's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and experience entomology fieldwork first hand. Find out what differentiates insects from other living things, and discover the techniques used by entomologists to recognize and identify insects found in New England and beyond.



Scientific Illustration-Wildlife!
Virge Kask, Biological Sciences, UConn
Saturday, July 21, 10 am to 12 noon
Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UConn Storrs
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Join Virge Kask for a special summer edition of the Museum's scientific illustration workshop. In this workshop, look closely at a variety of animals from the Museum's collection to examine their anatomy in detail. Ms. Kask will demonstrate the best techniques to convey the essence of their form using pencil and paper, as well as provide tips for drawing from mounts and live subjects. You will receive a folder with information about scientific illustration and supplies for making your own illustrations.


Archaeology Field School for Kids
K.A.S.T. - Kids Are Scientists Too!
Monday, July 30 through Friday, August 3, 9 am to 12 noon
UConn, Storrs Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $185 ($165 if registered before June 4)
Students entering grades 5 through 10
To register contract K.A.S.T. at (860) 486-0551, kast@uconn.edu, or visit www.kast.uconn.edu

Do you like uncovering evidence to solve mysteries? Do you like the idea of getting your hands dirty while exploring the past? Spend a week with UConn archaeologists exploring the world of field archaeology. You will learn about the science, tools and methods used by genuine archaeologists and be part of a real archaeological field crew. Participants will be doing hands-on fieldwork and laboratory research at a professional, ongoing archaeological dig. We have been opening new areas of our on-campus dig site each year, and every session we uncover something new!


Project O-Fun in the Lab and On the Sea!
Research Staff, Project Oceanology, UConn Avery Point
Saturday, July 28, 10 am to 3:30 pm
Groton, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $40 ($30 for Museum members)
Fee includes both morning workshop and afternoon cruise.
Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please register early as spaces are limited.

Spend the day on the beautiful Connecticut shoreline, experiencing marine science both onshore and at sea. You will be in the Project Oceanology laboratory in the morning to explore the natural history and diversity of Long Island Sound's animal and plant life through fun hands-on activities. After the lunch break, you will take a voyage out to sea on the Envirolab II research vessel. During this 2.5-hour cruise on Long Island Sound, you will experience hands-on marine biology at the stern of the boat by pulling trawl and plankton nets, and then examining the catch. At the bow, learn chemistry and physics through scientific experimentation as you operate the instruments and equipment used in oceanography to study the characteristics of seawater. Bring a picnic lunch to eat at the harbor's edge!


CSMNH Adult Archaeology Field School
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist, CSMNH UConn
Monday, August 6 through Friday, August 10, 9 am to 3 pm
Ashford, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $400 ($300 for Museum members)
Adults and older teens ages 16 and above.

Spend an entire week learning about archaeology at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center's Field School! This intensive field school will cover the cultural aspects of archaeology, as well as proper archaeological field techniques and data management. As a member of this program, you will have the opportunity to participate in a "dig" at an archaeological site as part of the official team of investigators under the Office of State Archaeology. This year's site is an 18th-19th century historic farmstead that has the original house foundation, greenhouse area, and associated work sheds where carriages and farm machinery were repaired and stored.  The site may also have remnants of a carpenter's shed and blacksmith operation. Your work can help broaden our understanding of Connecticut's rich historic past!

Fish Field Sampling
Dr. Eric Schultz, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UConn
Saturday, August 11, 1 pm to 3 pm
Mansfield, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Spend an afternoon seeking out fish with Dr. Eric Schultz from UConn's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Mansfield Hollow Reservoir. He will guide you in an exploration of the various fish species that call the Mansfield Hollow aquatic habitat their home. Using nets, participants will collect samples from the reservoir and learn about the remarkable life history strategies that enable the fish to exist in this ecosystem. Bring appropriate footwear for moderate hiking, and boots or old sneakers that can get wet.


Historic Cedar Hill Cemetery Walk
Mellissa Craig, Community Outreach Coordinator, Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation
Saturday, August 18, 10 am to 11:30 am
Hartford, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Adults and children ages 8 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

In the summer of 1863, Hartford citizens sought to build a new burial ground, one practical as well as in tune with the aesthetic ideals of Victorian-era cemeteries. A group of prominent Hartford citizens met to discuss establishing a new cemetery, including landscaping pioneer Jacob Weidenmann, who had designed Hartford's Bushnell Park. A location was chosen and Cedar Hill Cemetery was built as an American "rural" cemetery-an enchanting landscape of woodlands, fields, and ponds, speckled with sculptures and monuments designed by prominent artists and notable architects. Over time, Cedar Hill Cemetery became the final resting place to some of Connecticut's best-known and celebrated citizens, including actress Katherine Hepburn and poet Wallace Stevens.

Join Mellissa Craig, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation, and learn about Cedar Hill's remarkable history and landscape as well as its notable trees and residents.