To register for programs, please print and return our Summer 2013 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
Field Activity: Birds of Bafflin Sanctuary, Saturday, May 25
Field Activity: Learn to Throw the Atlatl! Sunday, May 26

June
Day Trip: Bronx Zoo, NYC, Saturday, June 15
Field Activity: Connecticut’s Historic Goodwin Forest, Saturday, June 22
Field Activity: Hammonasset Shoreline Ecosystems, Sunday, June 30

July
KASET: Marine Explorers, Monday, July 1 - Wednesday, July 3
KASET: Marine Explorers, Monday, July 8 - Wednesday, July 10
KASET: Space Astronomy, Monday, July 8 - Friday, July 12
Field Activity: Old Gravestones: What We Can Learn From Them, Saturday, July 13
Field Activity: Project O—Fun in the Lab and On the Sea! Saturday, July 20
Museum Lecture: Spectacular Silkworms, Saturday, July 27

August
Field Activity: Behind-the-Scenes Tour: CT Historical Society, Saturday, August 3
KASET: Archaeology Field School for Kids, Monday, August 5 - Friday, August 9
CSMNH Adult Archaeology Field School, Monday, August 5 - Friday, August 9
Museum Lecture: A Discovery of “Mammut” Proportions, Sunday, August 11


Birds of Bafflin Sanctuary
Paula Coughlin, Science Educator
Saturday, May 25, 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Pomfret, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 5 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Spring is an exciting time to explore the various bird habitats at the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Bafflin Sanctuary. Join naturalist and science educator Paula Coughlin for a morning walk through the grasslands, forests, and wetlands of Bafflin Sanctuary to observe breeding birds singing, nesting, and raising their chicks. Bring binoculars and a water bottle, and dress for protection from ticks. Adult and child-sized binoculars will be available for loan during this family friendly activity. Participants are welcome to explore the sanctuary on their own after the program.

Learn to Throw the Atlatl!
Gary Nolf, World Atlatl Association and Friends of the Office of State Archaeology
Sunday, May 26, 1 pm to 3 pm
UConn, Storrs Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The atlatl is an ancient spear-throwing device that is swift, accurate, and long predates the use of the bow and arrow. Today we no longer use the atlatl for hunting, but compete with them in sanctioned sporting events. Gary Nolf, member of the World Atlatl Association, atlatl maker, and nationally ranked competitor in atlatl contests, will reveal the history and secrets of this ancient invention. He has even appeared on the David Letterman Show to demonstrate his skills! He will bring examples of both traditional-style and modern atlatls and darts for you to see. After the presentation, borrow an atlatl and darts, or bring your own and join in the fun at an outdoor target area where you will learn to throw like a pro!



Bronx Zoo, NYC
Saturday, June 15
Advance registration required: Bus Fee $50 ($40 for Museum members)
Departing from UConn Storrs Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Explore the world's largest urban zoo, featuring more than 600 species from around the globe. Enjoy the Bronx Zoo’s world-class exhibits including the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Wild Asia Monorail, JungleWorld, Tiger Mountain, and their newest exhibit Madagascar!, which provide up-close views of gorillas, crocodiles, tigers, lemurs, and other fascinating wildlife. Don’t miss other spectacular exhibits and attractions such as the snow leopards of the Himalayan Highlands, the World of Reptiles, the Butterfly Garden, animal feedings, and the Children’s Zoo.

The bus will leave Storrs at 8 am and make a second pick-up in Cromwell at 8:45 am. The bus will depart the Bronx Zoo at 5 pm, and will make a brief meal stop en route. Please arrive and be prepared to board the bus prior to departure times.

Admission to the Bronx Zoo is not included and should be paid at the door or online. For a preview and prices for admission packages go to the Bronx Zoo website http://www.bronxzoo.com.



Connecticut’s Historic Goodwin Forest
Steve Broderick, Forester and Program Director, Goodwin Forest Conservation Center
Saturday, June 22, 10 am to 12 noon
Hampton, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $15 ($10 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

James L. Goodwin was one of America’s first professional foresters. A member of one of Connecticut’s most prominent families, Goodwin attended the Yale School of Forestry. After graduating in 1910, he began to acquire land in Hampton, CT with a goal to “own, develop, and operate my own timber acres according to the best forestry principles." Over the course of his lifetime, he pioneered forest management practices and the property grew to 2,000 acres that included Christmas trees, stands of timber, and apple orchards. In 1964, Goodwin gifted the property to the State of Connecticut to be an educational resource for its citizens.

Join Steve Broderick, Forester and Program Director of the Goodwin Forest Conservation Center, and learn about the remarkable story of the Goodwin Forest and forest management from a historic point of view. The program will begin with a short presentation, followed by a hike exploring one of the oldest continually managed forests in America. This hike may be challenging for some.



Hammonasset Shoreline Ecosystems
Meigs Point Nature Center Staff, Hammonasset State Park
Sunday, June 30, 1 pm to 2:30 pm, rain or shine
Madison, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $10 ($5 for Museum members); parking fees are not included.
All ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Explore the ecosystems of Connecticut’s coast at Hammonasset State Park. Adjacent to Long Island Sound, in the shoreline town of Madison, the ecosystems of Hammonasset are swimming with life. From its sandy beach and rocky shore, to its salt marshes, Connecticut’s largest shoreline park is not only popular with beach-goers, but a diverse collection of plants and animals that call this shoreline environment home. Join the Meigs Point Nature Center Staff and discover the characteristics of three ecosystems found at Hammonasset State Park. Once the tour has been completed, enjoy the rest of the afternoon at this beautiful seaside setting. Bring appropriate footwear, such as boots or old sneakers, that can get wet and muddy.

Marine Explorers
K.A.S.E.T. - Kids Are Scientists & Engineers Too!
Session 1: Monday, July 1 through Wednesday, July 3, 9 am to 12 noon*
Session 2: Monday, July 8 through Wednesday, July 10, 9 am to 12 noon*
UConn, Storrs Campus and Groton Avery Point Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $185 ($165 if registered before June 7)
Students entering grades 5 through 10
To register contact K.A.S.E.T. at (860) 486-8115 or visit http://www.kaset.uconn.edu.

Investigate how aquatic plants and animals adapt to their environment during two mornings of activities in Storrs. On the third day, take a full-day trip to Project Oceanology at Avery Point for a lab with live animals followed by an afternoon exploring Long Island Sound aboard a research vessel. *This is a 3-day module: 2 mornings and one full-day field trip.

Space Astronomy
K.A.S.E.T. - Kids Are Scientists & Engineers Too!
Monday, July 8 through Friday, July 12, 9 am to 12 noon*
UConn, Storrs Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $185 ($165 if registered before June 7)
Students entering grades 5 through 10
To register contact K.A.S.E.T. at (860) 486-8115 or visit http://www.kaset.uconn.edu.

Celebrate over 400 years of telescopic astronomy by building your own small telescope and learning what’s to be seen in the night sky. We’ll also track planets, a comet and one of the largest asteroids, make and test sundials and a moondial, explore Mars using the latest NASA software, and make an iMovie of you flying around a planet of your choice. In addition to activities in UConn’s Planetarium and astronomy labs, you’ll get to use a telescope at the night observing sessions, and observe sunspots if available.

*This module includes night observing sessions.


Old Gravestones: What We Can Learn From Them
Ruth Shapleigh-Brown, Connecticut Gravestone Network
Saturday, July 13, 10 am to 12 noon
Storrs, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $15 ($10 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 10 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Historic cemeteries are found throughout Connecticut, their old gravestones offering clues about the lives of people who helped establish our present-day communities. Who carved these old stones, where did they come from, what does their symbolism mean, and how did that symbolism change over time?

Join Ruth Shapleigh-Brown, Executive Director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network, and discover what old gravestones reveal about our history. Learn what genealogists should know when looking for their ancestors’ burial places—all is not as it appears. You will never look at history and old cemeteries in the same way again. The program will begin with a presentation, and will be followed by a hike exploring a historic Storrs cemetery.

Project O—Fun in the Lab and On the Sea!
Research Staff, Project Oceanology, UConn Avery Point
Saturday, July 20, 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 the morning workshop and afternoon cruise.
Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register early as space is 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!


Spectacular Silkworms
Ann Galonska, Director, Mansfield Historical Society
Saturday, July 27, 3 pm

Connecticut State Museum of Natural History, UConn Storrs

No registration required – FREE

Adults and children ages 6 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Created from protein fibers produced by the larvae of the mulberry silkworm, silk is one of the earliest textile fibers used by humankind, with its cultivation and weaving linked to ancient China over 4,600 years ago. The silk trade had a far-ranging impact both economically and socially in ancient times, as well as in colonial and industrial Connecticut. Silk culture was introduced to Mansfield, Connecticut in 1790 and soon became a popular home industry. In the first decades of the 19th century, Mansfield led the nation in silk production. Many local families raised silkworms in their homes and processed silk thread by hand. Mansfield was also home to America’s first silk mill, built in 1810 at Hanks Hill. It was the first step towards mechanization of the American silk industry. Join historian Ann Galonska to “unravel” the history of silk, and learn about the life cycle of silkworms. Learn about the techniques used to produce silk textiles from caterpillar cocoons and get a close up look at living silkworms. 


Special Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Connecticut Historical Society
Connecticut Historical Society Staff
Saturday, August 3, 10 am to 11 am
Hartford, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $20 ($15 for Museum members)
Adults and children ages 12 and above. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Connecticut Historical Society, founded in 1825, houses an extensive and comprehensive collection of manuscripts, printed material, artifacts, and images that document the social, cultural, and familial history of Connecticut. In this special behind-the-scenes tour you will get access to two of the Connecticut Historical Society’s storage areas: the third floor furniture and textiles collection and the lower-level paintings storage. You will also get the chance to see some perennial staff favorites and learn how the collections are cared for to ensure they will be available for years to come.

Once the tour is over, you can explore the Connecticut Historical Society’s public galleries and exhibits, and drop in on a family friendly hands-on activity scheduled to take place. The Connecticut Historical Society is easily accessible from the area highways with ample free parking available.


Archaeology Field School for Kids
K.A.S.E.T. - Kids Are Scientists & Engineers Too!
Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, 9 am to 12 noon
UConn, Storrs Campus (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $185 ($165 if registered before June 7)
Students entering grades 5 through 10
To register contact K.A.S.E.T. at (860) 486-8115 or visit http://www.kaset.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!



CSMNH Adult Archaeology Field School
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, State Archaeologist, CSMNH UConn
Monday, August 5 through Friday, August 9, 9 am to 3 pm
Ashford, CT (directions will be sent to participants)
Advance registration required: $400 ($300 for Museum members)
Adults and 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 we will be returning to 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 findings will add important information to our understanding of Connecticut’s rich historic past!



A Discovery of “Mammut” Proportions
Marcie Jackson, Director of Education, Hill-Stead Museum
Elizabeth Collins, Archives Researcher, Hill-Stead Museum
Sunday, August 11, 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.



Today the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington is known for its Colonial Revival architecture, Alfred Atmore Pope’s collection of French Impressionist art, and the Sunken 0Garden Poetry Festival, but not many know of the museum’s prehistoric connections of the “Mammut” kind.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of its discovery, Hill-Stead staff Marcie Jackson, Director of Education, and Elizabeth Collins, Archives Researcher, will share the story of the 1913 unearthing of a M. americanum or American Mastodon skeleton found on Pope’s property. Learn about how the event became national news, view archival photographs that document the excavation of the giant beast, and discover the amazing impact the animal had on the public. Then see the mastodon’s fossilized femur displayed in the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History’s exhibit area.