Nature Center

Families and nature enthusiasts can explore the Connecticut River floodplain in a series of weekend Winter Walks during February. They highlight on-going efforts to conserve naturally and historically significant wetlands, floodplain woodlands, and agricultural areas in the area.

The Parks and Recreation Department and Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center will offer a number of special activities and facility hours during the February school vacation, including lifeguard and water safety courses, a sport camp, kids' activities at the 9/11 Memorial Sports Center, and more. For a complete listing and registration form, see the attached flier.

The Friends of the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center's board of directors will hold its next monthly business meeting on Tuesday, February 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center. The Friends is an independent, nonprofit, membership-based organization dedicated to supporting environmental education in central Connecticut through its programs and the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center. Members and the public are welcome to learn more by attending.

The Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center and Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities (SOLO) will offer two weekend-long Wilderness First Aid courses this spring. Choose from March 17–18 or May 19–20. The course is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, volunteer trip leaders, and professionals who want basic training for short trips with friends, family, and outdoor groups.

The Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center offers a variety of summer programs for children ages 2–15 on-site in Mill Woods Park and elsewhere. All emphasize learning about our relationship with the natural world, exploring the outdoors safely, balancing learning and recreation, and individual attention through small class sizes. All are open to Wethersfield residents and nonresidents. Financial assistance may be available through Wethersfield Social and Youth Services and the Friends of the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center.

Members of the Metropolitan District's Diversity Internship Program designed and installed a rain garden outside the Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center. The 550 square foot rain garden is filled with over 100 native plants that will collect and absorb rain water from the nature center's parking lot before reaching nearby storm drains.

The Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center's parent and child playgroups kick-off the winter season with a new round of animal and science classes to help children explore the natural world and develop social skills. We also welcome back our summer playgroup leader, early childhood educator Carol Harrison!

The Wethersfield Parks and Recreation Department announces its improved online activity registration site is available for use. New features permit users to:

The Town of Wethersfield's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge reminds homeowners to take advantage of the Home Energy Solutions program before energy costs increase this winter. The program's home energy audits help identify ways to conserve energy and save money on utility bills. Typically a $750 service, they are available to homeowners for $75 or for qualified low income homeowners and renters they are FREE.

The Town of Wethersfield's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge recognized three community groups for their help encouraging homeowners to take steps to reduce home energy costs. After the program's first year, the Wethersfield Green Summit Committee received $1,000, the Friends of the Wethersfield Library received $500, and the Wethersfield Senior Center received $250. The prizes will go toward energy-related projects.