CT Master Composter Program still has a few openings!

Hi All,

Here is a great opportunity to learn about composting from the pros and become certified.  You can also volunteer with local organizations on local composting outreach projects.

Members of the Greenwich Community Garden and the Garden Education Center of Greenwich are going to be completing a series of workshops to become "master composters" and will be working on composting outreach projects on Bible Street.  They'll be seeking volunteers who want to learn about composting food scraps, to keep them out of the waste stream, and to enrich our gardens.  The opportunity to become certified is open to everyone and we hope you'll take advantage of it! 

The Master Composter Certification is offered annually by UConn.  Here is the synopsis of the program and attached is the program brochure and info on how to sign up. Some of the classes are local and the others will provide carpooling opportunities. The instructors are all top-notch in their fields.

Program: Five consecutive Saturdays, starting with October 4, 2014. Classes will be approximately from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The program covers a variety of composting systems, including commercial, farm and worm composting, but has an emphasis on residential composting; classes will cover in detail the science of composting. Master Gardener certification or prior composting experience is not necessary.

Locations: The first and fourth classes will be held in the Silver Education Center at the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens, 151 Brookdale Road, Stamford CT 06903 (203-322-6971). Class/workshop on Saturday, October 11 will be held in the Middlesex County Extension Center 1066 Saybrook Road, Haddam CT 06438 (860-345-4511). The third Saturday class will be held at the recycling and transfer station in Fairfield, CT. The field trip on the last Saturday will be in East Canaan in NW CT; directions will be given ahead of time in class.

Program Requirements: Each master composter intern will be required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of approved community outreach projects in order to qualify for graduation. The projects must be in Connecticut and must include work on at least two separate projects. In addition, interns must attend all four of the classes in order to qualify for graduation. Attendance at the fifth week field trip is optional but strongly recommended. Those who miss a class may make it up in a following year, though that will not be in Fairfield County.

To Register for certification: The program is limited to 24 interns and will be filled on a first come basis, based on receipt of a completed registration form mailed to the Home & Garden Center at UConn Storrs, accompanied by a check for $100. If you wish to obtain a syllabus that details the lectures, dates and locations, and a registration brochure, please contact Greg Moonie, State Coordinator, UConn Master Composter Program at moonie@optonline.net. He will be happy to answer any questions about the program.

Share this with your friends!

To learn more about the organizations working on local compost outreach projects:

Greenwich Community Gardens www.greenwichcommunitygardens.org

Garden Education Center of Greenwich www.gecgreenwich.org

August in the parks: Summer Concerts, Fall Soccer and Field Hockey, and more!

Recreation Newsletter Department of Parks & Recreation Town of Greenwich, CT August 1, 2014 Dear Isobelle,     August is here and fall sports are not far behind.  Fall Soccer registration has begun for youth ages 3-11.  Read the complete press release here.  Pre-schoolers can participate in a Total Sports Squirts program held in the fall.    Registration for the original and only Town youth Field Hockey program is available.  The program for grades 3 through 8 begins early September.  Learn more details in the press release here.      For residents and employees of local businesses, ages 16 years and older, information is now available for our Co-ed Volleyball League.    Don't miss out on our remaining summer concerts and the Megamind Family Movie Night!  Plus, there are several opportunities for pickleball throughout Town.    Best regards, Sue Snyder Recreation Superintendent Summer Concerts     Upcoming Wednesday night concerts in Roger Sherman Baldwin Park begin at 7:15 PM:    Time Square on August 6, 50's Rock Back to the Garden on August 13, Classic Songs from Woodstock In Harmony on August 20, Doo Wop    On Sunday, August 10, a Dixieland Jazz Band Concert on the Sound will be held on the Island Beach Ferry and Island Beach.  The ferry departs the dock at 4 PM and returns at 6 PM from RSBP.  Park Pass and Ferry Fees apply.    On August 16, Francesco Live will be Singing Italian Classics at Byram Park from 5 to 6:30 PM.   For the complete listing of concerts, dates and times, click here. Summer Camps Non Greenwich residents are welcome   Kamp Kairphree, operating out of the EGCC, is a co-ed program for ages 5-12. Session 4 has availability. Campers rotate between the EGCC and two locations at Greenwich Point Beach.  For information call (203) 637-4583.  Download and print the registration form here.  In person and mail-in registration is accepted at the EGCC.     Eastern Greenwich Civic Center What's Happening in August Coming soon...details are being firmed up for a September 25th holiday sports camp and Tennis for Tots.  Other activities hosted by the EGCC include Group Fitness with Peter Deleary, Fit4Mom Stroller Strides & Stroller Barre, Reshape 360 Metabolic Group Training,  and more.   For details on these and other events, read our August Newsletter.    The EGCC has rooms of varying sizes available to rent for your next party, meeting, or class!  Call us at (203) 637-4583 or contact us by e-mail.  The EGCC is located at 90 Harding Road in Old Greenwich.     Greenwich Skatepark  We will be offering Summer Ramp Camps and Clinics for ages 6-14 years. Summer clinics will be held Mondays through Thursdays in August.   The Skatepark is located at the foot of Arch Street. Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center Movie Night and on-going activities... MEGAMIND will be shown at Family Movie Night on Monday, August 11th at 7:45 PM.  For the flyer and more details, click here.    Invest in your health and attend the Boot Camp Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Adults of all levels can participate in fun exercise including Zumba and body toning in the Burn & Sculpt classes.  Seniors can enjoy some fun exercise in the Senior Fitness!  program.  Also, an open Co-ed Adult Volleyball program is held Wednesday nights at the BWGCC gym.  The BWGCC is located at 449 Pemberwick Road.  Phone (203) 532-1259. Dorothy Hamill Rink If you are interested in renting the ice at the rink in the fall, please contact Rink Director, Rich Ernye by e-mail or phone at (203) 531-8560.  The rink is located on Sue Merz Way.    The Dorothy Hamill Rink is open for sports play on the indoor turf.  The turf can be used for lacrosse, soccer, wiffle ball, flag football, t-ball, and more.  Hold a birthday party or a sports camp! For additional details on renting the turf, download the flyer. Special Recreation SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF begins on Wednesdays starting July 9th from 6-7:30 PM at Stanwich Country Club, located at 888 North Street.    WEATHER: Coach Dave LaRusso will make the decision if we will play. If there are any thunderstorms in the immediate area we will not be able to play. We will attempt to email by 5pm if we know the weather will be bad but PLAN TO PLAY!!   SEE YOU SOON!! Any questions contact our coach Dave LaRusso at Rink and Racquet (203)-622-9180    Abilis is a non-profit (501c3) agency, located at 50 Glenville Street, Greenwich.  For more information on Abilis, read their information pamphlet or check out their website here.   Parks & Recreation Department Wide News .....  Check out Pro Joe Felder's Golf Shop and the Fairways Restaurant both located at the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course on King Street.    The next meeting of the Board of Parks and Recreation will be Wednesday,  September 17 at 6:30 PM at the Parks and Recreation Conference Room.    Much additional information can be found by viewing the Parks and Recreation page of the Town website.  Office hours at Town Hall are weekdays, 8 AM to 4 PM.       Joseph Siciliano, Director Greenwich Parks and Recreation  Join Our Mailing List In This Issue Summer Concerts Summer Camps Information Eastern Greenwich CC Greenwich Skatepark Bendheim Western Greenwich CC Dorothy Hamill Ice Rink Special Recreation Positive Coaching Alliance Recreation Job Openings Weather Cancellation Information Recreation Credit & Refund Policy Senior Center News Farmer's Market Positive Coaching Alliance Save the date of Thursday, October 2.  We will be hosting a Positive Coaching Alliance workshop at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center for anyone who coaches for a youth sport program in town. Recreation Job Openings    The following positions in Parks and Recreation are currently posted on the Human Resources Page of the Town's website:    Field Hockey Director Field Hockey Asst. Director Field Hockey Instructors Ice Rink positions - various    Weather Cancellation Information Please make note of the Recreation Division's weather cancellation hotline #(203) 861-6100.  Information regarding cancellations and closures is also posted on our Recreation Sports Website, where you can also sign up to get text alerts and/or e-mails notifying you of changes.      Recreation Credit and Refund Policy Credit requests for recreation program registration will be considered if received in writing prior to the start of the program.  There is a $15 administrataive fee for credits.    The general policy of the Recreation Division is that we do not process refunds unless a program has been cancelled.  Please read all registration information carefully and call us prior to registering for a program if you have any questions.    Quick Links Town Website Recreation Sports Information Program Registration Form Summer Camp Pamphlet How to Obtain a Field Permit Kamp Kairphree Cos Cob Pre-School Summer Ramp Camps & Clinics Special Events July to August Tennis Summer Schedule Fall Field Hockey Fall Youth Soccer Co-ed Volleyball USSI Sports Squirts Abilis Greenwich Farmer's Market Greenwich Community Gardens Joe Felder's Golf Shop Fairways Restaurant    Senior Center News       The Greenwich Senior Center has many programs and services available to the Town's mature population.  Please click here for the August 2014 issue of The Lantern.    Greenwich Farmer's Market  The Greenwich Farmer's Market is held at the Horseneck Lane commuter  lot location on  Saturday mornings.  For information on the Farmer's Market, read the press release here or check out their website here.

Town of Greenwich | Parks and Recreation | Town Hall | 101 Field Point Road | Greenwich | CT | 06836-2540

August 3 | Sunday! BIRD IN HAND (9 AM) & HONEY (10am-5pm all day) = a lifetime of memories & buy honey and gifts too!

Audubon Greenwich Nature Programs & Events

   

Not too late to sign up…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wild Bird Banding & Breakfast Event

THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 3

9:00am - 11:00am (rain or shine!)

Bird banding is essential to bird conservation and contributes greatly to the study of birds. Enjoy a kid-friendly breakfast on a Sunday morning and learn how scientists study bird migration, health, and ecology using 'bird id bands' that are placed on birds, large and small, as they pass through the Audubon's 285-acre sanctuary in Greenwich, CT.  After breakfast and a short learning session indoors, guests will venture into the field for an up-close bird encounter with Audubon bird banding experts, Sean Graesser and Katie Blake. All ages welcome. Free under 4 years old. Ages 4 & up: $15 per member or $20 for non-members.

 

RESERVE ONLINE: https://give.audubon.org/Giving/Page/240/1/240 

OR

CHECK IN AT THE DOOR ~ BUT SEND AN RSVP EMAIL: greenwichcenter@audubon.org to let us know you're coming.

 

9:00am - 11:00am (rain or shine!)

 

EVENT QUESTIONS? Call/email anytime. Contact Jeff Cordulack: 203-613-8813 | greenwichcenter@audubon.org 

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ FOLLOWED BY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

THIS SAT. & SUN. ~ AUG 2 & 3, 2014

Annual Honey Harvesting  - 2 days of sweet fun!

10:00am-4:00pm (rain or shine!)

Grab a friend or the kids and plan a sweet visit to the good old-fashioned Honey Harvest - an annual tradition hosted by the 'Backyard Beekeepers' at Audubon Greenwich. Meet real beekeepers and learn how honey gets from hive to table. 

 

This fun, informal open-house event is hosted by the Backyard Beekeepers Association and freshly harvested honey will be for sale ... while supplies last!!!   Details Online: http://greenwich.audubon.org/events/aug-2-3-it-honey-harvest-time

• UPON ARRIVAL: check-in Audubon's Nature Store and enter to win the "2014 Hawk Fest Raffle" featuring Patagonia gear and much more!!!

• JUST $1.50 for youth & seniors/$3.00 for adults - our standard trail fee ONLY! FREE for Audubon Members! Sign up in the Nature Store. 

~ ~ ~

EVENT QUESTIONS? Call anytime. Contact Jeff Cordulack: 203-613-8813 | greenwichcenter@audubon.org 

 

Audubon Greenwich Memberships ~ Just $35 per family/year:

http://greenwich.audubon.org/about-audubon-greenwich-membership

 

# # #

 

Jeff Cordulack

Events & Communications Manager

Audubon Greenwich | 613 Riversville Road | Greenwich, CT 06831

203-613-8813 (direct)

 

2014 HAWK FESTIVAL ~ LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER:

 

Sat. & Sun., September 27 & 28

The 16th annual "Hawk Festival & Green Bazaar"

11:00 am-5:00 pm @ Audubon Greenwich

An exciting two-day nature festival celebrating of the annual hawk migration passing overhead at Audubon Greenwich's "Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch". Enjoy live animal shows, guided hikes, nature-themed games, environmental exhibits, great food, and dozens of eco-friendly vendors on-site.  Family games and raptor fun, rain or shine! FESTIVAL DETAILS ONLINE: http://greenwich.audubon.org/events

 

# # #

 

The Audubon Greenwich mission is to engage and educate people to conserve, restore, and enjoy nature, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. LEARN ABOUT OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS, EVENTS & CAMPS ONLINE @ http://greenwich.audubon.org

 

The Audubon Center in Greenwich is also home to Audubon Connecticut, the state office of the National Audubon Society.  The Audubon Connecticut mission is to further the protection of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education, advocacy and conservation, for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. LEARN ABOUT BIRD CONSERVATION IN CONNECTICUT @ www.audubonct.org  

# # #