Family Nature Day at White Memorial

Fun and learning for all ages is on the agenda at the 21st annual Family Nature Day at White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center in Litchfield on Saturday, September 28 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Visitors will be able to meet Veedor, the Andean Condor, and see his impressive nine-foot wingspan in flight, as well as learn more about birds in a colorful presentation by Henry Lappen using hand puppets. Search and rescue dog demonstrations, the chance to take part in a nature toss and other old-time outdoor games, as well as musical entertainment by the Joint Chiefs are among other highlights of this event.

Guided nature walks to spot birds, dragonflies, insects and trees, as well as pond explorations are scheduled throughout the day. Workshops will offer the chance to build a bird feeder, make candles or fashion animal origami. The Oliver Wolcott Library will present story hours for youngsters at 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. A crafts fair and food booths will add to the gala day.

Indoors, the White Memorial Nature Museum will be holding an open house to show off its interesting natural history collections and dioramas. Kids are not the only visitors who love the Children's Room, with its live snake exhibit, fluorescent rock cave and beaver dam.

As always, the 4,000-acre property's 35 miles of nature trails wend their way past fields, woodlands, old growth forests and lakes, streams and ponds. The Lake Trail provides an observation platform on the shore of Bantam Lake for spotting the many varieties of waterfowl. The Little Pond Boardwalk Trail traverses the Bantam River as well as a beautiful area of open water and wetlands punctuated by wildflowers and interspersed with a large variety of birds.

The White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center is located on Whitehall Rd., just off Route 202, two miles west of Litchfield. The admission for Family Nature Day is $4, with children (under 12) and members of White Memorial Foundation admitted free.