Watch the Turtles Have Their Lunch - Daily from 2pm to 3pm
2025-06-30 14:00 - 2025-09-01 15:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Do you love turtles? Come to the Nature Center everyday from 2pm to 3pm to watch the turtles have their lunch and learn about the different species of turtles that live in CT, specifically at Sherwood Island, and what to do when you find one.

Bird Identification on Wednesdays from 10 am - 12pm
2025-07-02 10:00 - 2025-09-03 12:00
Sherwood Island is a very popular bird watching location because of the various species we see in the park. Birds come and go all the time, so you may see someone new every time! Come join us and idenify birds using sight and sound!
Location: Location will change each week. Please ask the ticket pooth attendant when you enter the park or any park staff as to where to meet your bird watching guide.
Supplies: We have a limited supply of binoculars and bird identification guides to share and we encourage our guests to bring their own if they have them.

Donors to Shorefest 2025
2025-09-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Main Pavilion
Thank you to all the organizations that have already donated to Shorefest’s silent auction!
Double L Market
Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar
Gilberties
Trader Joe’s
The Liquor Center
Millie’s Hair Salon
Norwalk Pizza and Pasta
Bowlero- AMF bowling lanes and arcade
The Device Shop
Riko’s
Sweet Ashley’s
Village Bagels
Don Carmelo’s Mexican Grill
Longshore Sailing School
Tutti’s
Westport Farmers Market
Dippin Chicken
Wave Hill Breads
Westport Playhouse
The Spotted Horse Tavern
The Fresh Market
99 Bottles
Posh Paws – Fairfield
Fisherman’s World
Westport Fire Department
Romanacci
Westport Police Department
Austin – Rolfe Salon
Nomade Restaurant
Captain Blake
Wakeman’s Town Farm
Miggs Burroughs
The Liquor Center
Caraluzzi’s
Tengda Asian Restaurant
Norm Bloom Oysters
Bungalow – Home Decor Store
The Device Shope
Fred Astaire Dance Studio
HAIR – Fairfield
Gruel Britannia Restaurant
Little Barn Restaurant
Beltone Hearing Aid Center
Women’s Club of Westport
SUPPORT THE FRIENDS, SUPPORT THE PARK
Hi – Thanks for your interest in our event. Since we need to provide enough time before the event for our caterer to order all the fabulous lobsters, our ticket sales have now closed. We look forward to seeing you next year (or anytime over the next year at the park).
Thanks!
Please RSVP by Sunday, August 31 for $125 Adult Dinner and $15 for Child (12 or under) OR September 1 to September 3 for $150 Adult and $15 Child

Mark your calendar for Friday, September 5th, 6-9 pm for our annual fundraiser, Shorefest.
This vibrant event brings together over a hundred active supporters and their families and friends who gather at the park for a delightful seafood fest along Long Island Sound. Live music, dinners by Westfair Fish & Chips, appetizers, desserts and beverages – and our fun Silent Auction.

Shorefest - Ticket sales have now closed
2025-09-05 18:00 - 21:00 | Main Pavilion
SUPPORT THE FRIENDS, SUPPORT THE PARK
Hi – Thanks for your interest in our event. Since we need to provide enough time before the event for our caterer to order all the fabulous lobsters, our ticket sales have now closed. We look forward to seeing you next year (or anytime over the next year at the park).
Thanks!
Please RSVP by Sunday, August 31 for $125 Adult Dinner and $15 for Child (12 or under) OR September 1 to September 3 for $150 Adult and $15 Child

Mark your calendar for Friday, September 5th, 6-9 pm for our annual fundraiser, Shorefest.
This vibrant event brings together over a hundred active supporters and their families and friends who gather at the park for a delightful seafood fest along Long Island Sound. Live music, dinners by Westfair Fish & Chips, appetizers, desserts and beverages – and our fun Silent Auction.
Why Your Support Matters:

Preserving Our Natural Gem: Your contribution directly impacts our ability to protect this scarce coastal sanctuary space in Fairfield County, and expand, protect, and care for the park’s wildlife habitat, as well as restore trees lost to storms.
Educational Outreach: It also supports our Nature Center programs, exhibits, and summer interns, providing hands-on environmental education to hundreds of children and adults among the over 350,000 visitors to this Gateway waterfront State Park each year.

We are looking forward to seeing you there!

Shorefest - Ticket sales have now closed.
2025-09-05 18:00 - 21:00
Ticket sales have now closed for our Annual fundraiser – Shorefest – Friday, September 5th, 6-9 pm
This vibrant event brings together over a hundred active supporters and their families and friends who gather at the park for a delightful seafood fest along Long Island Sound. Live music, dinners by Westfair Fish & Chips, appetizers, desserts and beverages – and our fun Silent Auction.
Why Your Support Matters:

Preserving Our Natural Gem: Your contribution directly impacts our ability to protect this scarce coastal sanctuary space in Fairfield County, and expand, protect, and care for the park’s wildlife habitat, as well as restore trees lost to storms.
Educational Outreach: It also supports our Nature Center programs, exhibits, and summer interns, providing hands-on environmental education to hundreds of children and adults among the over 350,000 visitors to this Gateway waterfront State Park each year.

Thanks for your interest in our event. Since we need to provide enough time before the event for our caterer to order all the fabulous lobsters, our ticket sales have now closed. We look forward to seeing you next year (or anytime over the next year at the park).
Thanks!
Please RSVP by Sunday, August 31 for $125 Adult Dinner and $15 for Child (12 or under) OR September 1 to September 3 for $150 Adult and $15 Child

Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us on Sunday, December 21 at 10 am
2025-12-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Main Pavilion
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us on Sunday, December 21 at 10 am.
We’ll teach you Winter Seed Sowing in milk jugs, starting with a beach stroll to collect seeds. Come to the Main Pavilion promptly at 10 am. Bring a rinsed, empty plastic milk jug, as pictured below. We’ll have tools to cut, label, and make drainage holes. We’ll provide potting soil. You’ll get to take home several kinds of native wildflowers to grow outside in a protected spot. Refreshments and a surprise visitor will add to the fun.

Love Yourself - Get Outdoors
2026-02-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Main Pavilion
February 14 – Love Yourself – Get Outdoors
Linda Gottlieb, FIT Trainer, “helping people over 50 embrace exercise for healthy aging, disease management, and for pre and post surgical and cancer recovery” will lead us this morning.

Practice green exercise. Experience ‘Forest bathing.” Learn to use the “nature pyramid” to guide your exercise.

Free. All are welcome.

Meet 11 am at Main Pavilion, west side.

Sponsored by the Friends of Sherwood Island State Park.

Friends’ Garden Team Summer Internship at Sherwood Island
2026-05-01 - 2026-08-31 | Nature Center
Tuesdays 8-11 am and Fridays 2:30-5:30 pm, May-August, 2026
We’re looking for two garden interns to assist the Friends’ Garden Team in all aspects of planning, planting and maintaining the East Beach dunes & gardens. Interns report to the Friends’ Garden Team Captain, Michele Sorensen, a UConn Advanced Master Gardener, and work as part of a team with other UConn Master Gardeners and local volunteers. A stipend is available for qualified students ages 17-22.
We meet at the Nature Center or in the East beach dunes or parking areas. Weeks worked depend upon your availability. We are flexible. As a volunteer at a CT State Park, you would follow all CT DEEP guidance, and must sign a waiver on your first day. Rolling applications, aim for a mid-May submission. If interested, please contact michelemsorensen@gmail.com by email or text/phone
to 203-247-1390.

Activities and responsibilities typically include

Learning Opportunities & Benefits
– Enjoy summer at this shorefront 235 acre state park, visited or home to more than 300
species of birds, state-listed Diamondback Terrapin, Bobcats, Red Fox, Coyote, Deer.
– Take part in our dune restoration project, begun in 2017.
– Learn to identify and care for native plants we’ve added along parking lot paths and in picnic
areas along the beach.
– Help us establish allees leading to the beach from the East Beach parking area.
– Care for berry, herb and vegetable plants in our Three Sisters Garden. Find out how they
benefit wildlife.
– Identify pollinator host shrubs and perennials in our Pollinator Garden.
– Learn to identify and control invasive plant species. Find out how they outcompete natives.
– Identify & report butterflies & other pollinator insects using iNaturalist.
– Observe and identify birds by sight and call & mammals by sight and signs.
– Mini-lesson topics include pruning, plant pathogens & soil amendments.
– Assist with programming, such as garden demonstrations and tours.
– Help us create interpretive signage in English and Spanish.
– Try out a variety of hand tools, and learn how to care for them. We can provide tools.
We Appreciate
– On-time attendance, a strong work ethic & reliability
– Enthusiasm for learning
– Previous experience with gardening or landscape work is helpful, but not required.
