Celebrate the Winter Solstice with us on Sunday, December 21 at 10 am
2025-12-21 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 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.
