The Friends of Sherwood Island State Park

Five Irish Musicians on the Porch
2022-07-24 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Five Irish musicians will be playing some of their favorite tunes on the porch of the Nature Center at Sherwood Island, from 1-2 pm on Sunday, July 24. Bill Morse (Irish flute), Randi Weiner Gormley (mandolin) and her husband, Dave Gormley (guitar), Voni Healey McCrae (bodhran) and her husband, Jim McCrae (fiddle) are members of the Shamrogues, the volunteer performance group of the Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society. STIMS is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish music and culture.
The Shamrogues meet at the Gaelic American Center in Fairfield, every Wednesday at 7pm. If you’d like to learn, play or just listen to traditional Irish music, please come by.

Horseshoe Crab Talk
2022-06-19 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Please join us at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, 6/19 at the Nature Center, Sherwood Island State Park for a presentation on why horseshoe crabs are important to conserve for your good health and the health of the Sound. We will start at the Nature Center and then go down to the beach to look for spawning horseshoe crabs. Learn how to become a citizen scientist! Children of all ages are welcome when accompanied by a parent/adult.
Dr. Jennifer Mattei is a professor of biology at Sacred Heart University and director of Project Limulus (www.projectlimulus.org), a community-based research program focused on the population dynamics of the American horseshoe crab residing in Long Island Sound. Mattei is also a steering committee member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group and is inviting you to participate in the promotion of International Horseshoe Crab Day, June 20th !

Annual General Meeting
2022-06-12 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Main Pavilion
Friends of Sherwood Island State Park cordially invite you to attend our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, June 12, 2022 – at 4:30 PM in the Main Pavilion.
Feature Presentation:
“Coastal Habitats and Climate Change in Connecticut”
About Juliana Barrett – Since 2006, Julia has been with the University of Connecticut Sea Grant College Program and the Department of Extension, focusing on climate change adaptation and coastal habitat management working with Connecticut’s municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal partners. Previously, she worked with CT DEEP on management plans for state natural areas and for The Nature Conservancy as the Director of the Connecticut River Tidelands Last Great Places Program.
Memorial Tribute to Nature Center Architect Peter Wormser
Refreshments will be served.

Sunday SAX on the Porch
2022-06-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Live performance on the porch of the Nature Center!
Local college student, Abigail Morse, will play jazz and classical saxophone.
Come enjoy the music and explore Sherwood Island State Park on this special day!

Connecticut Trails Day 2022
2022-06-04 - 2022-06-05
This year, the celebration is all weekend! Join us on June 4-5. The short version:
Saturday, June 4

Butterfly Walk at 10 AM
Kayak Paddle at 1 PM

Sunday, June 5

Archaeology Walk at 1 PM
Nature Walk at 2 PM

Read on for details on all events!
Saturday, June 4
10:00 AM Butterfly Walk
Join butterfly hobbyist Michele Sorensen to explore the gardens and natural areas around the Park’s Nature Center in search of caterpillars, skippers, moths and butterflies. We may see Mourning Cloak, Pearl Crescent, Question Mark, Monarch, Cabbage White, Orange or Clouded Sulphurs, tiny Gray Hairstreaks & Blues, and Black or Tiger Swallowtails. Likely Skippers are Peck’s and Silver-spotted. Last year Common Buckeyes were everywhere, as were Monarchs. It will be fun to see which ones predominate this season. Michele is part of the Friends of Sherwood Island Garden Team, which has planted dozens of perennials and shrubs in the park to attract butterflies. She will point out plants that are good host plants for your garden.
Bring binoculars and a camera or smartphone. You’ll learn how to report your findings on iNaturalist so scientists anywhere can see how these insects are doing. Children are welcome. We recommend age 4 and up, as butterflies are small, and don’t stay still, so they can be difficult for younger ones to spot.
Leader: Michele Sorensen
Total Distance: 1 mile
Meeting Place: Meet at the Sherwood Island State Park Nature Center. Ask at the Park gate, turn left at East Beach, parking lot is adjacent to the Nature Center.
Rain Plan & Registration: Rain cancels. Pre-registration is APPRECIATED.
Questions and/or participant registration, contact:
Cece Saunders, cece@historicalperspectives.org, 203-984-1488
1:00-4:00 PM Kayak Paddle
See Sherwood Island from the water! Join us for an afternoon paddle, as we explore the shoreline of the park. Bring your own kayak, canoe, or other paddlecraft, as well as a pump/bailer. A life vest and whistle/horn are required by CT state boating regulations. Your life vest must be worn for this event. We recommend a waterproof VHF radio or cell phone. It’s a long carry over the beach, so bring a kayak cart (with wide wheels for sand) if you have one. We will help each other.
The event begins promptly at 1 pm (high tide is at 3:33) and ends at 4:00 pm, so plan to arrive by 12:45. We’ll do a safety check & demonstration on the beach for life vest fit, seaworthy vessel, and emergency gear. We’ll paddle into the salt marsh behind the park while the tide is rising. Then we’ll paddle the length of the Sherwood Island shoreline, west to the entrance of Mill Pond, and return to our launch point on the open beach. Your guide will point out birds along the way, and show you how to safely exit and enter your kayak from deep water just off the beach. Michele is a retired Coastal Kayak Instructor with twenty years teaching experience. Optional: Bring waterproof binoculars for spotting birds, and/or a waterproof camera.
Leader: Michele Sorensen
Total Distance: 3 miles
Meeting Place: Drive around the circle to the East Beach Parking lot; follow the road along the shore past the Nature Center; park in front of beach almost at the end of the lot.
Rain Plan & Registration:
Rain or Shine, except heavy rain cancels.
Pre-registration is APPRECIATED.
Questions and/or participant registration, contact:
Cece Saunders, cece@historicalperspectives.org, 203-984-1488
Sunday, June 5
1:00 PM Archaeology Walk
Join us for an Archaeology Walk on the Sherwood Island History Trail. The walk will be led by Archaeologists Dawn Brown and Ernie Wiegand. The walk will include points of interest, terrain, and examining the traces of past inhabitants of Sherwood Island, from 1000 B.C. to the 1940s. The leader will share findings from recent excavations, including Native American, early settlers, and onion farmers.
Along the trail, various sites will be described and examined, and various artifacts, maps, old photos, and recent recoveries will be used to bring the island’s past inhabitants to life.
Leaders: Archaeologists Dawn Brown and Ernie Wiegand
Total Distance: 1.5 miles
Meeting Place: Meet at the Sherwood Island State Park Nature Center. Ask at the Park gate, turn left at East Beach, parking lot is adjacent to the Nature Center.
Rain Plan & Registration Details:
Rain cancels.
Pre-registration is APPRECIATED.
Questions and/or participant registration, contact:
Cece Saunders, cece@historicalperspectives.org, 203-984-1488
2:00 PM Nature Walk
Discover Sherwood Island! Go beach to beach and discover habitats, inhabitants, and special features (9/11 Memorial, Model Airport, wetlands, pine forest) of this waterfront Gateway park.
Go beach to beach on a Fun Walk along Long Island Sound- discover habitats, inhabitants, birding locations, viewing platforms, a purple martin enclave, and other special features of this waterfront Gateway park. Other points of park interest include Connecticut’s 9/11 Memorial, model aircraft Airport, Trail heads, wetlands, and a pine forest.
Leader(s): Louis Pietig
Total Distance: 2.5 miles
Meeting Place:
Meet at the Sherwood Island State Park Nature Center. Ask at the Park gate, turn left at East Beach, parking lot is adjacent to the Nature Center.
Rain Plan & Registration Details:
Rain or shine.
Pre-registration is APPRECIATED.
Questions and/or participant registration, contact:
Cece Saunders, cece@historicalperspectives.org, 203-984-1488

Earth Day Saturday at the Park
2022-04-23 09:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Earth Day 2022 is Friday, April 22. But the park will be busy all weekend with visitors and events.
On Saturday, April 23, Friends of Sherwood Island will be onsite and running activities from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Look for us on the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion. Plans include:

9:30 AM – 3:30 PM – Friends’ Garden Team Activities
🌱Bring your reusable water bottle to get a beautiful “Protect Our Wildlife” sticker while supplies last.
🌱Tour the Dunes Restoration project site and plant a stem of American Beach Grass.
🌱Learn about native plant species planted for wildlife at the Park and get a list for planting at home.
At our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.
9:30 AM – 11 AM – “Why reducing food waste is critical to a sustainable future.”
Host: Pippa Bell Ader, Team Leader, Sustainable Westport Zero Food Waste Challenge
Near our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.
9:30 AM – 3:30 PM – “Protecting Wetlands”
Host: Nathan Hartshorne, Town of Westport Conservation Compliance Officer
Learn how the town protects its wetlands to reduce flooding, filter stormwater, and benefit the ecosystem.
Near our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.
9:30 AM – 3 PM – The Country Squires
Model airplane demonstrations and flights at the airfield.
10 AM – 3 PM – The Kite Guys
Host: Pete O’Gorman, Ray Hilson, and Lanaud Ceme
Kite flying demonstration on the Ellipse.
11 AM – 12:30 PM – “Walk Through Sherwood Island’s History (from 12,000 years ago)”
Host: Cece Saunders, Owner of Historical Perspectives in Westport
Guided walk. Meet at our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.
12:30 – 2 PM – “Salt Marshes and Marsh Migration at Sherwood Island”
Host: Michele Sorensen, Environmental Educator & Captain of the Friends’ Garden Team
Guided walk. We’ll also pick up plastic waste that has floated onto the marsh. Gloves and bags provided.
Meet at our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.
2 – 3:30 PM – “Environmental Role of Trees at the Park”
Host: Louis Pietig, Friends of Sherwood Island Advisory Council Member
Guided walk. Meet at our table along the East Beach walkway near the Main Pavilion.

Information will continue to be updated here. We hope to see you!

Support the Park on Fairfield Giving Day
2022-02-24
Fairfield County’s Giving Day is our region’s largest annual philanthropic event! Powered by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, Giving Day is made possible by thousands of generous people who care.
In 2022 giving back to the park where we’ve found solace outdoors through all the months of the pandemic makes sense. Giving to support the wildlife habitat at Sherwood Island State Park is a gift that keeps on giving.
This year, you can choose from two vital Friends projects to support:

Give to the Friends’ Garden Team – The Friends’ Garden Team works year-round to restore dune habitat, create and curate more pollinator-friendly habitat, and ensure that new plantings would be natives that improve habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, dragonflies, turtles, mammals, and other wildlife.
Give to the 100 Trees Campaign – Our 100 Trees Campaign has two long-term projects: to restore the owl habitat in the evergreen grove and to replace trees lost in storms. This year the Trees Campaign plans to increase the owl habitat area four-fold with your help!

First Day Hike: Shore and More
2022-01-01 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Sponsored by CT DEEP as part of a statewide celebration of the New Year.
Start 2022 outside! Our guided 2-2.5 mile hike starts and ends at the Nature Center. We’ll talk about geology, history, birds, and more. We’ll walk along the shore, past the 9/11 Memorial, Archaeology Trail, and visit one of the few coastal pine forests in CT. Uneven surfaces, but very little elevation gain. Wear sturdy shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Advance reservation is requested. Register here.
Guide: Louis Pietig, former FoSI Chair

Shorefest 2021
2021-09-10 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
The ticket sale period for Shorefest 2021 has ended. We look forward to a beautiful evening with all of our guests in the Main Pavilion on Friday, September 10. If you missed out on buying a ticket but would still like to support our environmental restoration, advocacy, and educational programs work, you can donate online today. Thank you!

Native American Herbal Favorites
2021-08-22 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Native Americans know and use hundreds of species of herbs. The Garden Team will show you a dozen in our garden. Join us at the Nature Center.

Birds of Prey
2021-08-15 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Join us as Westport’s Earthplace brings their birds of prey to the Nature Center.

Plants for Pollinators
2021-07-25 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Learn by seeing. Find the plants with the most bees, butterflies, and other insects to learn the best plants to help our pollinator insects thrive. Join us at the Nature Center.

Birds & Berries!
2021-07-18 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
We’ve planted blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for the birds. Let’s see what birds we can find who’ve discovered our patch. Bring binoculars and meet at the Nature Center.

Purple Martins Banding
2021-07-14 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
There is a thriving Purple Martin colony located adjacent to the Nature Center. Each spring, the birds return to breed. When the babies are large enough, we (carefully!) lower each colony gourd to count, weigh, and band the young. This year, there are approximately 112 fledglings that will be recorded. You can attend to observe and ask questions.

Music on the Porch
2021-07-04 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Take a trip to the park to enjoy live music outdoors!
Join us on the Nature Center porch for some impromptu Saxophone and Flute music at 1:00 PM on Sunday, July 4! Two local volunteers will perform Jazz, classical, and Irish music in addition to patriotic songs. Happy Fourth of July!
The Nature Center also has perfect activities for any weather. We have shady picnic tables, arts and crafts, animals, photos, maps, and information.
Come out to the park and join the fun!

Meet Two Turtle Experts & Some Turtles
2021-06-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Herpetologists are scientists who study reptiles. Our guests today are turtle rehabilitators. They help turtles who’ve been injured so they can be released back into the wild. Sherwood Island State Park has wild, resident Diamondback Terrapins (DBT) and Snapping Turtles. Join us at the Nature Center.
Pam Meyer is associated with Northeast Partners in Amphibian & Reptile Conservation (northeastparc.org). Erik Koniger was formerly with the NY Dept of Environmental Conservation and has been interested in turtles since boyhood.

Butterfly Walk
2021-06-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Nature Center
Let’s see what our Nature Center gardens have attracted! We might find Monarch, Clouded Sulfur, and Buckeye. Bring your binoculars and meet at the Nature Center.

Connecticut Trails Day
2021-06-05
CT Trails Day events will include Kayaking tours, walking tours, and hikes.

Three Sisters Circles
2021-05-30 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Nature Center. Come plant corn, beans, and squash. Take home free seeds!

Annual Meeting of the Friends of Sherwood Island
2021-05-23 17:00 (America/New_York)
Annual Meeting of the Friends of Sherwood Island
Nature Center. Details TBA.

Growing Potatoes
2021-05-09 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Meet at the Nature Center
Bring a potato with eyes to plant!

How to Grow Raspberries & Blueberries Mini-Lesson
2021-04-18 14:00 - 16:00 UTC
At the Nature Center. Six plants will be given away to members.
