Bark: Get to Know Your Trees on Saturday, Sep. 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"Bark: Get to Know Your Trees" is led by noted author and naturalist Michael Wojtech. This field workshop provides instruction in identifying trees by their bark alone. Frequently, leaves are off the tree or out of reach, yet we tend to rely on leaf shape to identify trees. With an understanding of bark ecology and structure, and an eye to various textures, shapes and colors, you will learn to recognize different tree species. This workshop is for experienced naturalists and novices alike. Please dress properly for weather conditions in the field.

Michael Wojtech is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. He is a former editor of the journal Whole Terrain, and teaches, researches, and writes about trees. He lives in western Massachusetts.

Date: Saturday, September 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk, CT.
Registration fee $30. Lunch provided. Enrollment limited. For information, call (860) 542-5125 or email contact@atonforest.org.

Naturalistic Landscaping Workshop Now Rescheduled on Wednesday, September 5 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Many gardeners and land managers find themselves constantly fighting Nature to maintain the aesthetic appeal they desire. Another approach is to work with naturally occurring elements and plants to achieve a landscape that is sensually, intellectually and emotionally satisfying. This workshop continues the demonstration and discussion of ecologically based naturalistic landscaping and its benefits. There will be information both for those familiar with wild landscaping and those new to it. With an understanding of natural processes, you will learn how to work with the land to develop an attractive and healthy landscape. If weather permits, most of the workshop will be spent in the woods and fields of Aton Forest, observing managed and natural habitats. There will be ample time for questions about participant's particular land management issues. Instructors are Larry Weaner and John Anderson.

Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk CT.
Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Cost: $30 registration fee.
Lunch and refreshments provided.
For more information, contact Aton Forest at (860) 542-5125 or email contact@atonforest.org

Larry Weaner is the founder of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, and an award winning landscape designer. He has gained a national reputation for combining ecological restoration with the traditions of garden design. He is an active guest lecturer and instructor for horticultural and environmental organizations throughout the United States.

John Anderson is Executive Director of Aton Forest Inc., and the Aton Forest Fellow, continuing the research established by founder Frank Egler. John is an ecologist who studies vegetation science, leads land management and conservation projects, and gives educational programs on the art and science of naturalistic landscaping and related topics.

Saturday, July 7 at 10 am: Botanizing Walk/Field Trip in Phelps Research Area in Colebrook

On Saturday, July 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., naturalist John Anderson will lead a botanizing walk/field trip into the biodiverse and ecologically rich Phelps Research Area. This protected forest provides important habitat for native plants and animals, and is a part of the larger Sandy Brook watershed. This field trip is an educational component of the Sandy Brook Conservation Corridor Project. The trip is free and open to the public. Dress for the weather. Meet at the trailhead on Route 183 in Colebrook opposite Phelps Flat Road.

 

For more information, call Aton Forest at (860) 542-5125 or email: contact at atonforest.org.

Birding By Ear Workshop on Saturday May 12

On Saturday, May 12 from 9am to 1pm, the workshop Birding By Ear will be led by expert birder Bob Barbieri. Learn to recognize bird calls and identify species by their song. Dress appropriately for outdoor field work. This workshop is free and open to the public; refreshements served.

Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk CT. 06058.

For more information, call (860) 542-5125 or email contact@atonforest.org.

Invasive Plants & Native Look-A-Likes Workshop, March 22

Distinguishing Invasive Plants and Native Look-A-Likes In Late Winter and Early Spring.  A one-day workshop sponsored by Aton Forest, Inc.

 

There are a number of advantages to doing invasive plant control work outside of the growing season, (e.g., no disturbance of breeding birds and wildlife, student volunteers more available, less disturbance of native vegetation, a much extended control season).  But it requires more advanced field identification skills to avoid throwing native babies out with the bath water, when working at sites with a significant native plant component, e.g., especially, "early intervention" sites with intact natural communities.  This workshop focuses on field identification of terrestrial invasive plants in late winter/early spring, prime season for pulling invasives but a difficult time to identify many plants using guides and manuals, as many are somewhere between dormant and leaf-on state.  The emphasis will be on distinguishing invasives from native species with which they co-occur and may be potentially confused, especially when in young/immature state.  The workshop will emphasize development and reinforcement of field identification skills in situ – it is planned that most of the day will be spent in the field, after a brief introductory classroom session.  The workshop is designed for people who are already interested in and/or involved in hands-on invasive plant control, including land managers associated with land trusts, professionals looking to brush up on their skills, and private land owners managing their properties as natural areas.  The workshop will also cover a number of so-called “watch list” species, i.e., plants that it is suspected may become invasive, and plants known to be invasive that have not yet become common in the area.

 

This is the third time we have offered this popular program, and it is being taught at a new location (Aton Forest in Norfolk, CT), which will allow us to visit plant communities and study species in the field we have not covered in previous workshops.  Field sites this year will include several habitats in the calcareous districts of northwest CT and southwest MA.  In the event of weather too severe for field work, all or part of each session may be changed into a lab/classroom session, using fresh collected specimens.  Enrollment is limited to 15 participants per session.                 

 

Each participant should bring: a good quality hand lens with at least 10X magnification; a field notebook (preferably waterproof) and writing implement[s], bags for collecting specimens; his/her choice of sun protection; appropriate footware for both cold mud and hiking up to 2 miles on not-very-rugged terrain; clothing that allows you to stand around for 5-10 minutes in chilly and/or wet weather conditions in sufficient comfort to concentrate on listening and taking notes.

 

Instructor:             Bill Moorhead, Consulting Field Botanist, 486 Torrington Rd, Litchfield, CT 06759. 

Telephone:            860-567-4920.  Email: whmoorhead@optonline.net.

 

Date & time:         Thursday, March 22, 2012, 8:30 AM - ~5:00 PM.

                               

Place:                     Aton Forest, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk, Connecticut

               

Accommodations and amenities:  Lunch and liquid refreshments will be provided.  Transportation to field sites beyond walking distance will be by convoy/car-pool in participants' vehicles.

 

Tuition: $95.00.  Payment is required in advance by check or money order to register.  Checks should be made out to "Aton Forest, Inc." and sent to Aton Forest, Inc., P. O. Box 509, Norfolk, CT 06058.  Enrollment will be on a first-come-first-served basis, and is limited to 15 per session.  The first 10 enrollees will receive a $20.00 discount if payment is received by March 15^th. If the session is canceled by us for any reason, tuition payments will be refunded in full, by mail.  If a registered participant cancels, tuition may or may not be refunded, at our discretion, depending upon the final class size.

 

For more information, contact Bill Moorhead (860) 567-4920, whmoorhead@optonline.net, or

John Anderson, Executive Director, Aton Forest, Inc. (860) 542-5125, contact@atonforest.org.

Invasive Plant Identification Workshop on Thursday, March 22 from 8:30 am to 5 pm

Aton Forest is hosting a workshop on Thursday, March 22: Distinguishing Invasive Plants and Native Look-a-Likes in Late Winter and Early Spring. This one day workshop is led by instructor William Moorhead, Consulting Field Botanist. Instruction takes place in the classroom as well as in the field, so appropriate outdoor gear is essential.

 

Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk CT. 06058. Lunch is at the local pizza restaurant. To register and with questions, reach us at (860) 542-5125 or contact@atonforest.org.

The rain date for this workshop is Wednesday, March 28.

 

Salamander Crossing Guard Training on Saturday, March 24 from 4 to 6 pm

Aton Forest, in conjunction with Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory (AVEO), a program of The Harris Center For Conservation Education, is hosting a workshop, Salamander Crossing Guard Training, on Saturday, March 24 from 4 to 6 pm. Each year, thousands of salamanders and other amphibians are killed while crossing roads during their annual breeding migration. AVEO provides training and coordinates crossing brigades in Southern New Hampshire, which consists of taking trained volunteers into the field on crossing nights and sheparding animals across. This workshop will provide training in amphibian identification, road safety, and basic data collection. Subsequently, Aton Forest will work with interested participants who want to or have already identified locations of high concentrations of migratory amphibians in our area to establish crossing guard brigades. Crossing amphibians is a family friendly activity, but this course is for children age 12 and older.

 

Instructor: Brett Thelen, M.S., AVEO Program Director. This workshop is free of charge and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Location: Aton Forest Headquarters, 270 North Colebrook Road, Norfolk CT. 06058. Call or email to register, or with any questions: (860) 542-5125 or contact@atonforest.org.