Seven workshops over 8 days were offered from January through October. Workshops ranged from identifying and understanding vernal pools, and native wildflower and pollinator identification, advanced shrub, invasive plant, sedge, and aster identification and ecology, to birding by ear. We received support from the AKC Fund.
Our free educational programs were held on the two Weekends In Norfolk at AF. First, we conducted our annual porcupine monitoring and did some early morning owling and wildlife tracking during Winter WIN in February. Then in August for the Summer WIN, we held a program on Naturalistic Landscaping and Plant Identification, trekking though fields around Headquarters.
We had a presence at several conferences and meetings within the past year, having a table or poster at three: Northeast Natural History Conference, CIPWG Invasive Plants Symposium, Connecticut Association of Wetland Scientists, Smaller American Lawns Today Conference, Connecticut Conference on Natural Resources, New Directions in the American Landscape Symposium, and Connecticut Botanical Society Annual Meeting.
A Kindness In Motion luncheon fundraiser organized by 16 year-old Ryan Carrigan was very successful. This event was done entirely by high school students, who planned it, sold tickets and prepared all the food. Nearly $2,000 was raised, netting AF, Inc. $1,257. Thank you, Northwestern Regional students!
Field Station Facilities: Besides the AF Headquarters (the old Egler House) and housing for the executive director, AF, Inc. owns two other buildings providing quarters for those who visit AF. Both were small residences and will be made available for a fee to researchers, educators, students, workshop participants, birders, and other visitors interested in research or educational experiences that AF can provide. The Aton Forest office is maintained in the Egler House, which also has a meeting space with Victorian décor. There is classroom/laboratory space in this building, which also houses an herbarium and insect collection. We can provide dissecting scopes and some field research equipment for researchers, educators and students for use on AF property. Contact us for more information: contact@atonforest.org