Event Types: Nature & Outdoors

The Washington Environmental Council will present Vice-Chairman of Citi, Jay Collins, on December 14, 2023 at 7:00 at Judy Black Park. The Harwood Lecture Series was founded in 1992 to honor the late Michael Harwood, one of the founders of the Council. The lecture is free and open to the public.

“Takeaways From Cop 28: What Happened And Where Do We Go From Here?” With Jay Collins
Jay Collins is Vice Chairman of Citi and an Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at Georgetown University. He was also the Climate Finance Advisor to COP 27 and has been a resident of New Preston for 27 years. In our winter Harwood lecture, Jay will share his views and insights after two weeks of on-the-ground meetings in Dubai with world leaders at COP 28. Refreshments will be served.
The Harwood Lecture Series was started in 1992 in honor of the late Michael Harwood who was a founding member of Washington Environmental Council.

Tuesday, December 26, 6:00pm

The soft sounds of the nighttime winter woodlands provide a pleasant setting for a walk guided by the light of the last full moon of 2023. As it is the full moon that appears around the time of the winter solstice, it is fitting that some tribes refer to this one as the “Long Nights Moon.” Join IAIS educators for a walk along our museum’s trails and a discussion of nighttime phenomena that people in the Eastern Woodlands have been experiencing for thousands of years. We will end at our replicated Algonkian village for some hot chocolate around the campfire.

Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a flashlight, and wear sturdy footwear. If there are weather-related concerns on the day of the program, please contact us using the information listed below.

Space is limited and pre-registration is requested. Please visit our website to register online. Questions? Please call (860) 868-0518 or email [email protected]. Price of participation: $5 for IAIS Members and $10 for Non-Members.

Register here

Thursday, December 28th and Friday, December 29th
9:30am – 12:30pm

Looking for something fun and educational for your children to do during the holiday week? Sign them up for one or two days of exciting indoor and outdoor activities inspired by the lifeways and lessons of local Native Americans! Each day, the IAIS Education Department will offer an action packed day of games, activities and traditional Native American Storytelling. Participants will play games such as snow snake, snow boat, and hoop and pole.  Children will create keepsakes they can take home, such as corn husk dolls, buzzers, or beadwork.

This program is best suited for children ages 6 to 12. Parents are encouraged to stay and participate, and must fill out a permission form for their child if they are not staying. A First Aid/CPR certified staff member will be on premises at all times.

Please Note: Participants should come prepared for both indoor and outdoor activities and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. A snack and water are encouraged.
Pre-registration and pre-payment required. Please visit our website to register online. Questions? Please call (860) 868-0518 or email [email protected]. Price of participation: $40/day for Non-Member Participant; $30/day for Member Participant.

Register here

In an immersive forest setting with no locks, keys or clocks, Wigwam Escape’s thematic puzzles challenge game players to hunt, find water and prepare food similar to how Native people did for thousands of years prior to European contact. The Institute for American Indian Studies, proudly presents a new way to interact with history, a themed escape room, Wigwam Escape.

Our museum’s mission is to “preserve and educate through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality and knowledge of Native American cultures”. We chose an escape room setting as an interactive and captivating way to educate the public about how pre-contact Native peoples lived within their environment over 500 years ago. This hand-on experience of history is demonstrated through a series of custom puzzles and hand crafted set, complete with a full sized traditionally sourced wigwam.

The full experience is 90 minutes in the museum’s Research Center. This includes a pre-game orientation, the one hour escape room centerpiece, and post-game popcorn snack and discussion when your team returns to the 21st Century. The game is set for 3 to 7 players and the cost is $25 per person, or $20 for our museum members or students.

More than just a game, Wigwam Escape is built to teach through experience and foster dialogue in a game that’s dynamic, challenging and entertaining. Visit Wigwam Escape for this must-do team building experience for friends, families and co-workers.

For more information or to book your escape room, go to: wigwamescape.org.