August 2019
Tree Cookies, Leaf Printing and Bark Identification
Learn to identify leaf shapes from various local trees and plants, and use them to make beautiful prints. Instructors are from Great Mountain Forest.
Find out more »Children’s Concert at the Music Shed
This children's concert is part of the Music Festival’s annual Open House, which also features games, an ice cream social, tours of Whitehouse and a finale program of Movies & Music.
Find out more »Games and Ice Cream Social at the Music Shed
Games and an ice cream social are part of the Music Festival’s annual Open House. It also features a children's concert by Festival Fellows, tours of Whitehouse and a finale program of Movies & Music.
Find out more »Hot Dog Eating Contest
The Berkshire Country Store presents its second annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, with all proceeds to benefit the Norfolk Lions Club Ambulance. Email berkshirecountrystore@gmail.com by July 25 to enter the contest (entry fee) or just come see the contest and donate to vote for your favorite contestant.
Find out more »February 2020
Spaghetti Dinner and Game Night
Earlybird special! Botelle School's 6th grade class is going to run its annual spaghetti dinner and game night fundraiser on Winter WIN Weekend eve: Friday, February 21. The event raises money to support a class trip to Nature’s Classroom in Wakefield, R.I., on the shores of Wordens Pond. During their five-day stay, the class will have the opportunity to explore forest, pond and ocean ecosystems and learn about human impact on the environment. Students also participate in a day-long field…
Find out more »Skating on Town Rink
The town skating rink on Mountain Road is be open whenever weather permits for you to skate at your own risk. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Norfolk's Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a party there, complete with campfire (rain/snow date is the next day, Sunday, at the same time). Kids 10 years old or younger should wear a helmet (a bike helmet is fine).
Find out more »Hike, Bike, Ski or Snowshoe on Norfolk Trails
Bring your mountain bike, skis or snowshoes and use them on Norfolk's miles of trails, depending on what the weather turns out to be. And of course you can walk! For Great Mountain Forest maps, click here. For Land Trust trail maps, click here. Enjoy!
Find out more »Open house: Norfolk Curling Club
Super Senior bonspiel event finals will be held during the day and award presentations, which will be fun for all to watch, are scheduled for that evening. The competition runs from Thursday, Feb 20, through Saturday. Sunday afternoon the club is open from noon to 6:00 p.m. for regular Sunday League play. Club members will be on hand to welcome visitors and answer questions.
Find out more »Astrophotography Exhibit
This exhibit includes some of the earliest and rarest photographs taken of the heavens by astronomers, including antique maps of the heavens and photographs of The moon, comets, eclipses of the sun, the transit of Venus and the space shuttle. The show also contains photos taken by Matthew Johnson, an earth scientist, educator and astronomer who collectsf antique celestial photographs, maps of the heavens and items of historic interest to astronomy.
Find out more »Porcupine Prowl & Wildlife Tracking
Winter is a great time to see animals, or at least their signs. Every year Aton Forest monitors the porcupines and beaver on our property and uses this opportunity to involve citizen scientists in our work here. We will check the known porcupine dens in rock ledges and maybe walk out onto one of our ponds to see a beaver lodge if the ice is good. We will also track wild animals and observe birds along the way. You'll be…
Find out more »Indoor Farmers Market
The Norfolk Farmers Market will hold a special Saturday market in the Hall of Flags at Botelle School. Many new vendors will be on hand along with some of your favorites from the summer. Microgreens, prepared foods, teas, honey, organic health products, antique jewelry, leather goods, pies, cookies and more will be for sale. Before and during the market, YMCA Camp Jewell will serve breakfast and lunch, starting at 8:30. The menu includes sandwiches, scones, banana bread, coffee cake, three…
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »Marvelous Microscopes and Stream Invertebrates
Tom Fahsbender and Richard Kessin will combine their demonstrations. Tom, an ardent fisherman and biology teacher, is interested in invertebrates and Rich Kessin, a biology teacher, has always been obsessed with microscopes. This year we take a close look at various invertebrates and then photograph them through the microscopes. As Yogi Berra once said, “You can see a lot just by looking.”
Find out more »Puppet Show: The Snow Queen
Artist and puppeteer Robin McCahill of Thomaston will present Hans Christian Anderson’s classic winter fairy tale “The Snow Queen” with her troupe of hand-felted wool marionettes. McCahill has adapted the story for her puppet troupe, as Gerda visits distant lands to find her friend Kai and encounters people and creatures such as the hobgoblin along the way. There will be a touch of magic in this interactive puppet show that is sure to delight young and old alike.
Find out more »Tours: Stained Glass Windows
Take a guided tour of Battell Chapel’s beautiful stained glass windows, designed by D. Maitland Armstrong and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Three large windows designed by Armstrong and made of opalescent glass fill the west end of the chapel. Tiffany’s five smaller windows face them from the east; they depict the four seasons, with a brilliant sunrise as the center. Tours start at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m., 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., and last approximately 45 minutes. There are more…
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »Open Sugarhouse
We're sorry, but the days have been just too cold for foresters to collect any sap; the sugarhouse will not be open on Saturday. There's still a chance for Sunday, though. Call the forestry office (860-542-5422) and listen to their Sunday-morning recording to find out if they'll be boiling on Sunday afternoon. You can also check out our Last-Minute Updates page for the latest on this and other events. Mother Nature permitting, here's a chance to visit the Great Mountain…
Find out more »Weave!
Come explore new hands-on weaving techniques on a small scale. Perhaps try your hand at tapestry weaving or working at a table sized loom. Suitable for both children and adults.
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »Skating Party and Bonfire
Everyone bring skates and join the fun at the town rink! The volunteer fire department is having a skating party and bonfire. The rink is outdoors so the weather has to cooperate...check back here or on our Last Minute Updates page for the latest word. We suggest that kids under 10 wear some kind of helmet. Please note: If this party takes place on Saturday there will not be a party on Sunday. Sunday is the snow date only. Update:…
Find out more »Hike, Bike, Ski or Snowshoe on Norfolk Trails
Bring your mountain bike, skis or snowshoes and use them on Norfolk's miles of trails. And of course you can walk! For Great Mountain Forest maps, click here. For Land Trust trail maps, click here. Enjoy!
Find out more »Skating on Town Rink
The town skating rink on Mountain Road is be open whenever weather permits for you to skate at your own risk. From 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Norfolk's Volunteer Fire Department will be holding a party there, complete with campfire (rain/snow date is the next day, Sunday, at the same time). Kids 10 years old or younger should wear a helmet (a bike helmet is fine).
Find out more »Astrophotography Exhibit
This exhibit includes some of the earliest and rarest photographs taken of the heavens by astronomers, including antique maps of the heavens and photographs of The moon, comets, eclipses of the sun, the transit of Venus and the space shuttle. The show also contains photos taken by Matthew Johnson, an earth scientist, educator and astronomer who collectsf antique celestial photographs, maps of the heavens and items of historic interest to astronomy.
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »Tours: Stained Glass Windows
Take a guided tour of Battell Chapel’s beautiful stained glass windows, designed by D. Maitland Armstrong and Louis Comfort Tiffany. Three large windows designed by Armstrong and made of opalescent glass fill the west end of the chapel. Tiffany’s five smaller windows face them from the east; they depict the four seasons, with a brilliant sunrise as the center. Tours start at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., and last approximately 45 minutes. There also are tours on Saturday starting…
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »Workshop: Chicken Stamping with Kids
Workshop for children accompanied by an adult. Leslie Watkins will help participants make a note card using rubber stamps and crayons. The well-known bantam, Little Lovey, will make a guest appearance to provide added inspiration and fun! All materials supplied.
Find out more »Open Sugarhouse
Sorry, Great Mountain Forest did not get enough sap to boil...this event is cancelled. However, forester Russell Russ says, "we hope to make our first sap collection sometime in the coming few days. When we have enough sap, then we will begin boiling. Boiling typically would happen during the afternoons. The sugarhouse is usually open for visitors when we are boiling." Call 860-542-5422 to see if there's a message or just go up and check it out. You can always…
Find out more »Workshop: Fly Tying and Fly Fishing
The cold barren steel of a hook is to an angler what an empty canvas is to a painter. Come learn the basic techniques used to create imitations of the flies that can catch trout in our local waters. During the tying sessions, instructor Doug McDevitt will discuss the tactics of fly fishing, the micro-seasons that exist during the year and techniques for using the various flies we can create. Limited number of fly tying stations available; please sign up…
Find out more »July 2020
Puppet Show: Lisa the Wise
When Lisa, a brave young girl with a heart of gold, meets Baba Yaga, the most famous witch in the woods, an epic battle of wits ensues. Dancing houses, enchanted dolls and hilarious ghost servants bring this classic Russian fairy tale to life with a contemporary twist. Imaginative shadow puppetry lights the way in this hilariously spooky story about the experiences that make us wise. The event is over. Find out more about puppeteer Sarah Nolan on her website, and…
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