Earth Festival is BACK for a fully in-person festival at Milford Central School on Saturday, April 15th 2023. We are so excited to bring back this beloved community tradition. We are currently on the hunt for vendors, exhibitors, workshop leaders, and more! If you are interested in getting involved, please visit the Earth Festival page on the OCCA website or reach out to Anna at coordinator@occainfo.org.
Upcoming Events
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Volunteer Training
January 14 @ 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Morris Firehouse
The eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a tree of great beauty and great ecological significance. Sadly, it is also threatened by the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae), an invasive insect that has ravaged hemlocks from Georgia to Maine. This program includes an informational session covering the importance of hemlock trees and the life history and impacts of the hemlock woolly adelgid, then shifts outdoors for field training in how to survey for hemlock woolly adelgid. We are seeking volunteers who will participate in surveys throughout the winter.
This program will take place indoors and outdoors. We will meet at the Morris Firehouse, 117 Main Street, Morris use back entrance). Please be prepared to spend more than an hour outside. Co-sponsored by The Clark Foundation/Mohican Farm and the Butternut Valley Alliance.
Homeschool Nature Group–Gilbert Lake
January 20 @ 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm, Gilbert Lake State Park
It is hard to say what we will find when we set out around Gilbert Lake, but few things are as exhilarating as a winter walk. We will let the weather and trail conditions guide us on how far around the lake we go, but as we wander, we will learn about the trees, identify birds and play nature games. The program is free and open to everyone. For more information, contact Education Specialist Shelby MacLeish at education@occainfo.org. To register, use the form below. Gilbert Lake State Park is located at 18 CCC Rd. Laurens Rd. We will meet at the Briggs Pavilion, and families should park in the first parking lot on the left after entering the park.
Naked Eye Astronomy
January 21 @ 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm, Mohican Farm Workshop
Join OCCA Treasurer, Jim Hill for a night of Naked Eye Astronomy on Saturday, January 21, from 7:00-8:30 pm at Mohican Farm in Springfield. Hill will lead participants in an introduction to the night sky, where Mars and Jupiter will be visible along with Orion in the east and some of the gorgeous 1st magnitude winter sky stars, along with many more surprises.
The group will meet at the Mohican Farm workshop at 7:00 pm for a brief introduction before going outside. Participants are encouraged to bring a camp chair to sit on and to dress warmly. In the event of rain, snow, or cloudy weather, we will reschedule for January 21, 2023. Program is free, please pre-register using the form below. For questions, contact Education Specialist, Shelby MacLeish at education@occainfo.org.
Be Informed–Efficient Wood Heating
January 25 @ 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Virtual
The OCCA/Mohican Farm ‘Be Informed’ Lecture series is back with a special webinar. “Efficient Wood Heating” will showcase how to make heating with wood more efficient, comfortable, and economical. The program will also include information on whole-house weatherization to improve comfort and lower heating bills. Presenters are John Ackerly, founder and president of the Alliance for Green Heat, and Ed Cope from Opportunities for Otsego. To register for this free webinar, use this link.