The Friends of Hammonasset sponsors the Bauer Lecture Series with co-host, St. Andrew’s Church at 10:00am on four Saturdays in February at St. Andrew’s Church on 232 Durham Rd. (Rt. 79) in Madison, Ct. St. Andrew’s Church is located 1/3 mile north of Exit 61, I-95. Four walks will follow the morning talks at 1:00pm at different locations.

Feb. 6
Live Birds presentation at 10:00am by “ A Place Called Hope” with Todd Secki and Christine Cummings-Secki followed by a guided bird walk at Hammonasset Beach State Park with guide, John Picard of the Menunkatuck Audubon at 1:00pm. Participants are to meet at Meigs Point Nature Center parking lot.

Feb. 13
Live Reptiles show by Ranger Russ Miller of the Meigs Point Nature Center
at 10:00am followed by a guided hike at 1:00pm on the Shoreline Greenway Trial segment at Hammonasset Beach State Park by Ginny Raff.   Ranger Russ Miller will make comments on the salt marsh habitat. Participants will meet at the campground parking lot.

Feb.20
Live Bat program presented by Gerri Griswold from the White Memorial Conservation Center at 10:00am. A guided hike at 1:00pm will be at the trailhead on Lake Drive Road for the Indian Rock Shelters in North Madison (maps will be provided). Dr. Don Rankin, local lecturer on geology and Native American culture, will lead the hike. Gary Nolf, Friends of Ct. State Archaeology, will provide comments on Native American use of these caves. Allan Saunders, Mohegan, will perform a smudging ceremony at the site and “calling of the ancestors” drumming song in the Mohegan language- folks will be moved by this experience!

Feb. 27
“Bears in Connecticut” power point presentation given by Master Wildlife Conservationist and bear enthusiast, Felicia Ortner from Ct. DEP at 10:00am.  Members from the Bauer Charitable Trust fund will be present at the talk and acknowledged for their grants to The Friends of Hammonasset and other groups in Madison. A guided walk at 1:00pm at Bauer Park on Copse Road in Madison will showcase the numerous features of the Park including the barn restoration program, tours of the farmhouse, a guided trail walk and a scavenger hunt.

All the Bauer Lecture Series talks and walks programs are free and appropriate for all ages. Light refreshments will be served after the morning talks. Families are especially invited to attend. No dogs please, for the guided walks.

For additional information on the talks and walks, call Don Rankin at 203- 245- 9192.

This year’s Bauer Lecture Series celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the donation of the Bauer Farm to the town of Madison by Erwin Bauer.

The Friends of Hammonassset was awarded a grant in 2007 from the Erwin Bauer Charitable Trust to purchase the Meigsmoble van that allows Ranger Russ Miller, Director of the Meigs Point Nature Center in Hammonasset Beach State Park to give classes at schools on educational and environmental topics, plus live reptiles presentations. A Bauer grant in 2008 for life preservers and waders was given for Ranger Russ’s hands-on marine programs at Hammonasset Beach State Park

In 2009 the Nature Center received an educational traveling stage on a trailer from the Bauer Charitable Trust fund