Greening and Growing Middlesex County Since 1935

Rockfall Announces New Major Grants Initiative

Applications will be Ready in Fall 2013

First Awards to be Granted in Spring 2014

Rockfall  Announces New Major Grants Initiative 

(For updated information on the grant application process & deadlines, please click here

The Rockfall Foundation is announcing the establishment of a new major grants initiative to expand its environmental Green Grants program. The application process will be opened this fall and the first major grants awarded in spring 2014.

“The goal of these larger grants – given either as single-year or multi-year disbursements – is to provide worthy groups with the resources to launch or complete a major project or program, and to be more effective in the community,” says Rockfall President Peter Patton. “This type of grant can help offset recent years of downturns in both public and private sector general support for nonprofits, especially environmental groups.”

The Foundation plans to make one or two larger grants, up to a total of $25,000, every other year.

The foundation has given smaller grants to organizations and towns throughout the county since 1972, providing critical seed money and support for innovative grassroots environmental education, conservation and planning initiatives. These grants have ranged from $500 to $5,000 and been awarded to 10 – 12 groups per year, totaling up to $20,000 annually.

  “Studies on national giving and its impact on protecting the natural environment and conserving our natural resources highlight the critical need for greater levels of environmental-focused giving, particularly giving that supports grassroots groups and initiatives," says Claire Rusowicz, Rockfall's Executive Director.

For these new grants, awards will be given exclusively to innovative approaches to environmental education in Middlesex County. Education will range from pre-school to college level and be broadly defined, i.e., not limited to school curricula.

With this new program, the foundation will now have an every-other- year cycle for grant applications. In years A, smaller grants will be awarded to a number of groups, according to the ongoing program and at the current levels of giving. In years B the foundation will award only one to two major grants, totaling in 2014 up to $25,000.

The major grants guidelines, application and supporting materials will be available on Rockfall’s website later in the year; the application deadline will be late fall. The foundation will also hold an application workshop for prospective applicants.

Take a (family) Hike on CT Trails Day Weekend with Rockfall and Everyone Outside

This is perfect for families with kids of all ages.

Celebrate CT Trails Day weekend by joining The Rockfall Foundation  and Everyone Outside (www.everyoneoutside.org) for  fun and exploration at Wadsworth Falls State Park and the Captain's Field.

Date: Sunday, June 2, 2013   Time: 1 p.m. to 4:30 pm; Rain date: June 9.

Everyone Outside naturalist Lucy Meigs, will lead us on a fun 2- to 2.5-mile family hike followed by light refreshments provided by Rockfall. We will look for interesting plants, trees, creatures and their homes and do a treasure hunt for a letterbox on our route through these beautiful woods.

Meet at the Big Falls parking lot (not the main one) for Wadsworth Falls State Park, which is just north of Connwood Foresters (39 Cherry Hill Road, Middlefield). Extra parking will also be available at Connwood Foresters for hikers. 

Heavy rain postpones to June 9^th at 1:00 PM.  We will contact all who have registered in the morning of June 2 if we need to postpone for weather. 

Pre-registration is RECOMMENDED. For questions and to register contact Rockfall at tmarino@rockfallfoundation.org or 860-347-0340. To register on the weekend of the hike contactlucy@everyoneoutside.org or 860-395-7771. 

Wadsworth Falls State Park was created through the generosity of the Rockfall Corporation and its founder, Clarence S. Wadsworth, who owned the 267 acres of land as part of his holdings that included Long Hill Estate.  According to his wishes, this  land, the "Rockfall Tract of Great Falls Region," was donated to the state of CT shortly after Wadsworth's death in 1942.  Rockfall is named after the beloved rock falls in the park. 

 The Captain's Field is 16 acres on Cherry Hill Road that abuts Wadsworth Falls State Park and is owned by The Rockfall Foundation. 

 For more information on CT Trails Day, contact CT Forest & Park Association www.ctwoodlands.org.