The Rockfall Foundation

The Elements: An Environmental Film Series: The Condor & the Eagle
2025-03-31 19:00 (America/New_York) | Wesleyan University’s Center for Film Studies – Goldsmith Family Cinema, 301 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT, 06457
Wesleyan University’s Center for Film Studies – Goldsmith Family Cinema
301 Washington Terrace
Middletown, CT 06457
The Elements: An Environmental Film Series, launched in 2015, is presented by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, The Rockfall Foundation, Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts and College of the Environment, Middletown Garden Club, and the Russel Library. Multiple screenings occur throughout the academic year, alternating locations between Wesleyan University and Russel Library. Events are always open to the public and free of charge.
Film Screening: The Condor & the Eagle
From the tar sands of Alberta, Canada, to the oil fields of Texas, to the Ecuadorian Amazon, The Condor & the Eagle tells the story of the collective struggle of the Indigenous peoples of North and South America in their fight to preserve their communities and to protect the Earth from climate change.
More details: Four Indigenous leaders embark on a trans-continental adventure from the Canadian Boreal forests to deep into the heart of Amazonian jungle to unite the peoples of North and South America and deepen the meaning of “Climate Justice”. Their path through the jungle takes them on an unexpectedly challenging and liberating journey that will forever change their attachment to the Earth and one another. “The Condor & The Eagle” features Indigenous women leaders deploying an unparalleled global response. Facing this overwhelming current political climate, a great many people are looking for answers that are adapted to today’s urgency and the imperative of urgent change.
“The Condor & The Eagle” brings us together in the crisis – reminding us of our interconnection with the Earth and one another. Never-before-seen images expose the extractive economy and the global rise of land and water protectors across the Americas. In the midst of the burning of the Amazon, the mega-fires in Australia, and the global climate strikes, this award-winning documentary documents the ongoing collective climate awakening as world climate scientists predict unprecedented global catastrophe.
The Condor & the Eagle/Running time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Location: Wesleyan University’s Center for Film Studies – Goldsmith Family Cinema – 301 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT
Time: Monday, March 31, 7 PM

Meet Your Greens: Backyard Bugs with Brian Stewart
2025-04-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Perk on Main, 386 Main St., Middletown, CT, 06457
Perk on Main
386 Main St, Middletown, CT 06457
As a gardener and nature lover, Brian Stewart believes that a minute spent outside is worth ten spent indoors. On spring days, he enjoys observing wildlife, especially the annual return of the warblers, a thrilling moment best experienced after their arrival but before the trees fully leaf out. However, the majority of Brian’s wildlife-watching time is devoted to insects. Their season is long — virtually endless — and because their habitats are small and abundant, there are countless places to find them. Not only are insects visually captivating, but they are also fascinating to observe as they go about their routines.
On his personal “backyard safaris” across his quarter-acre property, Brian has photographed and identified 952 species so far and counting. In this presentation, he will share some of his favorite images and stories, hoping to spark the same appreciation for these remarkable little creatures in others.
Admission: This event is free for Rockfall Foundation members and a $10 donation fee for non-members.
Register Below
✅ Rockfall Foundation Members (Free Registration)
💳 Non-Members ($10 Donation Fee)

👉 REGISTER HERE

Step Outside and Celebrate Earth Day with us at cinder + salt
2025-04-22 10:00 - 18:00 | cinder + salt, 195 Main St., Middletown, CT, 06457, United States
Join cinder + salt, The Rockfall Foundation, and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association on Tuesday, April 22, for a full day of Earth-loving fun in downtown Middletown. We’ll be set up outside of cinder + salt (195 Main St, Middletown, CT) from 10 AM to 6 PM, with special activities throughout the day.
🌎 From 12 – 2 PM, volunteer with us for a community street clean-up — and receive a free t-shirt (while supplies last).
See below for the full lineup of Earth Day happenings at cinder + salt, plus more events running through April 26!

* cinder + salt is donating 10% of all sales April 22-26 to CT Forest & Park Association – because parks, trees and forest matter.
* Volunteer for our street clean-up and get a free t-shirt (while supplies last)
* Enjoy a plant identification walk downtown, led by CFPA
* Plant your own eggshell seedings – This free activity include tomato, cucumber & basil.
* Make your own Floral Salt Scrub using dried floral petals and other skin healthy ingredients ($8 per person)
* Enjoy 30% off sustainable living goods for your home, at our sister store Oasis Home & Supply, who will be popping up on site.
* Get crafty & make some upcycled art with us! Rachel will be on site to show you how it’s done!
* Come for Happy Hour! We’ll have some vegan & organic snacks and drinks inside.
Can’t make it on Earth Day, the activities run all week, culminating in an Earth Day celebration on Saturday April 26. So, save A date and we’ll see you there!

2nd 'Oysters at the Point'
2025-05-04 12:00 - 15:00 | Saybrook Point Resort and Marina, 2 Bridge Street, Old Saybrook, CT, 06475, United States
Join us for an afternoon of fresh oysters, coastal flavors, and live music at the 2nd Oysters at the Point! Hosted at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, this special event benefits The Rockfall Foundation’s environmental grants program.
📅 Sunday, May 4
⏰ 12 PM – 3 PM
📍 Saybrook Point Resort & Marina – 2 Bridge Street, Old Saybrook, CT
Enjoy the finest locally sourced oysters, premium beverages, and live entertainment from Jamie’s Junk Show, all set against the stunning backdrop of the marina.
Complimentary Tastings-
Oysters on the Half Shell / Garnishes / Lemon / Horseradish / Hot Sauce
Fried Oysters with Kelp Slaw, Chipotle Aioli, Served in a Sustainable Cone
Oyster Stew with Leeks
Crudites w/Roasted Garlic & Lemon Hummus
Eggplant Panini with Roasted Red Peppers, Pesto, Fresh Mozzarella

Food Kiosk-
Mini Lobster Rolls – Connecticut Style Warm Buttered Lobster Rolls on Brioche – $12.95
Shrimp & Scallop Ceviche– shrimp, Scallops, Mango, Chilis, Sweet Peppers, Cilantro, Lim Scallions – $8.95
Gourmet Hot Dogs – Hummel Hot Dogs with Jimmy Nardello Peppers & Caramelized Onions – $8.95
House Fried Kettle Chips – Malt Vinegar Powder – 2.95

Meet Your Greens: Amy Blaymore Paterson Reviews Connecticut Land Conservation Council’s 2025 Legislative and Policy Agenda
2025-05-15 17:30 - 19:30 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Foundation – deKoven House
27 Washington Street, CT 06457
Guest speaker Amy Blaymore Paterson is the Executive Director of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC). CLCC is the only statewide service provider and voice for all Connecticut land trusts. CLCC is a leader in advocacy and policy, education and training, and technical and financial assistance to empower Connecticut’s land trusts and ensure the long-term viability of land conservation efforts in the state. Amy will give a brief overview of CLCC’s 2025 legislative and policy priorities and the status of these and other major issues and initiatives impacting land conservation and the environment in the current legislative session.
Join us on Thursday, May 15, at The Rockfall Foundation – deKoven House
This event is free for everyone. Pizza, wine, and beverages will be provided for guests.
Register Below

👉 REGISTER HERE

Guided Spring Bird Walk: Haddam Meadows State Park
2025-05-17 08:30 - 11:30 | Haddam Meadows State Park, Haddam, CT, 06438
Join Anthony Zemba, Sr. Ecologist with LANDTECH, and Rockfall Foundation Board member for a morning Bird Walk at Haddam Meadows on Saturday, May 17th. We will meet at the parking lot at the entrance of the park (the parking lot is on the left as soon as you enter the park and cross the railroad tracks) at 8:30 AM.
From there, we will walk south along the edge of the wooded wetland on the west side of the open meadow field. We will be looking for Spring migrants and breeding resident birds among the park’s varied habitats, which include a forested swamp, a scrub/shrub swamp, a pond, the CT River and its associated freshwater tidal emergent wetlands, and open meadows. We will walk about a 2-mile loop on open, flat terrain. But wear sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet (but we will try to avoid walking in wet areas), and protect yourself from ticks. We plan to go until about 10:30 AM with the option to go longer if desired. A steady rain will cancel the trip, so monitor the weather and the Rockfall’s website for forecasts.
📅 Date: Saturday, May 17
🕙 Time: 8:30 am – 10:30 pm (With the option to stay longer)
📍 Location: Meet at the parking lot at the entrance, Haddam Meadows State Park
🔭 Limited to 30 participants

Admission: This event is free for Rockfall Foundation members and a $5 donation fee for non-members.
✅ Rockfall Foundation Members (Free Registration)
💳 Non-Members ($5 Donation Fee)

REGISTER HERE

Learn How To Identify and Manage Invasive Plants In Your Back Yard
2025-05-18 10:00 - 12:30 | Middlefield Memorial School Parking Lot, 124 Hubbard St., Middlefield, CT, United States
This event is co-sponsored
by Everyone Outside

This event is co-sponsored
by Middlesex Land Trust
Join us at the Rockfall Forest in Middlefield, CT, for an Educational Invasive Plant Workshop and Cleanup Party.
You will learn how to identify and remove some of the more aggressive invasives in our state: garlic mustard, barberry, Asian bittersweet, honeysuckle, privet, autumn olive, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, and winged euonymus (burning bush), to name a few.
What to Bring: Bring clippers and gloves if you have them; a limited supply will be available. Tick repellant is suggested.
Bonus: You will have a chance to sample some invasive plant recipes.
What are Invasive Plants?
UCONN’s Invasive Plants Council best describes invasive plants as “non-native plants that are disruptive in a way that causes environmental or economic harm or harm to human health. In minimally managed areas, invasive plants crowd out native plants. The presence of invasive plants alters how plants, animals, soil, and water interact within native ecosystems, often causing harm to other species in addition to the plants that have been crowded out.”
Location: Meet at 9:45 in the Middlefield Memorial School parking lot, 124 Hubbard St, Middlefield, CT. Heavy rain cancels. Sign-up Form

Pee the Change! Urine Nutrient Recycling for Clean Water & Fertile Farms
2025-05-29 18:00 - 19:30 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
This event is co-sponsored
by Rich Earth Institute

This event is co-sponsored
by Connecticut River Conservancy

This event is co-sponsored
by The Rockfall Foundation

This event is co-sponsored
by Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District
Join the Rich Earth Institute, Connecticut River Conservancy, The Rockfall Foundation, and the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District to learn about the paradigm-shifting practice of peecycling: reclaiming our “waste” as a resource to protect our watershed and support local farms. Human urine contains vital nutrients for growing crops. When flushed, urine contributes to nutrient pollution in the Long Island Sound, contributing to harmful algal blooms and damaging aquatic ecosystems. Instead of becoming pollution, urine can be recycled as a safe, effective fertilizer for farms and gardens. By completing the food nutrient cycle upstream, we can help protect our downstream neighbors — and grow an abundance of food from locally sourced nutrients.
For over a decade, the Rich Earth Institute has been advancing peecycling in the US, building a vision of regional nutrient sovereignty and climate resilient sanitation. The Institute operates the nation’s first and largest community-scale peecycling program – part of a growing global movement for circular sanitation systems. This presentation will cover this unique program, the issues of nutrient pollution in the Connecticut River Watershed, the Rich Earth Institute’s leading edge research, and opportunities to get involved with the global peecycling movement. Together, we can pee the change!
🍕 Pizza will be provided at this event
📅 Date: Thursday, May 29
🕙 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: deKoven House Community Center, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT. Sign-up Form

CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN Yoga in the Rose Garden at Wadsworth Mansion with Sybil - CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN
2025-06-05 08:00 - 17:00 | Wadsworth Mansion Rose Garden, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
Starr Mill Yoga will offer yoga classes on Saturdays in June at Wadsworth Mansion’s rose garden. Enjoy the healthy benefits of breath, movement, and being outdoors. Meet Starr Mill Yoga’s instructors and experience a wide range of practices. All levels are welcome. Proceeds benefit The Rockfall Foundation’s environmental grants and education programs.
Classes begin at 9:00 AM and will be held Saturdays (June 7, 14, 21, and 28). Cash or check is preferred. $20 suggested minimum donation. Pre-registration is appreciated, but not required at www.starrmillyoga.com.
$20 donations. Profits benefit The Rockfall Foundation.
After class, enjoy the mansion’s expansive grounds, walking trails, notable trees and exotic plants. Wadsworth Mansion is located at 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown. Rain cancels.
Click below to register:

For more information and assistance with pre-registration (encouraged but not required), contact info@starrmillyoga.com or call 860-740-4939.
Schedule:
June 7th: Yoga Attunement
June 14th: Yin & Yang
June 21st: Energy Medicine Yoga
June 28th: Rise and Shine
Bring your own yoga mat, sunscreen, and water. The garden has both shaded and sunny areas.
Rain cancels. Contact 860-740-4939 for more information.

Cancelled Do To Weather - Yoga in the Rose Garden at Wadsworth Mansion with Sybil
2025-06-07 09:00 - 10:00 | Wadsworth Mansion Rose Garden, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457

Cancelled Due to Rain - Yoga in the Rose Garden at Wadsworth Mansion with Nicole - Cancelled Due to Rain
2025-06-14 09:00 - 10:00 | Wadsworth Mansion Rose Garden, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457

Repair Café At The deKoven House
2025-06-14 12:00 - 15:00 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Foundation, in cooperation with City of Middletown Recycling & Public Works, RiverCOG, Sustainable Essex, Reboot Eco, and Mr. Fix This! will be hosting a Repair Café on Saturday, June 14, at the deKoven House Community Center in Middletown.
Skilled volunteers will help fix and teach you how to fix your things—saving you money and keeping items working and out of the garbage. Tool use and help are free. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary replacement parts.
Have a skill to offer? To volunteer, call 860-347-0340 or email tmarino@rockfallfoundation.org.
Electronics & Electrical
Jewelry
Sewing & Mending
Knife Sharpening (in limited quantities)
Small Appliances (no TVs or large appliances)
Woodwork/Furniture
Laptops
Bicycles
Smart Phones & Tablets
Lamps
AND MORE
Coffee and snacks will be served. Please bring your travel mug.

Meet Your Greens: Addressing Climate Change One Yard at a Time with Judy Preston
2025-06-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Scotch Plains Tavern, 124 Westbrook Rd, Essex, CT, 06426
Sustainable landscaping is a powerful and practical way to support climate action at home and in our communities. By taking inspiration from natural ecosystems, we can adopt landscaping practices that are both beautiful and beneficial. This talk will explore simple, effective steps every property owner and community member can take to create healthier, more resilient environments, right in our own backyards.
Judy is an environmental professional and award-winning educator. She recently retired from the UConn Sea Grant Program, where she worked as the Connecticut Outreach Coordinator for the EPA’s Long Island Sound Study (a National Estuary Program). Her passion is understanding and sharing the wonders of the natural world, with an emphasis on community based conservation and sustainable landscapes. She writes the Gardening for Good column for Estuary Magazine.
Admission is free for all attendees. Registration is preferred, but not required.
🗓 Date: June 19, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Scotch Plains Tavern, 124 Westbrook Road, Essex
Register Below

👉 REGISTER HERE

Yoga in the Rose Garden at Wadsworth Mansion with Juliana
2025-06-21 09:00 - 10:00 | Wadsworth Mansion Rose Garden, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457

Cancelled due to rain - Yoga in the Rose Garden at Wadsworth Mansion with Lauren- Cancelled due to rain
2025-06-28 09:00 - 10:00 | Wadsworth Mansion Rose Garden, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457

Middletown Fireworks Parking at The Rockfall Foundation - Members Only
2025-06-28 16:00 - 19:30 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Middletown Fireworks are on Saturday, June 28, with a rain date of Sunday, June 29. We are offering free parking for Rockfall members. You are welcome to invite anyone to join you that fits in your car. Parking reservations are on first to respond basis and is limited to 25 cars. Please make your reservation as soon as possible by registering here. We will open the parking lot at around 4:00 pm and close it at 7:30 pm. The deKoven House bathroom facilities will also be available for use.
The fireworks barge location is directly across from the deKoven House, so it is a prime location. From the deKoven House, you will have easy access to deKoven Drive and Harbor Park, where there will be food trucks and fun activities. Fireworks viewing can be from the riverside of the deKoven House, where you can put your lawn chair, or at Harbor Park and the surrounding area. The schedule for the fireworks is as follows.
5:00 p.m. – Festival commencement @ deKoven Dr. | Riverfront Lawn Viewing
5-9:30 p.m. – Live Music, Food Trucks, and Fun Activities for the Kids!
9:30 p.m. – Fireworks Display

Rockfall Environmental Book Club
2025-09-09 17:00 - 18:30 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
We’re excited to introduce a new environmental education and community-building program at The Rockfall Foundation. Meeting every other month at the deKoven House, the Rockfall Environmental Book Club will explore topics of nature, climate, ecology, and sustainability. All are welcome to join!
The first Rockfall Environmental Book Club meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 9, at the deKoven House (27 Washington Street, Middletown). We’ll be discussing Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).

Invasive Plants Workshop
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Rockfall Forest via Memorial Middle School Parking Lot, 124 Hubbard St, Middlefield, CT, 06455, United States
Join The Rockfall Foundation, Middlesex Land Trust, and Swamp Yankee Earthcare on Saturday, September 13 at 10 am for an educational invasive plants workshop!
Learn how to identify and remove invasive species such as multiflora rose, barberry, bittersweet, mugwort, Japanese knotweed, and burning bush. After a brief demonstration, we’ll head into the Rockfall Forest to get hands-on experience removing these plants.
Location: Memorial Middle School, Middlefield (124 Hubbard St), behind the tennis courts.What to bring: Closed-toe shoes, work gloves, clippers, loppers, or other tools. Some tools will be available to borrow.Rain date: Sunday, September 14.

Rockfall Environmental Grant Information Session
2025-09-15 17:00 - 18:30 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
Join us for an information session on our grant program, open to both new and returning applicants. We’ll share details about the program, highlight updates to the requirements and application, and answer your questions about the process. More information and the application are available on our Grants Page.
This is an in-person meeting at the deKoven House (27 Washington Street, Middletown). Participants are required to RSVP to hannah@rockfallfoundation.org.

Meet Your Greens: Giving Tennis Balls and Our Planet a Sustainable Future
2025-09-18 17:30 - 19:30 | The Brushmill by the Waterfall, 129 West Main St, Chester, CT
In the United States, more than 125 million tennis balls are discarded each year, creating about 20,000 metric tons of rubber waste. Ryan Poulin, President and Co-Founder of Serve2Sustain, will share how his Essex, Connecticut chapter got started, the process of recycling tennis balls, and why this effort matters for both the planet and the sport. He’ll also highlight how Serve2Sustain now operates across the country and internationally, with students leading the charge to make tennis more sustainable—one ball at a time.
Admission is free for all attendees. Registration is preferred, but not required.
🗓 Date: September 18, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: The Brushmill by the Waterfall, 129 W Main St, Chester
Register Below

REGISTER HERE

90th Anniversary Celebration
2025-10-08 17:30 - 20:30 | Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Foundation is proud to celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 1935 by Colonel Clarence S. Wadsworth “to establish, maintain and care for parks and forest or wild lands for the enjoyment of the public,” the Foundation continues this mission throughout the Lower Connecticut River Valley.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 06-6000700), we support environmental education and conservation through community grants, awards, the annual environmental symposium, film screenings, repair cafés, and hands-on programs like bird walks and invasive plant workshops. We also steward open space properties and operate the historic deKoven House as a community meeting space and home to local environmental organizations.
Join us for an evening of celebration and inspiration as we honor our history and look ahead to the future.

Event Highlights

Date: Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Time: 5:30–8:30 pm
Location: Wadsworth Mansion, Middletown, CT

The evening begins with food, beverages, and live music, along with time to explore table displays from Rockfall’s 2025 grant recipients, highlighting their work in environmental education, conservation, and stewardship throughout the Lower Connecticut River Valley. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow environmentally minded community members, local leaders, and longtime supporters. Guests will then gather for a short program featuring welcome remarks, a keynote address by Christine Palm, and the presentation of this year’s Environmental Champion Awards — all in celebration of 90 years of impact and community leadership.
Tickets
Tickets are $75 for Rockfall members ($19 is tax-deductible) and $90 for non-members ($34 is tax-deductible). Proceeds will support The Rockfall Foundation’s ongoing work in environmental education and conservation. All food and drink is covered by the cost of the ticket.

Keynote Speaker & President’s Award Honoree

Christine Palm recently completed three terms in the Connecticut House of Representatives, where she served as vice chair of the Environment Committee. During her tenure, she worked closely with youth activists on climate legislation, including the successful passage of a bill requiring the teaching of climate change in Connecticut public schools — earning her the Walter Cronkite Award for Climate Change Education.
In addition to delivering the keynote address, Palm will also receive the President’s Award, a distinction presented only once every ten years.
Palm brings decades of experience in education, journalism, government, and advocacy, and now leads The Active Voice, a communications and advocacy initiative amplifying youth and underrepresented voices.

Environmental Champion Awards
In addition to the President’s Award, Rockfall will also present the 2025 Environmental Champion Awards.
Tom ODell Distinguished Service Award: Bruce Dodson, Killingworth Land Conservation Trust leader who helped protect over 1,100 acres of open space; and Chet Arnold, Essex Land Trust leader and co-founder of UConn’s Center for Land Use Education and Research.
Certificate of Environmental Achievement: Diana Martinez, Middletown agriculture and environmental justice advocate, creator of the Miller Street Community Farm and Pathways to Agriculture program; and Dick Shriver, founder of Estuary Magazine, promoting conservation and stewardship of the Connecticut River Watershed.
Support Our Mission
We’ve been here for 90 years thanks to the support of people like you. Our community grants are 100% funded by individual donations, and your support makes it all possible.
Membership starts at just $5 per month and directly supports environmental education and conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. As a member, you’ll enjoy perks like invitations to our July 4th Fireworks Viewing at the deKoven House, discounted tickets to the 90th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Symposium, plus our e-news, print newsletter, and other special events.

The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series - A Reflection of Life
2025-10-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Wesleyan University’s Center for Film Studies – Powell Family Cinema, 301 Washington Terrace, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series, launched in 2015, is presented by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, The Rockfall Foundation, the Russell Library, Middletown Garden Club, and Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts, Bailey College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image. The series offers three to four screenings each academic year, alternating between Wesleyan University and Russell Library. All events are free and open to the public.
Our first screening of the 2025–26 season is A Reflection of Life on Monday, October 13 at 7 pm at Powell Family Cinema, Wesleyan University (301 Washington Terrace, Middletown).
A Reflection of Life explores the challenges surrounding water in the Pacific Northwest while connecting them to broader issues facing the American West. The film amplifies Indigenous voices, sharing stories and perspectives from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the Yakama Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, Standing Rock, and others, offering wisdom and reflections on our relationship to water.
After the film, join us for a discussion facilitated by Brenda Geer, Vice-Chairwoman of Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.

Meet Your Greens: Ecological Invasive Plant Removal
2025-10-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Indian Springs Golf Club, 123 Mack Road, Middlefield, CT, 06455
Join us for Meet Your Greens with Colin Bennett, founder of Swamp Yankee Earthcare. Specializing in invasive species removal and ecosystem management, Colin is committed to providing sustainable solutions that protect our planet. His team stands out for using only manual and mechanical methods—never chemicals—to tackle invasive plants like mugwort, Japanese barberry, Japanese knotweed, multiflora rose, bittersweet, garlic mustard, and more. Learn why these species threaten Connecticut’s native ecosystems and how to manage them responsibly while restoring healthy, biodiverse habitats. Swamp Yankee Earthcare serves Middlesex, New Haven, New London, and Litchfield Counties, and is available statewide on request.

Admission is free for all attendees. Registration is preferred, but not required.

🗓 Date: October 16, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: Indian Springs Golf Club, 123 Mack Rd, Middlefield, CT

REGISTER HERE

Repair Café
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00 | The Estuary, 220 Main St., Old Saybrook, CT
Estuary Council of Seniors220 Main St.Old Saybrook, CT
✨ Don’t toss it, fix it! ✨The Rockfall Foundation and the Estuary are hosting a Repair Café on Saturday, October 25, from 1 to 4 pm at the Estuary Council of Seniors, 220 Main Street, Old Saybrook.
Bring your broken items such as lamps, small appliances, clothing, bikes, or jewelry, and our talented volunteer fixers will help bring them back to life. You will save money, learn new skills, and keep useful items out of the landfill.
🛠 Tool use and help are free. Participants are responsible for bringing any needed replacement parts.
Have a skill to offer? To volunteer, call 860-347-0340 or email hannah@rockfallfoundation.org.
Electronics & Electrical
Jewelry
Sewing & Mending
Knife Sharpening (in limited quantities)
Small Appliances (no TVs or large appliances)
Woodwork/Furniture
Laptops
Bicycles
Smart Phones & Tablets
Lamps
AND MORE
Coffee and snacks will be served. Please bring your travel mug.

Rockfall Environmental Book Club
2025-11-18 18:00 - 19:00 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Environmental Book Club meets every other month at the historic deKoven House in Middletown to read and talk about books on nature, climate, ecology, and sustainability. It’s a chance to learn together, share ideas, and connect with others who care about the environment. All are welcome—no RSVP required, and don’t worry if you haven’t finished the book. Just bring your curiosity and join the conversation.
Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 18 at 6 pm at the deKoven House (27 Washington Street, Middletown). We’ll be discussing All We Can Save edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson..

Harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward.

“A mosaic that honors the complexity of the climate crisis like few, if any, books on the topic have done yet…a feast of ideas and perspectives, setting a big table for the climate movement, declaring all are welcome.” — Rolling Stone
“A powerful read that fills one with, dare I say… hope?” — The New York Times

Meet Your Greens with Andy Bauer
2026-01-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Concenrtic Brewery, 91 Main Street, Portland, CT, United States
Concentric Brewery
91 Main Street, Portland, CT
Andy Bauer is the Chair of the Portland Clean Energy Task Force and has been advocating for renewable energy for over two decades. Initially a proponent of renewables due to climate change and air quality concerns, he was thrilled to see his utility bills plummet after implementing energy-efficiency and solar at his home.
Andy will summarize the potential impacts on CT’s energy landscape from data centers, natural gas pipeline expansion, and renewable energy investment. Andy will also speak on a wide range of energy topics, from his energy-efficient home to last year’s Public Benefits Charge controversy.
Admission is free for all attendees. Registration is preferred, but not required.

Rockfall Environmental Book Club
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:00 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Environmental Book Club meets every other month at the historic deKoven House in Middletown to read and talk about books on nature, climate, ecology, and sustainability. It’s a chance to learn together, share ideas, and connect with others who care about the environment. All are welcome—no RSVP required, and don’t worry if you haven’t finished the book. Just bring your curiosity and join the conversation.
Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 20 at 6 pm at the deKoven House (27 Washington Street, Middletown). We’ll be discussing The Overstory by Richard Powers.

The Overstory, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, is a sweeping, impassioned work of activism and resistance that is also a stunning evocation of—and paean to—the natural world. From the roots to the crown and back to the seeds, Richard Powers’s twelfth novel unfolds in concentric rings of interlocking fables that range from antebellum New York to the late twentieth-century Timber Wars of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. There is a world alongside ours—vast, slow, interconnected, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us. This is the story of a handful of people who learn how to see that world and who are drawn up into its unfolding catastrophe.

“It changed how I thought about the Earth and our place in it…. It changed how I see things and that’s always, for me, a mark of a book worth reading.” ― Barack Obama
“This book is beyond special.… It’s a kind of breakthrough in the ways we think about and understand the world around us, at a moment when that is desperately needed.” ― Bill McKibben

The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series - Ripples of Plastic
2026-01-31 14:00 - 16:00 | Russell Library – Middletown CT, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Elements: An Annual Environmental Film Series, launched in 2015, is presented by the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District, The Rockfall Foundation, the Russell Library, Middletown Garden Club, and Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts, Bailey College of the Environment, and College of Film and the Moving Image. The series offers three to four screenings each academic year, alternating between Wesleyan University and Russell Library. All events are free and open to the public.
The second screening of the 2025–26 season is Ripples of Plastic on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 2 pm at Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown CT.
Embark on an eye-opening journey through the unseen impacts of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes region. Guided by Dr. Sherri Mason and other regional voices, witness the vast extent of contamination pathways, effects of microplastics, and the unexpected toll on human health. Beyond individual action, the film inspires a collective movement for transformative progress toward a plastic-free future.
After the film, join us for a discussion facilitated by Dr. Katherine Owens, Middletown based environmentalist, plastic pollution researcher, artist and activist. Kat is a Professor at the University of Hartford. Register Here

Meet Your Greens with Aubree Keurajian
2026-02-19 17:30 - 19:30 | Perk on Main, Middletown, 386 Main Street, Middletown, CT, 06457, United States
Perk on Main
386 Main Street, Middletown
Aubree Keurajian is a local botanist, ecologist and founder of Ungardening Native Plants. Born in Durham, educated at Cornell University, and now living in East Hampton, Keurajian works full-time as a field botanist.
The idea of planting native to help the pollinators has taken flight in the past few years, but without interrogation of our yard maintenance habits we may be hampering our own good intentions, or even causing harm. From plant selection priorities to the pitfalls of No Mow May, come and learn how to go beyond just swapping plantings to native species and create functional habitats.
Admission is free. Perk on Main will provide light refreshments. Guests pay for their drinks. Please join us!

Rockfall Environmental Book Club
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:00 | deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT, 06457
The Rockfall Environmental Book Club meets every other month at the historic deKoven House in Middletown to read and talk about books on nature, climate, ecology, and sustainability. It’s a chance to learn together, share ideas, and connect with others who care about the environment. All are welcome—no RSVP required, and don’t worry if you haven’t finished the book. Just bring your curiosity and join the conversation.
Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 pm at the deKoven House (27 Washington Street, Middletown). We’ll be discussing Entangled Life – How Fungi Make Our Worlds by Merlin Sheldrake.
Entangled Life – How Fungi Make Our Worlds

When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems. Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave.
Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They are metabolic masters, earth makers, and key players in most of life’s processes. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. In vivid, surprising images, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms—and our relationships with them—are changing our understanding of how life works.

“Completely mind-blowing.”—The Sunday Times
“Nearly every page of this book contained either an observation so interesting or a turn of phrase so lovely that I was moved to slow down, stop, and re-read. . . . [Entangled Life] reminded me that fungi are, like the Universe, sublime.”—Science
“Grand and dizzying in how thoroughly it recalibrates our understanding of the natural world.”—Ed Yong, author of An Immense World
