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Note: Although we do welcome everyone to our bimonthly meetings, our field trips are for members only. 

** Our current field trips are announced at our bi-monthly meetings**

Past Field Trips

New York City Field Trip Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007 

On Saturday, December 8, 2007, members of CAP will be off to New York City to photograph Christmas lights and other sights from Macy’s at Herald Square to the lower parts of Central Park including, of course, Rockefeller Center. Lead by Art Yost and Jim Dionne, MNEC. The group will take the Metro North train from the Milford, CT, station at 9:05 a.m. and return on the 8:07 p.m. train from Grand Central. Members who want to take the same train from other, more convenient stations should discuss their plans with the trip organizers. Lunch will be on your own and we may buy sandwiches in Grand Central to eat on the train home to avoid taking up limited picture taking time eating. If you plan to go on this trip, please contact Art Yost at (203) 931-9943 or by e-mail at Arty43@comcast.net. Make sure you give him both you phone number and e-mail address so that he can contact you a day or so before the trip in case it is cancelled because of weather. Also let Art know if you plan to board the train at another station so that a meeting place in Grand Central can be arranged.

Maine Itinerary Part III -- Please click here to view some images from this field trip

Reservations should be made at this point at: Comfort Inn in Ellsworth , ME (207) 667-1345

If you have any questions or concerns please contact: Linda Thomas, Ann & Art Yost, or Gerri Mahon 

Don’t forget: 

Breakfast bars
Sunscreen
Dress in Layers
Rain Gear
Sturdy shoes or boots with non-slip soles
…and of course your Photography Equipment

There will be many flexible options on this trip depending on the weather.  Our plans may change, so expect us to make last minute changes to ensure the best shooting opportunities.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

  • 6:45 AM Meet at the Exit 13 Commuter Lot off Interstate 91.   We will leave promptly at 7:01 AM.
  • This is basically a travel day.
  • Arrive at the Comfort Inn in Ellsworth for check in.
  • Dinner at Jasper’s.

Friday, September 28, 2007

  • 4:30 AM SHARP Depart from hotel for sunrise photos in Corea
  • Schoodic Point and Breakfast Stop
  • Late Morning - Back to Hotel for a rest stop
  • Afternoon – Wild Gardens of Acadia
  • Lunch at Jordan Pond Restaurant
  • Northeast Harbor – boat trip to Cranberry Islands and surrounding area in late day light
  • 7:30 Dinner at the Chartroom

Saturday, September 29, 2007

  • 4:00 AM SHARP Depart from hotel for sunrise photos plus early light
  • Sunrise in Castine
  • Stonington for early morning shooting and breakfast
  • Buy lunch in store in Stonington
  • Late morning and early afternoon explore small towns on Blue Hills Peninsula and stop along the way to eat our lunches
  • Back to hotel for rest stop
  • Late Afternoon & sunset at Acadia & Cadillac Mountain
  • Dinner at Rosie’s in Bar Harbor.
  • After Dinner – Night Photography in Bar Harbor led by Art Yost

Sunday, September 30, 2007

  • Optional Sunrise Photo Shoot in Acadia or Bar Harbor depending on group preference
  • Continental Breakfast at hotel and check out
  • Lunch at Red's Eats in Wiscasset, Maine
  • Stop at Ogunquit’s Marginal Way
  • Nubble Light and early dinner at Cape Neddick Lobster Pound Harborside Restaurant
  • 9:30 PM estimated arrival time at the Exit 13 Commuter Lot on Interstate 91


Field Trip to Roger Williams Zoo (Arranged by Hazel Meredith)

On Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, CAP will travel to the Roger Williams Zoo for a day of photography. Experienced zoo photographers regard the Roger Williams Zoo as one of the best for photographers. Also part of Rogers Williams Park are: Victorian Carousel, Greenhouses, oriental gardens, and ponds in case you become bored photographing the animals. This trip was originally scheduled for last May, but was rained out. If you plan to go notify Hazel at (203) 375-1039 (evenings) or by e-mail at RACEnFISH@aol.com by August 29, 2007, so that she can make final plans.

We will leave the commuter parking lot off Exit 40 of I95 at 7:00 a.m. We will make a second stop at the commuter lot off Exit 55 in Branford. You are allowed to bring food into the park if you wish, or there are snack bars available for lunch. We will stop for dinner on the way home at the Steak Loft in Mystic. Click to download a flyer in PDF format with all the details. http://www.capinct.org


Weekend Trip to PA Amish Country (Arranged by Loretta Paul)

Over the weekend of October 12-15 CAP will travel to the Amish Country of PA near Lancaster . The trip will offer the opportunity to photograph Amish farms, visit the Hershey Zoo to photograph birds of prey, attend the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, and, of course, eat some great meals with the rest of the group. We will be staying at the Manheim Hampton Inn located at Exit 20 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Each car will travel to the Motel on its own on Friday. Saturday we will form one or more groups to visit various locations around the area. On Sunday we will attend the renaissance Faire where we will have an opportunity to photograph a wide variety of costumed performers. http://www.capinct.org

Sept 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th 2006 -- Coastal Maine and Lighthouses PART TWO
Last year Linda Thomas took us to the first third of coastal Maine including Nubble, Twin, Portland & Pemaquid Lighthouses. This year will be an extension of this trip -- going up to the second part of the coastal Maine. The main attractions of the trip are Camden, Bar Harbor, Deer Island and Cape Neddick. The trip will include sunrise & sunset visits and many desirable places to have lunch & dinner. This promises to be an exellent trip!! Please email Linda for more info. HumBrd001@aol.com

Fall 2006  -- NatureWorks
Half Day Fall Field Trip: a Garden Walk at Natureworks NatureWorks, 518 Forest Rd. (Rte 22), Northford, CT. This field trip is currently under construction since NatureWorks is not presently open.  The plan is to go either June 3rd of June 11th  when the spring flowers are in bloom.  Tripods are permitted. NHCC members wishing to to attend, please contact Jo-Ann Messina via e-mail at pvrr42@prodigy.net

Fall 2006 -- Half day trip to Strawberry Hollow Farm
Strawberry Hollow Farm located on Route 1 in Branford, noted for its exquisite displays of chrysanthemums, gourds and pumpkins. NHCC members wishing to to attend, please contact Jo-Ann Messina via e-mail at pvrr42@prodigy.net

Fall 2006
-- Half day trip to Rose Farm
Rose Farm on Route 139 noted for its animals, pumpkins and ice cream. NHCC members wishing to to attend, please contact Jo-Ann Messina via e-mail at pvrr42@prodigy.net

May 6, 2006 -- CAP Staten Island Lighthouse Field Trip
Organized by Howard Siegel
On May 6th 2006 we will be going to Staten Island to photograph seven lighthouses and other targets of opportunity. The targets might include,
but are not limited to, flowers, architecture, bridges and piles of stones. You should pack a lunch and liquid refreshment; we plan to stop at one of the beaches for lunch. Also bring a CB radio so we can keep in contact during the trip. We will meet at the Dock Shopping Center in Stratford at 7 a.m. If there is enough interest we will add additional meeting places further north or east as needed. Anyone interested in going please contact Howard Siegel hmsiegel@optonline.net. He needs your name, telephone number, e-mail address, and if you can drive as some areas have limited parking. Directions to the Dock Meeting Place From the east (New Haven) on I95, take exit 34. At the end of the exit ramp turn right (west) on
Route 1. Drive a total of 1.2 miles. You will cross the Housatonic River and drive under I95.  From the west (Bridgeport) on I95 take exit 33
onto Ferry Blvd. After a short distance bear left at the next intersection onto Route 1. Follow Route 1 a short distance and you will drive under I-95. Just after you drive under I-95, at a light, bear right on East Main Street (Route 110). At the next light turn right into the Dock shopping center (Wal-Mart will be on your left). Drive past Stop and Shop to our meeting place which will be to the right of the store.
** Must be a CAP member.
To join CAP: Send your name, address, email and phone number with a check for $7.50 payable to “CAP Inc.” and send to: James Dionne, 131 Pembroke Court, Meriden, CT 06450-8158

May 13th, 2006 --Wind Over Wings
Wind Over Wings is a Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

Wind Over Wings is a nonprofit, wildlife rehabilitation and education center. "Our goal in education is to provide a personal connection with wildlife that will lead to good stewardship of the environment. Our goal in rehabilitation is to release wildlife back to their natural environment when viable. With the approval of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service & Connecticut's Dept. of Environmental Protection, our rehabilitation & educational services flourished. Today, we specialize in the rehabilitation of eagles and great blue heron. In 2002 we conducted 335 programs. In doing so, we spoke to over 50,250 people in environmental educational programs, not including television audiences. We do this because we believe that, if children and adults make a connection with wildlife, intentional cruelty will lessen."
Viewing Schedule (10am to 12 noon):
**Exact Birds are still tentative at this time** (click here for more info on their residents)
Round one: American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl
Round two: Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Saw-whet Owl and Osprey (Hope Douglas will be his handler)
Round three: Golden Eagle, Immature Bald Eagle, Kookaburra and Peregrine Falcon

Hope Douglas has given us permission to ask the handler to move to a better photographic background, as needed. RAIN CANCELS
Meet and carpool from I-95 N. Exit 64 commuter lot at 9:30am. Please carpool from your point of departure, if possible, as the commuter lot is limited. There will be four stations set up at the same time for photographing the birds. Bring your tripods. "There is a limited number of spaces available for this field trip." NHCC members wishing to to attend, please contact Jo-Ann Messina via e-mail at pvrr42@prodigy.net
The rain day for this is May 20th, but many people are going to the Charter Oak all day seminar that day, so we are hoping not to have rain on the 13th.

June 3, 2006 -- Garden in the Woods
http://www.newfs.org/garden.htm
We leave at 7am sharp from the exit 13 commuter lot off of I-91 (left exit near Vinny's), with one pit stop, arriving ~9-9:15am, around opening time.We like to go this particular weekend, because it is the weekend before the Huge annual plant sale, and the Trillium and Lady slippers should be in peak bloom; the Azaleas and Jack in the pulpit should be flowering too. We are a little early for peak blooming of the insect-eating pitcher plants, but hopefully we can catch some of those too! There are picnic tables and bathrooms, so bring a bag lunch. Cost $7 admission (plus toll on Mass pike). Please contact Lisa photographer67@comcast.net for this trip.

Garden in the Woods is the headquarters & botanic garden of the New England Wild Flower Society. In late April, the woodlands sparkle with Trout Lilies, Virginia Bluebells, Bloodroot & rare Oconee Bells. In mid-May hundreds of wildflowers burst into bloom, including Wood Phlox, Yellow Lady-slippers, Shooting Stars & Great Trilliums. Carnivorous pitcher plants, delicate Calopogon orchids & Plum-leaved azaleas appear as the days lengthen into summer & the meadow blazes with wildflowers in brilliant hues.
What's in bloom (May) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/may.html (June) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/june.html

For more information: New England Wild Flower Society, 180 Hemenway  Road, Framingham, MA 01701. Office (open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; recorded info available at other times): 508/877-7630. HOURS Fall/Winter: Trails at Garden in the Woods are CLOSED for the season. The trails reopen in April with the following hours: April to mid-June -- open every day (9am to 7pm). From mid June thru October 31st, the Garden will be open Tuesday thru Sunday (9am to 5pm). Last admission to the Garden trails one hour before closing. After October, the Garden trails will close for the season, but classes continue throughout the fall and winter, and the Museum Shop remains open with special winter hours. Garden Admission: $7; Seniors (65+) $5; Youths (6-18) $3; Students (with student ID) $5. Members admitted free with membership card. Please be sure to show your card before entering the Garden. (No fee to visit Museum Shop.)

Directions: Located at 180 Hemenway Road in North Framingham, Massachusetts. A 40-minute drive from Boston or Worcester. From the West -- Take Massachusetts Tpk. (Exit 12) to Rt. 9 E; go 2.4 miles to Edgell Road exit; turn left at the lights at the top of the exit ramp on to Edgell Road (Rt. 9 overpass); go 2.1 miles to the traffic lights; take a right on to Water St. and a left onto Hemenway Road. Follow signs. From the  North, South, East --Take Rt. 128 to Rt. 20 W; go 8 miles on Rt. 20 to Raymond Road (2nd left after traffic lights in S. Sudbury); go 1.3 miles to Hemenway Road and follow the Garden in the Woods signs.
June 10 2006 -- Bronx Zoo
Travel to the zoo, spend the day photographing the animals (the exact date has not yet been set, but Linda is thinking of May or early June since many of the animals will have young). Stop for dinner on the way home. Please email Linda for more info. HumBrd001@aol.com

June 17, 2006 -- Sky Meadows
Spend the day at Sky Meadows Studios and Photos Gallery, a wonderful town located in central Mass. The many acre property contains fields with wildflowers, a pond, nesting birds, including hummingbirds, bluebirds, etc. The owner, Mr, Les Campbell, will have a hummingbird setup available for those interested in trying to get a photo of a "hummer". There are picnic tables available for our use, so pack a lunch. Due to the nature of this trip, this trip is available to NHCC members only. This trip is limited to 12 people max.

Saturday April 22, 2006 -- Daffodils at Laurel Ridge in Thomaston Join us for a morning photographing Daffodils at Laurel Ridge in Thomaston. The Daffodil field trip is leaving promptly at 7am. We will be meeting at the commuter parking lot off of exit 58 in Derby (Rt 34). It is ~27 miles to Laurel Ridge. Note, there are no bathrooms in the field. There are lots and lots of daffodils, and there is a pond and pretty stonewalls. There is also a windmill right up the road from the daffodils. We can stop at the diner for breakfast afterwards. Please contact Lisa photographer67@comcast.net for details about this trip. See below for some photos from last year's trip.

March 25, 2006
CAP field trip to Magic Wings.

Magic Wings Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy (Deerfield, Mass.) to photograph BEFORE opening to the public at 9:30 am (tripod only allowed then).  Everyone can stay longer but can only use a monopod after that time. Cost is $ 14.00. When you are finished at Magic Wings, you can also visit historic the Mass. audubon society, Historic Deerfield or shop at Yankee Candle. Shelobourne Falls is very close as well, with glacial potholes (the Bridge of Flowers in the summer) and a wonderful glass blowing studio/gallery. Please contact Edie for details about this trip.
** Must be a CAP member. To join CAP: Send your name, address, email and phone number with a check for $7.50 payable to “CAP Inc.” and send to: James Dionne, 131 Pembroke Court, Meriden, CT 06450-8158

October 15th, 2005
Half Day Fall Field Trip: a Garden Walk at Natureworks, 518 Forest Rd. (Rte 22), Northford, CT and will continue to Strawberry Hollow Farm on Rte 4 in Branford, followed by a stop at Bishop's in Guilford. Making pictures will consist of seed pods, evergreens, berries and foliage at Natureworks (plus their great scarecrows!). The Garden Walk at Natureworks is a one-hour walk and tripods are permitted. Strawberry Hollow Farm usually has a wagon filled with assorted pumpkins and scenery. Bishop's has the proverbial pumpkin patch, cornstalks and displays. NHCC members wishing to to attend, please contact Jo-Ann Messina via e-mail at pvrr42@prodigy.net

Sept 23rd, 24th & 25th -- Coastal Maine and Lighthouses
We are hitting Nubble, Twin, Portland, and Pemaquid Lighthouses. Personally, I am hoping for a chance at that "the inevitable photo of the light from Pemaquid reflected in a tidal pool". Linda is also throwing in some side trips...such as Perkins Cove which has a great one mile walk on with a beautiful winding coastal view as well as nature shots called Marginal Way. Birding should also be very good this time of year and there are several beaches and Audubon trails nearby. pehaps a trip to LL Bean [ open 24 hours a day] and if the weather doesn't cooperate there is always the outlets...although rain and fog can make for dramatic pictures, so bring garbage bags and rubber bands if you don't have rain gear for your camera! There will be other goodies as yet to be announced by Linda.

Linda has gotten us great hotel deal. There are two to a room with two double beds, a hair dryer, and a coffee maker. Price, you ask?? How about $59.00 for this standard room!!!!! There are two places to eat on the premises. Please email Linda for more info. HumBrd001@aol.com

Marginal Way starts on Shore Road. From the center of town it's just a few blocks to the Sparhawk Motel. The Marginal Way starts behind the Sparhawk. You'll see a little sign on the left side of the street that says "Marginal Way" and has an arrow. As you follow the path, be sure to look at the Sparhawk's flower gardens. They have an incredible number of flowers, and each type is labeled! The Marginal Way speaks for itself. It has beautiful views of the ocean and the rocky cliffs. There are benches at various points so you can sit and stare. It's a little cruisy, although not abundantly - it's more romantic. The wastebaskets are worth noting. Inexplicably, each one has the name of a virtue printed on it.

Perkins Cove is at the end of Shore Road. It's a mix of shops, restaurants, art galleries and touring boats. It might be a good time to stop and eat!

There are other things to do in the cove. Boats are docked there and trips are available. Finestkind Cruises has cruises out of the cove. You're also dangerously close to The Ogunquit Museum of American Art, a great little museum that's well worth visiting. Barnacle Billy's has been a family run restaurant anchored in Perkins Cove harbor for decades. People come for the coladas, daqueries, and sunsets. At the cove-end of Marginal Way, a stop at "Billy's" might mean, sitting on the sunset lit deck sipping frozen drinks and feasting on aromas of lobster, or, it could mean an ice cream cone and and a stroll around the loop. Perkins Cove also is home to one of the oldest foot drawbridges in New England.

"A few miles north are the charming towns of York and York Beach--home of one of the most-photographed lights in Maine, Cape Neddick Light From Cape Neddick you can also catch a distant glimpse of Boon Island Light, one of Maine's most inhospitable. South of Portland, the historic lights of Casco Bay and Cape Elizabeth include Maine's oldest light, Portland Head Light, Maine's most powerful beacon at Cape Elizabeth Light, and the two small lights in Portland Harbor, Portland Breakwater Light and Spring Point Light. Offshore from Portland Head is the light on Ram Island Ledge.  <>Just north of Bath, on the next finger of the coast, the Boothbay Harbor region also features several nice lighthouses. Turning south at Damariscotta, we again find the ocean at the rocky and photogenic Pemaquid Point Light. Don't miss this one ... it's a beauty! "
Built in 1879, Cape Neddick is the southernmost of Maine's many lights. It is also called Nubble Light, refering to the barran rocky island (the Nubble) on which it sits, just off shore. The 41 foot tower is constructed of cast iron plates lined with brick. Cape Neddick's 4th order lens flashes red every six seconds & is visible for 13 miles.Cape Neddick is an extremely windy point, and viciously cold 100 mph winds caused problems with the flow of oil to the lamp for many years, until electricity came in  1938. 
It's easy to view or photograph the light from a vantage point at the end of Nubble Rd. out of York. There is a park with a clear view of the Nubble just offshore. It's tempting to cross over to the island at low tide, but signs clearly warn of the consequences. While you're there, plan to stop in at the Lighthouse Restaurant, where you can get a table with a clear view of the flashing red light only a hundred yards away. From Cape Neddick you can also catch a glimpse of Boon Island Light, nine miles offshore. In fact, if you look closely at the photo below, Boon Island's light is visible at the right side of Nubble, just below the clouds.

Portland Head Light,Ft. Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

The District of Maine was a part of Massachusetts when the merchants of Portland first petitioned Boston for a lighthouse in 1786. Construction began a year later but was quickly stopped for lack of funds. Soon after George Washington became the first president in 1789, the federal government took over the construction and operation of lighthouses, and Congress authorized $1500 to finish Portland Head Light.

Built on the cheap with light rubblestone and lime, Portland Head was a 72 foot tower that first shone its light in January of 1791. Over the years Portland Head has undergone many changes. The tower was lowered by 25 feet in 1813; in 1850 a new lantern was installed with a fourth-order fresnel lens; in 1864 twenty feet were added back onto the tower’'s height and the lens upgraded to a second-order. In 1882 the twenty feet were once again removed from the tower and the lens returned to fourth-order power. This last change was very unpopular, and within a year the tower was raised yet again by twenty feet and the more powerful lens restored. Portland Head changed little until 1989, when the old fresnel was removed and replaced with an airport-style revolving beacon. The tower today bears the scars of it's many changes in height.

Today the isolated spot where Longfellow penned his famous lighthouse poem is one of Maine’s most popular tourist attractions. Lines of tour buses glide through Fort Williams Park to the large parking lot near the lighthouse. After extensive renovation, the keeper’s quarters opened as a museum in 1992, and there is a gift shop on the grounds as well. www.portlandheadlight.com

This area of Cape Elizabeth is known as Two Lights. As early as 1828 two stone towers were in operation, roughly 300 yards apart. In 1874 the two stone towers were replaced with 65 foot cast iron towers, painted brown and fitted with second-order fresnel lenses. In 1924 the government decided to convert all twin-light stations two single towers, so Two Lights western tower was decommissioned.

Today Cape Elizabeth's tower shines the most powerful light in Maine--a 4 million candlepower flashing white light visible for 27 miles. Located in Two Lights State Park, the keeper's house is now a private residence in an excusive neighborhood. The remains of the western tower are down the street in someone else's front yard.

Update 1999: The gingerbread keeper's house at the active light has been demolished by the owner, to be replaced by a "replica" with a two-car garage added. The lighthouse, which is not privately owned, remains untouched. and the two small lights in Portland Harbor, Portland Breakwater Light and Spring Point Light.

Between the Kennebaec River and Pemaquid Point, the Boothbay Region is a very popular vacation area featuring many islands and connected waterways. There are several lighthouses here that remain active aids to navigation. All of the lights can be seen from the tour boat Argo out of Boothbay (207-633-7200). At the entrance to Boothbay Harbor, Burnt Island Light dates from 1821. The 30 foot rubblestone tower now has a 300mm plastic lens and shines a red light with white sectors.  <>On a ledge off Cape Newagen stands The Cuckholds. Originally built as a fog signal building in 1892, the Cuckolds light tower was built on to the house in 1907. It shines a 300mm optic. How it got its name, I can't say. Maine has ten Ram Islands, but only one with a lighthouse. Ram Island Light stands just north of the Cuckolds. Built in 1883, the 35 foot white brick tower on a granite base once had a walkway like Marshall Point Light up in Port Clyde. The keeper's house is still standing, and the deserted island is a nice spot for a picnic. 
Pemaquid Pt., Maine.The light at Pemaquid was originally built during the presidency of John Quicy Adams, in 1827, at a cost of $2,800. Faulty construction was blamed for the quick deterioration of the tower, which was rebuilt with double walls in 1835. The tower is only 38 ft tall, but it's placement on a rock ledge gives the light a 79 ft. focal plane. Flashing a white light every 6 seconds, Pemaquid's fourth-order fresnel is visible for 14 miles.

Head south off US 1 from Damariscotta ... it's about 16 miles to the point. The pickett fence, which is a work of art, is worth the trip alone. The lightkeeper's house is now a museum, and there is an art gallery at the park, but the best part of this trip is climbing around on the point itself, enjoying the spectacular scenery and taking the inevitable photo of the light reflected in a tidal pool.


June 18, 2005 -- Sky Meadows
Spend the day at Sky Meadows Studios and Photos Gallery, a wonderful town located in central Mass. The many acre property contains fields with wildflowers, a pond, nesting birds, including hummingbirds, bluebirds, etc. The owner, Mr, Les Campbell, will have a hummingbird setup available for those interested in trying to get a photo of a "hummer". There are picnic tables available for our use, so pack a lunch. Due to the nature of this trip, this trip is available to NHCC members only. Contact Gary Prestash soon, as this trip will be limited to 20 people max. Talk to Gary about where to meet and carpool.

June 4 2005 -- Garden in the Woods
http://www.newfs.org/garden.htm
We are leaving at 7am sharp, with one pit stop, arriving ~9-9:15am, around opening time. The Trillium should be in peak bloom, the Azaleas and Jack in the pulpit too. We are hoping for Lady's Slippers as well, but with the long winter and delayed Spring that remains questionable. There are picnic tables and bathrooms, so bring a bag lunch. Cost $7 admission (plus toll on Mass pike) but Gary has 20% off coupons so cost will be $5.50.

Garden in the Woods is the headquarters & botanic garden of the New England Wild Flower Society. Plants are on sale from mid-April through September at Garden in the Woods Nursery, the largest native plant nursery in New England. This ever- changing living museum — New England's premier wildflower garden — has more than 1600 kinds of plants, with many rare and  endangered native specimens throughout the gardens, as well as the unique "New England Garden of Rare & Endangered Plants." In late April, the woodlands sparkle with Trout Lilies, Virginia Bluebells, Bloodroot & rare Oconee Bells. In mid-May hundreds of wildflowers burst into bloom, including Wood Phlox, Yellow Lady-slippers, Shooting Stars & Great Trilliums. Carnivorous pitcher plants, delicate Calopogon orchids & Plum-leaved azaleas appear as the days lengthen into summer & the meadow blazes with wildflowers in brilliant hues. Blue gentians, violet asters & a dazzling display of foliage brighten the cooling days of fall.

For more information: New England Wild Flower Society, 180 Hemenway  Road, Framingham, MA 01701. Office (open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; recorded info available at other times): 508/877-7630. HOURS Fall/Winter: Trails at Garden in the Woods are CLOSED for the season. The trails reopen in April with the following hours: April to mid-June -- open every day. Hours - 9 am to 7 pm. From mid June thru October 31st, the Garden will be open Tuesday thru Sunday. Hrs - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission to the Garden trails one hour before closing. After October, the Garden trails will close for the season, but classes continue throughout the fall and winter, and the Museum Shop remains open with special winter hours. Garden Admission: $7; Seniors (65+) $5; Youths (6-18) $3; Students (with student ID) $5. Members admitted free with membership card. Please be sure to show your card before entering the Garden. (No fee to visit Museum Shop.)
What's in bloom (May) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/may.html (June) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/june.html

Directions: Located at 180 Hemenway Road in North Framingham, Massachusetts. A 40-minute drive from Boston or Worcester. From the West -- Take Massachusetts Tpk. (Exit 12) to Rt. 9 E; go 2.4 miles to Edgell Road exit; turn left at the lights at the top of the exit ramp on to Edgell Road (Rt. 9 overpass); go 2.1 miles to the traffic lights; take a right on to Water St. and a left onto Hemenway Road. Follow signs. From the  North, South, East --Take Rt. 128 to Rt. 20 W; go 8 miles on Rt. 20 to Raymond Road (2nd left after traffic lights in S. Sudbury); go 1.3 miles to Hemenway Road and follow the Garden in the Woods signs.

Saturday April 30th -- Daffodils at Laurel Ridge in Thomaston

Join us for a morning photographing Daffodils at Laurel Ridge in Thomaston. The Daffodil field trip is leaving promptly at 7:30am. We will be meeting at the commuter parking lot off of exit 58 in Derby (Rt 34). It is ~27 miles to Laurel Ridge. Note, there are no bathrooms in the field. There are lots and lots of daffodils, and there is a pond and pretty stonewalls. There is also a windmill right up the road from the daffodils. If we decide on a morning shoot, we can find a diner for breakfast afterwards.

"Daffodils"  By William Wordsworth (1770-1850).

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
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Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
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Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
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I gazed -- and gazed -- but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
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And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
  
     



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Fridays 2004 -- Bethany Observatory
Janet was able to arrange a photo session at the Bethany Observatory with a very knowledgeable gentleman who, coincidentally, also works in our building. David Johnson is arranging a time on Aug 13th or 14th, weather dependent, for members of our group. The telescopes are set up for both 35mm and digital photography, with extenders. Mars will be closer to the earth at this time than it has been in decades, and there will also be a full moon.  Dave will have a few members of the local Astrophysical Society who are experienced in this type of photography present to help get us acquainted with the equipment and techniques.  This is for a small group introduction, about 8 people, so the fairest selection is first come, first served. Also, Dave is willing to give a lecture for our club, if there is an opening and an interest, including photographs he has taken, and arrange a return visit later in the year, or in the Spring, when the skies will be more clear, and the nights longer. A workshop is also possible, led by members of the local Astrophysical society. Bill Barnett is checking where we can purchase the adapters we would need to enable us to attach our own camera bodies to the telescopes. The cost is between $15 and $20, camera specific. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu) for more information, including the web site, and explicit directions to the Observatory. Addendum: [You need two part to be able to photograph thru a telescope. A T mount adapter that is often telescope specific at one (telescope) end (but universal at the other end) and a T adapter (one end universal for T mount adapter and other end fits your model camera I bought my camera/T adapter at the Fat Robin.]

October 9, 2004 -- Fall Foliage in NW Connecticut
We will leave promptly at 7:31 am on Saturday morning from the Rt 34 commuter lot (Exit 58 off Rt 15) heading towards Southbury Falls, Kent Falls, Bulls Bridge, Cornwell Bridge & Sharon Audubon Society. For those members who have gone on field trips before, the colors should be peak at this time, and some rain actually enhances the fall photos by increasing the color saturation. For new members, please join us, we'd love to have you along. A few years ago I joined NHCC and after two meetings I found myself on a field trip to Wind over Wings with a bunch of people I didn't know. But we all share this love of photography and this desire to slow down and capture a glimpse of the world  thru our lens amd stop time for an instant to tell a story. And this common thread made me very welcome and very comfortable on that day in April, and every time since then.

7:15 am start assembling at commuter lot, Rt 34, Derby
7:31 am leave from commuter lot --> Rt 34 to Rt 8 to Rt 67
Southbury Falls; Dunkin Donuts; Bulls Bridge; Kent Falls; picnic lunch at Kent Falls; Stasha's ice cream
For those wishing to continue on after Kent Falls we will then go to:
Cornwell Bridge; Sharon Audubon; people may also chose to stop at White memorial park on the way home...

Kent Falls: Wander across the covered bridge, hike the falls, and feel the mist on your face as water cascades 250' down on its way to joining the Housatonic River. Kent Falls, located in the northeastern section of the town of Kent, is a series of waterfalls on a mountain stream known as Falls Brook. The stream begins in the town of Warren, draining an area of six or seven square miles. It then flows west to the big fall where it plunges approximately 70 feet in a dramatic cascade. From here the stream descends in a series of lesser falls and cascades to the valley, where it enters the Housatonic River some 200 feet below the brink of the big fall only a quarter mile away. Much of the limestone over which the brook flows has been carved into interesting shapes including numerous potholes of all sizes. The Indian name of this area is "Scatacook" and there is considerable evidence that Native Americans fished and camped by the falls. Later, in colonial times, mills were also present along the brook. Acquisition of the park began in 1919 with the gift of 200 acres by the White Memorial Foundation. Other parcels were donated or purchased until the present 295 acres were acquired. The area was developed in the 1930's by the Civil Works Administration. In the mid nineteen-seventies, considerable trail reconstruction was done by the Youth Conservation Corps of Connecticut. The covered bridge is an authentic reproduction built in 1974 by a park employee, Edmund Palmer. The flow in the cascade at Kent is normally heaviest in the spring when the winter snow is melting. However, the falls can be dramatic at any time of the year, particularly after substantial rainstorms. Fall foliage season is also an excellent time to enjoy the area. Because of its exceptional scenic qualities, Kent Falls has been featured in a number of magazine and television advertisements.

Located in the northwest corner of Connecticut the Litchfield Hills Region personifies New England with its quiet towns and village greens, white-steepled churches, two and three hundred year old homes carefully restored, woodland filled with maples and other hardwood trees that flare up in the fall in firey red, orange and yellow hues, historic sites and structures, covered bridges, centuries-old inns and B&Bs, and antique shops. Unspoiled nature trails, scenic winding roads through picturesque back country. Much to see here, but at a comfotable, leisure pace.

Covered Bridges
The West Cornwall covered bridge (West Cornwall ) was built in 1841 and spans the Housatonic River. Located on Route 128, east of Route 7.
The Kent Falls covered bridge (Kent Falls State Park) is a footpath bridge that spans the Kent Falls Brook. Located on the east side of US Route 7.
Bulls Bridge covered bridge (Bulls Bridge ) was built in 1842 and spans the Housatonic River. Follow Rt 7 to Bulls Bridge & turn onto Bulls Bridge Road.

June 11-13, 2004
The weekend trip this Spring is scheduled for June 11-13 to Delaware the Brandywine Valley, and upper Chesapeake Bay. The focus will be on expansive gardens, beautiful old estates, and 17th century towns; and small fishing villages along the eastern side of Chesapeake Bay. If time and interest, a short drive away are Bombay Hook NWR for shore birds and waterfowl; the beautiful colonial town of Annapolis, MD; and Assateague Island with numerous natural photo opportunities. Major stops are planned at Longwood Gardens, Nemours Mansion and Gardens, Hagley Museum (original home and mill town of E I DuPont), Winterthur gardens, the Chesapeake Maritime Museum at St Michaels, MD, Rockwood Manor House and Gardens, and a 2-hour evening sunset cruise on the Bay. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).
Lisa's note: This whole area is wonderful, Anapolis is a great town; but both Longwood Gardens and Winterthur Gardens are superb! Longwood Gardens allows tripods, with a permit, only for the first few hours that the gardens are open. I have been there three different times in the Spring and early summer and the photo ops are bountiful!!

May 22, 2004
Fran Baranski, an Audubon volunteer and member of the Quinebaug Camera Club, has offered to lead us on a day-long field trip to natural sites in northeastern CT. Resident and migratory grassland birds are plentiful at the Bafflin Sanctuary in Pomfret in April and May, and wildflowers bloom in May. There is a solitary station for bird photography, should anyone choose to use it. Nearby are the Goodwin Nature Center, which has wildlife and butterfly gardens, and Trail Wood. Also in the area are many old farms with fields of wildflowers, horses, and old stone walls; Colonial towns, churches, and architecture; old mill towns; river, pond and woodland nature trails; and other photo subjects. On May 22, there will be a bird banding session. Fran suggests this may be a good opportunity to photograph some of the birds up close, as well as while they are being caught and released. We may choose any spring Saturday for our outing. Interested members please decide on a date, and suggest subjects which participants would like to photograph. Fran will work with us to select sites that will make our day enjoyable for everyone. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

May 1, 2004
The American Lighthouse Foundation annual fund raiser for 2004 will be an auto caravan across Cape Cod on May 15. Co-sponsored by a classic car club, the 'car cruise' will begin at Nobska Light in Woods Hole, and continue across the Cape to Race Point. The $30 fee includes entries into all raffles, lighthouse plaques, an event Tee, maps and travel guides, and discounts for local restaurants and lodging. In addition, the first 500 people to register will receive the traditional 'goody bags'. Most of the lighthouses will be open for tours, and a shuttle to Race Point will be available for anyone not wanting to make the drive out through the dunes. Should you like to make your own reservations, a form is available on the ALF website at www.lighthousefoundation.org. Otherwise, please sign up on January 12, and I will register all members of our group. Deadline: March 1, 2004. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

Spring 2004
The planned trip to Southwick Zoo in Mendon, Ma, has been changed, so as not to conflict with the CAP trip Jim Dionne is leading. Instead, we will travel west just over the border into NY state. The first stop will be at the Millbrook School, whose grounds and buildings offer many interesting photo opportunities in themselves. Here is a zoo, with animals from all continents, run by senior students studying animal behavior and zoo management. The birds and animals are comfortable near people, and will make good subjects. My personal favorites are the arctic fox, the red panda, the barn owl, and the slow loris. The second stop will be at the Hudson Valley Raptor Center, about 20 minutes north west of Millbrook. The variety of species found here is impressive, and the rural 91 acre setting provides a wonderful background. The final stop will be the Rhinebeck Aerodrome, an outdoor museum for planes and motor cars from the early 1900's to mid 1940s, which will be hosting several National events in 2004. On Saturdays the Air Show theme is the History of Flight. A vintage Fashion Show and Old Time Auto Parade precede the Air Show. Open cockpit biplane rides over the Hudson Valley are offered at $40 per person before and after the show. The date of this trip is contingent upon available time at the Raptor Center. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

March 2004

In mid March, a day trip is being finalized to Magic Wings, and the Eco-Tarium in Worcester, MA, for a pre-arranged photo opportunity indoors with some of the resident owls and small mammals. Magic Wings Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy (Deerfield, Mass.) to photograph BEFORE opening to the public at 9:30 am (tripod only allowed then).  Everyone can stay longer but can only use a monopod after that time. Cost is $ 14.00. When you are finished at Magic Wings, you can also visit historic the Mass. audubon society, Historic Deerfield or shop at Yankee Candle. Shelobourne Falls is very close as well, with glacial potholes(the Bridge of Flowers in the summer) and a wonderful glass blowing studio/gallery. See Sept 2002 NH Register articleAnyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

February 14-15, 2004
Okay, Snow Bunnies! Here's an event to challenge your winter photo skills: Winter Carnival in the Adirondacks Feb 14-15. Events will be taking place in Saranac Lake, Lake Placid, and Lake George. These include: Inner Tube, Skating, Skiing, ATV, and Snowmobile Races in all age categories; Broomball, rugby, Hockey, Snowflake Volleyball, and Snowshoe softball; Ice Palace (lighted nightly); Snow Sculpture contest; Polar plunge; skydiving exhibition; and a Woodsmen's skills exhibition. There will be an adult Costume Parade at 1PM on Saturday in LP; and a Mardi Gras Parade at 5PM, followed by fireworks in LG; a children's parade at 2PM Sunday in LP; and a Gala fireworks display at 7:30PM Sunday in LP. For the adventurous, there will be dogsled rides on Lake Placid; tobaggon rides from a 40 ft ramp across Lake Placid; hiking/snowshoeing nature trips at Adirondack Park leaving from Paul Smiths Great Camp; photo trips into the Park to capture winter wildlife images; waterfall hikes at High Falls Gorge and Rockwell Falls; and live Wildlife exhibits at Up Yonda Farm. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

January 10th 2004

For sports fans: the Yale Invitational Track and Field Meet will be held on Jan 10, beginning at 9:30 am, indoors, at the facility at Yale Bowl. There is also a Swim meet at Payne-Whitney Gym that same day beginning at noon. Anyone interested, please contact me. An events schedule should be posted at www.yale.edu/athletics (select sport). If you have misplaced the list of sports opportunities which I sent last Oct, printed lists will be available at the meeting. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu).

Friday September 19 to Sunday September 21, 2003 -- 

Adirondack Balloon Festival & Raptor Center, please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more info. 
Friday: travel to Glens Falls motel
Saturday: 6:30am mass ascension of 100-150 featured balloonists and special shaped balloons. Stand on the airfield and watch the balloons inflate and then rise up in the morning mist around you! After breakfast, drive to the top of Prospect Mountain for a beautiful view of Lake George and the surrounding area. Next: tour Fort Ticonderoga and/or Fort Henry and the town of Essex, a pre-civil war town on the register of historic places. There are lots of choices for after lunch as well. At 5pm there is another mass ascension of featured balloonists and special shaped balloons, followed by a 15 tethered balloon "Moonglow" on Lake George, and then fireworks!
Sunday: 6:30am mass ascension of featured balloonists and special shaped balloons.After breakfast, we can have a photo session at either the Vermont Raptor Center in Woodstock, VT, or at the Berkshire Bird Paradise in Petersborough, NY. The UVM Morgan horse farm, middlebury college, Wilson Castle, Hildene, the town of Grafton are among our choices for afternoon photo stops.

Aug 13th or 14th 2003 -- Bethany Observatory

Janet was able to arrange a photo session at the Bethany Observatory with a very knowledgeable gentleman who, coincidentally, also works in our building. David Johnson is arranging a time on Aug 13th or 14th, weather dependent, for members of our group. The telescopes are set up for both 35mm and digital photography, with extenders. Mars will be closer to the earth at this time than it has been in decades, and there will also be a full moon.  Dave will have a few members of the local Astrophysical Society who are experienced in this type of photography present to help get us acquainted with the equipment and techniques.  This is for a small group introduction, about 8 people, so the fairest selection is first come, first served. Also, Dave is willing to give a lecture for our club, if there is an opening and an interest, including photographs he has taken, and arrange a return visit later in the year, or in the Spring, when the skies will be more clear, and the nights longer. A workshop is also possible, led by members of the local Astrophysical society. Bill Barnett is checking where we can purchase the adapters we would need to enable us to attach our own camera bodies to the telescopes. The cost is between $15 and $20, camera specific. Anyone interested, please contact Janet at (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu) for more information, including the web site, and explicit directions to the Observatory.
Addendum: [You need two part to be able to photograph thru a telescope. A T mount adapter that is often telescope specific at one (telescope) end (but universal at the other end) and a T adapter (one end universal for T mount adapter and other end fits your model camera I bought my camera/T adapter at the Fat Robin.]

June 21, 2003 -- Sky Meadows
Spend the day at Sky Meadows Studios and Photos Gallery, a wonderful town located in central Mass. The many acre property contains fields with wildflowers, a pond, nesting birds, including hummingbirds, bluebirds, etc. The owner, Mr, Les Campbell, will have a hummingbird setup available for those interested in trying to get a photo of a "hummer". There are picnic tables available for our use, so pack a lunch. Due to the nature of this trip, this trip is available to NHCC members only. Contact Gary Prestash soon, as this trip will be limited to 20 people max. Talk to Gary about where to meet and carpool.

June 7th 2003
Flowers in Flight, Roger Williams Zoo

The Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens in Providence, Rhode Island has a unique and special opportunity just for you. From May 10th through June 29th, the Botanical Gardens will host its second annual Butterfly Pavilion: Flowers in Flight at the Botanical Gardens Greenhouses in Roger Williams Park. Thousands of free flying butterflies will dance in the sunlight of an enclosed magnificent and tranquil garden paradise. Perhaps a few of these beautiful creatures will land on a shoulder or two. While visiting the pavilion, be sure to also browse through our award winning courtyard gardens and greenhouse displays. It’s the perfect photo opportunity!
 
As a special offer to area camera clubs, the Roger Williams Park Botanical Gardens will open the Butterfly Pavilion one hour in advance of crowds especially for you and your club members (tripods allowed!). (8:00am – 9:00am daily). Special camera club admission is $10 per person and  pre-registration is required. To register for this wonderful camera club opportunity, please call Heather Simone at 401-785-9450 ext. 206. For more information, including directions, please call 401-785-9450 or visit us online at www.rwpbotanicalgardens.org. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information, including car pool locations.

May 31, 2003
Naragansett Bay cruise. American Lighthouse Foundation website, www.lighthousefoundation.org. There is plenty of room for photographing outdoors on the top deck, most of which is covered by a canopy.  On the second deck, there is a large sliding window which can be opened for photgraphing while one remains completely indoors.  With this information in mind, please dress appropriately for the weather.  A jacket, with a hood for wind protection if you have one, and/or a hat which can be secured are almost necessities for those planning to remain on the top deck. Layering would be a good idea for this time of year.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information.

May 17th, 2003 Garden in the Woods http://www.newfs.org/garden.htm
We are leaving at 7am sharp, with one pit stop, arriving 9-9:15, around opening time. The Trillium should be in peak bloom, the Azaleas and Jack in the pulpit too. We are hoping for Lady's Slippers as well, but with the long winter and delayed Spring that remains questionable. There are picnic tables and bathrooms, so bring a bag lunch. Cost $7 admission (plus toll on Mass pike) but Gary has 20% off coupons so cost will be $5.50.  http://www.newfs.org/garden.htm

GARDEN IN THE WOODS is the headquarters and botanic garden of the New England Wild Flower Society. Plants are on sale from mid-April through September at Garden in the Woods Nursery — now the largest native plant nursery in New England. This ever- changing living museum — New England's premier wildflower garden — has more than 1600 kinds of plants, with many rare and  endangered native specimens throughout the gardens, as well as the unique "New England Garden of Rare and Endangered Plants." In late April, the woodlands sparkle with Trout Lilies, Virginia Bluebells, Bloodroot, and rare Oconee Bells. In mid-May hundreds of wildflowers burst into bloom, including Wood Phlox, Yellow Lady-slippers, Shooting Stars, and Great Trilliums. Carnivorous pitcher plants, delicate Calopogon orchids and Plum-leaved azaleas appear as the days lengthen into summer, and the meadow blazes with wildflowers in brilliant hues. Blue gentians, violet asters and a dazzling display of foliage brighten the cooling days of fall.

For more information: New England Wild Flower Society, 180 Hemenway  Road, Framingham, MA 01701. Office (open Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; recorded info available at other times): 508/877-7630. HOURS AT GARDEN IN THE WOODS Fall/Winter 2002-2003 -- Trails at Garden in the Woods are CLOSED for the season. The trails will reopen April 12, 2003 with the following hours: Between April 12th and June 15th, the Garden in the Woods will be open every day. Hours - 9 am to 7 pm. From June 16th through October 31st, the Garden will be open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission to the Garden trails one hour before closing. After October, the Garden trails will close for the season, but classes continue throughout the fall and winter, and the Museum Shop remains open with special winter hours. Garden Admission: $7; Seniors (65+) $5; Youths (6-18) $3; Students (with student ID) $5.. Members admitted free with membership card. Please be sure to show your card before entering the Garden. (No fee to visit Museum Shop.)  Pets are not allowed at Garden in the Woods.
 
What's in bloom (May) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/may.html
What's in bloom (June) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/june.html
What's in bloom (July) http://www.newfs.org/inbloom1/months/july.html

Directions: Located at 180 Hemenway Road in North Framingham, Massachusetts. A 40-minute drive from Boston or Worcester. From North, South, East --Take Rt. 128 to Rt. 20 W; go 8 miles on Rt. 20 to Raymond Road (2nd left after traffic lights in S. Sudbury); go 1.3 miles to Hemenway Road and follow the Garden in the Woods signs.
from West -- Take Massachusetts Tpk. (Exit 12) to Rt. 9 E; go 2.4 miles to Edgell Road exit; turn left at the lights at the top of the exit ramp on to Edgell Road (Rt. 9 overpass); go 2.1 miles to the traffic lights; take a right on to Water St. and a left onto Hemenway Road. Follow signs.

May 3rd, 2003 --Wind Over Wings

Wind Over Wings is a Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

Wind Over Wings, Inc. is a nonprofit, wildlife rehabilitation and education center. "Our goal in education is to provide a personal connection with wildlife that will lead to good stewardship of the environment. Our goal in rehabilitation is to release wildlife back to their natural environment when viable. Wind Over Wings was founded in 1990. With the approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection, our rehabilitation and educational services flourished. Today, we specialize in the rehabilitation of eagles and great blue heron. In 2002 we conducted 335 programs. In doing so, we spoke to over 50,250 people in environmental educational programs, not including television audiences. We do this because we believe that, if children and adults make a connection with wildlife, intentional cruelty will lessen."

Viewing Schedule (10am to 12 noon):
Round one: American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Eastern Screech Owl
Round two: Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Rough-legged Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Saw-whet Owl and Osprey (Hope Douglas will be his handler)
Round three: Golden Eagle, Immature Bald Eagle, Kookaburra and Peregrine Falcon
(click here for more info on their residents)

Hope Douglas has given us permission to ask the handler to move to a better photographic background, as needed. RAIN CANCELS
Meet and carpool from I-95 N. Exit 64 commuter lot at 9:30am. Please carpool from your point of departure, if possible, as the commuter lot is limited. There will be four stations set up at the same time for photographing the birds. Bring your tripods. "There is a limited number of spaces available for this field trip so, please contact Shirley Mangler to make your reservation, if interested."
                
April 6th, April 12th, May 18th, 2003 -- Waterfowl Sanctuary http://www.ctwaterfowl.org/
The trip to The Waterfowl Sanctuary in Farmington to photograph waterfowl will take place on Saturday, April 5, unless there is pouring rain or snow! In the event of VERY inclement weather, the trip will take place on Saturday, April 12. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information, including car pool locations.

There are two photographing areas.  Inside the aviary, the birds are very close to you.  Even smaller birds can be photographed with a 200 mm lens, better with a 28-200 mm zoom, or a 300 mm lens or zoom.  In the main pond, the birds are very spread out, and, range in size from small and juveniles to large swans and cranes.  A longer zoom would be ideal; for close up photography, a 400 mm lens (or longer) would be best.  In both areas, birds will be resting on the stone surrounding the ponds, walking around you and behind you, and snoozing on the grassy slopes; be careful not to miss good shots while concentrating on the water, or, step on someone unawares!  The natural light is filtered through the barren trees.  In the morning hours, there was not much glare off the water; none of us used a polarizer.  The ponds are in a north/south position; as the sun begins to rise higher, it will create some glare on the right side of the large pond, but the aviary has netting over the top, which also tends to filter the light and make it softer.  Since the ponds are man made, they are a dark green to brown in color.  Although they do reflect the birds, there will not be any other visible reflections.
   The ground may be damp and cold, but most of the areas surrounding the ponds are gravel, or deck wood, and kept clear of snow.  Right now the ground is still hard; remember, Farmington is considerably north of us!  When we visited on March 8, we were comfortable in winter hiking boots or weatherproof ducks.  Your toes will get cold after two hours, so be sure to wear a warm pair of socks.  Layering would also be appropriate.

April 26th Yale Architectural Tour
For the Yale walking tour scheduled for the morning of April 26, we will meet on York Street near the corner of Grove at 7:30 am.  New Haven becomes very busy just one hour later.  At this time of day, there is little traffic, good light, and plenty of parking. We will begin at the Hall of Graduate Studies and the Law School; continue east to Berkeley Quad and Sterling Library; further east to Beinecke Plaza and Strathcona Tower, then to Old Campus and Branford Tower.  I will be concentrating on inner courtyards, architectural patterns, Branford and Strathcona towers, and Old Campus, in the area of Yale bordered by York, Grove, Chapel, and College Streets. If time and interest, there are areas on Prospect St, and Hillhouse Avenue, and the Davenport Quad that have interesting photo opportunities. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information, including car pool locations.

May 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2003 -- Cape May
   The morning of our Saturday there would be spent at two of the prime bird viewing spots, one beginning at 6:00 am, the other after
breakfast.  The afternoon would be spent at the Cape May Zoo, small but good; then in the central historic district photographing
the Victorian architecture.  After dinner in town, we will be going to Sunset Beach.  Here is a third prime bird viewing spot; the Cape May Light (which can be climbed, and there will be a star-viewing program in the evening); and a wonderful spot for photographing the sunset directly into the water (there are nautical items in the sand, and usually people on the beach should you want a silhouette in the
foreground).  The area is not expansive; most places are within walking distance, or a 15 minute drive or less.
   On Sunday, we will be in Cape May until noon. There will be some gardens to photograph, a trip to the nature center grounds, and visits to the Emlen Physick Estate, and the Victorian lighthouse at Hereford Inlet, which is surrounded by gardens.  On the way back, we will stop at the Stone Harbor Bird Observatory, about 45 minutes north of Cape May; Barnegat Light, about 90 minutes north of Cape May; and Gateway NWR, about 2.5 hours north of Cape May.
   For those who are able to leave Friday morning, we will visit the Great Adventure Safari in Jackson, NJ, as well as St Vladimir's
Russian Orthodox Basilica (oldest on the East Coast), and the Russian community, with lunch in an authentic Russian restaurant. We will take the coastal route south into Cape May.  Honk or signal when you see a good photo op! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information

March 29, 2003
CAP field trip to Magic Wings.

Magic Wings Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy (Deerfield, Mass.) to photograph BEFORE opening to the public at 9:30 am (tripod only allowed then).  Everyone can stay longer but can only use a monopod after that time. Cost is $ 14.00. When you are finished at Magic Wings, you can also visit historic the Mass. audubon society, Historic Deerfield or shop at Yankee Candle. Shelobourne Falls is very close as well, with glacial potholes (the Bridge of Flowers in the summer) and a wonderful glass blowing studio/gallery. See Sept 2002 NH Register article

October 27, 2002
Magic Wings Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy (Deerfield, Mass.) 
Linda Thomas is organizing a spur-of-the moment trip on Sunday, 10/27/02. Meeting place is the exit 10 commuter lot on Devine St. at 6:30 or 7am to Magic Wings, to photograph BEFORE opening to the public at 9:30 am (tripod only allowed then).  Everyone can stay longer but can only use a monopod after that time. Cost is $ 14.00. Afterward the group will continue to the scenic Mohawk Trail.  Lunch will be at Gould's Sugar House.  Please call Linda for info and to give a departure time preference. When you are finished at Magic Wings, you can also visit historic Deerfield or shop at Yankee Candle. See Sept 2002 NH Register article

October 26, 2002
Photograph three areas of the Yale Campus on Saturday morning from 8:00 to 10:00 am. Photograph building exteriors, patterns, and open courtyards. These areas are the Hall of Graduate Studies and the Law School; Cross Campus (Trumbull, Calhoun, Saybrook, and Berkeley Colleges, and Sterling Library, built in the 1930's); and  Old Campus and Branford Carrillon Tower.  All are within a few blocks of each other.  Anyone interested in joining me PLEASE LET ME (Janet Cerritelli) KNOW SO I  CAN SET A MEETING PLACE WITH PLENTY OF FREE PARKING! There will be a free campus tour leaving Dwight Hall on Old Campus at 10:30 am should anyone be interested in learning more about Yale, its history, and its buildings. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information. 

October 19, 2002
Fall foliage, covered bridges and the Sky Meadows Studios and Photos Gallery (owner, Mr, Les Campbell). The many acre property contains fields with wildflowers, a pond, nesting birds, including hummingbirds, bluebirds, etc. There are picnic tables available for our use, so pack a lunch. Due to the nature of this trip, this trip is available to NHCC members only. Contact Gary Prestash about where to meet and carpool. 

Saturday September 28, 2002 
New Jersey: Great Adventure Safari; St Vladimirs Russian Orthodox Church; Sandy Hook and Gateway National Preserve
We will leave the commuter lot on Rte 34 W at 7:00 AM.  The route we will follow is 15S to the Tappan Zee Bridge, then 287S to Rte 9 leading into Jackson, NJ. On our arrival, at approximately 10:00 AM, we will go directly to the Great Adventure Safari for about 2 hours.  Afterward, we will go into the town of Jackson, where we will enjoy an authentic Russian meal, followed by a tour of St Vladimirs Russian Orthodox Church (oldest Orthodox church in continuous use on the Eastern US.  Next we will travel about 20 miles east to the North Jersey coast, and spend the remainder of the afternoon in Sandy Hook and Gateway National Preserve.  Here there is a choice of activities: dunes and their inhabitants; migratory bird refuge; marshes; lighthouses and other historic structures; walk the beach and take a dip; look over the islands to Manhattan, among others.  After a light supper, we will head back home on 287N. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information. 

Saturday October 5 and/or Sunday October 6, 2002
This trip can be done as a weekend, or as a day trip. Directions and meeting places will be provided for anyone opting to do only one day, sponsored by CAP. --
Saturday: Fall foliage and lighthouse extravaganza.
Cruise the coast from Boston to Southern Maine enjoying the fall color while photographing 17 coastal and island lighthouses. Depart Long Wharf in Boston at 10:00 am and return at 4:00pm. Narrators Skip Empey and Jeremy D'Entremont. Bring a picnic lunch and water, please dress for the weather. Cost $39.00 (seniors $36). Must book early -- cruise sells out by August!!!
Sunday: Canterbury Shaker Village and New Hamsphire Foliage
We will spend the night on the Mass/New Hampshire border. At daybreak we will drive north towards Canterbury Shaker Village in N.H. The fall colors should almost be peak as we drive through country farms and lakes and the white buildings of the village should provide the perfect accent to fall photos. We can make a stop at the Natural Science Center in Holderness, N.H., if time allows, to photograph the birds and animals housed along the nature trails in setting resembling their natural habitats. Owls, bear, foxes, bobcats, otters and birds of prey are among their residents. After enjoying a delicious Shaker lunch, served family style at long benches in the dining room, we can drive through small New England towns and farms such as Derry, Dublin, Enfield, Hebron and Jaffrey, in search of beautiful fall scenics, and stop at some nicely located covered bridges before heading south. There is also a 70 foot waterfall in Royalston, MA and the Quabbin Reservior area which may provide good photo stops along the way home.

Friday September 20 to Sunday September 22, 2002 -- 
Adirondack Balloon Festival & Raptor Center, please contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more info. 
Friday: travel to Glens Falls motel
Saturday: 6:30am mass ascension of 100-150 featured balloonists and special shaped balloons. Stand on the airfield and watch the balloons inflate and then rise up in the morning mist around you! After breakfast, drive to the top of Prospect Mountain for a beautiful view of Lake George and the surrounding area. Next: tour Fort Ticonderoga and/or Fort Henry and the town of Essex, a pre-civil war town on the register of historic places. There are lots of choices for after lunch as well. At 5pm there is another mass ascension of featured balloonists and special shaped balloons, followed by a 15 tethered balloon "Moonglow" on Lake George, and then fireworks!
Sunday: 6:30am mass ascension of featured balloonists and special shaped balloons.After breakfast, we can have a photo session at either the Vermont Raptor Center in Woodstock, VT, or at the Berkshire Bird Paradise in Petersborough, NY. The UVM Morgan horse farm, middlebury college, Wilson Castle, Hildene, the town of Grafton are among our choices for afternoon photo stops. 

June 22, 2002
Spend the day at Sky Meadows Studios and Photos Gallery, a wonderful town located in central Mass. The many acre property contains fields with wildflowers, a pond, nesting birds, including hummingbirds, bluebirds, etc. The owner, Mr, Les Campbell, will have a hummingbird setup available for those interested in trying to get a photo of a "hummer". There are picnic tables available for our use, so pack a lunch. Due to the nature of this trip, this trip is available to NHCC members only. Contact Gary Prestash soon, as this trip will be limited to 20 people max. Talk to Gary about where to meet and carpool.

Saturday, June 15, 2002
Lighthouses -- Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay
On Saturday, June 15, the American Lighthouse Foundation is sponsoring a cruise in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay from 10 am to 3 pm. The cost is $27. 14 lighthouses will be seen: Bristol Ferry, Hog Island Shoal, Rose Island, Dutch Island, Plum Beach, Prudence Island, Newport Harbor, Lime Rock, Castle Hill, Beavertail, Coanicut Island, Warwick, Conimicut, Nayatt Point. If the weather is good, the lights at Poplar Point and Pomham Rocks will also be seen. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED please contact Janet Cerritelli SOON (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information. 

June 8-9, 2002
Maine Coastal Trip, sponsored by CAP
The trip leaders for this trip are Ted and Aurelle Appel. This is a coastal trip, as opposed toa lighthouse trip. There is only one lighthouse, but many other interesting and photogenic places, on the list of stops.

Saturday, June 1, 2002
  The visit to Creamery Brook Bison in Brooklyn, CT will take place on SATURDAY, JUNE 1st.  Another good site for photography in that area will be combined with our visit.  Please check your e-mail for updates. We will meet at 12:30 PM at the commuter lot at Exit 10 off I-91N. Creamery Brook Bison was primarily a dairy farm until the purchase of 5 bison in 1990. The bison herd has grown to over 60, and groups are taken out among them in an open wagon. We may have 45 minutes, any time after 1:30 pm, for a group rate for up to 15 persons of $75.00. They will move anywhere you think is better viewing, even several times if needed. Tripods are allowed; a second wagon can be used if space for photographing becomes a problem. Additional time may be added at $75.00 per hour. (If we have 15 people, $75.00 is $5 per person; 10 people, $7.50 per person.) They do require full payment of $75.00 in advance. You may visit their website at www.creamerybrookbison.com to view the buffalo, and the size of the wagons used. We should arrive there ~3:30pm. Directions: Rt 6 East. At the junction of Rt 169 continue on Rt 6 for 2.5 miles to Allen Hill Rd (second light). Turn right onto Allen Hill Rd. Go 2 miles, turn right onto Creamery Brook Rd. Go 1/2 mile, turn left onto Purvis Rd at the Creamery Brook Farm milk can sign. Go to the shop at the end of house. Alt Directions: Rt 95 North to Rt 395 North, exit 91 West. Proceed 1.8 miles (7 lights) to Rt 6 west, turn left onto Allen Hill Rd, continue with directions above to the farm.
 
Saturday, May 25, 2002
Action Wildlife and Bristol Balloon Festival

On SATURDAY, MAY 25, we will go to the Alpaca Ranch, in Goshen, CT around noon. We will arrive at Action Wildlife in Goshen between 3:00 and 3:30 PM.  Jim Mazzarelli, the owner of Action Wildlife, suggested that we arrive later in the afternoon, as he feels the light at the end of the day is better for photography in this area of CT.  He will let us remain after the booth closes at 5:00 PM, and will let us into some of the pens to get closer to the animals. There is a large variety among the 74 alpacas on this ranch. You may view some of them at www.alpacaconnection.net. Directions: Rt 67 North (or Rt 84) to Rt 6 North. Bear left onto Old Town Farm Rd (near Mill House Antiques). Go 1 mile, turn left at stop sign onto Orchard ave. At top of hill the road surface will change to unpaved -- continue to 132 Orchard Ave, the third house on the right.
     The Bristol Balloon Festival is also sceduled for this weekend.  A few of our group are opting to go to the dawn launch, so I have chosen another area for meeting the entire group at noon. PLEASE MEET AT OLD TOWN ANTIQUES ON RTE 6 IN WOODBURY.  Anyone interested in attending the balloon launch can call me for a ride OR go directly to Bristol Eastern High School.  Easiest route is Rte 8 N to Rte 6 E at Exit 39. Contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip leader, for more information. The rates for this trip must be prepaid to Janet. Inclement weather will change this date.

Saturday, May 4, 2002
Bronx Zoo, sponsored by CAP
Travel by bus to the zoo, spend the day photographing the anmials (May is the perfrect time since many of the animals will have young) and stop at Manero's Steak house in Greenwich on the way home. Contact Antoinette Gombeda, the leader of this trip, for more information.
 

April 20, 2002

Come see and photograph the Yale Crew Races in Derby on April 20th. Contact Janet Cerritelli (janet.cerritelli@yale.edu), the trip organizer, for more information.
 
Feb 16, 2002, sponsored by CAP
<>Magic Wings. Meet at 6:45am in front of the butterfly house for a private shooting from 7-9am. At 9am you are feree to stay, but the doors open to the public and you must put away your tripod at that time. The cost is $14 per person. there is a cafe on site. If you iwsh to stay overnight (not everyone is an early bird to drive and be there at 6:45am) there is a Red Roof Innin South Deerfield (1-800-843-7663). When you are finished at Magic Wings, a trip to historic Deerfield is planned, followed by lunch and shopping at Yankee Candle, or a visit to the antique auto collection, followed by dinner. Contact trip leader, Edie Francoeur, for more information. 
 
June 9, 2001
Magic Wings - Gary Prestash has planned a field trip to Magic Wings Butterfly Conservancy (Deerfield, Mass.) to photograph exotic butterflies up close.