Do you have what it takes to survive the wild? đž
Step into the pawprints of local predatorsâthink coyotes, fisher cats, and bobcatsâin this wild and wildly fun outdoor adventure with Kestrel Educational Adventures and Sawyer Free Library on Friday, April 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at Stage Fort Park in Gloucester – meet at the gazebo!
Designed for curious minds in grades 6â12 (thatâs ages 11â19), this hands-on program brings the science of predator ecology to life through games, crafts, and energetic discussions. Youâll track, play, and learn your way through the habits and habitats of some of New Englandâs most elusive carnivores.
Whether you’re a future wildlife biologist, a nature lover, or just ready to get outside and do something cool, this event is your ticket to adventure.
The program will take place at Stage Fort Park located at 24 Hough Avenue in Gloucester.
No experience necessaryâjust bring your sense of curiosity and maybe a friend or two! Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. Questions? Contact: anakoneczny@sawyerfreelibrary.org.
Four Libraries to host Community-Wide Celebration of Earth Day
As the world gets ready to celebrate Earth Day 2025, Cape Annâs public libraries are joining forces to inspire environmental action and education. This year, four public libraries of Cape AnnâGloucester,Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex – are proud to present bestselling author Sy Montgomery and renowned wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson for a special event exploring the wonders of turtles and the natural world.
On Saturday, April 19, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm, the libraries will welcome Montgomery and Patterson to the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA, for an engaging discussion of their acclaimed book, Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell. The event will feature a 60-minute presentation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A session. Attendees can submit questions in advance through their libraryâs website.
This free event offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from two of the most passionate voices in nature writing and wildlife illustration. Tickets are available online through each participating libraryâs websiteâspace is limited.
“A library is a portal not just to our own world, but to worlds unknown–worlds that have never been–worlds of imagination. A library holds the keys to every kingdom. And just think: all of us can step through this magical door right in our own neighborhood! For me, the library is an entryway, a refuge, a space rocket. Libraries show us we can dream anything, do anything, be anything. They are more essential today than ever before,â shares author Sy Montgomery about the importance of public libraries.
Cape Annâs libraries are thrilled to bring this Earth Day program to the community as part of their ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental education. Montgomery and Patterson will share their experiences working with injured turtles, discuss their creative collaboration, and inspire audiences to see the worldâand its wildlifeâthrough a fresh, more compassionate lens.
As coastal communities, Cape Annâs libraries recognize the critical importance of protecting the environment for future generations. With this special event, the libraries hope to encourage people of all ages to deepen their connection to nature and take meaningful action. In addition, each Cape Ann library will offer a variety of Earth Day programs throughout March and April, encouraging individuals of all ages to take meaningful steps to protect our environment – because every day is Earth Day.
Sy Montgomery is an internationally acclaimed author and naturalist, celebrated for her remarkable ability to bring the lives of animals and their ecosystems to readers of all ages. She has written over 30 books, including the National Book Award finalist The Soul of an Octopus, and has traveled the world researching rare and extraordinary creatures. Her latest work, Of Time and Turtles, explores the resilience and wonder of these ancient beings while offering profound insights into the mysteries of time itself.
Matt Patterson is an award-winning wildlife illustrator whose detailed, captivating artwork brings the beauty of nature to life. His illustrations in The Book of Turtles, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Award recipient, showcase the stunning diversity of turtles and highlight their crucial role in ecosystems worldwide.
The community is invited to celebrate Earth Day with an unforgettable conversation about wildlife, conservation, and the timeless lessons turtles can teach us. This special program is made possible through the collaborative efforts of Cape Annâs public libraries âGloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex – and their shared commitment to fostering a love of nature, literature, and lifelong learning.
For those interested, Susieâs Stories in Rockport will be offering to purchase signed copies of Sy Montgomeryâs book Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell through their website.
The Sawyer Free Library will be presenting an engaging and informative evening with Nick Sullivan -the author of The Blue Revolution on Wednesday, June 15, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The New Bedford author will discuss his research and ideas on the âBlue Revolution, the rapid development of aquaculture in recent years. He will offer a new way of thinking about fish, food, and oceans by profiling the people and policies, transforming a challenged seafood industry into one that is fueled by fishermen, locavores, and local seafood supply chains interested in sustainable, traceable, quality seafood. He will share how the practices of 30 years ago that perpetuated an overfishing crisis are rapidly changing and the global challenges to preserving healthy oceans.
Sullivan is a writer and editor who examines the impact of business and technology on international development. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Maritime Studies Program and a Senior Fellow at the Council on Emerging Market Enterprises, both in the Fletcher School at Tufts University. The Blue Revolution is his fourth book.
The event will take place on the Main Floor of the Library, located at 2 Dale Avenue in Gloucester. It is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit sawyerfreelibrary.org or 978-325-5555.
Sawyer Free Library will present “Trout on the Edge: with Peter Johnson” on Saturday, December 4 from 2- 4:00pm on the Library’s Main Floor. Open to the public. Registration is not required.
Peter Johnsen will share details about his explorations around the world documenting the biological diversity of salmon fish as well as the diversity of the people connected to these fish. The Trout on the Edge project documents salmon species that are at the edge of extinction and explores what salmon diversity means to humans and how lessons learned from these species applies to conservation of all biological diversity in general.Â
Registration is not required, however masks are for all attending. For more details, go to: sawyerfreelibrary.org or call 978-325-5500.
Did you know 33% of all food produced globally is lost or wasted? Food waste is central to some of the key challenges facing the world today, including hunger and poverty, climate change, health and wellbeing, and the sustainability of agriculture and oceans.
To bring attention to this growing global problem, the Sawyer Free Library and Backyard Growers are co-hosting a virtual panel discussion around the topic of food waste on Thursday, April 28, from 6-7 pm. The live virtual presentation is free and open to the public. Click here to register.
Moderated by Lara Lepionka, Founder & Executive Director, Backyard Growers, the program will provide both broad knowledge and a local perspective of the issues of food waste, along with some actionable steps individuals can take to help make a difference in its reduction.
The program panelists include Andrew Brousseau, Partner, Compost Manager, Black Earth Compost, Brittany Peats, Program Manager, MA Food System Collaborative, and Gary Sprague, Food Acquisition and Distribution Manager, The Open Door. Each panelist will have the opportunity to talk about their community organization’s focus and practical recommendations to address the critical issue of food waste in our community.
Cape Ann Community 