nature

CAPE ANN LIBRARIES CELEBRATE EARTH DAY WITH ACCLAIMED AUTHOR SY MONTGOMERY 

~ Sawyer Free Library

Four Libraries to host Community-Wide Celebration of Earth Day

As the world gets ready to celebrate Earth Day 2025, Cape Ann’s public libraries are joining forces to inspire environmental action and education. This year, four public libraries of Cape Ann—Gloucester, 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 library’s 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 library’s website—space 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,” shares author Sy Montgomery about the importance of public libraries. 

Cape Ann’s 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 world—and its wildlife—through a fresh, more compassionate lens.

As coastal communities, Cape Ann’s 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 Ann’s public libraries —Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex – and their shared commitment to fostering a love of nature, literature, and lifelong learning. 

For those interested, Susie’s Stories in Rockport will be offering to purchase signed copies of Sy Montgomery’s book Of Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell through their website. 

For more information or to reserve free tickets for this special event, please contact your local library: Sawyer Free Library, Rockport Public Library, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library and T.O.H.P Burnham Library. 

Saturday, February 15th: The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation Presents Kory Curcuru’s film series, “Timeline: Cape Ann.”

~ chasnaz

”Curcuru’s docuseries, “Timeline: Cape Ann”, produced for 1623 Studios, focuses on the history,culture and heritage of Cape Ann.  This event will present eight of Curcuru’s shorter videos,telling the story of Cape Ann’s unique history in jewel-like form, from the “first boss-lady,”Abigail Trask of Manchester-by-the-sea to Rockport’s long celebrated but little understood“Paper House,” actually a much more complicated tale than just a house of newspaper. Curcuru will be guiding the audience with his exciting style of storytelling.  The films will be shown on a big screen, in collaboration with the Cape Ann Community Cinema, in the Meetinghouse.  This will be a highly entertaining celebration of Cape Ann’s quirky, singular history.  

The film showing will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 7:30pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). Parking is available on the green. The admission for the event is $20 General, $5 Students (all ages), under 12 free.  An elevator is available from the side door at 10 Church Street. For more information please visit:  www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

Fall Birding Hot Spots Gloucester’s Hidden Gems: A guided birding tour with Gino Ellison this Sat!

~ Sawyer Free Library

Join expert birder and conservationist GINO ELLISON for a guided bird walk around Gloucester’s hidden fall birding hot spots.

Starting at 7:00 am, on Saturday, October 26, join the Sawyer Free Library for an on-location, guided bird walk around Gloucester! Beginners Wanted and Welcomed!

Please note that patrons will need their own transportation for this event. Registration is required at sawyerfreelibrary.org.

Patrons will meet at Gloucester’s Fisherman Memorial Statue on Stacy Boulevard, and then car caravan to locations such as: The Jodrey State Fish Pier – Niles Beach – Eastern Point – Brace Cove – The Elks Club Beach Lookout – and finally end at a tbd coffee shop for conversation and sharing ideas on bird books to read!

Patrons should bring the following for this event:  binoculars – weather appropriate clothing – sunglasses – water – camera w/ zoom lens (if so inclined) – a smile, and a positive attitude!

About Gino:

Eugene (Gino) Ellison, is a lifetime resident of Massachusetts. He is happily married to his wonderful wife Kate (38 years) and they have 3 fun kids and 4 active grandkids. Gino is now retired from the investment business as well as the Professional Bass Fishing Tournament circuit. He’s been affiliated with Bass Pro Shops for over 25 years and still makes several store appearances each year. Gino is a hunter, fisherman, conservationist and passionate birder who leads dozens of walks in Massachusetts. Gino greatly enjoys volunteering with Mass Wildlife and with Mass Audubon at their family birding & fishing events. Gino just completed a successful ABA Birding Big Year in 2023 and is scheduled to speak at birding festivals and clubs around New England and nationwide.

 Patrons will need their own transportation for this event. Registration required at sawyerfreelibrary.org. 

Winter Blahs Buster

~ Dot Sieradzki

The next meeting of the Seaside Garden Club is Tuesday, February 13, 7pm, at the Manchester Community Center. The speaker is Andi Ross of Nature’s Way, a Natick Community Organic Farm (http://www.natickfarm.org/). Guests are welcome, there is a $5 fee for non-members.

The Seaside Garden Club is a group of fun, active, civic-minded and hands-on gardeners. We welcome all types of gardeners from beginners to experienced… there is always something to learn and share. We invite you to become a member of our club and enjoy our monthly programs which feature interesting guest speakers and creative workshops.

We meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, September through June, at the Manchester Community Center, located at 40 Harbor Point, Manchester-by-the-Sea. Social time begins with light refreshments at 7:00 pm, followed by the program at 7:30 pm.

Join our team at Backyard Growers!

~ backyardgrowersgloucester

We’re looking for our next community and school garden leaders!

Serve with Us (2)

Urban Agriculture Summer Internship 

We rely on our awesome summer intern team to keep everything running in the summer! Help manage the school gardens, lead summer youth programs, or plan and carry out weekly harvest at our community gardens.

Ready to apply? Read the full position description, then email your resume and cover letter to community@backyardgrowers.org

Community Engagement Coordinator– full-time TerraCorps service member position*

Community Engagement Coordinators (CEC) build the long-term capacity of their host sites by developing culturally inclusive systems, programing, partnerships, and events. By collaborating with community groups, CECs demonstrate how the sustainable use and conservation of land can help address community needs related to education, public health, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, homelessness, poverty, hunger, and cultural decline.

Read the full Community Engagement Coordinator position description here.

Youth Education Coordinator – full-time TerraCorps service member position*

Youth Education Coordinators build the long-term capacity of their host site by engaging youth in service learning, experiential education, and inquiry-based science and nature learning projects. They collaborate with schools, libraries, and youth groups on projects that connect young people to the natural world, improve science literacy, and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Read the full Youth Engagement Coordinator position description here.

*About TerraCorps:

TerraCorps, formerly MassLIFT-AmeriCorps, is an innovative national service program working to help communities conserve and secure land for the health and well-being of people and nature. Using the AmeriCorps national service model, TerraCorps prepares and mobilizes emerging leaders to help strengthen community-based nonprofits working to meet these goals.

These are full-time AmeriCorps positions requiring a minimum of 1,700 hours of service over 11 months. The 2017-18 TerraCorps program will run from August 28, 2017 – July 27, 2018. 

Application specifics, position descriptions, and information about organizations hosting TerraCorps members can be found at terracorps.org.

Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Interviews begin mid-April, and we aim to fill all positions by the beginning of June.

AmeriCorps programs provide equal service opportunities. TerraCorps will recruit and select persons in all positions to ensure a diverse and inclusive climate without regard to any particular status. We encourage applications from individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations for interviews and service upon request.

TerraCorps is a grant program of the Corporation for National and Community Service: nationalservice.gov.

 

Kestrel Preschool Adventure: Nature Design

~ kestrel.educational.adventures

Through play, stories, and hands on experiences, we will learn about the lives of some local animals. Each day, we will meet at least one animal and will make something original and creative based on that animal’s body or behavior. We might meet a snake and feel its skin, and then make clay snakes with scale patterns. We might observe insects and then make and test lightweight insect wings. This program is based on spontaneous experiences and discoveries to allow plenty of room for individual ideas and imagination.

  • Dates    6 Friday Mornings, September 30-November 4th, 2016
  • Time  10am-12:00noon
  • Ages              4-6
  • Price              $90
  • Location         The Get Outside Center, 186 Main Street Gloucester
  • Instructors    Jessica

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