Trainings & Events

Join the Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC), Avalonia Land Conservancy, and Otis Library for a special Walktober Nature Walk and Talk on Saturday, October 10, 2026! The guided walk will begin at 10:00 AM at Cedar Wood Preserve, through the preserve using eBird to document the birds that are seen along the way. 

Following the walk, participants will gather at Otis Library for a light lunch and a discussion of the observations and findings. Learn how community science tools like eBird and iNaturalist help conservationists track biodiversity, monitor environmental changes, and support land conservation efforts throughout Connecticut and beyond.

Whether you are new to nature exploration or already enjoy hiking and wildlife observation, this program is a great opportunity to connect with nature, learn new skills, and contribute to real conservation research!

Details

• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Bird walk at Cedar Wood Preserve 180 North Wawecus Hill Road, Norwich
• 12:00 PM: BYO lunch at Otis Library 261 Main Street Norwich, CT 06360
• 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Conservation talk at Otis Library

Restrooms: Yes, at Otis Library

Parking: Cedar Wood Preserve has a small parking lot at the end of a short driveway, carpooling suggested

FYI: It is tick season so bring bug spray and wear long pants with high socks.
 

Wolfworks and Sustainable Southbury invite you to our “Open Wall” event featuring a tour, presentation, and Q+A session of a home currently under construction with two possible attendance times: 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. This free educational event is a unique opportunity to look inside the walls of a high-performance, zero-energy home and learn about how it is built and why it matters. Experts will explain how building this way creates spaces that are significantly more comfortable, healthy, and durable than every other home on the block. You will realize why every home should, and could be built better, and why that matters, not just to the folks who live there, but as an essential response to the environmental challenges we face. See inside this Net Zero Energy Home, built with carbon-storing prefabricated straw structural panels fabricated at Rare Forms. Spots are limited.
 

Join the Sierra Club CT, Sustainable West Hartford Commission, and People's Action for Clean Energy (PACE) for the West Hartford Sustainability Fair! This is the 5th annual event - this year with a new name to reflect all the aspects of this environmentally-friendly showcase, including info and demonstrations of:

• Electric vehicles, electric bikes and scooters, electric lawn care, solar power, heat pumps, battery charging
• Waste reduction, composting
• Nature-based solutions: trees, native plants, pollinator gardens
• Non profit environment and sustainability organizations
• Family friendly with activities for kids

Connect & Catalyze: Environmental Justice Resource Exchange is a one-day statewide convening designed to connect community leaders, nonprofit organizations, advocates, funders, researchers, government partners, and technical assistance providers who are working to advance environmental justice across Connecticut.

Rather than focusing on individual organizations or isolated projects, this gathering centers on a simple idea: stronger relationships create stronger outcomes. Participants will explore new funding opportunities, build cross-sector partnerships, exchange practical strategies, and leave with the connections and resources needed to move community-driven solutions forward.

Throughout the day, attendees will engage in keynote conversations, rapid-fire panels, interactive workshops, networking activities, and a resource fair featuring organizations that provide funding, technical assistance, research support, communications expertise, and capacity-building services.

EVENT INCLUDES

• A keynote conversation on coalition building, community power, and building an abundant environmental justice ecosystem

• Lightning discussions on community-centered fundraising, nonprofit mutual aid, resource sharing, and bridging energy and environmental justice

• Interactive workshops focused on:

  • Alternative funding and financing strategies beyond grants

  • Organizational capacity building

  • Public-private partnerships

  • Research, data, storytelling, and compelling grant narratives

• A funding and technical assistance showcase featuring organizations supporting environmental justice work across Connecticut

• Facilitated networking designed to spark new partnerships and collaboration

• A resource and technical assistance fair connecting participants directly with funding programs and support organizations

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

This event is designed for:

• Environmental justice organizations

• Community-based nonprofits

• Grassroots organizers

• Tribal and Indigenous leaders

• Municipal and state agency staff

• Researchers and academic partners

• Philanthropic organizations and funders

• Technical assistance providers

• Climate, energy, conservation, housing, transportation, food justice, and public health advocates

• Anyone interested in strengthening Connecticut's environmental justice ecosystem

A representative from the Energize Connecticut℠ Heat Pump Support Team will provide an approximately 45-minute presentation covering how heat pump technology works, how it could be applied in your home, the benefits and considerations, and an overview of available incentives. There will also be time for questions following the presentation. This is a FREE community session, and we want to make it informative and engaging. Refreshments will be served, and attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a gift card raffle.
 

Rep Steve Winter, Jayson Velazquez of the Green Bank, & CTEN Member driven Hot Topics! The 15th CT Energy Network Gathering is at the Unitarian Society of New Haven! Connect with like-minded individuals passionate about what's happening in CT's energy/enviro landscape. Share ideas. Network. Learn from experts in the field. This in-person event is a great opportunity to expand your knowledge and make valuable connections.
 

On Saturday October 24th, Live Green CT is holding its annual leaf peeping EV road trip. The Live Green EV caravan will travel from Norwalk to Kent. The Ridgefield Action Committee for the Environment is participating in this event by hosting an EV car show at their stop at the Nod Hill Brewery.

BRING your EV (or PHEV) to Nod Hill -- meet other EV enthusiasts -- enjoy the Jazz band and a pint of locally brewed beer.

The EV car show will run from 10 am to 1 pm. The Live Green EV caravan to join us at Nod Hill by 11 am.

At noon, in the biergarten, RACE will recognize individuals and their businesses for their environmental stewardship efforts. RACE will be recognizing 4 CT Green landscapers who have re-tooled with battery powered lawn care equipment.
 

Invasive Plant Symposium, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, UConn Student Union, Storrs, CT

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) 2026 symposium will be a full day in-person program on October 28, with some sessions directed to all attendees and other sessions in concurrent breakouts. This year's theme is From Awareness to Action - Strengthening Our Response to Invasive Plants.

The morning session will include a keynote presentation by Tom Zetterstrom, Housatonic Valley Association: “Land Trust Decision Model for Invasive Control in Severe Impact Areas” and a Panel Discussion: “Myths of Invasive Plant Management.”

The afternoon breakout sessions are:

Group A (Concurrent):

1) Identification and Management of Invasive Vines: Dr. Bryan Connolly, ECSU; Pete Picone, CT DEEP

2) Rugged Native Plants for Restoration of Managed Areas: Frederick (Erik) C. Sechler, Jr., Native Plant Trust

3) Invasive Aquatics: Updates on Hydrilla and Water Chestnut: John Hall, Jonah Center for Earth and Art; Greg Bugbee, CAES

Group B (Concurrent):

4) Special Topics in Invasive Plant Management: Christian Allyn, Invasive Plant Solutions; Joshua Tracy, Regional Water Authority; Tim Mack, Hamden Land Conservation Trust

5) Building Layers for Biodiversity with Native Plants: Anna Fialkoff and Maggie Redfern, Connecticut College Arboretum

6) Herbicide Management of Invasives: Law and How to Apply it: Zach Donais, CT DEEP

CEU's for organizations and Pesticide Recertification Credits are available.

$90 General Registration (in person attendance). $80 Recording Only; Student Registration Available.

More info: cipwg.uconn.edu/2026-symposium
 

Please join us on November 10, 4-7 p.m., at The Wadsworth in Hartford. We'll be honoring all of our 2026 certified towns and a brand new cohort of Climate Leaders.

Formerly known as the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, The Wadsworth honors the past and inspires the future through the power of human creativity. Guided by its founding belief that art can uplift society and ignite progress, The Wadsworth inspires reflection, dialogue, and cultural transformation through its outstanding collection, programs, and partnerships.

Register today to celebrate with us at the Wadsworth. Please feel free to register any guests you would like to bring with you as well. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]. We're always happy to connect with you.

Your hard work and continuing support are of vital importance to us, so we look forward to celebrating you on November 10th!

Our 2026 Annual Awards Celebration is generously sponsored by Earth Forward Group, with additional support from Titany Energy, Casella, Liberty Bank, Energia, PowerOptions, and the UConn School for Public Policy.

We are committed to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Please contact us at [email protected] if you: have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint. Any person needing a hearing accommodation may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. Requests for accommodations must be made at least two weeks prior to any program or event.
 

Join the Long Island Sound Partnership on Wednesday, November 18, 2026 in Bridgeport, CT for the 5th Annual SRC Workshop – an event focused on building capacity for regional resilience planning in support of sustainable and resilient communities throughout coastal Long Island Sound.

Over the past four years, more than 800 people from across the region have joined virtually for our workshop, and this year will be the first time the event is held in person! A main focus of this year’s workshop will be cultivating discussions on advancing watershed and regional resilience coordination and planning.

View the Draft Agenda

A full agenda is coming soon!

Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Time: 9:30 AM-5:30 PM

Location: Beacon Hall, Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Boulevard, Bridgeport, CT 06604

Important details:

• There is no cost to attend but registration is required.
• Refreshments and lunch will be provided.
• Travel expense reimbursement of up to $150/person is available on a first-come first-served basis for those who do not have travel budgets through their employers.
• The workshop has a maximum capacity of 140 people – register by November 10 to save your spot!

This event is hosted by the Long Island Sound Partnership, Connecticut Sea Grant, and New York Sea Grant. Contact l[email protected] for any questions.
 

UConn's Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) is holding a one-day conference at UConn School of Law in Hartford on Friday, November 20, 2026, to learn about CIRCA's programs.

Agenda

• 8:45 – 9:15: Registration and Coffee
• 9:15 – 9:30: Welcome Remarks
• 9:30 – 9:50: CIRCA Update Presentation
• 9:50 – 10:35: Legislative Implementation Presentations
• 9:50 – 10:00: Resilience Improvement Districts
• 10:00 – 10:10: Stormwater Authorities
• 10:10 – 10:20: Climate Change and Coastal Resilience Reserve Funds –
• 10:20 – 10:35: Question and Answers
• 10:35 – 10:45 Break
• 10:45 – 11:00: Keynote Address
• 11:00 – 12:00: Legislative Panel
• 12:00 – 1:00: Lunch
• 1:00 – 2:10: On the ground and in the Water Panel
• 2:10 – 2:30 – Networking