The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

Summer Camp will be running for 9 weeks for the summer 2025 season!

• June 23, 2025- August 22, 2025
• 9:00a - 4:00p
• $200 per week or 10% for all 9 weeks ($1620)
• Ages 5-12
• Located at Pleasant View Park (Durand Street) & Elise Besse Pool

Get ready for an unforgettable summer of adventure, creativity, and exploration at our themed summer camp! Each week, campers dive into a new, exciting theme, engaging in activities that spark their imagination, build new skills, and encourage teamwork. Our dedicated staff create a supportive and inclusive environment where every camper feels welcome and motivated to try new things. Each week is packed with themed games, creative arts and crafts, outdoor activities, and memorable experiences that will have campers eagerly looking forward to each new day!

Weekly Themes:

• Circus: Step right up to the greatest show at camp! Learn juggling, create clown costumes, and try your hand at acrobatics as we explore the wonders of the circus world.
• Holiday: Celebrate holidays from around the world in a week of festive fun! From Halloween to New Year's, each day is a different celebration with themed crafts, games, and treats.
• Under the Sea: Dive deep into ocean adventures! Explore marine life, create ocean-themed art, and embark on underwater-themed challenges.
• Superheroes: Unleash your superpowers! Design your own superhero persona, participate in "hero training," and work together to solve camp "missions."
• Around the World: Take a journey across the globe as we explore different cultures, languages, and traditions through games, food, and creative projects.
• Sports: Get your game face on! Try out various sports, build team spirit, and compete in friendly matches while learning the value of teamwork and sportsmanship.
• Outer Space: Blast off into space for a week of cosmic exploration! Learn about planets, create space crafts, and go on an epic space-themed scavenger hunt.
• Flora and Fauna: Discover the beauty of nature! Learn about plants and animals, explore local ecosystems, and create nature-inspired art.
• Challengers: Push your limits and test your skills! Compete in exciting team challenges, obstacle courses, and problem-solving activities designed to build confidence and collaboration.

 Each week campers will have the opportunity to enjoy our Besse Pool on Mondays and Wednesdays, so don't forget your swimsuit!

Register HERE

🌻 Join Us This Summer at Arethusa Farm 4-H Camp! 🌻

Located on a beautiful 140-acre nonprofit farm in Litchfield, CT, Arethusa Farm 4-H Camp is more than just summer fun—it’s a hands-on journey into sustainable agriculture, animal care, and environmental science!

🧒 Open to youth ages 5–13

📅 10 weeks of weekday camps | June 16 – August 22, 2025

🕘 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM daily

• 🌿 Discovery Camps (First 6 weeks): Explore farm animals, horticulture, environmental science, ag mechanics, and more!
• 🐑 Specialty Camps (Last 4 weeks):Choose from Vet Science Camp or Farm Camp for a deeper dive into animal care and sustainable farming.

This camp is part of a larger mission to reconnect youth and families with the land, promote food security, and build a healthier, more resilient community.

🔗 Register now

📧 Questions? Email us at arethusafarm4Hcamp@gmail.com

🌐 Learn more: www.arethusafarmfoundation.org

Let’s grow, learn, and thrive—together! 🌾

Join us each month for one year as we explore 12 influential Presidents through selected biographies spanning from George Washington through John F. Kennedy.

About the Series:

When selecting biographies, we decided an author should only appear once on our list and that their work should be accessible. Each month, read the selected biography then join us as historian, author and teacher Peter Vermilyea leads the discussion exploring Presidential personalities, opportunities and failures, challenges, and legacies. Through lecture and discussion, we will delve deeper into our Presidential and shared history.

July Selection:

In July, we will be exploring Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow - A Pulitzer Prize winning book.

About the Presenter:

Peter Vermilyea teaches history at Housastonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, CT and at Western Connecticut State University. A graduate of Gettysburg College, he serves as the scholarship director of his alma mater’s Civil War Institute. He is the author or editor of five books and fifteen articles, most on aspects of Civil War history.

Physical books are available at OWL to borrow, and e-books and e-audio books are instantly available for OWL card holders.

The 2025 season of free concerts in the Park, produced by the Fine Arts Connection of Thomaston, Inc., continues on Monday, July 7th at 7 pm with a concert by the Eran Troy Danner Band. The concerts are returning to the renovated Seth Thomas Park on South Main St. in Thomaston. Each concert begins at 7 pm and concludes at 8:30 pm. The Fine Arts Connection of Thomaston’s concert series is indebted to the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation for core funding.

Eran Troy Danner is a blues musician based in Connecticut. He has been a notable figure in the local blues scene since he started performing in 1998. ETD is known for his work both as an acoustic solo performer and a band leader, playing at various venues across the state. He caught the blues bug after seeing Johnny Winter perform live in New Haven in 1986. His dedication to the genre has earned him accolades, including winning the Connecticut Blues Society's Blues Challenge in 2010 and the Society's award for the Best Self-Produced Blues CD in 2011 with his album "Lucky Day". He won the CTBS Challenge again in 2025 and will be representing Connecticut in the Nationals in Memphis, TN in January 2026. ETD has opened up for legendary performers such as Johnny Winter, BB King, Robert Cray, Walter Trout and Samantha Fish, and he maintains an active performance schedule with about 180 shows a year.

Alcohol is not permitted in the Park by Town ordinance. Bring your lawn chair, your friends, and your love of music to Seth Thomas Park on Monday, July 7th!! All ages welcome, and the Park is handicap-accessible. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to Thomaston High School, 185 Branch Road. Visit the FACT website for further information or weather alerts concerning concert

relocation: www.thomastonfinearts.com.

The Youth Civic Challenge empowers teams of 13–18 year-olds to define and tackle real-world issues. Through this program, participants learn to rethink societal structures, reframe challenges, and implement lasting solutions.Youth Civic Challenge invites you to be part of an exclusive, 4-week summer course designed to empower driven individuals with the tools, knowledge, and network to drive positive change. 

The Morris Public Library offers Story and Music Time for participants ages 9 mo. - 5 y.o every Tuesday at 10 am.

Please call to ask if a spot is available: 860-567-7440.

Sing songs, read a story, do a craft!

Learn about and see forest management practices at Deer Pond Farm with Sanctuary Manager/Naturalist and CT certified forester Lori Lichtenauer. The history of Connecticut’s forests will be discussed and how past land management has impacted the forests of today. We will hike about 4 miles to some of our management areas where we will discuss how sustainable forestry practices can increase wildlife biodiversity and overall health of forested landscapes. 

Register at https://www.ctaudubon.org/2025/05/registration-deer-pond-farm-bird-nature-walk/ 

This program meets at 57 Wakeman Hill Rd., Sherman, CT 06784 

$5 members, $10 non-members   

Join us for Story Time on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 for new books, free play, and fun crafts!

Join the Monthly Critique sessions at Five Points Arts Center – Bring in an original work for personal, constructive feedback and discussion with Founder and Executive Director, Judy McElhone. All skill levels and mediums are welcome!

Free and open to the public

Tuesday, July 8

2 – 3 PM

Five Points Arts Center

MORE INFO & RSVP

Level up your paper crafting skills with this intermediate workshop all about Cricut and Cricut Design Space! Have you cut a project or two on the Cricut but want to learn more about what this machine and software can do? Join us for this workshop and learn some more advanced features of the Design Space software as you create your greeting card. We’ll cover how to find, resize, and combine images from the Design Space library; how to use the group, weld, and slice tools in Cricut Design Space; and how to use the cut, score, and draw functionality of the Cricut machine.

Ages 18+.

Registration Required: https://www.gunnlibrary.org/calendar/beyond-the-basics-designing-cards-with-cricut/