Event Types: Educational

The Youth Leadership Initiative is a program designed to help teenagers become future Global Leaders

The Youth Leadership Initiative for rising 12th graders from Ridgefield or Danbury

• Are you a rising 12th grader from Ridgefield or Danbury?
• Are you ready to tap into your power as a change leader?
• To collaborate across diverse communities?
• To shape a future in which people and planet can flourish?

When: July 8 – 26, 2024 from 9 am – 3 pm (Monday – Friday)
What is the Cost? This program is free!
The Youth Leadership Initiative is sponsored by the State of Connecticut.

Application Process: Due 5/15; announcement of cohort by 5/30.

Learn more

An Evening with the Youth and Adult Poets Laureate of Connecticut.  Please register for the Zoom link.  

Poetry month continues at the Ridgefield Library!  Join us via Zoom on Friday, April 19th at 7:00 PM for a virtual reading and talkback with Connecticut State Poet Laureate Antoinette Brim-Bell and Connecticut 2023-24 Youth Poet Laureate Mercuri Lam.

The two honored poets will read from recent works, share hopes for their roles as laureates, and answer questions from the audience – and each other.  Click here to read the poets’ bios.

Have you always wanted to learn to play mahjong/mah-jongg?

This April, for four Sunday afternoons 1:00-4:30 PM, Antonio Villanueva will conduct free lessons at the Ridgefield Library on how to play this table game that involves skill, strategy and luck. Previous knowledge of American Mahjong is a plus but not necessary.  The dates are Sunday, April 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. Please register to attend, as space is limited.  Most people will just need one session to have a good understanding of the game.

Mah-Jongg is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. The game and its regional variants are widely played throughout East and Southeast Asia and have also become popular in Western countries. Asia Pacific Rummy Mahjong is a variation that is played and influenced by Illonggos in the Philippines, the Taiwanese in Berkeley, and the British in Singapore among others in the Pacific Rim region.

This peer led support group is for caregivers, family & friends of LGBTQ individuals. This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. This group is run jointly by Ridgefield CT Pride and PFLAG Waterbury.

For more information about the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group or for information on our LGBTQ Youth Support Group which meets on the 1st Monday of every month via zoom. For information email supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.

On Wednesday, April 24, at 6:30 p.m., the Ridgefield Historical Society is pleased to present Mike Allen, the creator of the podcast Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut’s Beaten Path (amazingtalesct.com), who will give the illustrated presentation, “How the Battle of Ridgefield Impacted the Revolutionary War”, at St. Stephen’s Church North Hall, 353 Main Street. A reception will follow the lecture. Tickets, which are limited and nonrefundable, are $15 for Members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and $20 for Non-Members.

Mike Allen has built his podcasting career on his curiosity about the history of his home state. And since he lives now in Danbury, the British invasion in 1777 has been of great interest, from the landing of General William Tryon and his troops at Compo Beach, to the sacking of Danbury, to the Battle of Ridgefield. Allen explains, “In 1777, during the early years of the Revolutionary War, the British made their first foray into inland Connecticut. Their mission was to eliminate the Patriot supply depot at Danbury. On their way back to their waiting ships off Compo Beach at Long Island Sound, they encountered fierce and unexpected resistance during the Battle of Ridgefield. In this presentation, you’ll hear how Ridgefield came to play its significant role that Sunday and why it had an impact on British strategy going forward.”

Get tickets

Dyslexia is the most well-researched and best-understood specific learning disability.  However, dyslexia often co-occurs with other learning difficulties that impact individuals personally and academically.

Join us at the Ridgefield Library on Wednesday, April 24th at 6:30 PM as we welcome presenter Margie B. Gillis, Ed.D to describe new insights about different aspects of dyslexia and what the implications are, so families can support their children to have optimum outcomes at home and school.

Learn more and register.

This program is made possible by the Couri Family Education Fund.

Why are native plants so critical to a healthy ecosystem? What happens when non-native invasive plants edge out our natives? Join us at the Ridgefield Library on Thursday, April 25th at 7:00 PM to learn from the Ridgefield Conservation Commission about the value (and beauty) of native plants and how we can protect and restore natives in Ridgefield.

Presenters include two members of the Ridgefield Conservation Commission:  Roberta Barbieri and Jana Hogan. To read their bios, visit HERE.

Please register to join us.

Saturday, April 27th @ 10:30, 11, 11:30 and 12

Experience the American Revolution by taking a tour down Main Street and meet costumed interpreters who will bring history to life and share their tales from the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777! On Saturday, April 27, 2024 the Ridgefield Historical Society will host one hour long walking tours at 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, and 12:00pm to commemorate the 247th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield. This was the only inland engagement of the Revolutionary War fought in Connecticut and we will commemorate the courage of a vastly outnumbered Patriot force led by Generals David Wooster, Benedict Arnold, and Gold Selleck Silliman, who confronted a force of 2,000 British troops that had burned Danbury.

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Bring the whole family for a one-of-a-kind hiking and tasting experience! At secret locations along the Woodcock trails we’ll delight your senses with craft brews and sweet sips for all ages plus animal encounters, treats and treasure hunts, live music and food for purchase from the Mobile Pie pizza truck. Even furry family members will enjoy some goodies along the trek!

Visit the Frothy Forage event page to check out our new 2024 event partners and learn more about this special event.

Get tickets

Have you always wanted to learn to play mahjong/mah-jongg?

This April, for four Sunday afternoons 1:00-4:30 PM, Antonio Villanueva will conduct free lessons at the Ridgefield Library on how to play this table game that involves skill, strategy and luck. Previous knowledge of American Mahjong is a plus but not necessary.  The dates are Sunday, April 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th. Please register to attend, as space is limited.  Most people will just need one session to have a good understanding of the game.

Mah-Jongg is a tile-based game that was developed in the 19th century in China and has spread throughout the world since the early 20th century. The game and its regional variants are widely played throughout East and Southeast Asia and have also become popular in Western countries. Asia Pacific Rummy Mahjong is a variation that is played and influenced by Illonggos in the Philippines, the Taiwanese in Berkeley, and the British in Singapore among others in the Pacific Rim region.

Join us for a fun Family friendly event – a scavenger hunt at The Meetinghouse on Sunday, April 28th from 2:00-4:00pm.

Enjoy cider and cookies afterward! This event is free.

Learn more

Join Western CT Coalition for an immersive training that equips you with life-saving skills to prevent suicide and become a Merchant of Hope.

In this training, you will learn to:

• Recognize warning signs of suicide;
• Use the ‘Question, Persuade, Refer’ (QPR) approach to connect individuals to help; and
• Become a beacon of hope for others.

Register is required. For more information, contact Kathy Hanley at KHanley@wctcoalition.org or Abby Maldonado at AMaldonado@wctcoalition.org.

RSVP HERE

The Youth Leadership Initiative is a program designed to help teenagers become future Global Leaders

The Youth Leadership Initiative for rising 12th graders from Ridgefield or Danbury

• Are you a rising 12th grader from Ridgefield or Danbury?
• Are you ready to tap into your power as a change leader?
• To collaborate across diverse communities?
• To shape a future in which people and planet can flourish?

When: July 8 – 26, 2024 from 9 am – 3 pm (Monday – Friday)
What is the Cost? This program is free!
The Youth Leadership Initiative is sponsored by the State of Connecticut.

Application Process: Due 5/15; announcement of cohort by 5/30.

Learn more

The quiet town of Redding has been home to many talented and renowned artists, authors, and actors for generations, including Leonard Bernstein, Jessica Tandy, and Mark Twain. Join us to see a collection of their historic homes, highlighted with special interior stops along the way! And take a look at our other April Artists, Authors, and Actors tours in Fairfield County. (we’re going into five homes and passing another 15-20)

This is a one-time-only event, and space is limited.

The bus start/stop will be in the Redding area. Specific location details will be sent via email prior to the tour.

Register here

This peer led support group is for caregivers, family & friends of LGBTQ individuals. This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. This group is run jointly by Ridgefield CT Pride and PFLAG Waterbury.

For more information about the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group or for information on our LGBTQ Youth Support Group which meets on the 1st Monday of every month via zoom. For information email supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.

Curiosity will give way to hands-on experience on Saturday, June 1st from 9:00 to 11:00 am when Ridgefield Academy welcomes children of all ages to its annual Touch-A-Truck event!

A variety of construction and emergency vehicles will be on location at RA and children are encouraged to touch, climb, and learn! Touch-A-Truck will feature approximately eight different types of vehicles and all will be open for exploration. Interested families are welcome to learn more about Ridgefield Academy/Landmark Preschool during their visit. Members of our faculty and staff will be available to answer questions and give tours of RA/LP’s impressive facilities.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place at Ridgefield Academy’s main campus in Ridgefield, CT.

Register here

Save the date for Ridgefield’s 5th Annual Pride in the Park celebration on Saturday, June 1st! More details to come.

Learn more

This peer led support group is for caregivers, family & friends of LGBTQ individuals. This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. This group is run jointly by Ridgefield CT Pride and PFLAG Waterbury.

For more information about the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group or for information on our LGBTQ Youth Support Group which meets on the 1st Monday of every month via zoom. For information email supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.

Celebrate community and independence at Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center on July 4th! More details to come.

Learn more

This peer led support group is for caregivers, family & friends of LGBTQ individuals. This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. This group is run jointly by Ridgefield CT Pride and PFLAG Waterbury.

For more information about the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group or for information on our LGBTQ Youth Support Group which meets on the 1st Monday of every month via zoom. For information email supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.

This peer led support group is for caregivers, family & friends of LGBTQ individuals. This group meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month via Zoom. This group is run jointly by Ridgefield CT Pride and PFLAG Waterbury.

For more information about the LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group or for information on our LGBTQ Youth Support Group which meets on the 1st Monday of every month via zoom. For information email supportgroup@ridgefieldctpride.com.