NEA's Big Read

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Eastern’s Big Read, 2024

Andrew Krivak, The Bear

We aim to connect literature and artistic creation to the environment, challenging participants to imagine a future that is sustainable. We aim to connect Eastern students and members of the public to our natural surroundings, helping to promote belonging in our region. Our program is rooted in the belief that the arts, humanities and sciences each offer unique perspectives that, when combined, let us understand the fragility of human life and create a powerful force to address environmental issues and imagine an alternative future. In addition to outdoor activities public events include creative writing workshops and author talks.

Check back frequently for new events and updates.

2025 Events

Books and Brews: The Bear by Andrew Krivak

Tuesday ,January 21st 6:00 - 8:00 PM

In an Edenic future, a girl and her father live close to the land in the shadow of a lone mountain and possess a few remnants of civilization: some books, a pane of glass, a set of flint and steel, a comb. The father teaches the girl how to fish and hunt, the secrets of the seasons and the stars. He is preparing her for an adulthood in harmony with nature, for they are the last two left. But when the girl suddenly finds herself alone in an unknown landscape, it is a bear that will lead her back home through a vast wilderness, which offers the greatest lessons of all, if she can only learn to listen. Borrow the book from the Willimantic Library, or your favorite library, and please sign up for this program. A cautionary tale of human fragility, of love and loss, The Bear is a stunning tribute to the beauty of nature’s dominion and was selected for this year’s Big Read at Eastern Connecticut State University.

Please Register: https://www.willimanticlibrary.org/event/books-and-brews-the-bear-by-andrew-krivak/

Willibrew 967 Main St.,Willimantic, CT 06226-2330

Creative Writing Workshop — CT Audubon Society Sanctuary at Trail Wood, 93 Kenyon Road, Hampton

Sunday, April 6th 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Join Trail Wood writing residency alums Debbie Slack and Katherine Hauswirth for a creative nature writing workshop at the Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary at Trail Wood. The workshop will start with a brief reflection on ideas and themes in Teale’s writings and in Andrew Krivak’s The Bear. Then participants will be invited to sit quietly outdoors or walk the trails, jotting down observations, thoughts, and inspirations. The session will wrap up with an opportunity to share the afternoon’s nature writings, including moments of clarity, connection, curiosity, and wonder.

Please register for this event by visiting the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret, 218 Day Road, Pomfret Center, or calling (860) 928-4948. The rain date will be the following Sunday, April 13 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm.

2024 Events

Willimantic Library – 55 Bridge Street, Willimantic

Friday, September 13th 8:00 - 9:30 AM

In conjunction with Eastern’s Big Read of The Bear, come see what birds are still in CT in the fall. We’ll meet at the trailhead near the Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum at 55 Bridge St. If it rains, the rain date will be next week: Friday, Sept. 20 at the same time. Please sign up for this program by visiting or calling the library: 860-465-3079

Mansfield Public Library Presentation – 54 Warrenville Rd, Mansfield Center

Monday, September 16th 11:00 AM

Black Bears in Connecticut: This presentation focuses on the history of black bears in Connecticut, an overview of black bear habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction and current research efforts. It also provides practical recommendations for optimum coexistence with our black bear population. Black bear artifacts are also shared with the audience.

Public Big Read Program Kick-Off Event – Student Center Theatre, Eastern

Wednesday, September 18th 3:00 – 4:00 PM

Emily Todd, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and Patty Szczys, Executive Director of the Institute for Sustainability will introduce this year's Big Read, The Bear, which explores the relationship between the last humans and their environment in the mountains of New England. Todd and Szczys will describe the goals for this year's program, which focuses on how the intersections between the arts, humanities, and sciences can inspire our community to build a sustainable future. This year's Big Read programming aims to facilitate partnerships across the broader community to connect with and understand more fully where we live. Join us to preview the schedule of events, sign up for book discussions, meet community partners, and get your free copy of the book!

Hike Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire – Experience the mountain that inspired The Bear

Sunday, September 29th 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM

To reserve your spot for this free trip or to get more information, please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/r/eahZvRwiuU

Fungi of the New England Forest: A foray of edible, medicinal, and poisonous mushrooms – Eastern’s Arboretum, meet at Student Center Room 217

Tuesday, October 1st 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Join Dr. Jonathan Hulvey, Eastern Biology Professor, and his students for an event inspired by the setting of The Bear and program theme where we live. Forage for mushroom fungi in the Arboretum. This easy walk will include identification tips and natural history of fungi. Meet in the Student Center, Room 217. Parking garages are located on Charter Oak Road where public parking is welcomed.

Book Discussion in the Park - Philip Lauter Park, Willimantic

Wednesday, October 9th 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Join us at the Philip Lauter Park pavilion for an outdoor book discussion of The Bear, (rain or shine). Come talk about it while enjoying the nature around us. The pavilion is right by the Natchaug River, next to the Skatepark and Thread City Family Garden. 625 Jackson St, Willimantic, CT (1.4 miles from the clock tower).

Organizer: Willimantic Public Library. No registration required.

Edible Plant Walk – Eastern’s Arboretum, meet at Student Center Room 217

Thursday, October 10th 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Join Dr. Bryan Connolly, Eastern’s Botanist, for an event inspired by the setting of The Bear and program theme where we live. This easy walk will focus on the natural history and identification of local edible plants. Special effort will be made to identify the plants specifically named in the book, but you’ll glean information about native and invasive plants along the way. Meet in the Student Center, Room 217. Parking garages are located on Charter Oak Road where public parking is welcomed.

The Last Green Valley Walktober Events

For details and updates please check TLGV website https://thelastgreenvalley.org/explore/walktober/

Inspired by the transformative journey across New England in The Bear. This series of eight walks span the length of The Last Green Valley.

Wednesday, September 25th 5:00 PM - Dingly Dell Opacum Land Trust

Thursday, October 3rd 10:00 AM - Breakneck Loop Bigelow Hollow State Park

Wednesday, October 9th 10:00 AM - Tri-state Marker Air Line State Park Trail

Thursday, October 17th 2:00 PM - Natchaug State Forest Loop Trail Natchaug State Forest

Thursday, October 23rd 2:00 PM - Hop River State Park Trail

Thursday, October 24th 10:00 AM - Quinebaug River Trout Hatchery Quinnebaug River Trout Hatchery

Wednesday, October 30th 10:00 AM - Lebanon Town Green with Lebanon Historical Society

Thursday, November 7th 10:00 AM - Tri-Town Ridgeline Forest Preserve Avalonia

Naturalist in the Green Valley – Connecticut Audubon Trail Wood Sanctuary, 93 Kenyon Road, Hampton, CT 02647

Saturday, October 12th 1:00pm

As part of The Last Green Valley’s Walktober and the NEA Big Read, join us for a guided tour of local naturalist and writer Edwin Way Teale’s Trail Wood Sanctuary. Visit Teale’s study and writing cabin, where much of his iconic work was created. During the visit, join in a group discussion connecting Teale’s appreciation for the natural world with themes from this year's Big Read book, The Bear by Andrew Kirvak. We'll explore common threads and conclude with a short stroll around Trail Wood. The walk is easy, but the ground is uneven.

Trail Wood Nature Journaling - Observing Fall

Saturday, November 2nd 10:00 am - Noon

In conjunction with Eastern Connecticut State University’s NEA Big Read program and The Connecticut Audubon Society.

Join us for a workshop on nature journaling, where we will explore the natural world through the lens of local naturalist and writer Edwin Way Teale. The workshop will begin with a look at examples from Teale's work, providing inspiration and insight into his observational and scientific approach to nature writing. We will take a short hike around Trail Wood, where participants will make their own observations, take notes, or sketch or photograph the sights they encounter. Concluding by sharing our observations.

Fee: $10.00 for members & ECSU students, $20.00 for nonmembers.
Register by calling (860) 928-4948 or email Trailwood@ctaudubon.org

Make a Day of It
10:00 am - Noon: Nature Journaling at Trail Wood
Noon - 2:00 pm: Pack a picnic or enjoy a Local Lunch at the Hampton General Store or in Pomfret at Vanilla Bean Café or Pizza 101
2:00 - 3:00 pm: A Book of Days: Nature Lovers, Their Journals and Phenology Author talk and Book Signing ay Center in Pomfret
3:30 - 5:00 pm: Last Light of Fall Walk at Trail Wood