The Future Now Expo is an engaging community event that offers an environment where attendees can speak face to face with exhibitors who have demonstrated a commitment to saving our planet. Additionally, one can attend an informative lecture, watch a documentary film, participate in an action-oriented workshop and enjoy live music. This all-day event is free, walk-able and family-friendly. There will be something for everyone!

Program/Workshop Schedule

9:00 a.m.                          Three-Peaks Challenge Annual Kick-off                         Location: Steep Rock Preserve
A volunteer hike leader will be at the parking lot of all three SRA Preserves (Steep Rock, Macricostas, Hidden Valley) to kick off this summer’s hiker’s challenge.                   

10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m.    Forestry Practices for Habitat Enhancement                  Location: Hidden Valley Preserve
                                         Steep Rock Association - Rory Larson
Steep Rock Association’s Land Manager and Land Steward will lead an informative hike through one of its habitat enhancement sites.  Participants will learn what management methods are employed to create and improve habitat for a variety of wildlife.  The site in Hidden Valley Preserve that will be visited focuses on early successional habitat and is only a short drive from the Expo and a short hike to the site from the parking lot.

11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.       Keynote by Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty               Location: Town Hall Steps

11:15 a.m. - noon                Children's Animal Mask-Making Workshop              Location: Art Association
The books This is Earth and Trapped! A Whale’s Rescue (by Wendell Minor) will be read by WMS teacher Jamie D’Amico.  Children will then add creative final touches to various Endangered Species masks before donning them and heading outside for the Endangered Species Parade. (Ages 4 to 12)

11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.       Wildlife and Connecticut’s Changing Landscape       Location: Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
                                               Nora Hulton, CT Certified Master Wildlife Conservationist
Landscapes are dynamic ecosystems. Nora will describe the history of Connecticut’s landscape and the impact of change on wildlife populations. She will include discussion of the major species in our local landscape, the factors affecting their habitats, some challenges we face in managing them, and provide suggestions for what people can do to make a difference.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.       Book Signing with Wendell Minor                             Location: Hickory Stick Table
Children's Book Authors Wendell and Florence Minor will be signing copies of their books, "This is the Earth," "If You Were a Penguin," and "Trapped! A Whale's Rescue."

11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.       Get the BLEEP Outside!!!                                            Location: Workshop Tent
                                               Tim Walsh
This interactive talk will spark the internal fire of wonder and healing the outdoors provides. Through awareness activities we will explore how shifts in perception, combined with direct experience, unlock the system of sustainability and wellness that surrounds us. Tim Walsh is a mental health professional, outdoor educator, and life coach, with more than 20 years of experience leading programs for young adults, adolescents, and families. Tim has spent decades cultivating his expertise in program development, and is a thought leader in adventure-based counseling and recovery. To learn more about Tim, please visit www.timwalshconsulting.com.

Noon                                     Children’s “Parade of the Endangered Species/Animals”              Location: Art Association

12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.      Connecticut's Water Planning                                     Location: Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
                                              Margaret Miner, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
Help protect all the waters in Connecticut, and learn how you can support, promote and practice good water policies and habits.  

12:45 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.        Envisioning Washington as a Pollinator Landscape   Location: Workshop Tent
                                            Laura Rissolo, Land People Habitat
Come be part of an interactive workshop that explores how independent landholders can join forces and create a pollinator-friendly Washington. Participants will develop a map that aspires to provide contiguous habitat across the town and can pledge their own properties as pollinator havens. Dig into the effort to revive pollinator populations—impactful nectar and pollen plants will be available to take home. Laura Rissolo can be contacted at: landpeoplehabitat@gmail.com.

1:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.          Introduction to Permaculture                                      Location: Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
                                              Cynthia Rabinowitz, Certified Permaculture Design Consultant
Cynthia will give a brief illustrated overview of permaculture principles, ethics and primary design principles. She is a founding director of CT-NOFA, has been a consulting soil and wetland scientist for 35 years and a horticulturist and ecological landscape designer. She has taught in the graduate programs at Southern Connecticut State University (Environmental Design), the University of New Haven (Wetlands Ecology), and guest lectured at The Graduate Institute (Permaculture), and is available for consultations and lectures.  Cynthia can be reached at Cynthia@hgconnsoil.com.

1:45 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.          Eco-Landscaping                                                            Location: Workshop Tent
                                              Abbey Taylor, Everything Botanical LLC
You can help save the planet in your own backyard… literally! Join Abbey as she shares ways homeowners can improve the stewardship of their land without any additional cost or hassle. Abbey is the plant whisperer! At the age of 8, this Roxbury, Connecticut native starting growing and selling plants, and hasn’t stopped. In college, she focused on combining her love of the environment with business management, and ultimately formed the Washington CT-based organic landscaping company and nursery, Everything Botanical LLC. To learn more about Abbey, visit www.everythingbotanical.com.

2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.          Passive House Design                                                   Location: Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens
                                              Hicks Stone, Stone Architecture
Passive House design seeks to use simple and inexpensive construction methods to reduce building energy consumption by 90% while improving the environment and making our public buildings and our homes more healthful and comfortable. In this slide lecture, Hicks Stone, a Roxbury-based architect and a certified passive house designer, will review the principles of passive house design, and discuss how these can be easily incorporated into both new and existing building construction. To learn more about Stone Architecture, visit www.stone-architecture.com.

2:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.          Composting 101                                                          Location: Workshop Tent
                                            Rae Moore, The Traveling Farmer
Composting happens naturally all the time in your yard, garden and maybe even your garbage can. This workshop will explain how organic materials breaks down naturally and will present options for harnessing the power of composting in your backyard. Learn to reduce food waste and nourish your garden at the same time.  Contact info: travelingfarmerCT@gmail.com.

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.          Closing Remarks by Jack Gilpin                                Location: Town Hall Steps
An accomplished movie/stage actor and current Pastor at St. John’s Episcopal Church in New Milford

Music Schedule

11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.               Native American Flutist Allan Madahbee - Sponsored by IAIS       Location: Farmers' Market

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.                 Two Dollar Hat                                                                  Location: Town Hall Steps

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.                   African Drumming by John Marshall & Group             Location: Workshop Tent

Ongoing

Documentary Film             Hometown Habitat, Stories of Bringing Nature Home          Location: Town Hall Lobby
                                            Movie: https://themeadowproject.com/
90-minute film broken into chapters. The message: All of us have the power to support habitat for wildlife and bring natural beauty to our patch of the earth. The goal: to build a new army of habitat heroes. For more information, please see the review: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/07/book-reviews/film-review-hometown-habitat-stories-of-bringing-nature-home/

Wellness Workshops              Valley Spirit Co-op                                         Location: Workshop Tent

Video Message                        Chris Murphy Video Message                       Location: Town Hall Lobby

Invasives Exhibit                    Local Invasive Plants                                     Location: Town Hall Lobby

Date: June 24, 2017 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Location: Bryan Hall Plaza | 2 Bryan Hall Plaza, Washington Depot, CT | (860) 717-0819

Event website: futurenowexpo.org