Nature vacation camps; St. Luke’s hosts Pampered Chef; Speckers to perform; and a talk on chestnut trees

Children’s vacation camps in Grafton

The Nature Museum in Grafton is heading out into the woods and fields over April break with three one-day school vacation camps for children ages 3 to 12.

On Tuesday, April 16, registered 6- to 8-year-olds will experience the water cycle and learn about conservation in “Water, Water Everywhere.” Wednesday, April 17, campers ages 8 to 12 will track the journey of a raindrop through science experiments, role-playing, and games as participants in “Raindrop’s Adventure.” Both camps take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The camp fee is $36 for Nature Museum members and $40 for non-members. Campers should dress for the weather; wear sturdy walking shoes, bring lunch and a refillable water bottle.

On Thursday, April 18, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., children ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers may attend “Get Growing!” and learn about the parts of a seed and how a seedling grows. Camp is free for Museum members and costs $7 per child for non-members.

Pre-register at www.nature-museum.org or (802) 843-2111.

St. Luke’s host Pampered Chef

Amaret Johnson will demonstrate Pampered Chef cooking tools and entertaining products 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20 in Willard Hall at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Chester. The event is to benefit St. Luke’s church-sponsored local and area outreach programs.

This presentation will feature special dessert recipes, games and prizes. After the demonstration, people are encouraged to order from the supplied Pampered Chef catalogs. Items ordered will deliver in time for Mother’s Day.

For those who cannot attend, ordering information and a link to Johnson’s Pampered Chef website, will be found at the church website: www.stlukesepiscopalvt.org/special%20%20events.html.

John Specker, left, and his daughter Ida Mae.

Free fiddle concert at Andover Town Hall

John Specker and daughter Ida Mae will present their next “Concert of Traditional American Fiddle Music” from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturday, April 20, in the Andover Town Hall, at 953 Weston-Andover Road in Andover.

A family-oriented program, admission is free and open to the public. For more information visit www.thespeckers.com.

Chestnut trees highlighted in talk

Grace Knight of the American Chestnut Foundation, and Forrest Hammond, of Vermont Fish and Wildlife, will lead a discussion on the American chestnut tree from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25,  in the new meeting hall of the Gethsemane Episcopal Church, 89 Depot St. in Proctorsville. This is the latest in the Cavendish Community and Conservation Association’s “Walk and Talk Series” of events.

Knight, of Weathersfield, will present a slide show, sharing what the foundation has done to breed a blight-resistant chestnut tree, where the they are in their progress and how landowners might help with the cultivation of American chestnut trees. Chestnut flour cookies and a beverage will be served.

The “Walk and Talk Series” is designed to present topics of general ecological interest to the public in the Cavendish area. Anyone may attend and the presentation is free.  For more information contact Robin Timko at (802) 226-7736.

— Compiled by Susan Lampe-Wilson