Two hundred years ago the American Chestnut began a catastrophic population decline. More than 4 billion trees were lost along the United States eastern seaboard and Connecticut woodlands were hit especially hard. Today, modern science and a highly committed group of volunteers are helping to re-establish the species. Join us for a presentation by Jack Swatt, President, Connecticut Chapter American Chestnut Foundation, followed by a field trip and short hike at McLean Game Refuge, Barn Door Hills Entrance, to locate a specimen or two.

Register HERE. Then look for an email from Engaged Patrons. It may include changes to the program location or other important information. Drop-ins are welcome if space allows.

Note:  The formal part of the presentation will take place inside Granby Public Library. After the PowerPoint presentation ends, attendees are invited to continue to the outdoor portion of the program by providing their own transportation to Granby’s Salmon Brook Street entrance of McLean Game Refuge less than one mile from the Library. This is a change from the earlier announced field trip starting point at the Barn Door Hills entrance. You are encouraged to carpool if possible. The group will walk with the presenter from the Salmon Brook Street (Rtes.10/202) parking lot into the Refuge to find American Chestnut specimens. The field trip portion of the program is expected to last less than 30 minutes. We recommend appropriate footwear, clothing, and bug repellant for an easy, early evening trail hike.

Sponsored by Granby Public Library, Granby Land Trust, and McLean Game Refuge.

About the presenter:

Jack Swatt has been a member of The American Chestnut Foundation since 1993, and has served on the Board since 2017. He is the current President of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation. Jack planted several Restoration Chestnuts on his property in Wolcott, Connecticut and monitors several native American Chestnut trees found in Naugatuck State Forest. He is an active volunteer for a number of environmental and nature organizations including, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) as a monitor of wintering eagles and Whip-poor-wills, Audubon Connecticut, New Hampshire Audubon, the Loon Preservation Committee (New Hampshire), and the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (AKA the Forest Society).

Jack received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Connecticut (1983), an M.S. in Chemistry from Central Connecticut State University (1992) and graduated from the Albany Medical College Physician Assistant Program (1996). Jack was most recently employed by The Hospital of Central Connecticut as a Physician Assistant in Hospitalist Medicine.

For more information about the Connecticut Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation visit https://acf.org/ct/