StoneRidge senior living community in Mystic has signed on as a major sponsor for Celebrate Earth!, a new series of programs at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center scheduled for April.

“We are so pleased to have StoneRidge as a sponsor of Celebrate Earth,” said Maggie Jones, executive director of the Nature Center. “As our neighbor on Pequotsepos Road, we have had a long and strong relationship with StoneRidge and its residents, many of whom are members of the Nature Center.”

Traditionally, the Nature Center celebrates Earth Day in April with programs and special events in the week surrounding the official date, April 22. This year, Jones said, the decision was made to use the full month of April to focus on the planet, conservation, and living green.

“StoneRidge Senior Living Community is privileged to support Celebrate Earth this year. The residents of StoneRidge consider the mission of DPNC vital to our greater community and so it is natural for us to support DPNC now and in the future,”  said Dorothy Schrage, Marketing Director at StoneRidge.

In presenting the check to the Nature Center on March 24, StoneRidge residents Lois Wodell Poinier and Ruth Walsh, chair of the Residents’ Council, said that the Nature Center and StoneRidge are more than just neighbors.

“We have purchased bird seed to keep our feathered friends well fed these cold months. We have reveled in the superior tours led by Maggie,” said Walsh. “We have hiked trails and explored and delighted in all we have seen. We have long applauded your work to educate one and all from preschoolers to adults, as well as to appreciate the wonder of our planet Earth.

“We at StoneRidge are honored to partner with Charter Oak Federal Credit Union and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital as the Nature Center celebrates Earth for the entire month of April. It is our honor to help foster a legacy of good stewardship for and with you.”

During Celebrate Earth!, in addition to hikes and walks, there are family programs on porcupines, honeybees, reptiles and amphibians. The Center is hosting lectures by outside experts on narwhals and shorebird conservation efforts. A ‘Back to Basics’ series for adults offering classes on cheese making, soap-making, and leatherwork is scheduled. Also, on Earth Day itself, a BioBlitz will take place all  day. During this mini-bioblitz, groups will tally up and catalog all the plants and animals that live at the Nature Center.  DPNC staff will help with identifying flora and fauna. This is a fun activity for families.

The month closes out with the annual Concert for Conservation, an afternoon of classical music performed by violinist (and Stonington native) Hilary Castle and special guests to benefit the Nature Center’s educational programs. The concert is 2 p.m., Sunday, April 26 at Union Baptist Church, Mystic.

For more information on all Celebrate Earth programs and to register, visit https://dpnc.org/celebrate-earth/ or call 860-536-1216.