Hawley Students Learn About National Parks From Local Park Ranger

BY ELIZA HALLABECK

As part of the Hawley Elementary School fourth graders learning block, students gathered in the school’s gymnasium on Friday, June 4, to listen to Emily Bryant, the park ranger at Weir Farm National Park, which straddles property in Ridgefield and Wilton.

“If you have never been to a National Park,” said Ms Bryant to the students, “now is the time to come. You should come by Weir Farm. It is only about half an hour away.”

Physical Education teacher Doug Michlovitz arranged for Ms Bryant to visit the school on Friday. It was the second time Ms Bryant has spoken to students at the school. When given the chance to bring in someone to speak to students for the enrichment block, Mr Michlovitz said he wanted to introduce the students to something not related to physical education.

An avid hiker, Mr Michlovitz said he wanted to give Hawley students a virtual tour of the National Parks. Weir Farm is the only National Park in the state of Connecticut, and, he said, he thought it would be nice for Ms Bryant to share information with the students.

“National Parks protect things you won’t find anywhere outside of the United States,” said Ms Bryant during her presentation. She listed some of these things as the Statue of Liberty, Mount Washington, and the Grand Canyon. Other things National Parks protect include oceans, lakes, animals, and historic places, according to the park ranger.

“National parks are there because we want people from generation to generation to enjoy them,” she said.

Ms Bryant shared photos from National Parks, including Weir Farm, to describe the different types of parks and the things they protect.

Before it was turned into a National Park, Weir Farm was the home of the American Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir, who acquired the 153-acre property in Branchville in 1882.

According to a pamphlet about Weir Farm, until Weir and other American artists turned to Impressionism, “nature’s beauty was often depicted as grandiose, with paintings of vast river valleys and western mountains. Impressionism offered a new vision of ourselves and nature. The first American art movement to look inward, it examined everyday experiences and appreciated nature found close to home.”

The home built on the property passed through the family, and later was owned by artist Sperry Andrews and his wife Doris.

Congress designated the property as Weir Farm National Historic Site in 1990. Mr Andrews lived at the home until 2005, when he passed away, according to Ms Bryant.

“We are a park that talks about art,” she said, “but we do have wildlife and trails.”

Ms Bryant encouraged the students to visit the park, earn their junior ranger badges, and contact her for a guided hike of the park.

“I like working with people,” she said. “Every day is different at my job.”

Weir Farm, according to Ms Bryant, also loans out art supplies to visitors so they can take part in the site’s artistic tradition.