Category Archives: Recent Programs

Stargazing Event with the CAC and MHAA – November 2 at 6PM

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Join us for an unforgettable evening of stargazing under the vast expanse of the night sky.

  • Learn about the wonders of the cosmos from experienced astronomers.
  • Explore the constellations and identify celestial objects with the help of telescopes.
  • Enjoy a night of camaraderie with fellow astronomy enthusiasts.
  • Use our telescopes or bring your own telescope.

The Kent Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association (MHAA) invite everyone for an evening of stargazing on the front lawn of the Town of Kent Town Center (Town Hall) on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 6PM

This free event will take place at the Town of Kent Town Center (Town Hall) and offers a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of the cosmos. Attendees will have the chance to:

  • Gaze at the night sky through telescopes provided by MHAA members, who will be on hand to answer questions and point out celestial objects.
  • Enjoy a “Naked-Eye Star Walk” led by an MHAA member. Using a green laser pointer, the guide will identify constellations, asterisms, and other fascinating sights visible to the naked eye or with binoculars.
  • Witness celestial wonders like planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even distant galaxies.
  • Learn a bit about the moon – The moon will be at New Moon, the best time for star gazing.

We encourage attendees to:

  • Dress appropriately for the Autumn evening temperature!
  • Bring your curiosity and questions!
  • Arrive a little earlier to explore the telescopes before dark!
  • Pack a warm beverage and red-light flashlights or headlamps for use during the event (regular, white-light flashlights will disrupt night vision).
  • Optional – Consider bringing their own telescope or binoculars.

Please be mindful that we will be observing dim objects in the dark and any standard, white-light flashlight can disrupt our night vision near the telescopes.  Please use red-light flashlights only (red light preserves our night vision). 

View of SpaceX Falcon9 rocket launch in the Southern sky

WHEN: Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 6:00PM

WHERE:
Town of Kent Town Center
25 Sybil’s Crossing
Kent Lakes, NY 10512

NOTE: This event will be cancelled in case of heavy cloud cover or rain.

For updates about this event, check back here at https://kentcac.info and follow us at our Kent Conservation Advisory Committee Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/townofkentnycac/)

Town Clean-up Day

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Townwide Clean-up Day is coming on Saturday, April 20, 2024, starting at 8 AM! Come join a team or build a team to help pick up litter and trash along our roadways. Supplies (trash bags, safety vests, and grabbers) will be available at the Town of Kent Police Station starting at 8 AM on Saturday. Have someone from your team come down to the police station to get your supplies.

Let’s all work together to keep our rural town looking beautiful!

Town of Kent Astronomy Night

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Join the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association (MHAA) for an astronomy evening at the Town of Kent Town Center. This will be a fun, relaxed evening of stargazing and viewing of little-seen objects in space through MHAA telescopes, wonderful for everyone of all ages and backgrounds. If conditions are good, MHAA members should be able to give you good views of planets and other distant celestial bodies more – star clusters, nebulae, and even far away galaxies. The moon will be at its most desirable for viewing. A “Naked-Eye Star Walk” will be presented by a member, using a green laser pointer to guide you through some of the more common constellations and asterisms, as well as point out anything interesting that you can find either by eye or easily with a manual telescope. 

Please be mindful that we will be observing dim objects in the dark – please do not use any white lights (flashlights, etc.) near the telescopes, use red flashlights only (red light preserves our night vision). 

View of SpaceX Falcon9 rocket launch in the Southern sky

Bring curiosity, questions, and even your own telescope or binoculars if you wish. MHAA volunteers will be happy to answer your questions, inspire your curiosity or help you understand your telescope.

WHEN: Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 5:00PM

WHERE:
Town of Kent Town Center
25 Sybil’s Crossing
Kent Lakes, NY 10512

For updates regarding postponement or cancellation, people can look at https://kentcac.info or the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee Facebook page

Conservation Advisory Committee Star Gazing Party

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Come see the universe with the Town of Kent CAC and Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association!

When:

Saturday, September 24, 2022, starting at 6:30 PM

Plan to arrive before sunset to get to know the CAC and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association along with their equipment, as well as get situated with the ground surface while enjoying some cider and donuts before it gets dark.

Where:

Town of Kent Town Center
25 Sybil’s Crossing
Kent Lakes, NY 10512

Join the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association (MHAA) for an evening of stargazing and viewing far away objects in space through MHAA’s member telescopes. If conditions are good, MHAA members should be able to give you good views of planets and more – Star Clusters, Nebulae, even distant Galaxies. The Moon will be at its most desirable for viewing. A “Naked-Eye Star Walk” will also be presented by an MHAA member using a green laser pointer to guide you through some of the more common constellations and asterisms as well as point out anything interesting that you can find either by eye or easily with a manual telescope.

While it is still warm weather, we are in Autumn now.  Please be certain to dress for the weather! Our advice is to dress as if you plan on the temperature being (at least) 10-15 degrees COOLER than you think it will be.

The Kent Conservation Foundation (thekcf.org) will provide cider donuts and apple cider for free!  Thank you to our donors for helping with this event.

During this event please be mindful that we will be observing dim objects in the dark.  We ask that you do not use any white lights (flashlights, etc.) near the telescopes. Red lights (ex., a LED headlamp with a red light or red LED flashlight) work great for seeing around the ground and where you are walking while preserving night vision for everyone viewing the night sky.

Bring your curiosity, your questions, and even your own telescope or binoculars if you wish.

For updates on this event or information regarding possible postponement or cancellation due to weather, please check back here at this web page, look for us on our Facebook page, the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee, or call 914 671 2764.  

Spring Woodcock Walk

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Drawing of an American woodcock sitting on an oak leaf

Naturalists from the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee (KCAC) and the Kent Conservation Foundation (KCF) will lead a walk through the Great Swamp Wildlife Management Area at 190 Cornwall Hill Road, Patterson, NY to enjoy spring delights – bird songs in the meadow at dusk, warm breezes, earthy scents and the chance to witness the bizarre, intricate and impressive mating flight of the American Woodcock, a small game bird that welcomes spring with a dance at dusk. 

Come learn about this extraordinary behavior and how to identify the sounds of this amazing bird. 

This is a short walk. We are walking from the parking area at 190 Cornwall Hill Road into the field and that is about it. Very suitable for most people to attend!

Date: Saturday, April 23, 2022

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm 

Location: Parking for this WMA is located at 190 Cornwall Hill Road, Patterson, NY 12563

Check the website (www.kentcac.info) or our Facebook page at Kent Conservation Advisory Committee for weather cancelation.  

Town of Kent CAC is Hosting a “Star Party”

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UPDATED – Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 5:30PM

NOTE:  Due to inclement weather coming in on Saturday, this event has been rescheduled to Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 5:30PM.

Join the Town of Kent Conservation Advisory Committee and the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association (MHAA) for an evening of stargazing and viewing far away objects in space through MHAA’s member telescopes. If conditions are good, MHAA members should be able to give you good views of planets and more – Star Clusters, Nebulae, even distant Galaxies. The Moon will be at its most desirable for viewing. A “Naked-Eye Star Walk” will also be presented by a MHAA member using a green laser pointer to guide you through some of the more common constellations and asterisms as well as point out anything interesting that you can find either by eye or easily with a manual telescope.

Please be certain to dress for the weather! Dress like you plan on the temperature being (at least) 20 degrees COLDER than you think it will be. You might bring something warm to drink (hot chocolate!) and an additional blanket.

During this event please be mindful that we will be observing dim objects in the dark.  We ask that you do not use any white lights (flashlights, etc.) near the telescopes. Red lights (ex., a LED headlamp with a red light or red LED flashlight) work great for seeing around the ground and where you are walking while preserving night vision for everyone viewing the night sky.

Bring your curiosity, your questions and even your own telescope or binoculars if you wish.

Come “See the Universe with your Own Eyes”!

When:

Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 5:30PM

Where:

Town of Kent Town Center
25 Sybil’s Crossing
Kent Lakes, NY 10512

For updates on this event or information regarding possible postponement or cancellation due to weather, please check back here at this web page, look us up at the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee Facebook page or call 914 671 2764.  

Night of the Fireflies

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Saturday June 23, 8:00 – 9:30 PM
Kent Town Center

Join members of the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee for a mid-summer’s eve stroll around the grounds of our own Town Center in search of fireflies and other seasonal wonders. After sunset fades and evening bird songs silence, citizen scientists will look for some of eight possible species of lightning bugs that can be found in Kent and discover how to read their signals. Learn how fireflies make light, their unusual life history, and where to find glow worms, while KCAC members add to their Natural Resource Inventory.

Firefly composite

Participants will meet in the parking lot, families, but not pets, are welcome. Wear long pants and bring a jar to closely examine summer insects. Cloudy humid weather is okay for fireflies, but heavy rain cancels. Call 845-228-5635 for more details.

Little People Walk at the Kent Library

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Little people are part of the folklore of many cultures around the world. Whether leprechauns, fairies, trolls or gnomes, stories of the teeny-tiny abound. Youngsters are invited to look for evidence of little people right here in Kent, as part of the Halloween Extravaganza at the Kent Public Library on Saturday, October 29 at 12:15. After a short walk in the forest, families are invited to construct their own fairy house using natural materials.

Photo of a house that little people in the woods might be living in
I wonder if they’re home. Photo: Beth Herr

The walk is sponsored by the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee. Local artist, Lisa Amejide, will share stories about her miniature haunted houses. Families with little children are welcome to this free program. Meet in front of the library.

Citizen Scientists Test Local Waters

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Join members of the Kent Conservation Advisory Committee to collect water quality data from a local stream on Saturday, August 13, at 11am. As part of the NYSDEC’s WAVE program – Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators – we’ll collect samples with a drift net and prescribed protocol. After collection, we’ll send the samples to the NYSDEC who will evaluate them and return the results to us.

Meet at the corner of Route 301 and East Boyd’s Road to sample water draining from Seven Hills Lake into the West Branch of the Croton River. Be prepared to get wet feet and find some interesting creatures with amazing adaptations. Learn about how stream assessments are done and how organisms indicate differences in water quality. If bad weather forces us to postpone this event, we’ll post a notice on our home page and send an email to people who subscribe to the CAC programs list.

If you’re interested in testing other stream sites training is available and equipment is available for loan. For more about WAVE click here.

Star Party Postponed

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Well, it’s happened again. The astronomer’s curse. The weather is forcing us to postpone Kent’s first Star Party for a second time.

After consulting with our friends and cosponsors the Westchester Amateur Astronomers, we’ve reluctantly concluded that the likelihood of substantial cloud cover and lots of humidity in the air will make for poor viewing conditions tonight. But we’re not giving up! We’ll be working with the WAA folks looking for a weekend when the weather is predicted to be good, the phase of the moon is right and there are interesting things to see in the early night sky. When we hit on a winning combination, we’ll let you know.