News Archive

2016 Stone Soup Launches Thursday, Jan. 28th

Friday, 18 December 2015 15:24

Next month, we kick-off our 2016 Stone Soup and Speakers Series on Thursday, January 28th, 6:00-7:30pm.   These delightful programs are held each month over the winter months on the final Thursday of each month. We begin the evening with a simple meal of homemade soup followed by a short presentation by a featured speaker.

The theme for this year's series is "Lessons From The Journey.”  Each month a featured speaker will include a slide presentation of a recent journey or adventure and explore the lessons learned along the way.

This year’s series will begin on Jan. 28th with our own Executive Director, Mark Smith, who recently completed walking the Camino de Santiago – a 500-mile ancient pilgrimage across Spain.

Space IS limited. Pre-registration is required. To RSVP or for more information, please call 617-333-0924.

Join us for our 6th Annual Winterfire Jan. 9th

Friday, 18 December 2015 10:59

Once again, it's time for one of our favorite events: the Wakefield Estate's annual Winterfire! Our 6th Winterfire will be held Saturday, January 9th from 5:00-7:00 pm. This annual event combines lightscape with landscape to highlight many of the estate's signature trees and garden features against a deep mid-winter sky. Enjoy some hot chocolate and roast a hot dog or sausage on an open fire. This is a fun, family-friendly event. Subject to cancellation due to weather; see www.wakefieldtrust.org or our Facebook page for any last minute changes. Dress warmly and bring a friend! While this event is free, donations are appreciated, and pre-registration is requested. To RSVP or for more information, call 617-333-0924.

 

Sixth annual holiday open house December 10th

Friday, 20 November 2015 10:39

Join us for our sixth annual holiday open house on Thursday, December 10th from 4:00-8:00 pm. The 1794 Isaac Davenport Mansion house will be decked out in spectacular holiday style for this special event, one of the few events during the year where visitors are able to visit inside. Tickets are free for members, $10 suggested donation for others. Annual memberships will be available for purchase, along with hand-crafted wreaths beautifully decorated with greens from the estate. Refreshments are provided. Please RSVP by calling 617-333-0924 if you plan to attend or reply by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Talk by Noted Education David Sobel Dec. 1

Friday, 13 November 2015 10:32

Wakefield Charitable Trust & Thacher Montessori School present: Cultivating Wonder of Nature in Childhood, a talk by environmental educator David Sobel

 

Tuesday, December 1, 6:00 PM (Snow Date: December 8)

Thacher Montessori School, 1425 Blue Hill Avenue, Milton, MA

The Wakefield Estate is very excited  to invite our members and the wider community to an evening lecture by noted environmental educator David Sobel, senior faculty member in the Education Department and Director of the Center for Place-Based Education at Antioch University New England.

William Wordsworth suggested that the natural world is "appareled with celestial light" in childhood, meaning that nature is perceived differently by children than by adults. David Sobel believes there is a critical period in middle childhood when children are biologically programmed to bond with the natural world. If this bonding occurs, it sets the individual on a path of environmental values and commitment. Parents and educators should take advantage of this openness in childhood and provide frequent opportunities for children to adventurously be at-one in nature. In this talk, Sobel will present a bit of provocative research, a dash of theory, a lot of parenting stories, and a look at how the parent/child/nature relationship changes from early childhood to early adulthood.

David Sobel has spent his career researching and consulting about child development and place-based education. He has authored seven books and more than 60 articles focused on children and nature for educators, parents, environmentalists and school administrators in the last 25 years. He was identified as one of the "gurus and rock stars of environmental education" in a feature article in Teacher magazine and as one of the 2007 Daring Dozen educational leaders in Edutopia magazine. The lecture will take place at 6:00pm in the Thacher school auditorium - admission: $10. Reservations are required. RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . tion Department and Director of the Center for Place-Based Education at Antioch University New England.