Celebration of Avalonia Land Conservancy’s “Excellence in Community Engagement” award

Avalonia Land Conservancy and the Connecticut Land Conservation Council will cosponsor a celebration on Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Cedar Wood Preserve, 180 North Wawecus Hill Road, Norwich at 11:00 AM. The event will honor Avalonia for receiving the Council’s 2023 Excellence in Community Engagement Award and will feature brief remarks from elected officials, as well as vocal and dance performances. A guided walk on the relatively flat grassy upper trails of the Preserve will follow the ceremony. Both ceremony and walk will be amplified and sign language-interpreted. This event is free and open to the public.

The award recognizes Avalonia’s commitment to establishing accessibility for people with disabilities in regard to trails, communication, and policy. From ecologically-appropriate accessible parking to availability of documents in Braille, from sign language-interpreted and amplified guided walks to intense community outreach, Avalonia is seeking to ensure that the ‘open’ in ‘open space’ means maximum equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of disability.

The Council’s Executive Director, Amy Paterson, says: “Avalonia Land Conservancy is most deserving for its inspiring and innovative leadership in offering new programs, communications, and projects that advance inclusive conservation and accessibility, particularly for people with disabilities. Their work is a model for other land trusts and communities across the state to ensure that everyone has access to the benefits of nature.”

For more information on the accessibility of this event, please email Accessibility@avalonialc.org