White Memorial Foundation

White Memorial Foundation
Protected Area
256px Sutton's Bridge on the boardwalk of the White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield, Connecticut
Named for: Alain and May White
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
County	Litchfield
Town	Litchfield, Morris
Elevation	923 ft (281 m) Museum Area
Coordinates
Highest point
- location	Apple Hill
- elevation	1,120 ft (341 m)
Lowest point
- location	Pitch Brook
- elevation	780 ft (238 m)
Area	4,034 acres (1,633 ha)
Biomes	Temperate broadleaf and mixed forest, Northeastern coastal forest
Established	1913
Website: http://www.whitememorialcc.org/

The White Memorial Foundation is an organization dedicated to environmental conservation located in Litchfield, Connecticut. The Foundation owns approximately 4,000 acres of wetlands and uplands, including recreational trails, two camping areas, and a conservation center dedicated to education, research, conservation, and recreation.

History

The White Memorial Foundation was founded by Alain and May White in 1913, who wished to preserve the areas around Bantam Lake from land development.

Facilities

The White Memorial Foundation supports a museum, the White Memorial Conservation Center, which explains the natural history and habitats found on the property. The Conservation Center often holds educational programs for both adults and children.

Two camping areas are located on White Memorial property, one at Point Folly on Bantam Lake, and a second on Windmill Hill near the Conservation Center.

There are approximately 35 miles of trail on the property, which can be used for walking, running, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country-skiing. There is also a mile-long boardwalk through the marsh around Little Pond.

With large areas of the property abutting Bantam Lake and the Bantam River, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing are popular activities.

File:Museum Area WMCC.jpg

The activity fields at the White Memorial Foundation, Litchfield, Connecticut

Research and Conservation

The White Memorial Foundation owns large areas of wetland and lakefront to prevent overdevelopment and subsequent loss of biodiversity. These large tracts of wetland juxtaposed with nearby uplands create a unique mosiac of habitats that are home to a variety of different plants and animals. 238 species of birds, 50 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 29 species of fish have been recorded on the property.

Land Gifts

Since 1913, the White Memorial Foundation has donated land and money to the State of Connecticut for conservation purposes, including two of the first 15 Connecticut State Parks. Specific land gifts include:

• Mohawk State Forest (2,000 acres)
• Kent Falls State Park (200 acres)
• Macedonia Brook State Park (2,000 acres)
• Robbins Swamp Wildlife Management Area (492 acres)
• Campbell Falls State Park (5 acres)
• Peoples State Forest (400 acres)
• Humaston Brook State Park (9 acres)

See also

• White Memorial Conservation Center

External links

• Main Website
• Research and Conservation Blog
• Exploring New England, Destination: Connecticut (Cliff Calderwood)
• Connecticut Audubon- White Memorial