Latest News

2017 was a fabulous year for women – and for our local SWEP Chapter!

Our first Quarterly meeting (“MEET the DEEP”) gave us an opportunity to hear from the Bureau Chiefs (and a designee thereof) as to what is keeping them (and us) busy.  Our next Quarterly (“Rags to Riches”) featured DEEP’s Ross Bunnell with a discussion of various waste handling and disposal issues. In August, we hosted our first “Tips from the Top” featuring three of our members that was so well received we are planning another with three new speakers in 2018.  We concluded our year with a joint holiday party with EPOC in December!

We awarded grants totaling $5,000 to three organizations: Envirothon, the Salmon River Watershed Association and Nathan Hale School. You can read more about these and all of our donations from years past on this website.

2018 promises to be an exciting year as well – to be kicked off by a Quarterly on March 22nd with former EPA Administrator and DEEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy! We are also beginning a mentoring program to connect emerging professionals to their more seasoned colleagues.

Please join or continue your membership with this dynamic group that works to foster the development of women environmental professionals in Connecticut!  

Jane K. Warren

Co-Chair

At our winter 2016 Brownbag Lunch program, SWEP members and guests gave a total of 40 pounds of nonperishable foods that were donated to the Connecticut Food Bank.  We thank you all for your generosity!

At upcoming winter/spring programs, we will be collecting donations of lightly used womens' business clothing and accessories for Dress for Success.  Dress for Success is an international nonprofit that provides business attire for women in need who are entering the workforce.  More information about the organization can be found on their website at www.dressforsuccess.org or its local affiliates:   https://midfairfieldcounty.dressforsuccess.org/get-involved/donate/ 

https://hartford.dressforsuccess.org/

Dress for Success accepts donations of lightly used business-appropriate clothing and accessories for women, including the following types of items:  blouses, pant and skirt suits, dress jackets, dress pants, dress shoes, scarves, sweaters or sweater sets, jewelry, briefcases and handbags. Clothing and scarves must be on hangers, shoes and jewelry should be in boxes if possible, and all items must be clean.

Please consider giving your closets a once-over for items that you no longer wear or need, that could be of use to others.  This is also a good opportunity to contact recently-retired colleagues who may have business attire that they no longer need.

Dress for Success is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are tax-deductible.  

Connecticut SWEP, Inc., acting as a conduit for the dispersal of funds belonging to the Connecticut Groundwater Association, recently gave a donation to the Connecticut Envirothon on behalf of CGA.  

The Connecticut Groundwater Association was a precursor to the Environmental Professionals Organization of Connecticut.  The founder and champion of the CGA, Dennis Waslenchuk, recently passed away.  Dennis and the CGA were also good friends and supporters of the Connecticut SWEP chapter over the years.

The mission of CT Envirothon is to promote environmental awareness, knowledge, and active personal stewardship among high school students through educational workshops and team competition.  Several attendees of the recent SWEP lunch program had participated in the CT Envirothon while in high school!  Their website is http://www.ctenvirothon.org

SWEP's 2014 Holiday Brownbag Program was a big success!

Guest speakers Sandy Breslin of Audubon CT, the Connecticut office of the National Audubon Society, and Liz Gemski of Murtha Cullina's environmental law team spoke to us about women in the environmental movement, local environmental advocacy, and upcoming challenges.  

SWEP members participated in a holiday raffle, and contributed support to local nonprofits. With member donations and matching amounts from CT-SWEP, we contributed a total of $770 to Audubon Connecticut, and $260 plus 20 pounds of nonperishable foods to Connecticut Food Bank.  

Thanks to all who attended the program, and thank you for your genorosity this holiday season!

Connecticut SWEP acknowledged departing board member and co-chair Holly Winger at our recent networking event.  Holly has been involved with the chapter for many years in various roles including programs chair, membership chair, and several terms on the executive committee.  This group would not be what it is today without Holly's guidance and leadership over the years.   THANK YOU!!!!!

SWEP is pleased to announce the recipients of our 2013 Environmental Grants.  Congratulations to all!  More information can be viewed on our Grant Program page.

• Colchester Giving Garden  was awarded grant money for supplies for a vertical garden and "adopt-a-crop" program to involve students and supply the Colchester Food Bank.  Almost the entire project, started in April 2013, is being completed by volunteers. 

• Community Farm of Simsbury (now combined with Gifts of Love to form "Farm to Family"), was awarded funding towards the purchase of a field tractor implement and seed for fallow fields (part of sustainable farming practice).  The equipment will be used at the Certified Organic Educational Farm.  The farm provides educational opportunities for up to 2,000 students and produce grown through this program is donated to Foodshare, Gifts of Love, community kitchens and incubator farms for other programs state-wide.
• Connecticut Audubon Society was awarded funding to support the "Science in Nature" field-based educational program for 2nd to 8th grade science students in Bridgeport, CT.  The program was designed to boost test scores in science and math and to enhance environmental awareness.  The grant will support this program by providing teacher training and educational materials such as soil corers, moisture probes and reference guides.
• Girl Scouts of Connecticut was awarded funding for summer camp educational programs focusing on bats.  The summer camp program is aimed at approximately 3,200 girls in 8 summer camps.  The grant provides funding for supplies for the 2014 summer camp program, and will build on the experience and success of the Spider Wonders program rolled out last year.
  
• The Sound School Regional Vocational Aquaculture Center was awarded grant money for supplies and heavy equipment rental for clean-up of marsh habitats on their New Haven campus.  High school students from 23 cooperating districts will participate in the clean-up, which will take place in September 2014.  SWEP members are also invited to volunteer for this event!!

• Housatonic Valley Association was awarded grant funding for the purchase of equipment and tools for a watershed monitoring program in cooperation with the Ag-Ed department and to support the Envirothon and Freshwater Fish and Wildlife Course programs in Falls Village, CT.
  

On December 4, 2013, over 60 people attended our holiday program with special guest speaker Attorney Jan Schlichtmann of "A Civil Action" fame.

 

 

In the spirit of the holidays, Attorney Schlichtmann generously donated his time, and SWEP pledged to contribute the net proceeds of the event registration fees, plus a match of any donations from our members and guests, to local charities.

 

 

After totaling the net proceeds, member donations and matches, SWEP-CT gave contributions of $770 to Foodshare and $440 to Gifts of Love, two local nonprofits that help families in need.

 

Many thanks to our members and friends for helping us make the holiday season more joyous for those in need!!!

 

We wish you all a safe and prosperous 2014, and please stay tuned - we are currently planning an exciting schedule of programs and events for 2014!

On Saturday September 28th, volunteers of all ages from SWEP-CT, the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club (CT-AMC) and the Environmental Professionals Organziation of Connecticut (EPOC) rolled up their sleeves and hit the trails.

Armed with loppers, rakes and other tools, volunteers helped to remove invasive plants and clear brush on National Park Service Lands maintained by CT-AMC.

The work area, located in Kent, CT, provides habitat for the Northern Metalmark butterfly, an extremely rare species in Connecticut.

Many thanks to all who participated!

2012 Grant Awards

The following organizations received a SWEP Environmental Grant Award for 2012 – congratulations to all!!

• Beat the Street Community Center of Meriden, CT was awarded $1,000 to purchase materials for the construction of raised beds for a community garden. Project goals were to reuse a blighted vacant building lot and establish a community garden. Other objectives were to foster an intergenerational sense of community, youth engagement and an outreach program to promote healthy eating habits. The community garden has been constructed, and 10 families have recently completed planting. SWEP-CT members now have an additional opportunity to contribute to this project by volunteering to help beautify the space by planting annuals around the perimeter on June 27th.
  
  
• Girl Scouts of Connecticut was awarded $1,260 towards funding their Spider Wonders Program. This is an educational outreach program to foster interest in nature and science and is based on training provided by CT DEEP. The summer camp program is aimed at up to 3,500 girls state-wide, and will be implemented at 9 camps. The grant was awarded for Summer 2013 supplies.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Lebanon Region A Science and Technology Center was awarded $1,015 to fund raising trout and salmon in the classroom. The Lebanon Region A Science and Technology Center is one of nineteen centers in the state to offer agricultural coursework to high school students. The project aligns with their natural resources curriculum and was co-designed by student Rachel Runkle (pictured below). The fish will be released to a local water body. The project is slated to begin in the fall of 2014.