Calendar of Events
Upcoming Friends of Connetquot Events
We're always looking for new programs to offer you. Please check back, follow us on social media or, for timely updates, sign-up for our email list.
The Amazing History of Radio on Long Island
Saturday, April 26, 2025 - 1:00pm
Radio technology transformed the world in the early 20th century. Early morse code transmissions helped save ships at sea. People could communicate across the world. Entrepreneurs and inventors rushed to capitalize, forming competing corporations and creating sprawling transmission stations with towers up to 500 feet high.
And Long Island was a proving ground for much of this. Giants of the industry made their mark on the Island, from Marconi and Tesla to RCA and more. Now their presence is noted only by an occasional street name or historical marker.
This talk will present an overview of Long Island’s radio history, highlighting the major players, where they operated, and what drew them to the Island in the first place. Chris Kretz is the president of the Long Island Radio & Television Historical Society, a group dedicated to preserving this rich heritage through research projects and public outreach. You can find them at lirtvhs.org
River Whispers: Tales of Wildlife and Tranquility Along Long Island's Connetquot River
Sunday, April 27, 2025 - 1:00pm
Get Ready for our April Book Discussion with Author Gary Lawton!
Author Gary Lawton worked with Gil Bergen for nearly 40 years. He spent countless hours exploring the preserve, sometimes finding vestiges of life from the 1800s, documenting the locations of rare plants and watching ordinary animals exhibit extraordinary behaviors. Come and enjoy stories and memories from your youth!
I Love My Park Day
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Beautification, clean up, and conservation projects are planned in Parks all across New York State. Show your love for Connetquot River State Park Preserve by joining a volunteer team to make this wonderful park even better.
Purple Martins - North America’s Largest Swallows
Saturday, May 24, 2025 - 1:00pm
Did you know, Connetquot Preserve is home to a colony of Purple Martins? Purple Martins are beautiful, graceful flyers that live in colonies, depend on man-made housing and feed exclusively on flying insects. Martins overwinter in the Amazon Basin and start their spring migration into North America around the end of January, showing up in Florida in early February. Depending on weather and food supply the first Purple Martins, called scouts, arrive on Long Island around the first week of April to start their breeding season. Most Martins in this area start heading back south by the beginning of August.
Enjoy Ranger Ken’s presentation on Purple Martins and then he will lead a hike into the field for observations!
Rainbow Lantern Hike
Friday, June 6th - 6:30 – 8:30pm
Have you ever wanted to explore the park after dark? Now is your chance, and the ambiance will be enhanced with rainbow lanterns! Join us!
Upcoming Park Nature Programs
Please be sure to visit the Connetquot River State Park Preserve Events page at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website for a schedule of all events.