KENT, Conn.—The forests, gardens and creative spirit of Kent came alive Aug. 1 during “Enchanted Saturday,” a day-long celebration of imagination, nature and storytelling that invited families and community members to experience the magic of the natural world.
The collaborative event was created through a partnership between Kent Land Trust, Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, the Kent Garden Club, the Connecticut Guild of Puppetry, the Kent Art Association, and Green Feather Foundation. It brought together artists, naturalists, gardeners and storytellers to create a day of enchanted adventures.
The day began at Kent Greenhouse & Gardens, where participants stepped into a world of creativity with free hands-on crafting activities. Guests created their own fairy wands, woodland crowns, magical masks and enchanted costumes—transforming themselves into forest fairies, wizards, woodland creatures and other imaginative characters before setting out on the afternoon’s adventure.
Later, visitors journeyed into the woods at Kent Land Trust’s Skiff Mountain South Preserve for an immersive puppet-guided walk through the forest. Along the trail, participants met a cast of whimsical puppet characters who shared the stories of the woods and introduced guests to the many creatures that call the forest home—including bears, salamanders, ravens, and countless other woodland inhabitants.
The interactive storytelling experience encouraged participants to slow down, observe and appreciate the connections between all living things. Along the way, explorers discovered the wonders of the forest, including a memorable encounter with the “biggest bear poop ever,” offering a humorous reminder that wild animals are active neighbors in our shared landscape.
“Enchanted Saturday was a wonderful example of what can happen when our community’s creative and conservation organizations come together,” said Melissa Cherniske, program manager at the Kent Land Trust. “By combining art, puppetry, gardening and land conservation, we created an experience that helped people of all ages connect with nature in a joyful and meaningful way.”
Through collaboration, the partner organizations created a day where forests became storybooks, gardens became workshops and every participant became part of the adventure.
What a lovely day that must have been. Congratulations to all who worked to make this happen.