As the year draws to a close, it seems right to reflect on all the incredible strides we have made together in our campaign to protect and save Remington Woods. This year has truly felt like a series of gifts – each milestone, conversation, and success building towards a future for Fairfield’s Last Lung and for our communities. Here is a look back at all the wonderful “presents” we’ve unwrapped together this year! 

 

🎁 A Bus Tour to Remember 

This fall, we mobilized and attended a fully booked bus tour of Remington Woods. Students, residents, and environmental advocates were in attendance to experience this urban forest firsthand. Everyone who attended marveled at the towering trees, the picture-perfect Success Lake, the wildlife – from the birds darting through the tall trees to the deer quietly observing us near Railway Brook. The tour served as a reminder of what makes this 422-acre mature forest so special, and why our work to protect it matters.  

 

🎁 Corteva’s Nature for All Conservation Plan 

Perhaps the biggest gift of all came from Corteva, who announced their plan “Nature for All”. This conservation concept proposes public access to Remington Woods with trails, nature centers, and a solar and battery energy farm to fund its long-term protection. It’s a bold vision, and we are proud to collaborate with them and our community partners to bring this dream to life. Read more.

 

🎁 Inspiring The Next Generation 

This year we had the opportunity to collaborate with High Horizon 7th and 8th grade students. They are a shining example of what passion for conservation can look like. They’ve created wildlife clubs, written reports, participated in our documentary film efforts, attended the bus tour, designed bulletin boards, and birdwatched through the barbed wire that separates them from Remington Woods. Their enthusiasm is a constant reminder of what Remington Woods means for education in Bridgeport. Conserving this forest is not just about today, it is about ensuring a better tomorrow for our youth. Read some High Horizon Youth ArcGIS storied Reports 

 

🎁 A Year of Community Engagement 

What a year of engagement! 

• We hosted a three-day Black Birders, alongside our community partners, celebrating diversity in conservation and bringing nature lovers together. Read Black Birders Week 2024: Wings of Justice: Soaring for Change!

• Our efforts contributed to a successful National Old Growth Forest Campaign, raising awareness and advocating for stronger protection for our local mature and old-growth forests across the nation! 

• We launched the Conservation Committee, which supports additional advocacy efforts including other conservation efforts across the state.  

• We supported and participated in nature events, working with community members to build connections and spread awareness of conservation and Remington Woods 

 

🎁 Deepening Connections with Stakeholders

This year, we’ve had meaningful conversations with leaders from organizations like the US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Aspetuck Land Trust, Save the Sound, and more. These partnerships have been instrumental in shaping what’s possible for Remington Woods. We’ve also engaged local and state leaders such as Senator Blumenthal, Councilwoman Pierera, Clanmother Shoran of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe, Councilwoman Melendez, Representative Joe Gresko, and so many others whose support has been invaluable to our efforts. 

 

🎁 Amplifying the Message 

To make sure the story of Remington Woods reaches as many people as possible, we have been hard at work with renowned filmmaker and Bridgeport native Daniel Recinos on a documentary showcasing the beauty and importance of Fairfield’s Last Lung. We have also launched a postcard campaign giving folks a way to share their love for Remington Woods while asking the US Fish and Wildlife Service to continue to include Remington Woods in their National Wildlife Refuge Portfolio. 

 

🎁 Looking Ahead to 2025

We sure have accomplished a lot this year and we are looking ahead with excitement and determination. Next year, we’ll continue: 

• Outreach and visioning with the community.  

• Supporting conversations with Corteva as they move forward with their conservation plan

• Working with supportive local, state, and federal leaders to secure lasting protection for the woods 

• Engaging the US Fish and Wildlife Service to explore pathways for federal involvement. 

 

Friends, we are closer than ever to achieving our goal of protecting Fairfield County’s last lung. The support of our members and volunteers – whether signing the petitions, attending events, writing letters and opinion pieces, tabling, brainstorming, or spreading the word – has been the heartbeat of this success. 

 

Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, supported, or simply followed this campaign through the years – we are deeply grateful. The time, energy, and heart you’ve poured into this campaign have made all the difference. As we move forward, we hope you continue to join us on this journey. Together, we’re ensuring that the forested heart of Bridgeport & Stratford, and Fairfield County is preserved in perpetuity. 

 

Happy Holidays! 🌟

 

Till next year, 

Jhoni Ada 

 

✨Ways You Can Support the Campaign 

As we celebrate the progress we have made, there’s still much to do – and your support is more important than ever. Here are some ways you can get involved: 

 

1. Write a Comment to Senator Blumenthal & US Fish and Wildlife Service

   1. Sign our NEW Petition: The biggest gift you can give to the Save Remington Woods campaign this holiday season. We are advocating for Remington Woods to be adopted into the Steward B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge Portfolio. This is the forest’s best chance for sustainable conservation in perpetuity.  

   2. This holiday season, host a Mimosa & Advocacy Brunch with your besties or your neighbors. This is the perfect excuse to gather your friends, neighbors, and family for a cozy festive holiday brunch. Enjoy good food, great company, and meaningful action to help protect Remington Woods. 

      1. Here is an invitation card template you can use!  (Also includes “Advocacy Winter Brunch” invitation for those who are not a fan of mimosas! 😉)

      2. A fun cranberry mimosa recipe to try out! 

      3. Make Seed Bombs Ornaments: Be sure to use native seeds! Look out for eco59 seeds, a farmer-led seed collective that focuses on native species from the Northeast 🌼 

      4. Don’t forget a toast to nature, conservation, and friendship! 

      5. Share your day with us, share your photo with us on Sierra Club Connecticut on Facebook

2. Share the Vision: Spread the word by sharing information about Remington Woods with friends, family, and on social media – are you following us on Facebook? You should! Awareness is key to building a strong conservation movement. 

3. Volunteer with Us: Help with tabling, community outreach, and writing letters to the editor. Your time and skills make a huge difference 

4. Join the Conservation Committee: Support our work by lending your expertise to the Conservation Committee to help strategize and lead the charge of future efforts! Email remington.woods@sierraclub.org for more information 

 

👀💝 Searching for the PERFECT Holiday Gift? 

Check out this book! Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life

 

It was named one of the best books of the Year by NPR!

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Review: “We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn’t seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together and find a common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done?

 

In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, churches, and parks where crucial connections are formed. Interweaving his own research with examples from around the globe, Klinenberg shows how “social infrastructure” is helping to solve some of our most pressing societal challenges. Richly reported and ultimately uplifting, Palaces for the People offers a blueprint for bridging our seemingly unbridgeable divides.” - Amazon

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Jhoni Ada is Sierra Club Connecticut’s Organizer on Save Remington Woods project in Bridgeport, along with other outreach and projects within the city and Fairfield County.