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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261107T090000
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SUMMARY:Mermaids\, Sea Creatures\, and a Mission to Keep Bluff Point Beautiful
DESCRIPTION:At a Glance\nWhat: Mermaid Beach Cleanup\nWhen: Saturday\, November 7\, 2026\, 9–11 a.m.\nLocation: Bluff Point State Park\, 55 Depot Road\, Groton\, CT\nAdmission: No fee listed\nAge: All ages welcome\nActivities: Coastal cleanup and a special mermaid appearance\nWhat to Wear: Ocean-themed costumes\, warm clothing\, and weather-appropriate footwear\nRegistration: Strongly encouraged\nOrganizers: Mystic Aquarium and Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve \nEvent Description\nMermaid Beach Cleanup brings a little underwater magic to Bluff Point State Park in Groton on Saturday\, November 7\, as volunteers gather from 9 to 11 a.m. to help protect the shoreline. Organized in partnership with Mystic Aquarium\, the cleanup features a special mermaid appearance and an invitation for participants to dress as their favorite ocean creatures while doing something good for the environment. \nMermaids might be the stars of the morning\, but they’re not the only sea creatures welcome. Organizers encourage volunteers to arrive dressed as cuddly crabs\, spunky seals\, sea unicorns\, or anything else inspired by life beneath the waves. Warm winter clothing is also encouraged\, especially for anyone who prefers staying comfortable over making a splash with a costume. \nA Little Magic With a Meaningful Mission\nBluff Point State Park is one of southeastern Connecticut’s most treasured coastal landscapes\, with beaches\, tidal waters\, and natural habitats that support wildlife throughout the year. \nKeeping those areas clean takes ongoing effort\, and this event gives residents an opportunity to help protect the shoreline. \nVolunteers will spend the morning participating in a coastal cleanup\, helping remove litter and debris that can threaten marine animals and damage sensitive habitats. \nThe special mermaid appearance adds a playful element to the work\, particularly for families with children who might be experiencing their first organized beach cleanup. \nIt’s an opportunity to introduce younger volunteers to environmental stewardship in a way that feels more like an adventure than a chore. \nDress for the Ocean\, but Remember It’s November\nOrganizers are encouraging participants to get creative with ocean-inspired clothing. \nA crab costume? Perfect. A seal onesie? Absolutely. Something sparkly enough to make a mermaid jealous? That works\, too. \nJust remember that November mornings along the Connecticut shoreline can be chilly. \nWarm layers\, comfortable footwear\, and clothing suitable for walking along the beach are sensible choices\, whether you’re wearing a costume or your regular outdoor gear. \nThe goal is to enjoy the morning while helping care for the coast. \nProtecting the Shoreline Together\nThe cleanup brings together community volunteers and organizations dedicated to protecting Connecticut’s coastal environment. \nMystic Aquarium is partnering in the event\, with the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve also represented in the event announcement. \nTheir involvement connects the morning’s activities to the broader importance of keeping coastal waters and habitats healthy. \nEven a few hours of volunteer work can help reduce litter along the shoreline while encouraging participants to think about how everyday choices affect the marine environment. \nAnd for children\, meeting a mermaid while helping clean a beach might be a lesson they remember long after the morning ends. \nHow to Participate\nThe Mermaid Beach Cleanup takes place Saturday\, November 7\, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Bluff Point State Park in Groton. \nParticipants are encouraged to wear ocean-themed costumes or warm outdoor clothing appropriate for the weather. \nRegistration is strongly suggested so organizers can prepare for the number of volunteers attending. \nWhether you arrive dressed as a mermaid\, a sea creature\, or simply yourself\, the invitation is the same: spend a couple of hours helping keep one of the region’s beautiful coastal areas clean. \n\nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/mermaids-sea-creatures-and-a-mission-to-keep-bluff-point-beautiful/
LOCATION:Bluff Point State Park\, 55 Depot Road\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bluff Point State Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Mermaids-Sea-Creatures-and-a-Mission-to-Keep-Bluff-Point-Beautiful.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261004T120000
DTSTAMP:20261001T141326Z
CREATED:20261001T141326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261001T141326Z
UID:10009216-1791104400-1791115200@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Run for The Cove Turns Bluff Point Into a Memory Lane for Grieving Families
DESCRIPTION:Run for The Cove Turns Bluff Point Into a Memory Lane for Grieving Families Sunday\, Oct. 4\, bringing families to one of Groton’s most familiar outdoor spaces for a two-mile Memorial Walk\, children’s fun run\, and a morning built around remembering people who have died. \nThis isn’t really a competitive running event despite the “Run for The Cove” name. \nThere is no 5K at the Groton event. The centerpiece is a two-mile Memorial Walk through Bluff Point State Park\, accompanied by a short Kids Fun Run\, children’s arts and crafts\, snacks\, and opportunities for families to remember loved ones together. \nThe event begins at 9 a.m. and raises money for The Cove Center for Grieving Children’s free programs for children and families throughout Connecticut. \nMemory Lane Makes the Walk Personal\nThe most meaningful section of the route may be Memory Lane. \nFamilies participating in The Cove’s fundraising program could raise $30 to have a memorial sign created with a photograph of someone they lost. Those signs are displayed along the walk\, turning part of the route into a collective remembrance. \nThe deadline for requesting a personalized sign for the Groton event was Sept. 24\, so new signs can no longer be ordered for Sunday’s walk. \nBut Memory Lane remains part of the experience for everyone participating. \nThat changes the character of a two-mile walk through the park. Rather than simply counting miles\, participants pass the names and faces of people being remembered by the families around them. \nThe Kids Run Ends With a Medal\nChildren have an event of their own. \nThe Kids Fun Run is intentionally described as quick and easy rather than competitive\, and every participating child receives a medal. \nThere will also be arts and crafts for children\, along with snacks and time for families to gather before and after the walk. \nThat family-centered approach reflects what The Cove does throughout the year. \nThe organization works specifically with children and teenagers coping with the death of someone significant in their lives. Rather than treating grief as something children should simply move beyond\, its programs give them places to talk\, remember and spend time with other young people who understand the experience. \nThe Cove Isn’t a Therapy Group\nThere’s an important distinction in the organization’s approach. \nThe Cove describes its core program as peer-based mutual support rather than therapy. \nVolunteer facilitators are screened and receive 15 hours of training in childhood grief before beginning their work. They also meet with staff before and after program sessions for continuing education and supervision. \nChildren and teenagers are able to interact with peers who have also experienced a death while participating in age-appropriate activities designed around grief and remembrance. \nWhen a child appears to need clinical grief therapy\, The Cove says staff can work with caregivers to identify qualified therapists. \nThat allows its programs to occupy a different space: not replacing professional mental-health treatment\, but creating a community where grieving children don’t have to be the only child in the room who has lost someone. \nWhat Sunday’s Walk Supports\nMoney raised through the Groton event helps keep The Cove’s programs free for participating families. \nThose programs currently include the Family Program\, Camp Compassion\, Virtual Program and Summer Program\, along with professional development work. \nCamp Compassion offers one example of what those donations make possible. \nThe free weekend-long overnight bereavement camp serves Connecticut children and teenagers ages 6 through 17 who have experienced the death of someone significant. Campers participate in familiar camp activities while also taking part in therapeutic grief activities led by bereavement professionals and trained volunteers. \nThe idea is to give children room both to grieve and to simply be children. \nThey can remember the person they lost\, learn coping skills and meet other kids carrying something similar. \nSunday’s walk translates that same philosophy into a public community event. \nThree Connecticut Communities Are Walking for The Cove\nGroton is one of three communities hosting Cove walks this fall. \nThe first took place Sept. 13 at Winding Trails in Farmington. \nGroton follows Oct. 4 at Bluff Point. \nThe organization’s largest October event comes Oct. 18 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison\, where the program expands to include a timed 5K along with the two-mile Memorial Walk and Kids Fun Run. \nThat distinction is worth emphasizing for anyone looking at the Groton event: Sunday at Bluff Point is the Memorial Walk and Kids Fun Run\, not the 5K. \nA Different Kind of Setting for a Grief Event\nBluff Point gives the Groton walk a particularly appropriate setting. \nInstead of gathering inside a ballroom or event hall\, families spend the morning outdoors\, walking together through the state park. \nAnd this isn’t an event that requires participants to arrive with a particular story. \nSome may be walking shortly after a loss. Others may be remembering someone who died years ago. Children can run\, make crafts and collect their medals while adults walk alongside people who understand why they’re there. \nThere doesn’t have to be a finish line for grief. \nOn Sunday morning\, there is simply a path through Bluff Point and a community willing to walk it together. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To register\, click the Event Registration link below. \nDetails\nEvent: 2026 Groton Memorial Walk & Kids Fun Run\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nTime: 9 a.m.\nLocation: Bluff Point State Park\nAddress: 55 Depot Road\, Groton\, CT 06340\nOrganizer: The Cove Center for Grieving Children\nMemorial Walk: Two miles\nKids Fun Run: Short\, noncompetitive children’s run; participants receive a medal\nFamily Activities: Children’s arts and crafts and snacks\nMemory Lane: Memorial signs honoring loved ones will be displayed along the walk; the Sept. 24 deadline for new Groton signs has passed\nT-Shirts: Included with registration while supplies last; guaranteed-size deadline has passed\nFundraising: Participants can create or join fundraising teams to support The Cove’s programs\nWeather: Rain or shine\nRefunds: No refunds\nRegistration: Advance registration is encouraged; day-of registration is available at an increased price\nBeneficiary: The Cove Center for Grieving Children\nPrograms Supported: Family Program\, Camp Compassion\, Virtual Program\, Summer Program and professional development\nThe Cove Contact: 203-634-0500\nEvent Contact: Pat Vlamis\, pat@covect.org \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/run-for-the-cove-turns-bluff-point-into-a-memory-lane-for-grieving-families/
LOCATION:Bluff Point State Park\, 55 Depot Road\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bluff Point State Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Run-for-The-Cove-Turns-Bluff-Point-Into-a-Memory-Lane-for-Grieving-Families.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260612T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260612T210000
DTSTAMP:20260607T020107Z
CREATED:20260607T020107Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260607T020107Z
UID:10005331-1781287200-1781298000@thectbeacon.com
SUMMARY:Horseshoe Crab Walk at Bluff Point
DESCRIPTION:The best time to view horseshoe crabs on the Connecticut shoreline is during June\, when thousands migrate to their spawning beaches each year. On this guided evening walk at Bluff Point\, you’ll have the opportunity to view horseshoe crabs during their annual spawning event. You’ll learn about horseshoe crab biology\, life cycle\, and ecological significance while exploring Bluff Point’s shoreline in search of horseshoe crabs coming ashore to reproduce and lay eggs. \nThere are roughly 2 miles of walking through sand and rocks during this program. You will get wet and sandy during this walk. This walk is intended for adults and families with children who can manage these conditions. Pre-registration required. \nEvent Details \n\nEvent: Horseshoe Crab Walk at Bluff Point\nDate: Friday\, June 12\, 2026\nTime: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.\nLocation: Bluff Point State Park\, Groton\, CT\nCost: $10 for members and non-members\nRegistration: Required\nDistance: Approximately 2 miles\nTerrain: Sandy and rocky shoreline\nRecommended Footwear: Closed-toe shoes suitable for getting wet (no flip-flops or Crocs)\nSuitable For: Adults and families with children who can handle the walking conditions\n\n 
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/horseshoe-crab-walk-at-bluff-point/
LOCATION:Bluff Point State Park\, 55 Depot Road\, Groton\, 06340\, United States
CATEGORIES:Bluff Point State Park
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://thectbeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Horseshoe-Crab-Walk-at-Bluff-Point-June-12-6pm-to-9pm.jpg
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