Gunnery hosts Founders Day Regatta May 6

KENT/NEW PRESTON — The Gunnery will host the 59th Annual Founder’s Day Regatta at Lake Waramaug on Sunday, May 6. More than 1,000 student athletes on 21 high school teams are scheduled to participate.

“This year marks the 70th anniversary of The Gunnery boys rowing team and the 40th anniversary of The Gunnery girls rowing team,” said Boys Head Coach Lincoln Turner, in a written statement. “We are also pleased to announce that we have installed a brand-new race course at the lake for this occasion, and next year, the regatta itself turns 60, which will be cause for celebration.”

Heats will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until about 12:30 p.m. at Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent. Following lunch, the afternoon session will begin with novice races and conclude with the grand and petite finals. Teams will compete for a boys team overall points trophy and a girls team overall points trophy. The boys first boats also race for the George H. Lorenz Memorial Trophy and the girls first boats race for the Kathryn L. Conroy Cup.

Joining The Gunnery on its home course will be: Belmont Hill School, Berkshire School, Brooks School, Brewster Academy, Canterbury School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Deerfield Academy, Forman School, Greenwich Academy, Hopkins School, Lyme-Old Lyme High School, Milton High School, Miss Porter’s School, Pomfret School, Rumsey Hall, South Kent School, Taft School, Thayer Academy, Valley Regional High School, Worcester Public Schools.

The finish line is located at the state park at the northwest corner of the lake, and the colorful school tents and exuberant student and alumni fans make the day a grand occasion for the thousands of spectators and participants. Organizing and running the regatta has always been a Gunnery team effort and the coaches, rowers and dozens of volunteers help to make the day a success each year.

Shuttles for all visitors and will run in a loop from the parking areas to the regatta site.

For information on parking and directions, please visit www.Gunnery.org/FoundersDay.

Before the Bow and Arrow: Atlatl Workshop

WASHINGTON — Residents can learn more about Native American ancient technology and to make and throw their own atlatl this weekend. The Institute for American Indian Studies is hosting a special workshop, Before the Bow and Arrow: Atlatl, Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with Gary Nolf, past president of the World Atlatl Association.

An atlatl is one of humankind’s first mechanical inventions that preceded the bow and arrow in most parts of the world, according to the institute. Basically, an atlatl is an ancient type of a spear thrower that was used to throw a spear farther and faster towards the quarry. The word atlatl comes from the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs who were using them when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s.

According to the World Atlatl Association, early people in the Americas used atlatls to hunt mammoths and mastodons around 11,000 years B.C. Much later, a variety of atlatl types were used in different parts of North America. Many of the large stone projectile points found in North American sites were used with atlatl darts and not arrowheads.

Atlatls continued to be used alongside bows and arrows by many Native Americans. Experimentation through the years taught Naive American hunters that by using a spear throwing stick, or atlatl and using a whip-like action to release the spear the weapon would go a greater distance and have a deeper penetration. Atlatls were used to fish and to hunt large and small game animals.

Typically the projectile point of the spearhead was made of hard stone such as flint that was made by a Native American flintknapper. The spearhead was attached to a wooden shaft made of hardwood such as ash, hickory, oak, cedar, walnut or birch. The spear measured about 4 feet long and the atlatl thrower measured about two feet long and was typically made of wood or antler.

In time, an atlatl weight was added to the spear thrower as a counter-balance and good luck charm to help the hunter hit his quarry. The spear holder was retained after the spear was thrown and sometimes a leather thong was attached to help the thrower retain it.

Participants in the atlatl workshop will learn the history of the atlatl and how there were used by Native Americans. Under the guidance of atlatl expert Gary Nolf, you will learn about the different designs of this ancient weapon before making your own atlatl and dart.

If you like to make things with your hands and test your skills, then this workshop is for you. A highlight of the day is the test of your workmanship and skill in a just for fun atlatl throwing competition! If you become an atlatl fan, you might want to compete atlatl competitions that are held worldwide!

This workshop ($13 seniors, $15 adults, $11 children, $5 IAIS members) is expected to sell out. To reserve a space, call 860-868-0518 or email general@iaismuseum.org. Please note that an adult must accompany participants under the age of 18.

The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 15 woodland acres, and has an outdoor Three Sisters and Healing Plants Gardens as well as a replicated 16th c. Algonkian Village. Inside the museum, authentic artifacts are displayed in permanent, semipermanent and temporary exhibits from prehistory to the present that allows visitors a walk through time. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut and can be reached online or by calling 860-868-0518.

The Institute for American Indian Studies preserves and educates through discovery and creativity the diverse traditions, vitality, and knowledge of Native American cultures. Through archaeology, the IAIS is able to build new understandings of the world and history of Native Americans, the focus is on stewardship and preservation. This is achieved through workshops, special events, and education for students of all ages.

Meditation sessions begin at Beekley library

NEW HARTFORD — Awake! Natural Meditation for Joy, Abundance and Fullfillment sessions will be held monthly with Anandi at the Beekley Memorial Library in New Hartford.

These free events are for people who are interested in experiencing the effect and benefit of meditation without the effort. No experience necessary, and all are welcome. Sessions will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. on Wednesdays, May 2, June 6, July 11 and Aug. 1. For information, call the library at 860-379-7235 or visit beekleylibrary.org.