Summer At The Sangha 2025—Week 3

Week 3 Sessions

Monday, 7/21:

AM – Audubon Birds of a Feather
PM – Pinecone Bird Feeders

During our morning session, we will explore and experience birds on the Jericho Preserve starting with a presentation to learn interesting fun facts likely not heard before related to a range of species, their physical traits, languages, impact, and status as either endangered or flourishing right outside our own front doors. We will engage in various birding activities together. Learn how birds of a feather work together just as humans do.

In the afternoon we will contribute to the well-being of our feathered friends by making pinecone bird feeders for them! Participants can make several… some for Sangha and others for home. And time permitting, we can take a walk to our Meadow Farm to check on the Bluebird houses we built and installed last year. They have been home to a number of bluebirds providing a safe space from the threat of extinction.

Wednesday, 7/23:

AM – Painting Cajun Wooden Box Drums
PM – Live Marine Life Touch Tank

We will complete our Cajun Wood Box Drum project today! And paint, stain or decorate our instruments. Malcolm Hall will guide us throughout the process an inspire us with his musical talent and tales from Guyana. Sample indigenous drums and other instruments will be brought in to practice with during today’s session. We can discuss colors and patterns and the significance in certain indigenous cultures by which participants can choose a color or pattern that appeals to or holds meaning for them to use in their design.

We are excited to have The WaterFront Center of Oyster Bay join us once again for a marine life education session with a touch tank filled with species from the local area to identify, handle, and explore in detail including learning about our natural water habitats and how to protect them and the life that they support. These interesting creatures are interdependent in our ecosystem(s) and we can take part in further exploration through an outing to The WaterFront Center and Friends of the Bay in upcoming seasons.

Friday, 7/25:

AM – Meadow Farm Garden Decoration Day
PM – Paint Dyeing with Magical Indigo Leaves

We are excited to teach through a short presentation about the symbolic meaning of Medicine Wheel Gardens in certain Native American cultures. And we will continue decorating ours for all to enjoy. The presentation will be followed by rock painting. While paint dries, we will bring larger rocks, signs and stakes over to the Meadow for installation. We can enjoy time in the garden with an array of team-building activities. We are excited to introduce participants to the Indigo growing in the Meadow that is being cultivated for the workshop up next.

This afternoon, artist and Indigo gardener, Bernadette Puleo, will lead us in using leaves of the Japanese Indigo plant and a sprinkle of salt to dye a silk tapestry of wall hangings that will be displayed at our second Indigo session and exhibition event later this season. In today’s session, Bernadette will explain the history of indigo dyeing, a universal practice that has been used to dye textiles for over 6,000 years with various techniques developing in different places over time. Participants will experience one of those techniques. At our second session, the silk wall hanging will be stenciled or hammered with a design using rolled up leaves or Indigo pigment. We will experience the magic of Indigo creating beautiful patterns that are uniquely ours.

Location