Submitted by Jenny Law, Brainerd Memorial Library
(July 23, 2026) — There’s still a lot of summer left to enjoy, and Brainerd Memorial Library offers programs to make it even more interesting. It’s all free, and all air-conditioned!
* Love campfires, but don’t want to spend money on commercial fire-starters? It’s easy to make your own with odds and ends from around the house—old candles, cardboard tubes, even sawdust. Come learn how—and if you have any old, burned-down candles, bring them with you. August 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
* Here in Haddam, we don’t see wolves. They were all hunted to extinction centuries ago. But that’s no reason not to learn more about these beautiful canines. The Wolf Conservation Center is working to protect grey wolves and Mexican Red Wolves, and they’ll tell you all about the wolves’ niche in the ecosystem and why it matters. August 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
* If your garden is overflowing with summer flowers, but your arrangements just don’t show them off as well as you’d like, come to the library for tips on flower arranging. We’ll provide seasonal flowers and containers, but do bring a favorite vase or container if you have one. Please be sure to register in advance for this program, so we can be sure to have enough flowers for everyone. August 19, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
* The Revolutionary War took a terrible toll on the patriots who fought, and the damage wasn’t limited to the battlefield. Tom Hogan, a retired National Guard officer with a passion for history, has researched the impact on prisoners of war from our area. When better than our 250th anniversary to learn about this little-known aspect of our history? August 26, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
* Are you a crafter whose stash has reached embarrassing levels? Or the opposite: someone who’d like to learn, but hesitates to invest any money before giving it a try? Calling all crafters of every description to our first Arts and Crafts Swap. Drop off your unneeded supplies at the library between August 31, 2026 and September 5, 2026 and then come “shop” free September 15, 16, and 17, from 5:00 p.m. until closing. You don’t have to donate anything in order to participate. Everyone is welcome.
Register online at https://www.brainerdlibrary.org or telephone 860-345-2204. Brainerd Memorial Library is located at 920 Saybrook Road in Haddam.
