This month: A volunteer recruitment party at the Visitor Center on Sunday! Plus, we announce big news about the Osaki House and the Concession stand. The Selden III is 75 years old and we will celebrate that in April! PLUS - our annual membership drive is starting. Renew now so you don't forget!

Have you ever been curious about volunteering? Do you have a green thumb? Are you a history buff, train lover, or hiking enthusiast? Are you an outgoing people-person who loves to have FUN? Do you have carpentry skills or enjoy working with your hands?

Hear all about it on Sunday, March 24 at 11 a.m. at the Visitor Center!

Door prizes, snacks, and a raffle! Is there a better way to spend a rainy Sunday morning?

Come celebrate the 75th birthday of our intrepid little ferry!

We will have coffee and snacks from our friends at the Hadlyme Market, PLUS a birthday cake made just for the occasion!

Rub shoulders with local dignitaries and enjoy conversations with friends from far and wide. After a ribbon cutting and brief speeches, we will take a mini cruise on the river.

Rain date is April 7 at 10 a.m.. We will send an email in the event of a cancellation.

The state of Connecticut

is seeking partners at Gillette Castle!

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has launched a new program to expand amenities at State Parks.

Gillette Castle State Park has TWO opportunities on offer: the concession building and the Osaki House.

The first stage of the project, a "request for information," is to collect ideas about how these properties might be used to enhance the experience of visitors to the park.

After deciding which ideas have the most merit, the state will issue requests for organizations to make specific proposals for how to implement these ideas - a "request for proposal".

The Friends of Gillette Castle are joining several other non-profits to propose the creation of a cultural and environmental education center at the Osaki House. We are very excited about the potential to preserve this tangible legacy of Yukitaka Osaki and keep his spirit alive! We promise to keep you in the loop as this project moves forward.

Below: volunteers kick-off the membership drive with an envelope stuffing party!