COMO Collaborations
Cove
The Cove provides family and school-based programs utilizing the peer support group concept for helping children, teens and families work with their unresolved grief due to the death of someone significant in their lives and other traumatic losses. The Cove also provides professional development and training for adults working with children and teens.
Stonington Garden Club
The Stonington Garden Club and the COMO first collaborated in 1997 to create the COMO Children's Garden located on the COMO campus between the Paddle and tennis courts on Cutler Street. The Garden is a favorite destination for the children in our care and for many local families, as well, in which to explore, create and learn. As a Sensory Garden, children are encouraged to touch, smell and in some cases, taste, the assorted herbs and flowers. The Garden serves as an extension of our preschool classroom and summer camp for all ages includes weekly Garden lessons for the children in our care. Our engaging curriculum includes letters from Mother Nature, natural science lessons, planting and harvesting and Farm to Table experiences with the children bringing their harvest directly to the kitchen. The pizza garden is a favorite as all enjoy delicious pizza from this particular plot's harvest!
This amazing Garden was a true community collaborative for which we as an organization are very grateful. The list of partners who have contributed to the Garden's continuing growth through the years is extensive. Such friends, in addition to the Stonington Garden Club volunteers, includes local landscape firms and builders, Boys Scouts, Cub Scouts and Eagle Scouts, church groups, local nurseries, Master Gardener Candidates, COMO staff and the COMO's Junior Leaders. The Garden is available to rent for events and the COMO also offers themed Birthday Parties in the Garden.
As a community resource, the COMO also hosts the Stonington Garden Clubs annual Greens Workshop each December. Over 200 arrangements are created by the Garden Club members to bring cheer to the area's nursing home facilities. The COMO also provides free year round storage space for the Club's supplies.
Stonington Players
Stonington Players was formed in 1965 under the direction of Louise Wimpfheimer. Making its home in the newly built theater at the Stonington Community Center, the Stonington Players initially presented one production each year. It expanded to two productions per year in 1971 and has continued to this day to present new and exciting productions, the profits of which are given to the Community Center to continue its programs for preschool through senior citizens.
Stonington Village Improvement Association
The SVIA and the COMO partner on a number of initiatives designed to improve the quality of life for Stonington residents.
During the summer months the COMO leases duBois Beach from the SVIA and manages all beach operations. DuBois, located in Stonington Borough, is a beautiful small beach with serene views and gentle surf.
The COMO, in partnership with the Stonington Village Improvement Association, is investigating a project to restore the pond in front of the COMO to its original state. With the assistance of the DEEP, we are planning to remove the invasive reed, known as phragmites, in order to help restore the natural ecosystem to this area. We highly encourage you to read the attached letter explaining why this project is so necessary and further details regarding the process we have so heavily researched. Once the project is complete, we look forward to welcoming back natural wildlife, ice skating in the winters, and natural science programs throughout the warm weather.
As a community resource the COMO is also a proud supporter of the SVIA's Annual Stonington Village Christmas Carol Sing, Tree Lighting and Merchant Stroll, donating our PA system and staffing to support this popular community event.
Boy Scouts of America
The Stonington Community Center is the charter organization of Pack 37. The COMO plays host to monthly meetings for the Club Scouts, as well as the Annual Pinewood Derby. Since 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has helped youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives. Learn more about Pack 37.