Litchfield Prevention Council

09/29/2026

We can't wait for this year's Scarecrows in the Meadow--and for everyone to see the Litchfield Prevention Council scarecrows!

The Scarecrows are Coming! The Litchfield Historical Society is thrilled to announce the 7th Annual Scarecrows in the Meadows, a favorite fall tradition of celebrating the harvest season and community.

From October 17 – November 1, the Tapping Reeve Meadow will be home to more than 50 scarecrows created by friends, families, businesses, and non-profits organizations. Open every day from dawn to dusk, visitors can visit this year’s gathering of scarecrows and vote on their favorites.

A special thank you to our sponsors O&G Industries Inc., Burlington Construction, The Clothes Tree, Litchfield Prevention Council, and -Fox-Inn

Admission is free, but your donations at the event make this all possible!

09/28/2026

📱 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 | 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐜𝐭. 𝟔 💻

With new apps, platforms, and social media tools constantly emerging, navigating the digital world can feel overwhelming for parents.

To help local families build healthy, safe digital habits, the Litchfield Prevention Council is proud to team up once again with the Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) for a special program: Internet Safety Concepts: Empowering Smart Online Choices featuring former computer crimes investigator and youth officer Scott Driscoll of Internet Safety Concepts.

🌐 𝐀 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎

This parent session is part of a broader, full community initiative bringing safety education to our region. On Oct. 5 and 6, Scott Driscoll will also be leading age-appropriate presentations inside every school across Region 20 (Litchfield, Warren, Morris, and Goshen)—ensuring students, teachers, and parents are all using the same playbook to stay safe online.

💡 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 & 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧:

➡️ Social Apps & Trends: What kids are using today and how.

➡️ Cyberbullying & Digital Conduct: How to spot red flags and encourage positive behavior.

➡️ Texting & Privacy: Managing photo-sharing risks and digital footprints.

➡️ Parental Controls: Actionable tools and privacy settings you can set up right away.

🗓 Date: Tuesday, October 6
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Where: In-Person at Oliver Wolcott Library OR live via Zoom

🎟 How to Join:

Attending In-Person? Registration is required as space is limited. Reserve your spot here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/bntxe2z

Attending via Zoom? No pre-registration needed! Just click to join at 6 PM on Oct. 6: https://bit.ly/4hvqtSG

Read our full blog post to learn more about the Prevention Council's and OWL’s ongoing community partnership: https://litchfieldprevention.org/2026/09/internet-safety-concepts-empowering-smart-online-choices-for-our-kids/

09/02/2026

🗣️ 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 & 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞! 🗣️

The Litchfield Prevention Council is proud to have supported the newly formed Lakeview High School Debate Club with a $1,000 startup grant!

Starting from a sophomore English class idea, the club has grown into a thriving 19-member team preparing for its first competitive season with the Connecticut Debate Association this fall.

Rather than leaning into heated political divides, these students are building critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving skills by tackling real-world issues—including youth gambling prevention. By learning to research and argue both sides of complex topics, they are setting a powerful example of civil discourse for our schools and community. 👏

A huge thank you to advisors, local mentors, and our partners at Litchfield Health & Wellness Resources (who also awarded a $500 grant) for helping get this program off the ground!

Wish our Lakeview High School debaters luck as they kick off workshops this September and tournament participation in October! 📚🏆

👉 Read the full story on our blog: https://litchfieldprevention.org/2026/08/litchfield-prevention-council-supports-the-lakeview-high-debate-club/

08/13/2026

🔥 TEEN NIGHT OUTDOOR FUN AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER! 🌲✨

Looking for a fun, safe, and positive way for your middle schooler to connect with friends? Join our friends at the Litchfield Community Center for Outdoor Teen Night!

It’s going to be a fantastic evening packed with outdoor games, music, campfires, and great community vibes—all in a safe, fully supervised space.

📌 The Details:
👥 Who: Grades 6–8
📅 When: Friday, August 21st | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Where: Litchfield Community Center (421 Bantam Rd)
🎟️ Admission: $5 suggested donation
🍕 Includes: Outdoor activities, music, campfire fun, and snacks!
🛡️ Supervision: Supervised by LCC staff and volunteers
Give your teens a chance to unplug, relax, and make great memories with local friends before summer ends!

👉 Pre-register online here: thecommunitycenter.org/product/outdoor-teen-night/

Celebrate the near end of summer with our Outdoor Teen Night on Aug. 21.

To register and for all the details, scan the QR code or visit:
https://thecommunitycenter.org/event/outdoor-teen-night-june-26th/

07/01/2026

☀️ July is UV Safety Awareness Month! ☀️

As we enjoy the peak of summer, it’s important to remember that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is a primary cause of skin cancer. Protecting your skin is easy when you build a few simple habits into your daily routine:

✅ Apply Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen: Use SPF 30 or higher every single day, and reapply every two hours (or after swimming/sweating).
✅ Seek Shade: The sun's rays are strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM.
✅ Gear Up: Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses that block UV rays, and lightweight, long-sleeved clothing when possible.

Protecting your skin today lowers your risk for a lifetime. Learn more about protecting yourself: cdc.gov/skin-cancer/sun-safety/index.html

06/27/2026

Stop by and see us at the Litchfield Wellness Festival today at Community Field. It’s free and the positive energy is flowing.

We’re here until 4:30 … or head to our website to learn more. https://litchfieldprevention.org

05/13/2026

The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling Annual Recovery Retreat is coming up in June, right here in Litchfield. Learn more: https://ccpg.org/retreat/

CCPG Recovery Retreat
Date: June 19-21, 2026
Join CCPG’s 2nd Annual Recovery Retreat for a supportive weekend designed for individuals and families impacted by gambling harm. Through connection, education, and community, attendees will have the opportunity to recharge, share experiences, and continue their recovery journey in a welcoming environment.

Information & Registration:
ccpg.org/retreat

05/13/2026

We're in the middle of National Prevention Week (May 10-16, 2026), a public education platform showcasing the work of communities and organizations across the country that are preventing substance use — and promoting well-being. Learn more and get resources here: https://www.samhsa.gov/about/digital-toolkits/prevention-week

03/27/2026

Susan B. Anthony Project outreach and prevention educators are presenting a free screening of the film "The Last Drop" at Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) in Litchfield on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m.

Being presented in partnership with the Litchfield Prevention Council and OWL, the screening will be followed by a panel discussion – and pizza will be provided!

"The Last Drop" tells the story of a young woman who links her mind with her boyfriend’s using a device that allows couples to relive shared memories. When she begins to notice troubling signs of abuse she had previously overlooked, she must find a way to escape before he manipulates those memories to his advantage.

"The Last Drop" is part of an international campaign designed to reveal the early signs of relationship abuse by taking viewers on a journey through the memories of real survivors.

The film and the discussion that follows offer an opportunity to explore the dynamics of abusive relationships and to better understand the warning signs. Emotional abuse and coercive control can be far more difficult to recognize than physical abuse and can leave lasting effects that are challenging to heal from.

While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required and may be done online here. https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dtdw75f

OWL is located at 160 South St. See the website to learn more about the library. https://www.owlibrary.org/

See the Susan B. Anthony Project website to learn more about its mission to promote safety, healing, and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocacy for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence. https://sbaproject.org/

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at [email protected].

03/25/2026

The Litchfield Prevention Council, Litchfield PTO - CT, and Oliver Wolcott Library are co-sponsoring a Family Book Club event March 31 at 6 p.m. that’s open to the public and will continue the discussion about young people navigating the challenges of the “Screen Age.”

“As part of our ongoing work to empower our kids and our community to thrive during the ‘Screen Age,’ we will be doing a guided book discussion on The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt (author of The Anxious Generation) and Catherine Price,” the library’s event listing explains. “This new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.”

The Amazing Generation is graphic-novel-style guide for 9–12 year-olds on navigating screen time and social media, according to Common Sense Media, which says, “It empowers kids to treat tech as a tool rather than a master, aiming to foster real-life adventures, friendships, and freedom over addictive, ‘greedy wizard’-designed platforms.”

Registration is required for those who plan to attend and may be done online here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/dh86uch

Books are available to pick up at OWL, located at 160 South St., and pizza will be provided for all participants.

As part of the “Screen Age” initiative, the Prevention Council, PTO, and OWL partnered for a Screen Age Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion last May, and last April they co-sponsored a viewing of the elementary school age edition of the film “Screenagers,” followed by a discussion.

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at [email protected].