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Exhibits, Events & Nature Walks

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Exhibits - Special Project


BUILDING OUR FUTURE!

The Nature Center and the
Friends of the Roaring Brook
will be holding a variety of fundraisers
to support the construction of
new raptor / wildlife enclosures
for our wonderful resident / rehabilitating
birds and animals.

To learn more
about this project,
click here

Call the Nature Center if you
would like to to help
with this project,
our fundraisers, or to
make a donation.

 

CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE!

NEW RAPTOR ENCLOSURES, CLASSROOM and MUCH MORE
PLANNED FOR THE NATURE CENTER

To donate to this project, click here.

 


 

Click here to learn about

events and programs offered by

The Children's Museum in West Hartford

Nature Programs & Events

Sunday
April 22
1 – 4 pm

Earth Day at the Nature Center

Spend an Earth Day afternoon at the Nature Center. See what has been happening at the Nature Center over the past few months.

Admission free to the Nature Center on Earth Day.
Saturdays
April 28
May 5
May 19
7 — 9 am

Weekend Bird Walks

An early morning walk through Werner’s Woods provides welcome sights and sounds for beginning birders as well as those with more experience in the field. Bird walks are not geared for younger children.

Bring binoculars and dress for wet ground underfoot.

Cost: $5 members; $7 nonmembers.

Pre-registration is not required
MOTHER'S DAY
Sunday, May 13
Talk 1 pm—2 pm
Walk 2 pm—2:30 pm

Annual Mother's Day Wildflower Talk & Walk

Connecticut has a myriad of spring wildflowers. Find out why they bloom in the spring, where to find them, how they got their names and what makes these plants so special.

Join us for a special lecture from 1 pm to 2 pm and at 2 pm for a guided walk through our native plant gardens looking for wildflowers. Geared for all ages.

Cost: $4 members; $6 nonmembers. Moms admitted free.

Pre-registration required.

Nature Center closed for Memorial Day May 28
Trails open dawn to dusk
Friday
June 1
6:30 – 7:30 pm

Gardening for Wildlife

Learn how you can create a garden that brings birds, bees, butterflies, and frogs to your yard and that will help sustain our wild areas.

Cost: $5 per person
Pre-registration required.

Tuesday afternoons
July & August
anytime after 1:30 pm

Ask a Naturalist

Have a strange bug, plant, bone, or rock that you would like to know more about? Bring it to Roaring Brook and the Nature Center staff will try their best to figure out what it is. No live animals (except insects) please. Photos welcome.

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).



Thursday
June 21 (Summer Solstice)
6 – 7:30 pm

Family Wildife Trivia & Pizza Night

Spend the longest evening of the year at the Nature Center and test your nature trivia knowledge. Pizza slices & sodas and available for purchase.

Pre-registration: $5 per person / $15 for family of four
At door: $7 per person / $20 for family of four
Thursday
June 28
1:30 – 3 pm

Firefly Fun

It’s firefly season. Learn more about these fascinating creatures and where to find them. Make a firefly craft and listen to firefly stories. 

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).

Selected afternoons
beginning at 2 pm

July 3 - Paws, Claws & Jaws

July 18 - Snakes Alive!

August 2 - Turtles BIG & small

August 23 - Living Dragons

Animal Demonstrations

These special 45-minute programs feature live and mounted animals and a brief power point presentation. Each program will focus on a different theme, providing an opportunity to learn about the habits and habitats of various animal groups.


The following programs have been scheduled:

July 3 (Tuesday) – Paws, Claws & Jaws
Kick off your 4th of July holiday with our animal demonstration on the many structural adaptations animals have to help them survive. Examine animal skulls and visit with live animals to learn more.

July 18 (Wednesday) – Snakes Alive!
Join Nature Center staff to learn about these fascinating creatures.

August 2 (Thursday) – Turtles BIG & small
Turtles come in many shapes and sizes. Join us as we visit with these ancient animals.

August 23 (Thursday) – Living Dragons
Brian Kleinman of Riverside Reptiles will be on hand with some very special guests for a presentation on lizards.

Cost: $4 children, $6 adults Pre-registration is not required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Nature Center closed for July 4th
Trails open dawn to dusk

Wednesday
July 11
1:30 - 3 pm

Story time at 2 pm

Butterfly Tea Party & Story Time

Dress in your butterfly attire and waltz out to the Butterfly Garden for some iced tea, lemonade, and cookies! Look for butterflies & caterpillars in our butterfly garden, make a butterfly craft, visit with “Maisy” our monarch butterfly and her cousins, and more....

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).


Saturday
July 21
7:30 am
Meet in Nature Center parking lot

Farmington Valley Butterfly Count

The Nature Center will host the Farmington Valley Butterfly Count, a part of an annual survey sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association.

To take part in the Butterfly Count meet in the Nature Center parking lot at 7:30 am . Participants in the Count should be prepared to travel throughout the Farmington Valley and be in good physical condition. Not geared for young children.

Pre-registration required. No cost to attend Butterfly Count.


Wednesday evenings
July 25
August 8 & 22
7:30 - 8:45 pm

Trails @ Twilight

Many animals become more active in the cooler twilight hours. In past years we’ve seen and heard a wide range of creatures on our evening walks. What will we find this summer?!

Cost: $3 members; $6 nonmembers (children $2 members, $3 nonmembers).

Flashlight & long sleeves recommended (It may be buggy!)


Friday
July 27
1:30 – 3 pm

Story time at 2pm

Lady Bug Lunch & Story Time

Bring a bag lunch or snack and enjoy an afternoon at the Nature Center learning about ladybugs and other insect helpers. Lady bug crafts & stories, lemonade and cookies. Costumes welcome.

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).

Tuesday
August 7
1:30 - 3 pm

Story time at 2 pm

Teddy Bear Picnic & Story Time

Bring your favorite teddy bear & a bagged lunch/snack for a picnic in our butterfly garden — we will supply the lemonade and cookies. Make a bear craft, learn what our local bears are doing this time of the year, and more....


Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).


Wednesday
August 15
1:30 – 3 pm

Winged Jewels

Celebrate the end of our summer season with an afternoon at the Nature Center. Learn about our beautiful dragonflies and damsel flies. Hike the trail to the pond to find them. Make a dragonfly craft and visit with “Jewel” our Dragonfly.

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).

 
Monday - Saturday
August 20 - 25
10 am—4 pm

Houses & Homes for Fairies & Gnomes

What ‘magical’ creatures are living in our woods & gardens? Drop in and, using only natural materials (we will provide some but feel free to bring your own) and your imagination, create your own dwelling for the ‘wee folk’. Costumes encouraged.

Cost: Admission to the Nature Center (members free).


Nature Center closed for Labor Day September 3
Trails open dawn to dusk

Click here to learn about more events and programs offered by

Classes

 
DISCOVERY DAYS PROGRAMS

Discovery Day Programs

Registration is open for the upcoming Discovery Days, the Nature Center’s enrichment series for children. Four week programs are offered for pre-schoolers and a parent, for students in kindergarten and kindergarten readiness programs and for elemantary age students. For more details, click here.

The cost of each four-week session is $40.00 for members, $50.00 for nonmembers. A $10 discount is extended to families with a second child attending during the same time period. Portions of the program are held outdoors, please dress accordingly.

Register by mail or in person during regular Nature Center hours. 
For a printable form, click here.

Please call the Nature Center at (860)693-0263 for additional information and to determine if there are class openings prior to mailing your registration.
SUMMER 2018 DISCOVERY DAYS

 

Roaring Brook Nature Center's SUMMER 2018 Discovery Programs
offer your child a unique blend of education and recreation
that takes advantage of the curiosity and sense of wonder
that all children feel toward the natural world.  

Click here for our SUMMER DISCOVER DAYS 2018 brochure


Home School Programs

 

The Nature Center can create special programs for your home school group. 

Explore the wonders of our woods, fields, and stream.

Each class will investigate a different aspect of a central theme, complete with hands-on experiments & plenty of time outdoors.

Classes comply with CT State Sceince Standards for Pre-K to Grade 2

To learn more or to schedule a program,
email us at rbnc@thechildrensmuseumct.org or call 860.693.0263

Click here to learn about Homeschool programs offered by
The Children's Museum in West Hartford



Email us at rbnc@thechildrensmuseumct.org or call 860.693.0263

Guided Nature Walks

 

Nature Walks

During July and August, group nature walks may be scheduled by individuals, families or by organized groups on selected weekday afternoons. Walks may be general or may focus on a specific topic of interest. Call the Nature Center for additional information.

The Werner Woods trails are open year-round for self-guided tours.  Trail guide books are available in the Nature Center store for $2.00.

 
Volunteers Needed!
  • Volunteers interested in working with the Nature Center's Raptor Care Program (must be over 18 years of age), please call the Center (860) 693-0263. Whatever time you can offer will be appreciated.

For more information on our volunteer needs, click here.

Birthday Party Opportunities

During the school year, the Nature Center offers birthday parties on Saturdays (morning parties from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM, afternoon parties from 1:30-3:30 PM) and on selected weekday afternoons from 3:00 to 5:00 PM.

During July and August, the Nature Center will offer birthday parties on selected weekday afternoons from 1:30 – 3:30 PM. (Please note that birthday party availability is subject to the Nature Center’s summer program schedule of classes and public events).

Parties include a live animal demonstration, nature walk, and use of our auditorium for holding the party. Cost of a party is $150 for members, $175 for nonmembers.

For more information, click here. To make a reservation call the Center at (860) 693-0263.

 

Sunday before Thanksgiving
November 20, 2016
Noon - 4:00 pm

Holiday Craft Fair

CALLING ALL CRAFTERS! 
Are you interested in being a part of our 2016 Holiday Craft Fair?  We welcome vendors who have produced hand-made gifts and/or natural products to sell as 'gifts' during the holiday season.

For an registration form, please contact Margery Winters at mwinters@thechildrensmuseumct.org or 860.693.0263

 

Scout Programs

Leaders of Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout Troops, as well as Cub Scout Troops, will find that numerous badge requirements may be fulfilled by a visit to Roaring Brook Nature Center. To learn more, click here.

 
70 Gracey Road, Canton, CT  06019
Phone: 860-693-0263
Email: rbnc@thechildrensmuseumct.org
Copyright © 2006 Roaring Brook Nature Center. All rights reserved worldwide.