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Nature Programs, Hikes & Events
			Click here to learn about events and programs offered by The Children's Museum in West Hartford
Nature Programs, Hikes & Events
Winter Tree ID Until March 3 All About Owls Until March 31 Eggs, Eggs, Eggs Until April 15 Bird Nests Until April 30 Spring Wildflowers Until May 15 Frog & Toad in CT Until May 31 The Bear Facts Until June 15			Along Our Trails Scavenger Hunts The Nature Center is posting a series of nature scavenger hunts along our trails to add to your enjoyment. Scavenger hunt maps are available at the front door of the Nature Center. DONATIONS WELCOME!

Roaring Brook Nature Center Valentine Packages! Looking for a unique gift for that special animal lover in your life? Do you want to help support the resident wildlife at Roaring Brook Nature Center? Look no further. To order, call the Nature Center 860-693-0263 or email Limited availability. Pick up only. Profit from packages will go towards the animals' care!
			Children's Friendship Package $30 each Includes: a picture of chosen animal, a letter from the animal, species information and their story, a heart shaped crayon, coloring pages, and craft materials with instructions.
			Adult's Love Our Animals Package $30 each Includes: a picture of chosen animal, species information and their story, link to an RBNC Wildlife Jeopardy, an RBNC bumper sticker, and "Giving in Numbers" (what your money supports)

Friday - Sunday February 12 - 13 Regular admission hours			Love Our Animals Fundraiser The animals who call Roaring Brook Nature Center home would love to see you over Valentine’s Day weekend. Bring them a homemade valentine card for your favorite animal and if you can, a little present to show them how much you care. Click on their Wish List to see what they may like Make a Donation to Support Our Animals Click Here to Purchase a RodentPro Gift Card Click here to view our Amazon Wishlist to find needed items for our animals Cost: Donations readily accepted in lieu of admission.


Saturday February 27 7 pm — 8:15 pm			Under the ‘Snow’ Moon Night Hike Join us for a guided walk under a full moon. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year. Since hunting is difficult, this moon has also been known by some tribes as the Full Hunger Moon, since the harsh weather made hunting difficult. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Sunday March 14 12-1 and 2-3 pm			Maple Sugaring in Your Own Backyard Our annual demonstration teaches you how to make maple syrup the easy way. We’ll cover the entire process from identifying the tree to the best part – tasting the final product. Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for the 12- 1 pm program, click here To register for the 2- 3 pm program, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Friday March 19 11 am			Frogs of Spring VIRTUAL Program The wood frogs are waking up from their long winter’s frozen nap and other amphibians will soon be waking up as well. Join us as we celebrate these remarkable creatures. Listen to stories about frogs and salamanders. Program is free. Donations appreciated. Click here at 11 am on March 19 to join this program.


Saturday March 20 10 am			Spring Equinox Hike In Hartford, the spring equinox occurs on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 5:37 am. Join us to celebrate the beginning of astronomical spring. Look for signs of spring on our trails. Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Friday March 26 7:30 — 9:00 pm			March Madness Owl Prowl Listen and look for barred owls and other nocturnal creatures along our trails. Not geared for very young children. Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Sunday March 28 7:30 pm — 8:45 pm			Under the ‘Sap’ Moon Night Hike Join us for a guided walk under a full moon. This moon was known to Native Americans as the Full ‘Sap’ Moon, as it marks the time when maple sap begins to flow and the annual tapping of maple trees begins. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Friday - Sunday April 2 - 4 Regular admission hours			Eggs, Eggs, Eggs! Spring Scavenger Hunt Spring is the season of eggs – bird eggs, frog eggs, turtle eggs, fish eggs! Learn about the animals that laid them and the nests they have built to hold them. Hike the trails looking for the scavenger hunt signs. Complete the scavenger hunt and win a small prize. Craft bags will be available for children. All activities will be outdoors. Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister. Donations appreciated.


Sunday April 11 2 pm			Gardening with Frog & Toad VIRTUAL PROGRAM A garden filled with the peeps, trills, quacks, or croaks from our native frogs and toads is one of the fastest ways to judge the health of your local ecosystem. Learn how to garden to help the amphibian populations in your yard and beyond. Program is free. Donations appreciated. Click here at 2 pm on April 11 to attend.


Monday – Friday April 12 - April 16 9 am – Noon			Spring Fever! Vacation Program for Grades K-5 How do animals know that spring has arrived? Join us for a week of morning fun & exploration in forest, field and pond. Spend vacation mornings looking for wildlife at Roaring Brook Nature Center. Dress for the weather – classes will be held outdoors. Students are required to wear masks. Daily Rate: $50 members, $60 nonmembers Full Week: $200 members, $250 nonmembers Pre-registration & Masks required. Click here to register.


Tuesday April 20 5 pm – 8 pm			Flatbread Pizza Night Fundraiser for the Nature Center Support your local Flatbreads and Roaring Brook Nature Center with your TAKE OUT purchase of a pizza or two (or more) pizza from Flatbread’s at The Shoppes at the Farmington Valley. A percentage of the pizza sales supports the Nature Center.


Sunday April 25 2 - 3 pm			World Frog Day Hike Join us on a guided hike on World Frog Day. See who lives in our woods and wetlands. Learn about their interesting life cycles, where they are laying their eggs, and how to identify their spring calls. Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Thursday April 22 7 pm			Earth Day VIRTUAL Presentation: Seeing Red (Why Friends Don't Let Friends Plant Burning Bush) Nationwide, three million acres are lost each year to alien plants. Removal is expensive & time consuming. Learn what makes these plants so damaging and how gardeners can restore ecological balance to our neighborhoods. Program is free. Donations appreciated. Click here at 7pm on April 22 to attend program.


Saturdays April 24 May 1 May 15 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: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for these hikes: Click here for April 24 Click here for May 1 Click here for May 15 Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Thursday May 6 7 pm			Spring Wildflowers VIRTUAL PROGRAM Connecticut has a myriad of spring wildflowers. Discover why they bloom in the spring, where to find them, how they got their names and what makes these plants so special. Program is free. Donations appreciated. Click here at 7 pm on May 6 to attend.


MOTHER'S DAY Sunday May 9 Hike 2 - 3 pm			Mother's Day Wildflower Hike 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 guided walk through our native plant gardens and woods looking for wildflowers. Bundle Cost: $10 each / $30 family of four MASKS & RESERVATIONS REQUIRED To register for this hike, click here Groups limited to 12 people Program may be subject to change or cancellation if conditions require


Thursday May 27 7 pm			Gardening for Bees, Butterflies and Other Pollinators VIRTUAL PROGRAM Pollinators play a critical role in in the production of most fruits and vegetables and they need our help. Learn about our many native pollinators, their important role in keeping our ecosystems healthy, and how you can manage your garden to provide just what they need. Program is free. Donations appreciated. Click here to participate at 7pm on May 27


Sunday May 23 1 – 4 pm			World Turtle Day Join us in our outdoor turtle enclosure to celebrate World Turtle Day. Visit with Tobey, the ornate box turtle; Juliette, the box turtle; Timber, the wood turtle, and others. Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister. Masks required.


Nature Center closed for Memorial Day May 31 Trails open dawn to dusk
* Family rates apply for two adults and two children (over two years of age)

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.
SUMMER PROGRAMS
			Roaring Brook Nature Center's SUMMER 2020 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 to learn more and to register online Click here for our SUMMER PROGRAMS 2020 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
*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 are needed this summer to help maintain the Porritt Wildflower Trail and the Marabeth Finn Memorial Native Plant Butterfly Garden. Interested in helping out in the garden? Feel free to drop by and help out! Call Margery Winters at the Nature Center to find out more (693-0263). 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 Noon - 4:00 pm Note: Due to COVID, this Fair will not be held in 2020			Holiday Craft Fair CALLING ALL CRAFTERS! Are you interested in being a part of our 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 rbnc@thechildrensmuseumct.org Copyright © 2006 Roaring Brook Nature Center. All rights reserved worldwide