Home for the Holidays Scavenger Hunt

Hike our trails in December and learn which animals have chosen to spend the upcoming holidays in Werner’s Woods.

Free with admission to the Nature Center.

Friday, January 18
anytime noon — 4 pm
Story time at 2 pm

Saturday, January 19
anytime 10 am - 4 pm

Sunday, January 20
anytime 1 - 4 pm

Stories in the Snow

Looking for some fun winter activities? Visit the Nature Center and take a hike through the woods. Weather permitting, look for tracks or other signs of animals who spend the winter in Werner’s Woods. Listen to stories about winter animals.  Make a winter animal craft.  Go on a Home for the Holidays Scavenger Hunt.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

 

Monday, January 21
anytime 10 am — 4 pm
Storytime at 11 am & 2 pm

Monday
January 21
7 – 8:15 pm

Under the ‘Wolf‘ Moon Night Hike
FULL MOON - SUPER MOON

Bundle up and join us for a guided evening hike under the full moon. This month’s moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Wolf Moon In Native American and early Colonial times, the Full Moon for January was called the Full Wolf Moon. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. We won’t hear any wolves but we may hear owls and other creatures of the night.

This is also the first of three supermoons for 2019. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

BLOOD MOON NOTE: The night before this walk will be a total lunar eclipse beginning at 11:41pm on January 20.  The maximum eclipse with be at 12:12 am and will end by 12:43am. As with most lunar eclipses, the moon will appear red. The red color is caused by scattering of sunlight through the Earth's atmosphere, the same effect that causes sunsets to appear red.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. 

Cost: Members - $5 each / $15 family of four;
         Nonmembers - $7 each / $20 family of four
Pre-registration required..

Mondays
January 28
February 11
February 25
7 pm

Groundhog Day Hike

Will the Groundhog see his shadow and what does it really mean? Take a guided walk through the forest to uncover the mysteries of wildlife habits in mid-winter. Take our groundhog day quiz and make a groundhog craft. Watch a program on groundhogs. Make your prediction on when spring will arrive.

Stay after the hike and visit with The Children's Museum's
resident groundhog, Cider.

Cost: Members - $5 each / $15 family of four;
        Nonmembers - $7 each / $20 family of four

Pre-registration required.

Superb Owl Sunday

Before the Big Game this weekend, join us at the Nature Center to celebrate Superb Owl Sunday. Learn about our magnificent native owls and preview their new enclosures. Take part in our animal sports mascots scavenger hunt and discover which mascot would be the best for your dream team. Owl related crafts and games.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

Love Our Animals - Valentines Week

Celebrate Valentine's Week with our wonderful animals!

Make special Valentines for our animals & loved ones.

Special visit with the animals at 1 pm & 3 pm

Monday – Beautiful Bugs
Tuesday – Fantastic Frogs
Wednesday – Terrific Turtles
Thursday – Splendid Snakes
Friday – Radiant Raptors

Crafts & animal demo free with admission to Nature Center.
No need to preregister.

It’s Snow Wonder
Vacation Program for Grades K - 5

Fun with snow and ice, animal tracking and, depending upon weather conditions, maple sugaring will be part of this two-day vacation program.

Daily Rate: $40 members, $50 nonmembers

Pre-registration with payment required

Click here to sign up online

 

Tuesday
February 19
7 pm — 8:15 pm

Under the Full ‘Snow’ SUPER Moon
Family Night Hike

Dress warmly and 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.

This is also the second of three supermoons for 2019. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. 

Cost: Members - $5 each / $15 family of four;
        Nonmembers - $7 each / $20 family of four

Pre-registration required.

Sunday
February 24
2 – 3 pm

Winter Tree ID Scavenger Hunt

If you look closely, winter trees aren’t bare at all. Their buds, twigs, bark, and general shape give plenty of clues as to their identity. Join us for a late winter hike to learn who’s who in our woods.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

Sunday, March 10
2 — 3 pm

Sunday, March 17
2 — 3 pm    SNOW DATE

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: $5 members; $7 nonmembers. Pre-registration is not required.

 

The Wonderful, Wacky Wood Frog

The wood frogs are waking up from their long winter’s frozen nap. Join us as we celebrate these remarkable creatures. Listen to stories about frogs and salamanders. Take a hike to our vernal pool to listen to their spring ‘quacking’ and make wood frog crafts.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

Thursday
March 21
7:00 pm — 8:15 pm

Under the Full ‘Sap’ SUPER Moon
First Day of Spring Family 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.

This is also the last of three supermoons for 2019. The Moon will be at its closest approach to the Earth and may look slightly larger and brighter than usual.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. 

Cost: $5 members; $7 nonmembers. Pre-registration required.

Spring Nature Trivia & Pizza Night

Celebrate Spring at the Nature Center and test your nature trivia knowledge. Pizza slices & sodas available for purchase. BYOB.

Pre-registration: $5 per person / $15 for family of four
At door: $7 per person / $20 for family of four

Call the Nature Center to register or click here to sign up online

Friday
March 29
7:30 pm — 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: $5 members; $10 nonmembers
Pre-registration required - space is limited

Vernal Pool Walk / Amphibians Program

Join us for a program on the amphibians that inhabit vernal pools followed by a walk to local wetlands to view nocturnal wildlife. Not geared for very young children.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. 

Cost: $5 members; $10 nonmembers
Pre-registration required - space is limited

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

Daily Rate: $40 members, $50 nonmembers
Full Week: $160 members, $200 nonmembers
Pre-registration with payment is required

Call the Nature Center to register or click here to sign up online.

 

Welcome Back Birds!
April Scavenger Hunt

Many birds have been spending the winter in warmer places. Where did they go? Why are they returning? Which birds are the first to arrive and who can we expect later? Join us for an outdoor scavenger hunt and crafts. Learn what you can do to welcome our birds back.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to pre-register.

Spring is for Babies

Spring is in the air and it’s time for babies! Join us Wednesday to Saturday afternoons for games and crafts that are all about wild babies, their habitats, families, and diet.

Bring in a baby shower gift donation from our Amazon wishlist
or a monetary donation to enter for a chance to attend
a rehabbed animal release


Drawing is on Sunday at 3:45pm at the April Animal Baby Shower.

Sunday
April 14
anytime 1 — 4 pm

April Animal Baby Shower

Join us on Sunday for a baby shower to benefit the orphaned wildlife that come to the Roaring Brook Nature Center for rehabilitation.

Enjoy an animal demonstration with “Roger” the baby box turtle, hear a 30- minute presentation at 2 pm about what to do when you encounter wildlife babies, and play games inspired by our wild friends!

Bring in a baby shower gift donation from our Amazon wishlist
or a monetary donation to enter for a chance to attend
a rehabbed animal release

Drawing is on Sunday at 3:45 pm at the April Animal Baby Shower.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to pre-register.  

 

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. Find the hidden “nests” around the Nature Center, then head out on the trails on a scavenger hunt to see where eggs will be laid this spring.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

Earth Day Talk:
Gardening for Bees & Other Wildlife

Learn what you can do to attract bees, butterflies, frogs and other wildlife in your yard.

Admission free to the Nature Center on Earth Day.  Donations welcome!

 

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

Flatbread Pizza Night Fundraiser
for the Nature Center

Bring your friends, bring your family for dinner at Flatbread’s at The Shoppes at the Farmington Valley.

A percentage of the pizza sales supports the Nature Center.

The Roaring Brook Turtle Derby:
A Run for the Strawberries

Join us for an afternoon of turtle races celebrating the opening of our new turtle ponds.  Will the winner be Toby, the ornate box turtle; Juliette, the box turtle;  Timber, the wood turtle; or Sunshine, the Russian tortoise?  Turtle crafts.

Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

We will be racing our resident turtles.  Please leave wild turtles in the wild - do not catch wild turtles for turtle races. 

MOTHER'S DAY
Sunday
May 12

Talk 1 —2 pm
Walk 2 —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: $5 members; $7 nonmembers. Moms admitted free.
Pre-registration required.

Nature Center closed for Memorial Day - May 28
Trails open dawn to dusk

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

Summer Solstice Nature Trivia & Pizza Night: Under the Full Strawberry Moon

Spend the summer solstice evening at the Nature Center and test your nature trivia knowledge. Pizza slices, sodas, & strawberry shortcake available for purchase. BYOB.

Pre-registration: $5 per person / $15 for family of four
At door: $7 per person / $20 for family of four

Call the Nature Center to register or click here to sign up online

 

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