Events & Nature Walks

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events and programs offered by

The Children's Museum in West Hartford

Nature Programs & Events

Firefly Fun

It’s firefly season! Learn more about these fascinating creatures and where to find them.

Make a firefly craft and enjoy firefly

Stories at 2 pm.

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

Paws, Claws & Jaws — Animal Demonstration

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 & visit with live animals to learn more.

This special 45-minute programs feature live and mounted animals and a brief power point presentation. Each program will focus on a different theme, with an up-close opportunity to learn about various animal groups.

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

Butterfly Tea Party & Story Time

Dress in your butterfly attire and waltz out to the Butterfly Garden for iced tea, lemonade, & cookies!

Look for butterflies & caterpillars , make a butterfly craft, visit with “Maisy” our monarch butterfly and her cousins, and more....

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

Snakes Alive! — Animal Demonstration

Join Nature Center staff to learn about these fascinating creatures.

This special 45-minute programs feature live and mounted animals and a brief power point presentation. Each program will focus on a different theme, with an up-close opportunity to learn about various animal groups.

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

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.

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 will be buggy!)
.

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). .

Turtles BIG & small — Animal Demonstration

Turtles come in many shapes and sizes. Join us as we visit with these ancient animals.

This special 45-minute programs feature live and mounted animals and a brief power point presentation. Each program will focus on a different theme, with an up-close opportunity to learn about various animal groups.

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

Teddy Bear Tea Party & 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). .

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). .

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).

Ancient Reptiles—Animal Demonstration

Brian Kleinman from Riverside Reptiles will present his program on ancient reptiles.

Crocodilians and turtles have been around for more than 100 million years, but they have changed little in their appearance. In this program you will learn about how these fascinating reptiles adapted and evolved into the animals we see today.

We will learn about their size, power, and hunting strategies, as well as conservation issues that affect their preservation. You will meet a Crocodile and Alligator, along with turtles, tortoises, and an 80 lb. SWAMP MONSTER!

This special 45-minute programs feature live and mounted animals and a brief power point presentation. Each program will focus on a different theme, with an up-close opportunity to learn about various animal groups.

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

Click here to learn about more events and programs offered by

Classes

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.

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 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

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.