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. Come enjoy these free seasonal experiences.
Spring Fever! Vacation Programs
Monday – Friday
April 14 – April 18
9 am – Noon
How do animals know it’s spring? Come discover the signs of the season during a week of fun-filled mornings exploring the forest, field, and pond. From budding trees to frog eggs, we’ll search for the plants and animals that tell us spring has begun.
Join us in a full-week of fun and adventure!
Full Week Pricing: $270 Members; $315 Non-members
Pre-registration is required.
Eggs! Eggs!! Eggs!!! Spring Scavenger Hunt
Friday, April 18 anytime 1 pm — 4 pm
Saturday, April 19 anytime 10 — 4 pm
Sunday, April 20 anytime 1 — 4 pm
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. Crafts all day.
Please note that there is NOT an Easter egg hunt included in this event.
Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.
Pizza at American Flatbread!
Earth Day!
Tuesday, April 22
5 – 8:30 pm
Bring your family! Bring your friends! Bring your neighbors! Bring your appetites to American Flatbreads in Canton to enjoy their wood-fired pizzas made in traditional clay ovens with organic ingredients or take a few pizzas home to share..
American Flatbread is generously donating a share of all pizza sales to the Nature Center.
Owl Prowl
Friday, April 25
7:30 – 8:45 pm
Join us for a hike along our trails in the darkness of the new moon to listen and look for barred owls and other nocturnal creatures along our trails.
Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight!
Not geared for very young children.
Cost: $11 each / $36 family of four.
Pre-registration required – space is limited.
Vernal Pool Expedition
Saturday, April 26 (Rescheduled from April 12 due to weather)
10:00 – 11:30 am
Springtime brings hidden wonders to the forest – vernal pools! These temporary wetlands are bursting with life, from tadpoles to salamanders. Search for egg masses, listen for calling frogs and learn why these pools are so important for local wildlife.
This hike will be held at the Ray Smith Trail at the Mary Conklin Sanctuary (Trail head located at 144 Indian Hill Rd, Canton CT). This hike is on a Canton Land Conservation Trust property.
This program is free to attend for Canton residents due to generous funding from the Canton Youth Services Bureau.
Registration required.
Lights Out for the Birds!
Sunday, April 27
1 pm
A growing body of research suggests that the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting is causing serious harm to nocturnal animals, migrating birds, insects, as well as our own health. Join us for a presentation on the impacts of light pollution on bird migration and other wildlife. Learn what you can do to reduce light pollution around your home and help local wildlife.
For Earth Day, this presentation is free with admission to the Nature Center.
Weekend Bird Walks
Saturdays, April 26, May 3, May 17
7 — 9 am
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.
Donations welcome. Pre-registration is not required
Turtle Derby: A Run for the Strawberries
Sunday, May 4
1 – 4 pm
Join us for an afternoon of “turtle races” as we celebrate (a bit early) World Turtle Day (May 23) and release our resident turtles to their outdoor turtle pond enclosures for the summer season. Will the winner be Tobey, the ornate box turtle; Juliette, the box turtle; or Timber, the wood turtle?
Turtle crafts and related activities.
Free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to pre-register.
Spring Wildflowers
Presentation & Short Walk
Sunday, May 11
Talk 1 pm Short walk 1:45 pm
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.
Cost: $11 each / $36 family of four.
Pre-registration requested
The Birds are Back in Town
Saturday, May 17
10:00 – 11:30 am
Join us for a family-friendly birding hike as we look and listen for our feathered friends and other natural wonders. We’ll listen for their songs, learn about their migration patterns and how to identify common species. Whether you’re an experienced birder or just getting started, this is a perfect opportunity to connect with nature. Bring your binoculars or borrow a pair from us – adventure awaits!
This hike will be held on the Sun, Wind & Woodland Preserve trails with parking in an unpaved lot just north of Breezy Hill Farm (Breezy Hill Rd, Canton CT). This hike is on a Canton Land Conservation Trust property.
This program is free to attend for Canton residents due to generous funding from the Canton Youth Services Bureau.
Registration required.
Nature Center is closed Memorial Day, Monday, May 26
Trails are open dawn to dusk
Gardening for Bees, Butterflies & Other Pollinators
Sunday, June 1
1 pm
June is National Pollinator Month! 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.
Cost: $11 each / $36 family of four.
Pre-registration required
Almost Full Strawberry Moon Hike
Sunday, June 8
8-9:15 PM
Join us for an evening walk under the almost full ‘Strawberry Moon’, the Native American name for the time of year when strawberries ripen.
Long sleeves, flashlight & insect repellent recommended
Cost: $11 each, $36 for family of four
Pre-registration required
Firefly Frolic
Wednesday, June 25
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
It’s firefly season! Learn more about these fascinating creatures and where to find them. Crafts and special themed activities.
Event included with paid admission to the Nature
Almost Full Thunder Moon Hike
Tuesday, July 8
8-9:15 pm
Join us for an evening walk under the Thunder Moon, the Native American name for July’s full moon when summer storms are common.
Long sleeves, flashlight & insect repellent recommended
Cost: $11 each, $36 for family of four
Pre-registration required
Winged Jewels
Wednesday, July 9
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Visit the Nature Center to learn about CT’s beautiful dragonflies & damsel flies. Take a hike to Werner’s Pond to find them. Dragonfly crafts and themed activities. Visit with “Jewel” our Dragonfly.
Event included with admission to the Nature Center.
Ladybug Lunch & Storytime
Wednesday, July 23
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Bring a bag lunch or snack and enjoy an afternoon at the Nature Center learning about ladybugs and other insect helpers. Lady bug crafts, themed activities & storytime. Costumes welcome!
Event included with admission to the Nature Center.
Butterfly Tea Party & Storytime
Wednesday, July 30
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Dress in your butterfly attire & waltz out to the Butterfly Garden for lemonade & cookies! Meet our resident butterflies & caterpillars, make butterfly crafts, and attend the storytime. Crafts and special themed activities
Event is included with admission to the Nature Center
Forest Magic
Wednesday, August 6
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Drop in and, using only natural materials & your imagination, create a home for a fairy or gnome. Make gnome and fairy crafts and attend the storytime. Costumes encouraged!
Event free with paid admission to the Nature Center
Almost Full 'Corn Moon' Hike
Wednesday, August 6
7:45 – 9 pm
Join us for an evening walk under the almost full Corn Moon, named by the native Americans for the time of the year a time when corn is ripe.
Long sleeves, flashlight & insect repellent recommended
Cost: $11 each, $36 for family of four
Pre-registration required
Slithering Snakes
Wednesday, August 13
1 – 3:30 pm
Live snake demos at 1pm, 2 pm & 3 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Drop by Wednesday afternoon to learn about these long, legless reptiles. Snake demos, crafts, and storytime.
Event included with admission to the Nature Center.
Teddy Bear Picnic & Storytime
Wednesday, August 20
1 – 3:30 pm
Storytime at 1:30 pm
Join us for lemonade & a sweet treat & a story. Bring your favorite teddy bear, make a bear craft, learn what our local bears are doing as summer ends. Bring a photo of the bears that have visited your yard. Crafts and special themed activities
Event included with paid admission to the Nature Center
Native Plant Hike
Sunday, September 7
1 – 2 pm
Join us for a guided walk through the native plant gardens and along our trails to learn about the importance of our native trees, shrubs, and perennials. Discover why we should plant these in our own yards.
Cost: $11 each, $35 for family of four
Registrations required