HOME             CONTACT US             VISITOR INFO            PROGRAMS            EVENTS          CONCERTS

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!

Monday - Saturday
December 27 - 31
1 – 4 pm

Let it Snow

Make six-sided snowflakes, learn how animals survive winter cold, snow and ice, and hike the trails around the Nature Center to find frozen treasures. Go outside on a ‘Frozen’ scavenger hunt.

Free with admission to Nature Center.

Winter Wild!
Vacation Program for Grades K-5

Ever wonder where the animals go in the winter, which tracks belong to which animal, or how the snow and ice form? If so, here is a winter vacation program for you. Each day will be full of discovery and winter adventure.

Daily rate:
$50 Members, $60 Nonmembers

Four-day program: 
$200 Members, $240 Nonmembers

Preregistration is required

Click here to register for all four days

Click here to register for Tuesday, Dec 27

Click here to register for Wednesday, Dec 28

Click here to register for Thursday, Dec 29

Click here to register for Friday, Dec 30

New Year’s Hike

Start the New Year with a guided hike through the trails at Werner Woods. Learn how wildlife are surviving the winter season.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

‘Wolf‘ Moon Night Hike

Join us for a guided hike under the full moon known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon, named for the time of year 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.

Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Pre-registration required.

To register click here (link coming soon)

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. Make a winter animal craft.

Hike & crafts free with admission to the Nature Center. No need to preregister.

Family Winter Survival

What do you do if you get lost in the woods in winter? Learn what basic supplies you may need to survive a night outdoors. Includes shelter construction and fire building.

Dress for winter weather
Not geared for children under 9

$11 each / $36 family of four
Pre-registration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Coldest Day of the Year / Pre-Groundhog Day Hike

Join us on what is historically the coldest day of the year in Hartford County and learn about our largest ground squirrel and weather prognosticator. Make your guess as to whether the groundhog will the Groundhog see his shadow on February 2nd and what does it mean if he does? Take a guided walk through the forest to uncover the mysteries of wildlife habits in mid-winter. Take our Groundhog Day quiz.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

‘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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Pre-registration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Saturday, February 11
10 am – 4 pm

Sunday, February 12
1 – 4 pm

LOVE OUR ANIMALS WEEKEND

Join us as we celebrate Valentine's Day with our wonderful animals. Make special Valentines for our animals and loved ones. Special visits with the animals throughout the day.

Crafts and animal demos free with admission to the Nature Center.

Donations for the animals from
our Wishlist are appreciated

Free with admission to the Nature Center
No need to preregister

Winter Tree ID Hike

If you look closely, the winter trees 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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Monday, February 20
9 am - Noon

Tuesday, February 21
9 am – Noon

Winter Wanderers
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 vacation program.

Two-day program:
$100 members, $120 nonmembers

Preregistration with payment required

To register click here (link coming soon)

‘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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required.

To register click here (link coming soon)

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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration is not required

Spring is Coming Hike

This year the spring equinox occurs on Monday, March 20 at 5:24 pm EDT. Join us for a guided hike along the trails as we look for signs of spring.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Owl Prowl

Listen and look for barred owls and other nocturnal creatures along our trails.

Not geared for very young children

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required - space is limited

To register click here (link coming soon)

Friday, April 7 anytime
10 am — 4 pm

Saturday, April 8
anytime 10 — 4 pm

Sunday, April 9
anytime 1 — 4 pm

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. Crafts all day.

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

The Frogs of Spring

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 at 2 pm for a short program on our amphibians followed by a short hike to local vernal pool to listen to their spring ‘quacking.’  Frog crafts.

Free with admission to the Nature Center

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

Full Week: $250 members, $295 nonmembers  Pre-registration with payment is required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Flatbread Pizza Night
Fundraiser for the Nature Center

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

A percentage of the pizza sales supports the Nature Center.

EARTH DAY: International Dark Sky Week

International Dark Sky Week draws attention to the problems associated with light pollution. A growing body of research suggests that the glow of uncontrolled outdoor lighting is causing serious harm to nocturnal animals, migrating birds, and insects. Learn what you can do to reduce light pollution around your home.

Program free with admission to the Nature Center.  No preregistration required.

Evening Hike:  $11 each / $36 family of four
Pre-registration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Saturday mornings
April 29
May 6
May 20
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 & dress for wet ground

Donations welcomed

Preregistration is not required

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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Gardening for the Bees and Other Pollinators
World Bee Day

May 20 is World Bee Day. Join us (one day later) to 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.

$11 each / $36 family of four
Preregistration required

To register click here (link coming soon)

Turtle Derby:
A Run for the Strawberries

Join us for an afternoon of turtle races as we celebrate the opening of our turtle ponds for the summer season. Will the winner be Toby, the ornate box turtle; Juliette, the box turtle; or Timber, the wood turtle. Turtle crafts. 

Free with admission to the Nature Center
No need to preregister

Click here to learn about more events and programs offered by

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.

Roaring Brook Nature Center's
SUMMER 2021 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 2021brochure

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

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.

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).

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

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