Planning Your Program

When to Visit the New Canaan Nature Center

We highly encourage program series which allow your group to experience our 40-acre nature sanctuary across the seasons (e.g. fall, winter, spring).

Other camp programs and summer classes are welcome to visit during the summer months and enjoy our special blend of education and fun in the summer sun.

Can’t make it to the Nature Center? No problem. Our team of professional environmental educators will come directly to a location of your choice. If your location is near woods or fields, we can easily adjust and take your group on an outdoor odyssey of learning and fun right at home or work.

Program Lengths and Times

Programs are available weekdays, evenings and weekends. The majority of programs run within our traditional program hours of 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Saturday. Additional charges may apply for programs that are booked outside of these business hours.

During Your Visit

• Experience life around Kiwanis or Marsh ponds on the Wetlands Walking Trail or explore our forests and meadows.
• Explore our seasonally changing interactive Discovery Room and exhibits.
• Observe raptors in action while you view our outdoor Birds of Prey exhibit which houses our amazing avian collection including a red shouldered hawk, bald eagle, two species of owl and a turkey vulture to name a few.
• Explore our two miles of nature trails that gently meander through hardwood forests, a cattail marsh, meadows and an apple orchard.
• Excite your curiosity when you stroll through our Herb garden, Naturalists and Wildflower gardens and our Greenhouse.
• Get active while climbing and adventuring through our Children’s Play Garden.
• Watch carefully for birds and other wildlife from high atop our Bird Observation Tower.
• Navigate your way across our grounds as you follow clues on one of our Letterboxing adventures.
• Let your group relax and play on beautiful grass of the Nature Center Green.

Picnics
Picnics outdoors on our grounds are encouraged for all groups who come and visit the Nature Center. Picnic tables on the Green, Picnic Circle and at the Children’s Play Garden are available on a first come, first served basis. Also, feel free to dine in our Sugar Shack during the Maple Syruping off season. We kindly ask that you dispose of all trash and recyclables in the appropriate receptacles.

Please notify us at the time of registration if you know that you are planning to stay on property for lunch or snack so we can better accommodate your group and assist you in making the most of your time here with us.

*As the New Canaan Nature Center is a peanut/tree nut aware campus, we respectfully request that visiting groups do not bring peanut products onto campus.
**Please know that if you require an indoor space for lunch/snack this space must be reserved in advance as indoor space for lunches is not typically available.