New Canaan Nature Center Walks-Meet in the rear parking lot Bristow Sanctuary Walks-Meet across from the ball field near the concession building.
Adult Programs
Program Options & Details
The New Canaan Nature Center provides a wide variety of programming for adults. Pre-registration is recommended.
Back to Nature Workshop
Session Two – March 29 11:00 am – 12:00pm
Cost $40
Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to learn how you can improve your outdoor space while also helping the environment. Diego and Claudio of Back to Nature will be sharing simple tools that will help you make a positive impact on your yard, your well-being and the natural world around you.
Join us to learn about:
SESSION TWO: BEES, CHICKENS, AND PERMACULTURE GARDENING
March 29, 2023 11AM-12PM
Cost: $40 or $70 for both sessions
Keeping bees and backyard chickens is about more than just saving money on honey and eggs! Come learn how bees can help pollination in your garden and chickens will aid your efforts in composting and pest control.
We will also cover the concepts of Permaculture Gardening – Otherwise known as permanent agriculture, this is a way to work with the natural forces of wind, water, and sun to create a more permanent, self-sustaining garden ecosystem in your own backyard!
Floral Arranging with Juliet Howe of Twig Designs
April 21st at 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us to create an arrangement that celebrates all springtime has to offer! Together with Juliet Howe of Twig Designs, we will learn and practice design fundamentals that will guide us as we make an arrangement of spring’s bounty!
Grand Spain Birding Adventure
September 2-16, 2023
We will be partnering with Sunrise Birding, LLC for a special birding tour of Spain during peak fall migration when thousands of storks, hawks, and songbirds cross the straights of Gibraltar to North Africa on their southbound migration. Our tour ends in the Ebro Delta south of Barcelona were shorebirds, waterfowl, flamingos, and as many as a million barn swallows gather before continuing their journeys south. We’ll also visit historic sites in the Pyrenees, where the scenery is breathtaking, and the food and wine, wonderful. The tour is co-led by our Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo, and a portion of the proceeds benefit NCNC.
For more information and to register please check below:
Please state on your registration that you are an NCNC member.
Adult Bird and Natural History Walks with Frank Gallo
May 4th, 11th, & 22nd
8:30-10:00 am
Join Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo, for a series of casual walks in area parks, preserves, and open spaces. Frank will guide us in search of birds and other signs of Spring. These easy to moderate-level walks provide a great opportunity to sharpen your birding skills, learn about local parks, meet new people, and get outdoors.
Tom Turrentine will be leading the hikes. Tom has always enjoyed hiking, from his teen age years in Litchfield County to trips through national parks and Backroads treks in the Canadian Rockies. These days, he can often be found on the trails in Ward Pound Ridge or up in Washington and Kent with his Springer Spaniel Andy by his side. There are many trails within 90 minutes of New Canaan that reward hikers with good workouts and beautiful vistas!
Spring 2023 Dates Below!
MIANUS RIVER PARK
March 30th Rain Date: April 6th
935 acre preserve in Bedford, NY
DEVIL’S DEN PRESERVE
April 27th Rain Date: May 4th
1700 acre preserve in Weston, CT
WARD POUND RIDGE
May 25th Rain Date: June 1st
4000 acre preserve in Cross River, NY
LAKE WARAMAUG DAY HIKE (8:30-3:00pm)
June 10th Rain Date: June 17th
500 acre Maricostas Preserve in New Preston, CT
FRANK GALLO, once our Director of Eco-travel and Field Studies, Frank rejoins New Canaan Nature Center as our new Senior Naturalist. Frank is a leading expert on where to find birds in Connecticut and has led birding expeditions all over the world. Prior to rejoining NCNC, he led tours for Sunrise Birding, LLC, an international birding tour company, and was the past Director, and Senior Naturalist of the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center. He is a member of the Connecticut Avian Records Committee and is a federally licensed master bird bander. Frank is also the author of two children’s nature books, Bird Calls and Night Sounds, and is a published freelance photographer. Frank’s newest book, Birding in Connecticut, a guide to where, when, and how to find birds in the state, came out May 1, 2018.
Early Morning Bird Walks with Frank, Our Senior Naturalist
Meet our Senior Naturalist and expert birder, Frank Gallo, for bird walks around the Nature Center’s Grounds and Bristow Bird Sanctuary. We’ll be keeping track of the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird list for NCNC and Bristow. Bring binoculars. Binoculars are available if needed.
NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER
Wednesdays: MARCH 29, APRIL 26, MAY 3
8:30-10:00am
Cost: Free But Please Register
Registrants will be notified if hike is cancelled due to rain. Hike will be held in light rain.
BRISTOW SANCTUARY, NEW CANAAN
Fridays: APRIL 28, MAY 5 & MAY 26
8:30-10:00am
Cost: Free But Please Register
Registrants will be notified if hike is cancelled due to rain. Hike will be held in light rain.
New Canaan Nature Center Walks-Meet in the rear parking lot Bristow Sanctuary Walks-Meet across from the ball field near the concession building.
Adult Bird and Natural History Walks with Frank Gallo
May 4th, 11th, & 22nd
8:30-10:00 am
Cost: Free
Join Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo, for casual walks in area parks, preserves, and open spaces. Frank will guide us in search of birds and other signs of Spring. These easy to moderate-level walks provide an excellent opportunity to sharpen your birding skills, learn about local parks, meet new people, and get outdoors.
Adult Naturalist Series: How to Master Bird Songs
Monday, April 17 (9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.)
Tuesday, April 25 (8:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.)Field Trip
Cost: $45/person per class
In this introductory course, Senior Naturalist, Frank Gallo, will introduce you to the essential techniques needed to identify birds by sound. Frank, an avid student of bird vocalizations, will provide tips and tricks for learning bird songs, and lay out the basic steps for mastering them on your own. It is the perfect time of year to retune your ear before spring migration and the warblers appear!
The New Canaan Nature Center serves as a satellite site for the New York Botanical Gardens horticulture and flower-arranging classes.
Pruning: How, When, and Where
Saturday, 4/1/2023, 10:00am – 2:30pm
This one-day course covers the basics of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs, as well as how to maintain the woody plants in your garden. Bring your pruners! We will discuss tool selection and maintenance, while we practice techniques using potted plants. Class is held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring lunch.
Soil Basics: Get It Right!
Wednesday, 4/15/2023, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Rich, nutritious soil makes for large, healthy plants and reduces the need for regular fertilization. Learn the difference between soil structure and texture; how these differences affect plant growth; and how to modify and improve your soil. Give your garden a solid foundation, and you’ll reap the benefits for years to come.
Modern Heirloom Cottage Garden Rose Arrangement
Thursday, 6/1/2023, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Inspiration from 19th and 20th century English cottage rose gardens are our creative tool for stunning floral success. Designing with roses in delicate heirloom shades with names like kahala, pink sensation, amnesia, quick sand and earl grey in a white ceramic urn presents an opulent feeling of a bygone era. Discussion for long-lasting and vibrant floral styling without chemicals or oasis will be explored.
The New Canaan Nature Center serves as a satellite site for the Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization. This cooperative relationship provides adults with a wide array of first-class programs focused on conserving and promoting New England’s native plants and landscapes.
See below for upcoming class descriptions.
Native Plants for Native Birds
Date: TBD
Join Frank Gallo to explore diverse habitats in southern Connecticut and learn to identify plants and the birds that depend on them. Through classroom discussion and field application, we will address ways to create landscapes with both aesthetic and ecological value to attract wildlife. The fall session concentrates on berry-producing shrubs and trees and on seed-producing perennials and annuals.
May – October
“Adopt” a plot in our community garden for the growing season (May-November)!
Program Options & Details
The New Canaan Nature Center provides a wide variety of programming for adults. Pre-registration is recommended.
Lake Naraneka Canoe Tour
Saturday, October 15th
10:00am
(Canoe Tours are approx. 2.5 hours in length)
Saturday, October 15th
10:00am
(Canoe Tours are approx. 2.5 hours in length)
Join us for guided canoe tours on scenic local lakes, each of which offers an abundance of birdlife and other wildlife, beautiful scenery, and a chance to paddle and relax. We provide the canoes, equipment, van transportation, and guide. You provide the paddling power.
NCNC Canoes: We provide the PFDs (must be worn), paddles, canoes. When you register for an NCNC canoe, you are registering for either a 2- or 3-person canoe. The registration fee includes all the people in the canoe. You are responsible for bringing the necessary people required to paddle your canoe.
Bring Your Own Kayak: A limited number of spaces are available. You must pre-register to participate in the tour. You must bring and transport your own boat, equipment, PFDs, and paddles to the launch site.
Pre-registration Required. No Walk-ins Permitted.
Gnome Workshop
December 5th at 9:30 am
Join Faith Kerchoff, a longtime NCNC volunteer will teach a Tabletop Gnome Workshop at the New Canaan Nature Center
Using live greens create an adorable 18″ tall gnome all decked out for the holidays with a festive hat and mittens.
The workshop will be held in the Greenhouse behind the Visitor Center….
Class Cost: $45 (includes materials)
Please register early, space is limited
Holiday Wreath Making Workshop
December 1st at 7:00 pm – $65 includes all your supplies
Come join us and create a one of a kind, live green wreath, using a menagerie of nature’s bounty collected in part by our very own New Canaan Nature Center Preschool Students.
Our former Board Member, Lisa Kaine Dunn will be leading the workshop and showing us some of her special tips on wreath making. She designs & creates the Nature Center’s wreath each year for Deck the Walls a holiday exhibit & fundraiser for the Carriage Barn Arts Center.
Tom Turrentine will be leading the hikes. Tom has always enjoyed hiking, from his teen age years in Litchfield County to trips through national parks and Backroads treks in the Canadian Rockies. These days, he can often be found on the trails in Ward Pound Ridge or up in Washington and Kent with his Springer Spaniel Andy by his side. There are many trails within 90 minutes of New Canaan that reward hikers with good workouts and beautiful vistas!
MIANUS RIVER PARK
Spring Dates Will Be Posted Soon!
Floral Arranging with Juliet Howe of Twig Designs
April 21st at 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us to create an arrangement that celebrates all springtime has to offer! Together with Juliet Howe of Twig Designs, we will learn and practice design fundamentals that will guide us as we make an arrangement of spring’s bounty!
Holiday Wreath Making Workshop
Session One – March 8 11:00 am – 12:00pm
Session Two – March 29 11:00 am – 12:00pm
Cost $40 or both for $70
Spring is just around the corner and now is the time to learn how you can improve your outdoor space while also helping the environment. Diego and Claudio of Back to Nature will be sharing simple tools that will help you make a positive impact on your yard, your well-being and the natural world around you.
Join us to learn about:
SESSION ONE: EDIBLE LANDSCAPES AND SOIL
March 8, 2023 11AM-12PM
Cost: $40 or $70 for both sessions
Join us for a “taste” on creating and maintaining an edible landscape in your backyard! We’ll discuss the planning, design, and maintenance of a garden to reap the benefits of growing your own organic vegetables. Soil is the basis of a healthy garden and you’ll leave knowing how to organically build up your soil as well as create a home compost.
SESSION TWO: BEES, CHICKENS, AND PERMACULTURE GARDENING
March 29, 2023 11AM-12PM
Cost: $40 or $70 for both sessions
Keeping bees and backyard chickens is about more than just saving money on honey and eggs! Come learn how bees can help pollination in your garden and chickens will aid your efforts in composting and pest control.
We will also cover the concepts of Permaculture Gardening – Otherwise known as permanent agriculture, this is a way to work with the natural forces of wind, water, and sun to create a more permanent, self-sustaining garden ecosystem in your own backyard!
FRANK GALLO, once our Director of Eco-travel and Field Studies, Frank rejoins New Canaan Nature Center as our new Senior Naturalist. Frank is a leading expert on where to find birds in Connecticut and has led birding expeditions all over the world. Prior to rejoining NCNC, he led tours for Sunrise Birding, LLC, an international birding tour company, and was the past Director, and Senior Naturalist of the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center. He is a member of the Connecticut Avian Records Committee and is a federally licensed master bird bander. Frank is also the author of two children’s nature books, Bird Calls and Night Sounds, and is a published freelance photographer. Frank’s newest book, Birding in Connecticut, a guide to where, when, and how to find birds in the state, came out May 1, 2018.
Walks with Frank, Our Senior Naturalist
Frank, will guide us around area parks, preserves, and open spaces this spring. Along the way, he will discuss the area’s natural history, pointing out birds, plants, and other species. These easy to moderate-level walks provide a great opportunity to learn about local parks, meet new people, and get outdoors.
Early Morning Bird Walks with Frank – At Bristow Sanctuary
Friday, September 16th 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Friday, October 28th 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Friday, November 18th 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Meet our Senior Naturalist and expert birder, Frank Gallo, for bird walks around the Nature center’s Grounds and Bristow bird Sanctuary. We’ll be keeping track of the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird list for Bristow Sanctuary. Bring binoculars or we have some available if needed.
Bristow Sanctuary walks meet by the ballfields near the concession stand.
Early Morning Bird Walks with Frank – At New Canaan Nature Center
Monday, September 26th 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Monday, October 24th 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Monday, November 21st 8:30am – 10:00am – Free
Meet our Senior Naturalist and expert birder, Frank Gallo, for bird walks around the Nature center’s Grounds and Bristow bird Sanctuary. We’ll be keeping track of the birds we see as we generate a database and new bird list for NCNC. Bring binoculars or they are available if needed.
NCNC – Meet in the lower parking lot.
The New Canaan Nature Center serves as a satellite site for the New York Botanical Gardens horticulture and flower-arranging classes.
Pruning: How, When, and Where
Saturday, 3/19/2022, 10:30am – 2:30pm
This one-day course covers the basics of pruning evergreens, deciduous trees, and shrubs, as well as how to maintain the woody plants in your garden. Bring your pruners! We will discuss tool selection and maintenance, while we practice techniques using potted plants. Class is held rain or shine. Please dress for the weather and bring lunch.
Artisanal Tabletop: Spring Bulb Centerpiece
Saturday, 4/30/2022, 10:30am – 12:30pm
Style a glorious spring centerpiece bursting with sweet hyacinths, daffodils, and ruffled parrot tulips. Discover where to source the best flowers and how to artfully add organic vegetables and herbs to your arrangement. You will leave with a table-top ready arrangement set in a rectangular wooden container for an artisanal look. $85 materials fee.
The New Canaan Nature Center serves as a satellite site for the Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization. This cooperative relationship provides adults with a wide array of first-class programs focused on conserving and promoting New England’s native plants and landscapes.
See below for upcoming class descriptions.
Native Plants for Native Birds
Date: TBD
Join Frank Gallo to explore diverse habitats in southern Connecticut and learn to identify plants and the birds that depend on them. Through classroom discussion and field application, we will address ways to create landscapes with both aesthetic and ecological value to attract wildlife. The fall session concentrates on berry-producing shrubs and trees and on seed-producing perennials and annuals.
