In this class geared towards preschool children, ages 2 to 5, with special needs, and a caregiver, we will explore nature every month. Activities, circle time, animals and lots of time outside give the students and caregivers plenty of time to socialize and enjoy the outdoor world! Masks are required for adults and encouraged for…
Ages 2 to 5, with special needs, and a caregiver In this class geared towards preschool children with special needs and a caregiver, children explore nature every month. Activities, circle time, animals and lots of time outside give the students and caregivers plenty of time to socialize and enjoy the outdoor world! Masks are required…
Everyone deserves a night out! Have an evening out while your kids, ages 5 to 12, spend the evening at the Nature Center. We will enjoy games, activities, meeting live animals and a night hike. We’ll have pizza for dinner and round out the evening with s’mores around the campfire. Please be dressed for the…
Spend the morning at Coogan Farm in the J.X. Barn for an inclusive, open art studio for families with children of all abilities. Our naturalists / artists will be on hand to provide project inspiration and materials to create your own masterpiece. After making art, spend time hiking the trails to enjoy the beauty of…
Tuesday, December 21 4:30 - 5:30 pm Families 5:30 - 6:30 pm Adults only Celebrate the shortest day of the year with a quiet walk, a roaring fire, a warm drink and a chance to send your wishes into the air. Please bring a flashlight. Meets at DPNC. Members: $4.25 per person, Nonmembers: $5 per…
Join the Nature Center as we explore Coogan Farm looking for resident and migrating songbirds and raptors. This program is great for birders of all skill levels, and is suited for adults. Meets at Coogan Farm. Preregistration is required. Masks are optional. Members: $17, Nonmembers: $20
Take a midweek break and join the Nature Center to enjoy a hike to take in the crisp winter air and beautiful views of the Mystic River. With a DPNC educator as our guide, learn more about the history of the Peace Sanctuary as we hike the trails making winter discoveries. Meet at the bottom…
Get your family out of the house and enjoy time outdoors with the Nature Center. Join us as we hike Coogan Farm, exploring the Gallup Orchard, fields, cedar woods and every kid’s favorite location, the Stillman Foundation! Members and Nonmembers: FREE, funded through a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Tickets required. Purchase here: oceanology.org/public-cruises Join us for a guided tour of Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds aboard the EnviroLab Research Vessel. We will visit multiple locations for Seal watching as you learn about these unique travelers, the Harbor Seals, on their migratory journey from Maine. The Enviro-Lab has plenty of space on deck…
Tickets required. Purchase here: oceanology.org/public-cruises Join us for a guided tour of Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds aboard the EnviroLab Research Vessel. We will visit multiple locations for Seal watching as you learn about these unique travelers, the Harbor Seals, on their migratory journey from Maine. The Enviro-Lab has plenty of space on deck…
Tickets required. Purchase here: oceanology.org/public-cruises Join us for a guided tour of Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds aboard the EnviroLab Research Vessel. We will visit multiple locations for Seal watching as you learn about these unique travelers, the Harbor Seals, on their migratory journey from Maine. The Enviro-Lab has plenty of space on deck…
Sailing ship, ARGIA, begins sailing on April 30th for the 2022 season. 2-hour trips daily at 9:30am/Noon/3:00pm/6:00pm. Tickets at ArgiaMystic.com or call 860-536-0416.
Tickets required. Purchase here: oceanology.org/public-cruises Join us for a guided tour of Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds aboard the EnviroLab Research Vessel. We will visit multiple locations for Seal watching as you learn about these unique travelers, the Harbor Seals, on their migratory journey from Maine. The Enviro-Lab has plenty of space on deck…
Boo! Head to the Nature Center’s annual Halloween festivities, Spooky Nature Trails, on Friday, October 21 & Saturday, October 22. Explore our woodland trails with glowing jack-o-lanterns lighting the way. Our nighttime autumn forest is filled with frightful and delightful weird and wild animals, as well as fantastical ghosts, goblins, ghouls and other spooky surprises.…
Boo! Head to the Nature Center’s annual Halloween festivities, Spooky Nature Trails, on Friday, October 21 & Saturday, October 22. Explore our woodland trails with glowing jack-o-lanterns lighting the way. Our nighttime autumn forest is filled with frightful and delightful weird and wild animals, as well as fantastical ghosts, goblins, ghouls and other spooky surprises.…
Create a beautiful wreath, kissing ball or centerpiece for your home. At this winter workshop you’ll learn how to identify different evergreens and learn wreath-making techniques and other holiday decorations. We provide a variety of evergreen boughs, berries, vines from our woodland campus, along with cones, wire and ribbons for your project. Meets at DPNC.…
Create a beautiful wreath, kissing ball or centerpiece for your home. At this winter workshop you’ll learn how to identify different evergreens and learn wreath-making techniques and other holiday decorations. We provide a variety of evergreen boughs, berries, vines from our woodland campus, along with cones, wire and ribbons for your project. Meets at DPNC.…
Experience the peaceful wonder of a walk in the woods lit by the soft glow of more than 500 luminaria, then warm up by a festive fire with a hot apple cider or or hot chocolate at our trailside Winter Cafe. Snacks and adult holiday libations (including spiked peppermint hot chocolate and hot cider with…
Experience the peaceful wonder of a walk in the woods lit by the soft glow of more than 500 luminaria, then warm up by a festive fire with a hot apple cider or or hot chocolate at our trailside Winter Cafe. Snacks and adult holiday libations (including spiked peppermint hot chocolate and hot cider with…
Experience the peaceful wonder of a walk in the woods lit by the soft glow of more than 500 luminaria, then warm up by a festive fire with a hot apple cider or or hot chocolate at our trailside Winter Cafe. Snacks and adult holiday libations (including spiked peppermint hot chocolate and hot cider with…
Grab your favorite winter onesie (or warm winter gear) and join Mystic Aquarium’s Youth Conservation Corps, The Watch Hill Conservancy, and The Watch Hill Fire District for a winter coastal clean-up and sea turtle survey at Napatree Point, Westerly. Our goal is to remove at least 100 pounds of marine debris, including ocean plastics, from…
On Monday, February 20 (President's Day), we'll be learning all about Connecticut’s incredible canines: the fox and coyote! Kids ages 6-10 are invited to come to DPNC from 1-3 pm to play games, identify scat and tracks and search the trails looking for signs of these amazing creatures.
Join us for our new birding book club starting on February 22, from 6-7 pm on Zoom. Our first book will be Kingbird Highway: The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder by Kenn Kaufman. At sixteen, Kenn Kaufman dropped out of the high school where he was student council president and hit…
It may be chilly outside, but things heat up for owls in late winter! Hunting owls are easier to spot when the leaves are down on the trees, and breeding begins in winter for many species, so owl sightings and sounds are much more common! Bring your family to learn more about Connecticut’s owls and…
Celebrate spring with our Woodland Egg Hunt! Stroll the trails of the Nature Center in search of eggs, and trade in your found eggs for wooden ones. Meet rabbits, birds, turtles and other animals as you explore the Nature Center and spend time at the Spring Creation Station decorating your wooden eggs to take home.…
Celebrate Earth Day the DPNC way! Meet our resident animals, learn ways you can help to protect our planet, and spend time on the trails completing an Earth Day Scavenger hunt. Program for adults and families. Participants receive our limited-edition Earth Day 2022 water-bottle sticker! Free for members and non-members. More Info
Boo! Head to the Nature Center for our annual Halloween festivities, Spooky Nature Trails, on Friday, October 20 & Saturday, October 21. Explore our woodland trails with glowing jack-o-lanterns lighting the way. Our nighttime autumn forest is filled with frightful and delightful, weird and wild animals, as well as fantastical ghosts, goblins, ghouls and other…
Boo! Head to the Nature Center for our annual Halloween festivities, Spooky Nature Trails, on Friday, October 20 & Saturday, October 21. Explore our woodland trails with glowing jack-o-lanterns lighting the way. Our nighttime autumn forest is filled with frightful and delightful, weird and wild animals, as well as fantastical ghosts, goblins, ghouls and other…
Learn how cardinals, chickadees, juncos and more survive the cold in Connecticut. We’ll use binoculars to go on a bird walk and make our bird feeders to bring home. Meets at DPNC.
Inviting you to experience your voice through the power of play! In this 60 minute class, led by speech therapist Sarah Bruno, you'll deepen your connection to nature using Nature-Inspired Feelings™ tool, create fun sounds together, and end with a gratitude meditation for your voice. Enjoy the many benefits of this class, helping you to:…
9:30-10:30 am (ages 2-5 with a caregiver) 10:30-12 pm (ages 6 and up with a caregiver) Spend time outside looking for the signs of spring! This year we have two Discovery classes, a preschool and school-aged group, both for children with special needs and their caregiver. Each class, children will make new discoveries as we…
9:30-10:30 am (ages 2-5 with a caregiver) 10:30-12 pm (ages 6 and up with a caregiver) Spend time outside looking for the signs of spring! This year we have two Discovery classes, a preschool and school-aged group, both for children with special needs and their caregiver. Each class, children will make new discoveries as we…
Spring is a great time to enjoy a view of the landscape that makes up Gungywamp, an archaeological site of natural and cultural interest. Join us on a guided hike to explore rocky ridges, glacial erratics and swamps, along with the mysterious stone shelter and structures whose use and origin are open to interpretation. Walk…
Witness spring migration by joining us for a morning birding walk at DPNC. Each week will bring new birds to the woods and wetlands of our sanctuary. Please bring binoculars. Members: $8.50 /per date, Non-Members: $10 / per date
Around this time each year, horseshoe crabs crawl out of the ocean and onto the beaches of New England to lay their eggs. Join us in observing this natural wonder and learn more about these fascinating “living fossils”. Be prepared to walk through the water, on the beach and rocky terrain for 2 miles in…
It’s time to catch some frogs! After our educator shares a few fun froggy facts and some tips and tricks for catching them, have fun seeing who in your family is the best frog catcher. Dress to get splashed and muddy! Meets at DPNC. Adults Non Members $10/each Adults Members $8.50 each Children Free
Join us for a spring exploration of the Stone Bridges Trail at the Nature Center. Along the way we’ll investigate old quarries and look for signs of spring. This program is suited for adults and older, interested children. Meets at DPNC. Members and Non-members: Free; advanced registration required.
Ramble through the trails and support the Nature Center! Join us for a special 5K trail walk/run starting a Coogan Farm and rambling through the trails of the Nature Center on Connecticut Trails Day: Saturday June 1st Participate as a team or tackle the trails on your own while raising funds in support of our…
Ramble through the trails and support the Nature Center! Join us for a special 5K trail walk/run starting a Coogan Farm and rambling through the trails of the Nature Center on Connecticut Trails Day: Saturday June 1st Participate as a team or tackle the trails on your own while raising funds in support of our…
Summer is a great time of year to get a full view of the landscape that makes up Gungywamp, an archaeological site of natural and cultural interest. Join us on a guided hike to explore the rocky ridges, glacial erratics and swamps along with the mysterious stone shelter and structures whose use and origin are…
