Avast, me hearties, head over to Mystic Seaport Museum for Pirate Days on April 15 and 16 for a treasure trove of outdoor fun for the whole family! Storm the Seaport Village to get your treasure hunting kit, and put those navigation skills to the test. Follow the clues on the map to find the…
Celebrate Earth and nature with DPNC! From 10am–3 pm on Saturday and Sunday, DPNC will be offering free museum admission, scheduled programs, informational tables, and activities like scavenger hunts, guided hikes, crafts, and a seed bomb making station. more details
Come enjoy our local artists' beautiful pottery and craft creations available for purchase. Pick up some handmade gifts for Mother's Day while you're here at the studio!
This Mother's Day, spoil Mom with a delectable brunch at the Hilton Mystic in beautiful Mystic, Connecticut! Their Grand Buffet boasts an extensive menu of breakfast favorites, carving stations, quiche, delightful desserts, and more! Treat her to quality time amidst a lovely setting, with options to please every palate. Tickets are selling fast, so reserve…
Friday. Bring your family to learn more about Connecticut’s owls and meet one of our residents. We will take a night walk, looking and listening for owls at the Nature Center. Pre-registration required. Meets at DPNC. Members: $8.50, Non-members $10 More information and registration
Get outside and discover nature this 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 explore seasonal nature topics through activities, meeting live animals, stories, crafts and lots of time outside. In addition…
Saturday. Birding can be a wonderful family activity! Learn the basics of birding with your family and get your children excited about the birds in our area. Bring binoculars if you have them. Pre-registration required. Meets at DPNC. Members: $8.50, Non-members $10
Sign up is by the following age groups: Explorers (ages 4 to 6) Scientists (ages 7 to 9) Adventurers (ages 10-13) Animal Curators (ages 13-15)* Our science-based curriculum introduces students to the wonders of the natural world. New topics are covered each week through hands-on activities, meeting live animals, games and time for nature play…
Wednesday June 4th at 7:00 p.m. at the Coast Guard Academy's Cadet Memorial Field, The Coast Guard Band presents "A Sousa Spectacular," a FREE outdoor concert featuring the music of the great John Philip Sousa and many others! The rain location is right next door at Leamy Hall. The Coast Guard Academy is located at…
June is the one of the best times to search for horseshoe crabs as they mate and lay eggs along our local shores. Learn more about their amazing life cycles and biology as we explore the beach searching for them. Be prepared to get wet and walk at least 2 miles over sandy and rocky…
Hear our resident animals’ stories and learn how we can help their species in the wild. Join us at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center for a presentation including some of our most popular resident animals. Meets at DPNC. Pre-registration is required. Members and non-members: FREE Register
Join DPNC as we learn the basics of identifying and sustainably foraging sassafras in this immersive workshop. Sassafras is a fascinating plant with a rich history and a distinctive root beer-like aroma. Once we’ve covered the basics, we will guide you through the process of transforming this foraged treasure into a delicious and refreshing homemade…
Get outside and discover nature this summer! This year DPNC has two Discovery classes: a preschool group and a school-aged group, both for children with special needs and their caregiver. Each class, children will make new discoveries as we explore seasonal nature topics through activities, meeting live animals, stories, crafts, and lots of time outside.…
Treat your kids to a fun-filled evening at the Nature Center while you treat yourself to a night off! They’ll explore the outdoors with exciting games, hands-on nature activities, live animal encounters, and an evening hike. To top it all off, we’ll gather around the fire for pizza and s’mores! Don’t forget to dress for…
Enjoy nature’s fireworks with DPNC! After an introduction to the dazzling world of fireflies, we’ll walk the trails looking for fireflies and listening to the sounds of night wildlife. Advance registration is required. Meets at Coogan Farm. Members $12.75; non-members: $15 Register
Celebrate summer at DPNC by exploring nature with your little one in our classic caregiver-and-child class, for ages 2 to 4. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Sign-ups are per class. Rain cancels the program. Meets at DPNC. Advance registration required. Members: $21.25…
The Nature Center’s forest fairies have come out to play and are excited to share the secrets to being kind to nature! Wander the trails and meet the Salamander Forest Fairy, the Meadow Flower Fairy, the Pond Fairy, the Stone Fairy, and other magical friends as you explore the woods. Each fairy has special ideas…
Hike with us around the more secluded parts of the Groton Reservoir. We will explore the north side of the watershed that is closed to the public, owned by Groton Public Utilities. This program is suited for adults and older, interested children. Moderate intensity. Meet at lookout on Sandy Hollow Road. Part of this walk…
Celebrate summer by exploring nature with your little one in our classic caregiver-and-child class, for ages 2 to 4. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Sign-ups are per class. Rain cancels the program. Meets at DPNC. Advance registration required. Members: $21.25 per child,…
Gungywamp is an archaeological site of distinct natural and cultural interest. It has rocky ridges, glacial erratics and swamps along with enigmatic stone shelter and structures whose use and origin are open to interpretation. Walk with us through the woods and absorb the mysteries of Gungywamp. This program is suited for adults and families comfortable…
Treat your kids to a fun-filled evening at the Nature Center while you treat yourself to a night off! They’ll explore the outdoors with exciting games, hands-on nature activities, live animal encounters, and an evening hike. To top it all off, we’ll gather around the fire for pizza and s’mores! Don’t forget to dress for…
Who in your family is the frog-catching expert? Find out on Sunday with family pond dipping at DPNC! Spend some time with your family trying to catch and release frogs, fish, and insects at the pond. Use our nets and buckets along with our expert advice from a DPNC educator. Come prepared with shoes close…
Set sail on a literary adventure as we mark our 40th annual reading of Moby-Dick in honor of Herman Melville’s birthday, read aloud aboard the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world. The first chapter will be read by Melville himself! Bring your copy of the novel, take a turn reading a…
Celebrate summer by exploring nature with your little one in our classic parent and child class, for ages 2 to 4, with a caregiver. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Ages 2–4. Meets at DPNC. Sign ups are per class. Rain cancels the…
Celebrate summer with the Summer Chickadees at DPNC by exploring nature with your little one in our classic parent and child class, for ages 2 to 4, with a caregiver. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Ages 2–4. Sign ups are per class.…
Round out your week with a family hike and picnic dinner at the Nature Center. Pack your dinner and we will explore the trails and enjoy a picnic in the woods before heading back to DPNC for a dessert of s’mores around the campfire. Meets at DPNC. Members: $8.50, Nonmembers: $10 Register
Celebrate summer with the Summer Chickadees at DPNC by exploring nature with your little one in our classic parent and child class, for ages 2 to 4, with a caregiver. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Ages 2–4. Sign ups are per class.…
Gather the family for quality time in nature! We will search for crabs, fish, and crustaceans using seine and dip nets as we explore the shore. Please wear clothes and shoes that can get wet, but no flip flops or crocs. Pre-registration is required. Meets at Bluff Point State Park in Groton by the parking…
Celebrate summer with the Summer Chickadees at DPNC by exploring nature with your little one in our classic parent and child class, for ages 2 to 4, with a caregiver. Live animals, stories, songs, and lots of time outside bring nature to life for you and your child. Ages 2–4. Sign ups are per class.…
Treat your kids to a fun-filled evening at the Nature Center while you treat yourself to a night off! They’ll explore the outdoors with exciting games, hands-on nature activities, live animal encounters, and an evening hike. To top it all off, we’ll gather around the fire for pizza and s’mores! Don’t forget to dress for…
Join us for crabbing at our secret location. There will be a brief intro to basic techniques of crabbing and crab identification before we start. We’ll provide the nets, bait and lines. Wear shoes that can get wet and provide traction on slippery rocks; no flip flops or crocs! Pre-registration is required. Meets at the…
End the summer work week with a relaxing walk at the Peace Sanctuary. Join DPNC as we stroll the hillside enjoying the summer evening and admiring the beautiful view of the Mystic River. Meet at the bottom of the driveway by Peace Sanctuary on River Road in Mystic. This program is suited for adults and…
End the summer work week with a relaxing walk at the Peace Sanctuary. Join DPNC as we stroll the hillside enjoying the summer evening and admiring the beautiful view of the Mystic River. Meet at the bottom of the driveway by Peace Sanctuary on River Road in Mystic. This program is suited for adults and…
The world is teeming with fascinating creatures and among the most diverse and successful are the arthropods, our 6 and 8 legged friends! Following an introduction to their amazing adaptations, we’ll then head out to the fields to see what species we can find using nets, field guides, and bug jars. Meets at DPNC. Free…
Celebrate the Harvest Moon with a night hike at the Peace Sanctuary. With a DPNC educator as our guide, we’ll wander the trails and wait for the moon to rise over the Mystic River. Meet at the bottom of the driveway by Peace Sanctuary at 233 River Road in Mystic. Pre-registration required, masks are optional.…
Join us on Friday mornings from 9:30-11 for our Chickadees program. Designed for children ages 2-4 with a caregiver to explore the wonders of nature through age-appropriate hikes, live animal encounters, creative crafts, and interactive nature activities. This class is a perfect opportunity for bonding, exploring, and learning together as you embark on a nature…
Join DPNC for crabbing at our secret location. There will be a brief intro to basic techniques of crabbing and crab identification before we start. We’ll provide the nets, bait and lines. Wear shoes that can get wet and provide traction on slippery rocks, no flip flops or crocs! Pre-registration is required. Meets at the…
Join DPNC on the second Saturday of every month as we adventure into nature! This month, we will explore which backyard birds migrate and which don’t. We will discover ways to identify the birds that stay by using their sizes, colors, and their calls. You will meet some of our resident birds and hike our…
Join us on Friday mornings from 9:30-11 for our Chickadees program. Designed for children ages 2-4 with a caregiver to explore the wonders of nature through age-appropriate hikes, live animal encounters, creative crafts, and interactive nature activities. This class is a perfect opportunity for bonding, exploring, and learning together as you embark on a nature…
Join us for our signature gala filled with nature, camaraderie, and celebration. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and lively fun—all in support of protecting the wild places and open spaces that make our community so special. The Maggie Jones Environmental Hero Award will be presented to Sidney Van Zandt, in recognition of…
