Step into the past and experience the magic of the holidays at Lantern Light Village December 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20, 2025 5:00–8:30 p.m.. As twilight falls, Mystic Seaport Museum glows with the warm flicker of lanterns and the sparkle of music-filled light displays. Stroll through our waterfront village, transformed into a…
Step into the past and experience the magic of the holidays at Lantern Light Village December 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20, 2025 5:00–8:30 p.m.. As twilight falls, Mystic Seaport Museum glows with the warm flicker of lanterns and the sparkle of music-filled light displays. Stroll through our waterfront village, transformed into a…
Discover the wonders of nature together at this monthly, inclusive, and FREE family-friendly program at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center! Move at your own pace as you explore themed activity stations, meet live animals, and examine fascinating natural artifacts. Then get creative with a hands-on craft before heading out on a self-guided hike and scavenger…
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…
Step into the past and experience the magic of the holidays at Lantern Light Village December 5, 6, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20, 2025 5:00–8:30 p.m.. As twilight falls, Mystic Seaport Museum glows with the warm flicker of lanterns and the sparkle of music-filled light displays. Stroll through our waterfront village, transformed into a…
Join DPNC for a FREE guided hike through Groton Open Space Association’s Avery Farm Nature Preserve. This mostly flat trail passes through meadows, forests, and wetlands, offering great opportunities to observe winter wildlife and learn about the importance of habitat diversity. Meet at the entrance on Lambtown Road in Ledyard (turn on Lambtown from Rt.…
Unearth the fascinating world of rocks and minerals during this exciting Vacation Day program for children ages 6-10! Learn how different rocks form, explore the rock cycle, and examine real specimens up close. Then head outdoors to search for stones that tell their own geological stories! Please pack water and lunch for your child. Members:…
Let nature inspire your creativity! Come to DPNC for another incredible Vacation Day program. Children aged 6-10 years will take a guided walk to collect materials like leaves, sticks, and stones, then use your finds to craft your own nature-based artwork. It’s a day of imagination, exploration, and outdoor fun. Please pack water and lunch…
Want to try out the pottery wheel? Now you can with this solo or date night 2-hour event! Participant will make one small handbuilding project and one wheel thrown vessel. Choose your glaze and items will be ready for pick-up 3 weeks after event is held. Participants can BYOB and snacks. Ages 21+ event. Come…
Back by popular demand! Learn how to roll a slab, form your mug, craft a handle, and embellish your personalized mug. Choose a glaze for the instructor to glaze it. Your pottery will be ready in 3 weeks. Ages 18+. $55 plus $5 for materials per person. Register online
Slow down this winter with a four-week guided mindfulness series at DPNC. Each week focuses on simple practices, where we’ll learn to breathe, listen to the body, open the heart, and savor the moment! Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this series offers a peaceful space to reconnect with yourself…
Join us at DPNC where children ages 6-10 will discover which birds spend the winter in Connecticut and how to spot them. We’ll practice bird identification, use binoculars on a hike and make a bird feeder to take home! Please pack water and lunch for your child. Members: $42.50/program; Non-Members: $50/program Register
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 DPNC through the woods and absorb the mysteries of Gungywamp. This program is suited for adults and families comfortable…
Everyone deserves a night out! Have an evening out while your kids, ages 6 to 12, spend the evening at DPNC's Coogan Farm. We will enjoy cooking our own dinner, meeting animals and going for a night hike. We’ll make our own pizza for dinner and create a delicious dessert! Please be dressed for the…
Enjoy a quiet and free guided winter walk through Avalonia Land Conservancy’s Pine Swamp in Gales Ferry. Join DPNC as we search for animal tracks and admire frozen wetlands and streams along the trail. For adults and older, interested children. Moderate difficulty. Meets at the entrance on Whalehead Rd, Gales Ferry, CT. Advance registration required.…
Back by popular demand! Learn how to roll a slab, form your mug, craft a handle, and embellish your personalized mug. Choose a glaze for the instructor to glaze it. Your pottery will be ready in 3 weeks. Ages 18+. $55 plus $5 for materials per person. Register online
Slow down this winter with a four-week guided mindfulness series at DPNC led by life coach Tyler Haling. Each week focuses on simple practices, where we’ll learn to breathe, listen to the body, open the heart, and savor the moment! Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this series offers a…
Bundle up and join us at the Niantic Boardwalk to search for wintering ducks and coastal birds. This program is great for birders of all experience levels. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them! Meets at 30 Main St, Niantic, CT 06357. Pre-registration is required. Register
Slow down this winter with a four-week guided mindfulness series at DPNC led by life coach Tyler Haling. Each week focuses on simple practices, where we’ll learn to breathe, listen to the body, open the heart, and savor the moment! Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this series offers a…
Slow down this winter with a four-week guided mindfulness series at DPNC led by life coach Tyler Haling. Each week focuses on simple practices, where we’ll learn to breathe, listen to the body, open the heart, and savor the moment! Whether you’re new to meditation or looking to deepen your practice, this series offers a…
From wood frogs that freeze solid to hibernating groundhogs, explore the diverse ways local animals make it through winter. Learn about migration, dormancy, and other survival strategies of New England wildlife. This program is suited for adults. Pre-registration required. Meets at DPNC. Members: $8.50; Non-Members: $10 Register
From wood frogs that freeze solid to hibernating groundhogs, explore the diverse ways local animals make it through winter. Learn about migration, dormancy, and other survival strategies of New England wildlife. This program is suited for adults. Pre-registration required. Meets at DPNC. Members: $8.50; Non-Members: $10 Register
Ages 6–10 years. Join DPNC to discover how animals attract their mates! Explore how colors, behaviors, and calls help animals find the perfect partner. We’ll also see why males and females of some species look or act differently. Meet some of our resident animals and uncover the fascinating strategies they use to find love. Pre-registration…
Bring the family (children 8 and up) to the Giving Garden for our first seed-starting day of the year! What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than by giving back to your community? Join us at DPNCs Coogan Farm for this FREE program as we plant over 1,000 celery seeds that will grow into fresh…
Via Zoom. Saturday. Learn how to protect your garden without harmful chemicals using regenerative methods. Identify common pests, attract helpful insects, and discover natural strategies for keeping your crops healthy. Pre-registration required; a Zoom link will be emailed after registration. If you have registered through our website and you have not received your special Zoom…
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…
Celebrate the full moon (also a blood moon eclipse!) and the changing season with a FREE evening hike at Coogan Farm. The transition from day to night is an exciting time to tune our senses to the natural world. Full moon walks happen rain or shine, clear skies or clouds. Suited for adults and older…
Tomatoes and basil are friends in the garden just like they are in marinara sauce, but never plant brussels sprouts nearby! Learn which plants thrive together and which combinations to avoid for healthier, more productive beds. This class covers strategic pairings to improve your yield, plus reminders from previous classes about inoculants, bed prep, row…
Discover the comeback story of the Eastern Bluebird, made possible by dedicated community scientists who have built and monitored nest boxes for decades. After an introduction, we’ll head out on the trails to observe bluebird habitats firsthand and you’ll have the opportunity to join Team Bluebird. The team monitors nest boxes from late March to…
Join DPNC as we explore this beautiful Avalonia Land Conservancy preserve in Ledyard. We will take a closer look at stonewalls and Beech trees along the trails. Meets at the entrance on Avery Hill Road in Ledyard. Pre-registration is required. FREE Register
Boost your garden’s health and productivity with foliar feeding. Learn how to create nutrient-rich foliar sprays using simple, natural ingredients. We’ll explore the benefits of foliar feeding, from providing plants with quick access to essential nutrients to enhancing disease resistance and overall growth. Virtual via Zoom. Link provided upon pre-registration. Free with a generous donation…
Join DPNC on the second Saturday of every month as we adventure into nature! This month, we’ll be tapping into our natural roots by exploring the science of tree tapping. Learn why trees make sap, how it moves through the tree, and the proper techniques for tapping. Then head outside to tap trees around the…
Go beneath the fur to see how small mammals work. Through hands-on dissection, students will explore structures, organ systems, and the adaptations that help these animals thrive. All mammal and bird specimens donated for the series have died from natural or accidental causes. Meets at DPNC. This program is for children ages 9-16 years old.…
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…
Explore Rocky Neck State Park in search of resident songbirds, raptors, and ducks. This program is great for birders of all skill levels. This program is suited for adults. Meets at Rocky Neck State Park, 244 W. Main St. (Rte. 156), East Lyme, in the furthest beach parking lots on the right side. Preregistration is…
Discover the wonders of nature together at this monthly, inclusive family-friendly program! Kids of all ages with a caregiver are welcome to move at their own pace as you explore themed activity stations, meet live animals, and examine fascinating natural artifacts. Then get creative with a hands-on craft before heading out on a self-guided hike…
Learn to identify Connecticut’s native snakes and discover their important role in our ecosystems. Join DPNC on Sunday, March 22nd as we explore unique snake adaptations and you’ll get a chance to meet and touch live snakes! Meets at DPNC. Pre-registration is required. Free thanks to the generous support of the Bodenwein Public Benevolent Foundation.…
Invasive plants are changing our local landscapes, crowding out native plants and making it harder for our ecosystem to stay healthy. Join us to learn how these non-native species arrived, what helps them spread, and the challenges they create for our native plants. We’ll also discuss local species that are at risk of being pushed…
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…
Watch the April Pink Moon rise from a beautiful overlook! Join DPNC for a guided evening hike through the Peace Sanctuary as daylight fades and the full moon makes its appearance. Meets at the Peace Sanctuary on River Road, Mystic. Pre-registration is required. Register
