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Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids

Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
3/19/21 - By Ally Noel

In the past year, Connecticut families have been heading to the hills, trails, and streams of the Connecticut countryside more than ever to enjoy some outdoor fun on the weekends. Thankfully, we are never that far from a dedicated, family-friendly nature center in the Nutmeg State. These centers provide a wide variety of programs, scavenger hunts, camps, classes, guided hikes, and animal encounters. Nature Centers can be enjoyed year-round: Many even have indoor spaces with live animals, nature specimens, and more interactive elements for kids.

Plan a visit to one of these Connecticut nature centers for a healthy, educational, and affordable family day trip.  Then, broaden kids' horizons with an adventure to a Connecticut state park or forest to see nature at its grandest—nearby!

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Animals love visits at the Stamford Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the nature center
Animals love visits at the Stamford Nature Center. Photo courtesy of the nature center

Fairfield County Nature Centers

Woodcock Nature Center

Wilton
Visitors to Woodcock can explore their grounds, visit birds of prey and use the playground during daylight hours when not being used by programming and events. Woodcock offers a variety of nature-based programs ranging from mommy & me classes to their popular wreath festival.   READ MORE

Darien Nature Center

Darien
Located in Darien's Cherry Lawn Park, the Darien Nature Center is the home to a variety of animals, a small library. and 2.75 acres filled with fields, ponds, and trails. Currently, guests are being asked to reserve a time for an indoor visit.  READ MORE

Stamford Museum & Nature Center

Stamford
In addition to Heckscher Farm, gallery spaces and exhibits in the Bendel Mansion, and a planetarium, the Stamford Museum is also home to the Overbrook Nature Center, Trails, and Nature's Playground.  Their trails wind through over 80 acres of the property. READ MORE

New Canaan Nature Center

New Canaan
The New Canaan Nature Center is located on 40 acres that encompass a wide variety of habitat diversity, a live Birds of Prey Exhibit, a variety of gardens, a Greenhouse, and a Visitor Center. Currently the Visitor's Center is temporarily closed.  READ MORE

Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens

Stamford
Spend some time exploring Bartlett’s extraordinary 93-acre campus. With 12 gardens, and an intricate series of trails weaving through the Connecticut landscape, the Bartlett offers a living classroom for people of all ages to enjoy nature in.  READ MORE

Earthplace

Westport
Earthplace's 2.5 miles of trails across 74 acres of the sanctuary are open to the public, free of charge from dawn to dusk. Their building houses over 60 animal ambassadors & an indoor play area. It also offers a robust schedule of animal storytimes and birds of prey feedings.  READ MORE
Check out the dioramas at Roaring Brook. Photo courtesy of Roaring Brook Nature Center
Check out the dioramas at Roaring Brook. Photo courtesy of Roaring Brook Nature Center

Hartford & New Haven Area Nature Centers

Roaring Brook Nature Center

Canton
In addition to its trails and nature programming, visitors to  this Nature Center can check out a replica of a Native American longhouse, a Beaver Wetland exhibit, and a small collection of live animals. Currently, Roaring Brook has several scavenger hunts to complete while using their trails.  READ MORE

The Connecticut Audubon Society

Various Locations
Whether in the woodlands and meadows of the Fairfield Larsen Sanctuary or the marshes, beaches, and tidal pools of the Milford Coastal Center, guests can explore the range of biodiversity in Connectticut's eight Audubon Sanctuaries and Centers.  READ MORE

Ansonia Nature Center

Ansonia
The Ansonia Nature Center encompasses almost 150 acres of wooded hills and grassy fields bisected by streams, a two-acre pond, wet meadows, and an upland swamp.  At this time the Ansonia Nature Center Buildings are closed to the public.  READ MORE

Webb Mountain Discovery Center

Monroe
Explore the 171 acres of Webb Mountain's beautiful trails, and search for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife. The trails are easy to navigate and are labeled with clear trail markers. Visitors are welcome to enjoy a picnic lunch in the fields or chill out in the butterfly gardens. READ MORE
Go birdwatching at the White Memorial Conservation Center's observation deck. Photo by Marlow Shami/WMCC
Go birdwatching at the White Memorial Conservation Center's observation deck. Photo by Marlow Shami/WMCC

Litchfield County Nature Centers

Pratt Nature Center

New Milford
This 205-acre wildlife preserve encompasses a mountain, meadows, woods, wildlife, gardens, farm animals, a stream, a pond, and wetlands. With lots of opportunities for outdoor fun, you can spend the day hiking, bird watching, or partaking in one of the many family programs the center offers. READ MORE

Flanders Nature Center

Woodbury
Flanders Nature Center offers 2,100 acres of open space to hike, cross country ski, or just roam. Make sure to check out the  Flanders Nature Center’s Sugar House, where you can learn how maple syrup was discovered and see how it is made.  READ MORE

White Memorial Conservation Center

Litchfield
Before heading out on the Center's 35 miles of trails, visitors can explore a variety of different habitats at the Nature Museum. The museum houses exhibits that focus on local natural history, conservation, and ecology.  READ MORE