Established in 1949, our Junior Curator Program gives children a unique opportunity to experience life on a real farm. The Junior Curator Program is the Museum's junior volunteer program and consists of five sessions. Similar to the Junior Curator program, WILD! Keepers gives participants hands-on experience in the care, feeding, and enrichment of our exotic teaching animals.
Junior Curator
AGES 11-13
This program provides an overview of basic animal care and experiential learning on Heckscher Farm. The program includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the farm and various hands-on experiences, such as cleaning and feeding of animals. Upon completion of the program, participants will be eligible to become a farm volunteer. Space is limited! Each week is limited to 5 participants. Must be 11 by start of the program.
For information on Junior Curator classes, contact Victoria Jaffery at 203.968.8362 or by e-mail. For Registration questions, please call the front desk at 203.977.6521.
Spring 2021 sessions
Monday-Friday 3:30-5 pm
- Session 1: April 12-16-FULL
- Session 2: May 10-14-FULL
Members: $150 | Non-members: $170
Summer 2021 sessions
Monday-Friday, 3-5 pm
- Session 1: June 28-July 2- FULL
- Session 2: July 12-16- FULL
- Session 3: July 26-30-FULL
- Session 4: August 9-13- FULL
Members: $180 | Non-members: $200
Note: Campers in Explorers Adventure Camp can be taken by SM&NC staff directly from camp to Junior Curator.
Program Note: Students may register for a maximum of one (1) Junior Curator and one (1) Junior WILD Keeper session. Students who have previously completed a class, even in a previous year, may not enroll in that class again. Multiple registrations for different weeks of the same program will be cancelled and refunded.
Junior WILD! Keeper
AGES 11-13
Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of Heckscher WILD! exotic animal exhibit. The Junior WILD! Keepers program gives participants hands-on experience in the care, feeding, and enrichment of our exotic teaching animals. Upon completion of the program, participants will be eligible to volunteer with the animals in Heckscher WILD!. Each week is limited to 5 participants. Must be 11 by start of the program.
For information on the Junior WILD! Keepers classes, contact Emily Herz at 203.977.6540 or by e-mail. For Registration questions, please call the front desk at 203.977.6521.
Spring 2021 sessions
Monday-Friday 3:30-5 pm
- Session 1: April 5-9- FULL
- Session 2: May 24-28- FULL
Members: $150 | Non-members: $170
Summer 2021 sessions
Monday-Friday, 3-5 pm
- Session 1: June 21-25- 3 spots left
- Session 2: July 12-16
- Session 3: August 16-20- 3 spots left
Members: $180 | Non-members: $200
Note: Campers in Explorers Adventure Camp can be taken by SM&NC staff directly from camp to Junior WILD Keepers.
Program Note: Students may register for a maximum of one (1) Junior Curator and one (1) Junior WILD Keeper session. Students who have previously completed a class, even in a previous year, may not enroll in that class again. Multiple registrations for different weeks of the same program will be cancelled and refunded.
Junior Environmental Educator & Green Girls Programs
The SM&NC is excited to offer opportunities for students ages 14-17 to partake in hands-on learning experiences this summer.
Junior Environmental Educator (JEE) program
Ages 15-17
Summer 2021
The SM&NC JEE program is an opportunity for students ages 15-17 who have an interest in education and the environment. Positions are available during seven weeks of summer camp: June 28-July 2, July 5-9, July 12-16, July 19-23, July 26-30, August 2-6, August 9-13.
JEE staff will assist educators in many aspects of the camp program, including preparation, group management, morning welcome/check-in, afternoon pick-up, and activity coordination. JEE staff will receive hands-on training in developing age-appropriate, innovative environmental education curriculum, in Connecticut natural history and in managing a multi-age, co-ed group. Volunteers are required to attend an orientation session for an overview of responsibilities and camp curriculum. JEE participants must be 15 by the start of camp, be able to commit to a minimum of 5 camp days, and be willing to submit a current medical record for camp files. JEE participants and their parents must sign off on a volunteer code of conduct. Orientation materials will be sent to participants this year. There will be a maximum of 1 JEE volunteer per camp group per week. All COVID protocols must be followed.
$80 application fee
For more information on the program, please contact Lisa Monachelli at 203.977.6568 or lmonachelli@stamfordmuseum.org.
Green Girls Job Training Internships
Ages 14-17
Summer 2021
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is hiring 4 interns for Summer 2021 as a part of our Green Girls training program. This is a grant-funded program and. due to the nature of the grant, only students that identify as female are eligible. Students ages 14-17 who love the environment and want to make a difference are encouraged to apply.
Green Girls is a hands-on internship program on environmental careers that will give the participants a chance to work with our farm and exotic animals, help restore native plants, learn about environmental education, and more! Interns will earn a stipend upon completion of the internship.
Participants will work Tuesday-Thursday from 9-3 for the 6-week period from July 6 through August 12, 2021. Participants must be able to commit to the entire internship season. Transportation to the museum is not provided but we are located on a bus route.
Funding for the 2021 program was made possible by the Fairfield County Community Foundation.
Interested parties can fill out our application or e-mail vjaffery@stamfordmuseum.org for more information.
Applications will be accepted until positions are full.