Junior Curator & Junior WILD! Keepers

Junior Curator

Ages 11 – 13

Established in 1949, our Junior Curator Program gives children a unique opportunity to experience life on a real farm. It is the SM&NC's official hands-on junior volunteer program, and consists of four sessions this season.

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, each participant will be eligible to become a farm volunteer.

  • Each session is limited to 6 participants
  • Must be 11 by start of program

Junior WILD! Keepers

Ages 11 – 13

Similar to the Junior Curator program, Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day for more in-depth training with our animal care staff. Upon successful completion of both the class and training, participants will then be eligible to volunteer with the animals in the Heckscher WILD! exhibit.

  • Each session is limited to 6 participants
  • Must be 11 by start of program

Contact

For more information, contact Victoria Jaffery at vjaffery@stamfordmuseum.org

Eligibility

Ages 11 – 13

* Our Fall, Winter, & Spring Sessions of both Junior Curator & Junior WILD! Keepers are open to SM&NC Members as well as Non-Members.

* Our Summer Sessions are open to SM&NC Members only.

Registration for Spring/Summer 2026 opens:

March 2nd for Director's Circle, Family Premium, and Family Plus levels 

March 6th for Family level members

March 6th for Non-members (for Spring sessions only)

Junior Curator & Junior WILD! Keeper Sessions

Spring sessions of Junior WILD Keepers are open to Members and Non-Members alike, while Summer sessions are open to SM&NC Members, exclusively.

Junior WILD! Keepers: Spring Session 1

March 4, 2024
April 18 @ 9:00 am12:00 pm
Heckscher WILD!
$60 – $70

Junior WILD! Keepers: Spring Session 1 Ages 11 – 13 Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day for more…

Junior Curator: Spring Session 1

March 4, 2024
April 20 @ 3:30 pmApril 24 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$145 – $160

Junior Curator: Spring Session 1 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, each participant will be eligible to become a farm volunteer.…

Junior Curator: Spring Session 2

March 4, 2024
May 11 @ 3:30 pmMay 15 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$145 – $160

Junior Curator: Spring Session 2 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, each participant will be eligible to become a farm volunteer.…

Junior WILD! Keepers: Spring Session 2

March 4, 2024
May 16 @ 9:00 am12:00 pm
Heckscher WILD!
$60 – $70

Junior WILD! Keepers: Spring Session 2 Ages 11 – 13 Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day for more…

Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 1

March 4, 2024
June 20 @ 9:00 am12:00 pm
Heckscher WILD!
$60

MEMBERS ONLY Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 1 Ages 11 – 13 Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day…

Junior Curator: Summer Session 1

January 30, 2025
June 22 @ 3:00 pmJune 26 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$190

MEMBERS ONLY Junior Curator: Summer Session 1 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, each participant will be eligible to become a…

Junior Curator: Summer Session 2

March 4, 2024
July 6 @ 3:00 pmJuly 10 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$190

MEMBERS ONLY Junior Curator: Summer Session 2 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, each participant will be eligible to become a…

Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 2
(2-day session)

March 4, 2024
July 13 @ 3:00 pmJuly 14 @ 5:00 pm
Heckscher WILD!
$60

MEMBERS ONLY Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 2 Ages 11 – 13 Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day…

Junior Curator: Summer Session 3

March 4, 2024
July 20 @ 3:00 pmJuly 24 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$190

MEMBERS ONLY Junior Curator: Summer Session 3 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, each participant will be eligible to become a…

Junior Curator: Summer Session 4

March 4, 2024
August 3 @ 3:00 pmAugust 7 @ 5:00 pm
Meets at Heckscher WILD!
$190

MEMBERS ONLY Junior Curator: Summer Session 4 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, each participant will be eligible to become a…

Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 3
(2-day session)

January 16, 2026
August 17 @ 3:00 pmAugust 18 @ 5:00 pm
Heckscher WILD!
$60

MEMBERS ONLY Junior WILD! Keepers: Summer Session 3 Ages 11 – 13 Junior WILD! Keepers was established in 2015, with the opening of our 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. After completing the class, participants will then choose a day…

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.

Youth & Family Program Policies

  • Refunds may be available for a registered program up to 10 days before the program date. Within 10 days refunds are, unfortunately, not available. Please register carefully. Contact registration at 203.977.6521 for refunds. Programs cancelled by SM&NC will be refunded in full.
  • Ticket transfers are not permitted. Only registered parties may attend in their program time/date.
  • Please note age requirements.  Registrations outside of the age minimums/maximums will be cancelled and may not be refunded
  • Please note registration requirements.  Some programs are drop-off and some require adult attendance.  All parties 3 and up that attend a program require a ticket for individually-ticketed events. Registrations outside of program guidelines will be cancelled and may not be refunded.
    For registration assistance or questions, please contact Visitor Services at 203.977.6521.