Explore the amazing natural wonders found at the SM&NC!
This series of family programs, led by the Stamford Museum & Nature Center Environmental Education team, explores the amazing natural wonders found on our campus. Programs meet at the Overbrook Nature Center. Limited enrollment. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Some programs are for SM&NC members only (not a member? Join today!).
Registration for Summer programs (July-September) opens
June 29 for SM&NC members and July 13 to all unless otherwise noted.
S'mores & Slides
Friday, June 18
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Ever wish you could have Nature’s Playground all to yourself? Join us for an evening of open playground followed by a chance to make our favorite campfire treat—S’mores! Our playground will be open to participants for 40 minutes of fun and then we’ll gather around our fire pits by the Overbrook Nature Center to enjoy some S’mores! Limited to 10 children/adult pairs.
Members: $10/ticket (includes 1 child and 1 adult)
Non-members: $13/ticket (includes 1 child and 1 adult)
S’mores & Slides
(& Mini Golf!)
Friday, July 9 & Friday, July 23
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Ever wish you could have Nature’s Playground all to yourself? Join us for an evening of open playground followed by a chance to make our favorite campfire treat—S’mores! These special editions will also allow for participants to show off their skills on our special Mini Golf course on our meadow! Our playground and mini golf will be open to participants for the whole time and our fire pits by the Overbrook Nature Center to enjoy some S’mores will be ongoing. All attendees 3 and over require a ticket.
Members: $12/person
Non-members: $15/person
Snakes of the World
Monday, July 26
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Discover some amazing snakes from across the globe! From the longest snake in Connecticut to the smallest python in the world, learn about the ecology of these amazing creatures. Each child will get to decorate their own wooden snake to take home too! Children 7 and up may be dropped off for this program. Children 7 and under may attend with an adult at no charge. Limited to 15 children.
Members: $10/ticket
Non-members: $13/ticket
Things with Wings Night Hike
Friday, August 6
7:30-8:30 p.m.
Join us for a chance to explore the crepuscular and nocturnal creatures that call the SM&NC home! We’ll take a sunset hike to look for our resident bats and birds, look for signs of our local owls, and see what insects are out and about. Meets at the Overbrook Nature Center. Limited to 15 participants. All participants must have a ticket.
Members: $8/person
Non-members: $11/person
Pellets & Prowl
Friday, September 10
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Join us for our annual favorite! Dissect an owl pellet and discover the types of prey that owls eat. We’ll learn about the
types of owls that call Connecticut home and then head out into the woods to call for our local owls. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Limited to 15 people. All participants require a ticket. Program will be entirely outside if weather permits. Meet at Overbrook Nature Center.
Members: $8/person
Non-members: $11/person
Stream Hunters
Sunday, September 19
3:30-4:30 p.m.
From mayflies to salamanders, there is a great world beneath the rocks and leaves of the stream! Join SM&NC staff for a chance to explore Poorhouse Brook for the amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and fish that call it home. We’ll walk through our stream classroom to see what we can find. Please be prepared to walk in the stream; water shoes are recommended. Meet at Overbrook Nature Center. Limited to 15 participants. Children must be at least 5 to register. All participants require a ticket.
Members: $8/person
Non-members: $11/person
First Fall Bird Hike
Wednesday, September 22
10:00-11:00 a.m.
From migrating raptors to fall warblers, the fall can be a great time to search for birds. We’ll tour around the museum
building, Bendel Pond, and our trails to see what we can find. Join Visitors Services Manager and birder Brian O’Toole to learn about what is happening during fall migration and about the birds that will remain at the museum all year. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Binoculars recommended; a few basic pairs will be available for borrowing. Limited to
12 participants. Meet at the Overbrook Nature Center.
Members: FREE
Non-members: $3/person
Youth & Family Program Policies
- Refunds are available for a registered program up to 7 days before the program date. Within 7 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.