Make learning come alive with programs from the SM&NC!
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is an excellent educational resource for schools and groups. Our four foci— nature, agriculture, astronomy and art— allow for an extensive variety of educational options. Our varied site creates an unparalled experience for your field trip! Our programs are hands-on, interactive, relevant and fun! All programs are correlated to state standards and curricula can be adapted to fit specific needs.
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center offers options for schools and groups:
- Summer On-site Group Visits - visit the SM&NC with your camp or group! Education or self-guided visits!
- Outreach Programs - for libraries, scouts, and other groups
- On-site School Programs
- SM&NC in the Schools Outreach Programs
- Self-guided Group Visits School Year (September through mid-June)
- After School Programs
- Digital Live Animal Programs
- Digital Science & Social Studies programs w/ hands-on materials
On-site School Programs
Our on-site school programs are designed to enhance your school's curriculum by providing interactive learning experiences. The SM&NC offers fun, hands-on exploration of the world — whether it is art, farm, science, nature, or history — we have it all. Our engaging facilities include: an educational farm; nature center; museum galleries; lakeside picnic area; unique Nature's Playground; Heckscher WILD! live exotic animal exhibit, and an 80-acre hardwood forest with miles of trails. We have both indoor and outdoor learning spaces. We've broken ground on a state-of-the-art Planetarium & Astronomy Center projected to open in late 2024.
SM&NC in the Schools Outreach Programs
Our SM&NC in the Schools Outreach Programs are designed to provide in-class, hands-on programming for groups that cannot travel to the museum or that would like additional program experiences in-school. Have a goat, chinchilla, or lizard visit your classroom, travel 600 years in the past to discover Woodland Native American life, create a map of Connecticut, explore the three rock types, and more! We can make most outdoor spaces work for programming too!
Digital Programs
For 2022-23, the SM&NC is still offering a digital program options for schools. Some programs will be delivered entirely over a digital platform, while others will combine digital instruction with hands-on activities using materials provided by the SM&NC.