Plan your visit to Stamford Museum & Nature Center
By Linda Tuccio-Koonz, CTPost.com – Updated 5:19 pm, Mon, June 1, 2020
It’s a joy to hear children’s voices responding to the sights and sounds of nature at the newly reopened Stamford Museum & Nature Center, says Melissa Mulrooney, executive director. “There’s a sense of peace here, as well as a profound feeling of appreciation.”
If you’d like to enjoy this popular destination, which includes pastoral walking trails, farm animals and more, you’ll have to preregister to visit and follow some new safety protocols. But no one seems to mind these changes, Mulrooney says. Everyone’s just happy things are starting to get back to normal.
The center recently reopened to members and will reopen to the general public June 8. “We have rules, and virtually every guest has followed them by arriving wearing face masks, washing hands, and practicing social distancing,” Mulrooney says. “We want our members, guests, and families to feel we are a safe haven for getting outdoors again.”
Mulrooney has spoken with dozens of visitors at the center, which includes 118 acres. She says everyone is especially enjoying the chance to meet “our newest Heckscher Farm babies,” including goats, sheep, chickens and ducks.
“It’s lovely to have our audience back because when we closed March 20, we were ramping up for what is our spring ‘high season,’” she says. The center was just coming alive with the promise of spring when the pandemic forced its closure.
Mulrooney says she’s gratified to see “people seem to have really slowed down their lives through sheltering at home.” Now when they visit, “they are truly looking at the natural world with new wonder and real appreciation.”
Being closed was difficult. “As CEO, I missed being on the grounds with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center team. Zooming meetings is not that satisfying,” she says. “And … not having the public here was eerie.”
Mulrooney says the center is “all about social and educational engagement.” In the past it has offered everything from museum visits and adventures in the woods to adult programs such as cooking classes and author talks. “We were in limbo just like every community organization.”
As for those new measures to keep everyone healthy, they start with the preregistration procedure for visits. Attendance is limited to 150 people each for morning and afternoon sessions. Hecksher Farm restrooms are open for one family at a time.
Mulrooney says she’s gratified to see “people seem to have really slowed down their lives through sheltering at home.” Now when they visit, “they are truly looking at the natural world with new wonder and real appreciation.”
Being closed was difficult. “As CEO, I missed being on the grounds with the Stamford Museum & Nature Center team. Zooming meetings is not that satisfying,” she says. “And … not having the public here was eerie.”
Mulrooney says the center is “all about social and educational engagement.” In the past it has offered everything from museum visits and adventures in the woods to adult programs such as cooking classes and author talks. “We were in limbo just like every community organization.”
As for those new measures to keep everyone healthy, they start with the preregistration procedure for visits. Attendance is limited to 150 people each for morning and afternoon sessions. Hecksher Farm restrooms are open for one family at a time.
“We are limiting the number of people on-site, and masks are required for adults and children ages 4 and older. But, my absolute favorite safety measure has to be our five real, freshwater handwashing stations. The kids love them. They speak to who we are as a nature center, and are just charming — a throwback to simpler times.”
For now, the center’s indoor spaces remain closed; that includes the Bendel Mansion, Heckscher WILD! and the Overbrook Nature Center. “In terms of reopening, like everything else we’ve done so far, we are carefully and respectfully taking our lead from the most current civic protocol and guidelines.”
When guidelines permit, the center will open Bendel Galleries. “Art and the Animal,” a new exhibit, will be featured. Mulrooney says it’s “the flagship exhibition of The Society of Animal Artists, which is regarded worldwide as the most prestigious artist membership organization dedicated to the theme of animals in art.”
She added, “We are also very excited to launch a summer series of family-oriented drive-in movie nights, starting monthly in late June.”
Stamford Museum & Nature Center is at 39 Scofieldtown Road. Members are welcome and enjoy free admission; all visits require preregistration. Not a member yet? Click here to join . The general public is welcome as of June 8. You can book your visitation time at www.stamfordmuseum.org/reopening Options are 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or 2-5 p.m. Student (w/ID) $8, Adult $12, Senior (65+) $10, Child (4-17) $6, Child (3 & under) free.
lkoonz@newstimes.com; Twitter: @LindaTKoonz
Read the original CTPost.com story here.