KIDS

ADULTS & FAMILY

ADULT & FAMILY PROGRAMS

Enjoy a scenic morning walk along the Pawcatuck River, through woodlands and over rocky outcrops as we look and listen for late migrants and resident breeding birds, including Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-throated Vireo, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, Ovenbird and Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Call for directions, or visit Westerlylandtrust.org for map. Park off Old Hopkinton Road, near the beginning of Boy Scout Drive.

Bring the family as we hike the Ledge Trail at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Along the way we will visit Hidden Pond, explore red maple swamps and look for signs of local wildlife.

Bring your binoculars to look for a variety of birds on this walk through shrubland, woodland and Mountain Laurel thickets (should be in full bloom). Park at main entrance across from Gungywamp Rd.

$10 per family (Aquarium or Nature Center Members) At this time each year hundreds of horseshoe crabs crawl on to the beaches of New England. Join Denison Pequotsepos and Mystic Aquarium educators on a full moon walk at Napatree Point, Watch Hill, Rhode Island to see this natural wonder and to discover why this phenomenon occurs. Be prepared to get wet feet and hike a distance!

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

If you really want to hear the birds, you have to start early. On this weekday walk, you can still get to work on time. Meet at the last parking area on the right before the boat launch.

FREE thanks to a generous grant from the New London Water Authority Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

Watch for activity of horseshoe crabs, oystercatchers, terns and other shore birds active around dusk on the longest day of the year.

Meet at the entrance to Napatree Point sea wall.
Led by Julia Royster of the Watch Hill Conservancy.

Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

Learn more about this fascinating bioluminescent insect before heading out through the woods and trails of the Nature Center to see what fireflies we can see and catch.

Gather around the Mulberry tree and watch the birds feed on their favorite fruit while we sip our own favorites: Margaritas, wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages and hors d’ouevres included. Red Mulberry, an uncommon native forest tree, attracts Wood Thrush, various woodpeckers, warblers, Catbird, Bluebird, Veery, and other birds that normally eat insects. Program takes place at a private property in North Stonington. Call to register and for directions.

June 19, July 10 and August 14th are FREE thanks to a generous grant from the New London Water Authority Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

FREE thanks to a generous grant from the New London Water Authority Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

Enjoy a summer afternoon as we explore the trails at Nehantic State Forest in East Lyme. As we hike we’ll keep our eyes open for summer discoveries such as toads, insects, birds and more.

Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

Witness a spectacular display of colorful and (practically) carefree perennials on this morning outing to the garden of local daylily aficionado, Marion Miller. After a guided tour of the beds, organized by color palette, participants will have an opportunity to purchase interesting and unusual varieties of daylily plants. Here's a chance to get some gardening tips from a pro!

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

The intriguing rock gardens and colorful flower beds of this 11-acre island situated in Fisher’s Island Sound provide a unique and wonderful setting for our summer fund-raiser. The event will feature fresh locally grown vegetables and fruits of land and sea, wine, beer, organic teas and tastings.

Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

FREE thanks to a generous grant from the New London Water Authority Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

Concert & Walk: Concert begins at 6:30 pm
Members: $10 adults, $7 children Family Max $34
Non-members: $12 adults, $9 children Family Max $42

Concert, Walk and Overnight Members: $50/family. Non-members: $60/family.

Bring the family and enjoy a “Batsong” performance by Musical Mark. The show is a blend of music, comedy, and education with lots of surprises. Musical Mark will perform in his bat costume and get the audience singing along with "Matt the Bat", "Batsong Rap-a-long" and “Got Guano?” for starters. After the concert, join Nature Center staff for a hike along our trails and into the fields looking for bats and learning more about their essential role in the ecosystem and the current threats they face. We’ll bring along the bat detector to see if we can hear their sounds as they swoop looking for insects. Continue the nocturnal fun after the hike by spending the night at the Nature Center with your family. We’ll learn more about other nocturnal animals such as owls and moths, test our night senses and wrap up the evening with s’mores around the campfire. In the morning you can enjoy an early morning walk or sleep in and join us for a quick breakfast before packing up.

For women who love to be outdoors. Enjoy fitness, camaraderie and learn about plants and animals that inhabit our part of Southeastern Connecticut. Join us for one or all of the hikes. Infants in front or back carriers are welcome, except on starred hikes.

Enjoy family time together at various program sites through the area. We will take a hands-on approach, so be sure to dress appropriately and bring a water bottle and sunscreen!

Participate in an informal group of creative writers, learning new skills in all genres through the use of prompts and positive feedback. Beginners are welcome. No fee required; donations for the Nature Center are gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Bev Herstein at 401-364-9287 or Marge Kimball at 860-536-8963.

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FULL MOON WALKS

Join us on monthly walks to explore the woods and wild under the beauty of a full moon. These walks for Adults and Families are led by DPNC staff members. Heavy rain cancels.

Listen for Whippoorwill and look for horseshoe crabs and snapping turtles laying eggs.

During this walk along the edges of Palmer’s Cove, we will look for osprey, owls and herons active at dusk, and listen for the sounds of early summer insects in meadows and marshes. Moonrise is at 8:48pm, the latest of the year. Meet at the Haley Farm parking lot off Brook Street, Noank.

If skies are clear, we can watch the moon rise over Fisher’s Island Sound. Park on Wilcox Road in Stonington, near preserve entrance

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NATURE STORY HOURS

Your planet needs you! Join us as we celebrate World Environment Day and learn how all of our planet’s nations are joining together to protect our natural resources. We will read stories and make crafts from recycled objects.

Join local author Mary Ellen Caruso in her reading of Helping Hilda Horseshoe Crab. We will learn all about these fascinating sea animals and create a horseshoe craft.

As we read stories about our singing insects, Katydids and Cicadas will serenade us in the meadow. Afterwards, we will head back inside to make a musical craft.

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PADDLE TRIPS

Meet at DPNC at 9 am or at the put-in at 9:45. This is approximately a 9 mile downstream trip. The early season higher flow rates will speed us up a little. There is a low rubble dam at Barberville that can be run or avoided, as you wish. The lowest section above the Bradford dam is quiet water paddling along scenic forested banks. This is a one-way trip downriver with a return shuttle.

Meet at DPNC at 9 am or at the put-in at 9:30. The Wood River is a beautiful wooded stream with a couple of dams that form ponds along the way. There are lots of fun riffles along this shallow river and plenty of sun while crossing the ponds. There is a short portage around the Barberville Dam. A vehicle shuttle will enable us to float one-way downstream.

Meet at DPNC at 9 am or at the put-in at 9:45. Co-Sponsored by the Westerly Land Trust We portage around the Bradford Dam and go downstream to Potter Hill. Along the way we will pass conservation lands owned by The Nature Conservancy and the Westerly Land Trust. This is a one-way trip downriver with a return shuttle.

Meet at DPNC at 9 or Maxson Ave at the Potter Hill dam at 9:30. See the other Westerly - the one only seen from the river. You will float past farm fields, wooded wetlands and the historic parts of Westerly like you may have never seen. There are a couple of swift water (Class II) rapids around old dams. The take-out is at the boat launch in downtown Westerly. About 8 miles.

Meet at DPNC at 9 am or at the put-in at 9:30. One of our favorite runs of the season, this 10.5 mile section of the Pawcatuck has a nice mix of calm flowing water punctuated with one little section of Class II whitewater, which makes it a trip to remember! Much of the river flows through forests with occasional beaver, deer or otter signs along the banks.

Meet at DPNC at 10 am or at the put-in at 10:15. O.K., So the Mystic is not a "real" river, but it still looks and feels like one. The water flows to the sea and then flows back again with the tide. Most of the time we will follow the tide out, as we go down river. We hope to have the wind behind us. We float past the Peace Sanctuary, Mystic Seaport, under the Mystic River bridge and past other historic and scenic places.

By August, many sandpipers and other shorebirds that passed through heading North in April are heading back to South America. The exposed flats, tidal marshes and beaches in and around Charlestown Pond offer opportunities to see many different species up close. Bring binoculars and be prepared to climb in and out of your boat (sometimes the water is so shallow, we have to pull our boats). Meet at the public boat launch, on the right just over the bridge, before the Charlestown Beach parking lot.

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CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Meet our resident crows and discover how smart these birds really are.

Learn more about the little plants that grow on the forest and meadow floor and create a miniature garden to bring home.

Use a net to discover what creatures are living in the pond. Frogs, fish and aquatic invertebrates will be a few of our discoveries.

Discover the secret world of bobcats. Learn where they live, what they eat, and how to spot their tracks.

Learn about our local shells, what animals live in them, and create a beautiful project to bring home.

Find out why rainbows form in the sky as we use prisms to create our own. Then spend time on the trails discovering all the colors nature has to offer.

Discover how bees make honey and try some of their tasty treat before heading to the meadow to see if we can spot any of our bee friends.

Learn more about the only bird that can fly backwards and whose heart can beat over 1000 times a minute.

Learn about one of New England’s largest snakes, meet a live snake, and go a snake search.

Discover the amazing life cycles of dragonflies as we take a closer look at this important insect.

Try your hand at fish printing as we all make bags to bring home while learning about our local fish.

Find out about plants such as ferns, mosses and horsetails that were around when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. We will also learn which dinosaurs liked to eat them.

Discover how shadows are formed and why they change throughout the day. We will also create shadow puppets.

Meet the Nature Center’s box turtles and learn about their lives.

Explore the symmetry of a butterfly as we look for butterflies in the meadows and explore the Nature Center’s new butterfly exhibits.

HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS

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Special new pricing for Homeschool Programs

All Homeschool classes meet at 1 - 3 pm

Just because they don't go through a metamorphosis doesn't mean that birds don't have an interesting life cycle. We'll talk about different bird species and see how they grow up.

What life makes it home in the permanent pond? Let's take some nets down to the pond and find out. We'll do a basic pond survey and take a few of the creatures back to look under microscopes.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS

Exploration and discovery for young children

A special time for 3 year olds to experience and learn about the natural world. Winter is an exciting time to search for tracks, icicles, evergreens and more. Each class focuses on a new seasonal topic, and includes a craft, snack and lots of time outside.

Explore the winter woods at your child’s pace and have a chance to chat with other adults as you and your little one search for tracks, icicles, evergreens and more at different natural areas throughout Southeastern Connecticut. Nonwalkers should be carried in a front or backpack, as most trails are too narrow for strollers. The first class of each session will be held at the Nature Center.

Let your child discover the world around them as each we explore the Nature Center and learn about its inhabitants from worms to woodchucks. Each class includes a circle time, craft, snack and time outside.

Let your child discover the world around them as each week we explore the Nature Center and learn about its plant and animal inhabitants. Each class includes a circle time, craft, snack and time outside.

Help your child learn to love the outdoors as you come to the Nature Center for a special time together. Winter is a wonderful time to explore as snow and ice sparkles around ponds and woods. Each week we will have a different seasonal topic that includes a circle time, craft, snack and lots of time outside.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Too young for Summer Nature Camp? Then join the fun of Summertime Cottontails! Each week explore a new destination at a young child’s pace and make all sorts of new discoveries from hiding hermit crabs to sweet-smelling sassafras. Feel free to sign up for one or all of the programs.

Cottontails

6 classes - Members $42 Non-Members $60
* 5 classes - Members $35 Non-Members $50
** 3 classes - Members $21 Non-Members $30

Butterflies, Discovery & Hummingbirds

6 classes - Members $72 Non-Members $90
* 5 classes - Members $60 Non-Members $75
** 3 classes - Members $36 Non-Members $45

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