Join us for a free hike or program
Join us after school this spring for some nature art!
Explore our trails dawn to dusk daily.
Join us for a free hike or program
Upcoming Programs
Story, Hike and Meet & Greet
Saturday, July 11 from 10:30 - 11:30 am
For families with children of all ages!! Ms. Kathleen from the Ridgefield Library and Kelly from Woodcock welcome you to an active story time celebrating outdoor adventures. Meet at the pavilion for a story, then visit the nature center to meet an ambassador animal before enjoying a guided hike on the trails.
Registration is free but required.
This program is in partnership with the Friends of the Ridgefield Library and the Ridgefield Conservation Commission and is part of the Ridgefield Library's 2026 Summer Reading Program: Plant a Seed, Read.
Nature Center Open House
Sunday, July 12 from 10 am - 12 pm
Saturday, August 15 from 10 am - 12 pm
A Woodcock team member welcomes you to the nature center for a chance to meet and learn about our ambassador animals. The Nature Center building will be open to guests during the dates/hours listed above.
No registration needed. Just come on by!
Beyond the Trail: Take a Walk with our Executive Director
Wednesday, July 15 from 6 - 7 pm
Bats have belly buttons, wood frogs freeze solid and survive, owls have been seen swimming... Let’s learn some more interesting nature facts! Join us for this excursion into the Woodcock preserve with our Executive Director who will bring some of her favorite fascinating facts about the creatures who share our local woods. Let’s discuss how these surprising facts challenge our assumptions and invite us to appreciate our local environment with fresh eyes. We'll walk and talk on this easy hike for adults only. Aprox 60 minutes. Meet in front of the Nature Center. Plus, take home a special gift!
Special guest: Kelly Donahoe, Events & Community Relations Manager at Woodcock Nature Center
Registration is free but required.
Summer Trekking Group Hike
Monday, July 20 from 12 - 1 pm
Monday, August 17 from 12 - 1 pm
Monday, September 14 from 12 - 1 pm
Summer is the perfect time to get outside for a hike! Join us on one (or more!) of these dates to enjoy a hike on our trails with one of our educators. Meet at the kiosk at the end of the long driveway.
This program is in partnership with the Ridgefield Summer Trekking program. To learn more about the Summer Trekking program and to see additional partner events visit the Conservation Commission website.
Registration is requested, but not required. Walk-ins welcome.
Beyond the Trail: Take a Walk with our Executive Director
Wednesday, August 5 from 6 - 7 pm
Join our Executive Director for a walk through the Woodcock preserve as we celebrate the people and ideas behind environmental conservation. Learn about the founders and supporters who helped shape Woodcock Nature Center, hear inspiring stories of individuals who have made a difference close to home, and explore how fostering nature education starts with simple actions taken by people like us. We'll walk and talk on this easy hike for adults only. Aprox 60 minutes. Meet in front of the Nature Center. Plus, take home a special gift!
Special guest: TBD
Registration is free but required.
Beyond the Trail: Take a Walk with our Executive Director
Wednesday, August 26 from 6 - 7 pm
Discover the hidden history of the Woodcock Preserve. For 54 years, our dedicated team has stewarded these 152 acres, preserving both the landscape and the stories woven throughout it. We'll begin at Spectacle Swamp, where we'll uncover the story of a hidden dam, then make our way north to explore a picturesque pond, an architect-designed dream home, and a little-known monument tucked in the woods. Along the way, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for Woodcock’s past and a fresh perspective on its future. We'll walk and talk on this easy hike for adults only. Aprox 60 minutes. Meet in front of the Nature Center. Plus, take home a special gift!
Special guest: Peter Vanderminden, Woodcock Volunteer
Registration is free but required.
Night Flight: Exploring Bats & Tequila
Saturday, August 29 from 5:30 - 8 pm
Dive into a one-of-a-kind bat presentation and experience that shines a spotlight on these fascinating creatures and their vital role in our ecosystem. Get up close with a live ambassador bat and discover what makes these nighttime flyers so incredible. Your evening will include educational programming, light bites and tequila tasting in our picturesque pavilion. Proceeds from this program support Woodcock's community outreach programs.
Registration is required. $65 per person. This program is for adults 21+.
Summer Trekking Trail Run
Wednesday, September 2 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm
As part of Ridgefield's summer trekking program, CT Run Co along with Topo invites you to an evening trail run. Topo Athletic shoe company will be on-site to sample trail running shoes. Arrive by 5:30 to check in with Topo and try on shoes. Run begins at 6 pm with time for pizza and socialization afterwards.
This program is in partnership with the Ridgefield Summer Trekking Program and CT Run Co.
No registration required.
Beyond the Trail: Take a Walk with our Executive Director
Thursday, September 17 from 5 - 6 pm
Is anyone else awake? Let’s talk about the climate challenges and everyday habits that keep us up at night! Is my morning coffee ruining the environment? Is my conversation with a chatbot making the earth hotter? What matters more: individual action or corporate policy? We’ll walk from forest to stream as we discuss fact and fiction and figure out how to get more sleep at night while making an impact by day. We'll walk and talk on this easy hike for adults only. Aprox 60 minutes. Meet in front of the Nature Center. Plus, take home a special gift!
Special guest: Roberta Barbieri, Vice President, Global Sustainability at PepsiCo and Woodcock Board President
Registration is free but required.
Mouse Houses and Fairy Homes
Saturday, September 19 from 2:30 - 4 pm
An enchanted journey beckons! During this whimsical adventure we will hike to our fairy village to create miniature houses for fairies and woodland creatures! We will use natural materials like sticks, moss, acorns, bark, and pinecones to construct them and might even have one of Woodcock's resident animals come out to inspect our houses. We will end at the nature center to create some mini fairy house decorations that can help start a fairy house back at home.
Registration is required. $45 per child. This program is for children in grades K - 2.
Storytime: On The Trails
Friday, October 5 from 11 am - 12 pm
Friday, November 2 from 11 am - 12 pm
There's no better time than spring for Storytime: On the Trails program! Each session, we will enjoy a walk on our trails led by an educator, pointing out the wonders of nature and sharing fascinating facts about the season, before gathering around for a story. The perfect way to connect with nature and your child as spring awakens. This program is for ages 2-6 with a caregiver.
Registration is free, but required.
Minecraft vs Nature
Saturday, October 3 from 1 - 3 pm
Dive into the world of Minecraft while discovering the real-life nature that inspires it! We'll take a hike to explore the different biomes found right here on our property and compare them to those in the game. Back at the Nature Center, we'll get creative with a pixel art craft and meet some resident animals that resemble your favorite Minecraft creatures!
Registration is required. $45 per child. This program is for children in grades 3 - 6.
Nighttime Wonders - Owl Prowl
Friday, October 16 from 6 - 8 pm
An exciting evening adventure awaits!! We will explore the woods in search of native owls! During our guided hike, we’ll listen for their unique calls—and if we’re lucky, some wild owls may even respond to our recorded ones! To close, we will gather around the campfire for games, s’mores, and cozy fun before heading home.
Registration is required. $45 per child. This program is for children in grades 5 - 8.
Autumnal Outdoor Art
Friday, October 23 from 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Our adventure begins with a whimiscal walk in the forest while learning to use the natural materials around us to ignite our imagination. Golden birch leaves, acorn caps, sticks, and stones can all be used for sculpture and color on this hike. Educators will share the work of famous outdoor art creators and teach about the materials we are using. We will photograph our pieces and get photographic prints to take home.
Registration is required. $45 per child. This program is for children in grades 3 - 6.