Join us for a program after school or on a school break.
Visit us anytime to discover new friends!
Join us for an afterschool program. Prek-8th grade.
Join us for a program after school or on a school break.
Upcoming Programs
Nature Center Open House
Saturday, October 17 from 10 am - 12 pm
Sunday, November 8 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!
Hear Me Out: Storytelling Series at Ridgefield Theater Barn
Sunday, October 18 at 6pm, doors open at 5 pm
* This Event Is Sold Out*
The Ridgefield Theater Barn’s Hear Me Out: Storytelling Series returns for an evening of true stories, shared live onstage and rooted in the power of personal connection. For this special evening, we welcome three storytellers from Woodcock Nature Center plus three from Ridgefield Theatre Barn focusing on the theme, Outside/In! Joining them as evening co-host is Lenore Herbst, Executive Director of Woodcock Nature Center, alongside series host Peter Bachmann. Hear Me Out invites storytellers to share real-life moments that are funny, moving, surprising, thought-provoking, and deeply human. Proceeds support both organizations.
Registration is required. All tickets are $45. BYO food and drink. Additional donations to Woodcock at checkout are welcome!
Adult Nature Crafting - Kinusaiga!
Thursday, October 22 from 7 - 9 pm
Dive into the newest viral craft trend - Kinusaiga! This traditional Japanese craft transforms fabric scraps into detailed mosaic pictures without the need for sewing or thread! Each attendee will create a unique piece of art to display in their home.
Registration is required. $45 per person. This event is for adults.
Critters and Costumes!
Friday, October 23 from 10:30 am - 12 pm
Combine the magic of Halloween with the wonders of nature on our not-too-spooky Halloween adventure perfect for your nature-lover! Don your best Halloween costumes, hike our trail and follow clues left by animals to locate a special treat. We'll meet and greet two misunderstood animals, a tarantula and an albino snake, and learn why they are more amazing than scary! We'll end with a seasonal story reading (bring a snack!). Don't forget your costumes and your curiosity!
Registration is required. $30 per child. This program is for children ages 2 - 6 with a caregiver.
Autumnal Outdoor Art
Friday, October 23 from 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Our adventure begins with a whimsical walk in the forest to ignite our imagination. We will learn to use the natural materials we see - golden birch leaves, acorn caps, sticks, and stones - to create a colorful sculpture. Educators will share the work of famous outdoor art creators and teach about the materials we will be using. We will photograph our pieces and take the prints home.
Registration is required. $45 per child. This program is for children in grades 5 - 8.
Autumn Leaves and Amphibians - A Guided Hike
Saturday, October 24 from 10 - 11:30 am
Fall is the great time to be outdoors! As the foliage begins to drop from the trees we'll go searching for all sorts of critters that make use of the leaf litter. Join educator Kevin Andros on the search for salamanders while enjoying the autumn leaves. A guided hike perfect for the whole family.
Registration is free, but required. This program is for adults and families.
Storytime: On The Trails
Monday, November 2 from 10 - 11 am
There's no better time than fall 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 autumn is upon us. This program is for ages 2-6 with a caregiver.
Registration is free, but required.
Nighttime Wonders - Owl Prowl
Friday, November 6 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.
Volunteer Day - Habitat Improvement
Saturday, November 7 from 10:30 am - 1 pm
Looking for a way to give back right here in your community? Pull on those work gloves andbe part of our team for the morning. We'll learn about invasive plants and remove them from the Woodcock property. We'll be improving the habitat on our trails by removing some of our prolific invasives like burning bush. Then we'll plant native shrubs in their place! We will have gloves available to borrow but be sure to dress for the trail with closed toed shoes, long pants, and bring water for yourself!
Registration is free, but required. This program is for adults and teens.
Surviving Winter as a Turtle - A Guided Hike
Saturday, November 7 from 1 - 2:30 pm
As the cold wind starts to blow, we know that winter will soon be creeping in. Have you ever wondered what happens to reptiles when it snows? What about the insects and amphibians? Join educator Kevin Andros on a guided hike to learn about what goes on beneath the snow during a cold Connecticut winter. A guided hike perfect for the whole family.
Registration is free, but required. This program is for adults and families.
-Post_Original.jpg)
Owl Prowl at Sarah Bishop Preserve, Ridgefield
Saturday, November 7 from 4:30 - 6 pm
Did you know that there are eight owl species found in Connecticut? Late fall is a great time to look for owls, as the young ones born during the past season disperse, learn to live independently, and establish their own territories. We will delve into the lives of these secretive and beautiful animals by learning about the sounds they make, the habitat they prefer, and the signs they leave behind as they hunt. Bird enthusiast Tommy McCarthy and RCC members welcome you to this evening walk. You are welcome to bring your binoculars to test their low-light performance as well as a light, but neither are required as we'll try to let our eyes adjust for the majority of the walk.
This event is in partnership with the Ridgefield Conservation Commision.
Registration is free, but required. This program is for adults and families.
Discovering Decomposers - A Guided Hike at Harrison-Smith Preserve
Saturday, November 14 from 10:30 am - 12 pm
Fall is the perfect time to be outside exploring! Take in the late autumn scenery while learning about the decomposers that recycle nutrients in our forests! That blanket of leaves that falls to the forest floor doesn't break down by itself - there are a dazzling array of fungi, bacteria, and insects hard at work beyond where our senses are usually focused. We'll look under logs and on the forest floor seeking signs of these decomposers and understand just how important they are to humans and the ecosystems we depend on.
This program is in partnership with the Wilton Land Trust.
Registration is free, but required. This program is for adults and families.