Join us in support of community outreach programs.
Join us for a free hike or program
Explore our trails dawn to dusk daily.
Join us in support of community outreach programs.
Upcoming Programs
Summer Trekking Group Hike
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
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.
COMA Mushroom Walk
Saturday, September 19 from 9:30 am - 12 pm
Let your mushroom adventure begin! COMA (Connecticut-Westchester Mycological Association) mycologists and educator Kevin Andros will lead you on a journey searching for and identifying some of the amazing mushrooms that you could find in your own backyard. Participants should consider bringing bug spray and a basket for collecting. This event is rain or shine and children are welcome to attend with a guardian.
Registration is free but required and spots are limited.
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.
Nature Center Open House
Sunday, September 20 from 10 am - 12 pm
Saturday, October 17 from 10 am - 12 pm
Saturday, November 7 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!
Growing Connections: Nature Journaling at McKeon Farm in Ridgefield
Friday, September 25 from 5:30 - 7 pm
Grow your connection to the natural world with us! Nature journaling is a relaxing way to cultivate mindfulness and gratitude as we engage our senses and pay attention to what's around us as we learn and reflect. Sketch a landscape, identify that flower you've been noticing, or wax poetic about the wind in the trees. Educator Tommy McCarthy will lead this casual <1 mile walk where we will pause along the way to sketch, write about, or identify things that are around us. Bring something to write with and on. There are a few benches around the Farm, but be prepared to have a seat on the grass as well.
This program is in partnership with the Ridgefield Conservation Commission.
Registration is free, but required.
Under The Harvest Moon
Saturday, September 26 from 7 - 10 pm
Welcome fall with a magical night at Under the Harvest Moon—an unforgettable evening of delicious food, live music, and community celebration. Set against the stunning backdrop of our candlelit pavilion and pond, enjoy a carefully prepared dinner by chefs Sarah and Bernard Bouïssou of À Table in Ridgefield as well as unique live auction items. Proceeds benefit Woodcock's outreach and education programs.
Registration is required. $175 per person. This event is for adults 21+.
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.
Storytime: On The Trails
Friday, October 5 from 10 - 11 am
Friday, November 2 from 10 - 11 am
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.
Beyond the Trail: Take a Walk with our Executive Director
Wednesday, October 14 from 5 - 6 pm
Hear from our Executive Director about what it takes to run a nature center. Do you wonder how we make decisions or plan our programs? Are you curious about fundraising or what it costs to feed the animals? We’ll chat about this and more while enjoying an easy hike, good conversation, and the arrival of fall. 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: Katherine Gehrmann, Associate Director, Lone Pine Foundation and Woodcock Board Member
Registration is free but required.
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.
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.