Programs and Events at the Fairfield Nature Center
The Birds of Prey Compound at the Fairfield Nature Center is currently closed.
Nature Tots Spring Explorers
Tuesdays: April 1, 22, 29; May 6, 2025
10 – 10:45 a.m.
What do animals do in the spring? How do they prepare for warmer temperatures? We’ll discover the answers to these questions and more in this engaging, indoor/outdoor program. Activities may include stories, crafts, games, experiments, live animal visitors and explorations. For ages 2-3, accompanied by an actively participating adult. Pre-registration is required.
4-Program Series fee (per child): Members $80; Non-members $100: Register here.
Single session fee (per child): Members $20, Non-members $25.
April 1: Register here.
April 22: Register here.
April 29: Register here.
May 6: Register here.
Please wear appropriate indoor/outdoor clothing and footwear. This program takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Springtime Botanicals: Nature’s Wild Medicines
Photo: Lindsay Chimileski
Thursdays, April 3 through May 8, 2025
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Spring is an enchanting time in the New England woodlands and meadows with the return of favorite plants and fungi, many which have medicinal and nutritional properties. In this course, led by naturopathic physician and naturalist Lindsay Chimileski, you will deepen your relationships with the botanical medicines growing all around us, and gain confidence in working with wild medicines through fieldwork, lectures, hands-on preparations, and discussions of diverse herbal lineages. The course will focus on local spring plant and fungi identification, foraging, medicinal qualities and folklore while highlighting safe and respectful wild harvesting practices. It will also include hands-on processing and making herbal preparations from the medicines we gather like tinctures, dual extracts, cordials and salves.
Series Fee: Member $150; Non-member $175
Pre-registration required; please register here.
Bring a snack, and dress for the weather. This class meets at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Spring Bird Seed Sale: 20% Off
Saturday, April 12, 2025 (Pre-orders due Wednesday, 4/2)
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Fairfield Nature Center’s Nature Store offers a 20% discount on all bird seed and suet during its annual one-day sale. With springtime nest building and nestlings on the way, this is a perfect time to stock up. Knowledgeable staff are always on hand to help you select the right seed for your feeders and answer general bird feeding questions.
To ensure that adequate supplies are available, pre-ordering is strongly recommended. Click here for the pre-order form (due Wednesday, April 2). On sale day, pre-order customers can drive straight to seed pick-up area for curbside loading. The Fairfield Nature Center is located at 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield.
Pollinator Pals: The Busy World of Bees, Butterflies and Beyond
Saturday, April 12, 2025
10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon
Discover the fascinating world of pollinators! Learn what pollinators are, what they look like, and how they help our environment. Participants will visit a pollinator garden, create a fun craft, enjoy an engaging story, and take part in a variety of exciting pollinator-themed activities. All ages welcome; geared for 8 years old and under.
Cost: CAS members $5/child; Non-members $8/child. Please register here.
This program takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
April Break Camp
Monday, April 14 – Wednesday, April 16, 2025
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Young nature lovers, ages 4-5 and grades K-2, are invited to Connecticut Audubon’s April Break Camp in Fairfield, April 14 – 16. Have fun and adventures while welcoming back the animals and plants that have been hiding all winter. Teacher naturalists will lead campers on investigations in the Larsen Sanctuary to look for evidence of spring’s arrival and see what nature is up to this time of year. Days include outdoor hikes with log rolling, games, crafts and visits with animals. Sign up for the dates that work for you.
Pre-registration required. Members $55 per day; Non-members $65 per day.
Ages 4-5:
Monday, April 14: Register here.
Tuesday, April 15: Register here.
Wednesday, April 16: Register here.
Kindergarten – Grade 2:
Monday, April 14: Register here.
Tuesday, April 15: Register here.
Wednesday, April 16: Register here.
Please dress for the weather, bring a change of clothes, and a peanut-free lunch and snack. The camp is held at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT 06824.
Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Offered at: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. (sold out), 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m.
Recommended for ages 1 to 10
This favorite spring tradition returns! In addition to the fun search for eggs, there will be family activities, crafts, snacks, and visits with a special bunny. Don’t forget to bring a basket and your camera.
CAS Members: $10/child, $10/adult. Non-Members: $12/child, $12/adult.
Pre-registration is required. All participants must register.
9:30 a.m. Register here.
11:00 a.m. SOLD OUT.
12:30 p.m. Register here.
2:00 p.m. Register here.
This is an outdoor event and will be held rain or shine. In case of rain, the Egg Hunt will be moved indoors. It takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield.
Spring Foraging and Wild Edibles – SOLD OUT
Photo: White-pored Chicken of the Woods from eattheplanet.org
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 a.m. to Noon
Join us for a fascinating program with Joe Ross, the owner of Eat The Planet, an organization that focuses on foraging and wild edibles. Joe has set up a foraging database on the website eattheplanet.org to help people find foraging classes and groups in all fifty states. He is also a Connecticut-licensed arborist and a tree warden. This class will include visiting a field in the Larsen Sanctuary for wild edibles and plant identification.
Pre-registration required. Members $15; Non-members $20.
Please note: this program is sold out.
This program takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Meet the Animals – Birds of Prey
Saturday, May 3, 2025
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Free program
The ambassador animals at the Fairfield Nature Center are an important part of our education outreach. Join us at this event for a unique chance to meet, up close, some of the Center’s raptor bird residents. Learn all about their special characteristics, what care and food they need, and about their roles in teaching visitors, school groups, and others about the importance of protecting them and their habitats. Great for all ages; walk-ins are welcome.
This is a free event; if you know you’re coming, please register here.
If you would like to make a donation to help support more environmental education programs in the Fairfield Region like this one, please click here.
This event takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield.
“A Bird is a Bird” with Children’s Book Author Lizzy Rockwell
Saturday, May 3, 2025
11:15 a.m.
Free program
Local children’s book author and illustrator Lizzy Rockwell teaches us about birds through a reading and presentation of her book “A Bird is a Bird.” After learning how she creates a book, we’ll do an illustration together. Her book will be available for purchase so you can stay for a book signing and take home your own copy.
Registration is required so we will know you are coming. Please register here.
This is a free event, but if you would like to make a donation to help support more programs in the Fairfield Region like this one, please click here.
The program takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Bird Walk at Smith Richardson
Chestnut-sided Warbler by Stefan Martin
Saturday, May 10, 2025
8 to 10 a.m.
Conservation Manager Stefan Martin leads this exploration of the diverse habitats of the Smith Richardson Preserve in Westport. Just a stone’s throw from Long Island Sound we’ll hope to see returning songbirds like warblers and orioles, as well as coastal water birds like egrets and osprey. Binoculars recommended.
Members: $15; Non-members: $20
Pre-registration is required. Please register here.
This walk takes place at Connecticut Audubon’s Smith Richardson Preserve. The parking lot for the Smith Richardson entrance gate is located at 39 Sasco Creek Road, Westport, CT.
Bird Walk in the Larsen Sanctuary
Red-winged Blackbird by Twan Leenders.
Monday, May 12, 2025
8 to 10 a.m.
The Fairfield Nature Center’s Larsen Sanctuary is home to many species of returning songbirds and is also an important stopover for others while they continue their journey north. Conservation Manager Stefan Martin leads this walk for all levels of birders; appropriate for ages 12 and up. Binoculars recommended.
Members $15; Non-members $20
Pre-registration is required. Please register here
This walk takes place at Connecticut Audubon’s Larsen Sanctuary at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Ongoing Programs
- Field Trips for Home Learning Groups: Enrich your home learning group by taking a field trip to the Center at Fairfield for hands-on, outdoor, environmental programs. Click here for program brochure.
- Science in Nature — Distance Learning: Bring the excitement and learning of our Science in Nature programs to your classroom with these live, virtual programs. Click here for program brochure.
- Science in Nature — In-Person Learning: Offerings include programs at your school, field trips to the Center at Fairfield or a local park. For the All Grade Level brochure, click here.
- Outreach Programs: Our animal-focused programs are ideal for individuals, libraries, scout troops, senior centers and more. Click here for details.
- Birthday Parties: Celebrate your child’s birthday with a nature-based party at our Center. Click here for details.
- Scouting Programs: Ongoing, customized science- and nature-related scouting programs are also available on- or off-site. Click here for details.
Outreach Programs
Enrich yourself, or the offerings of your group or organization, with our outreach learning programs. Ideal for individuals, libraries, scout troops, senior centers, Parks and Recreation departments and more, they can also be tailored to meet your specific needs. Programs can be in-person or virtual (via Zoom). Click here for brochure.
Birds of Prey – Encounter with one or more raptors on a bird handler’s glove. You’ll learn about the natural history of these magnificent birds, while discovering their unique physical and behavioral adaptations. We’ll discuss different raptor species and their amazing behavioral and predatory adaptations, as well as their conservation status and critical role in the environment.
Program fee: $300. Length: 60 minutes.
Meet the Animals – Unlock the basics behind how scientists classify animals into groups. We’ll focus on five basic animal groups: invertebrates, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. By comparing representative animals and their features, discover how the animals are related, what special traits they have, and better understand why they are classified the way they are. The program also includes live animals and mounted species.
Program fee: $165. Length: 60 minutes.
Backyard Birding – Learn how to identify backyard birds by sight and sound, who is at the feeder during each season and what their feeding habits are. Also covered will be bird characteristics, ways to entice birds to your feeder, what feeders and seed to use, and where to place feeders for bird safety and best viewing. This program includes a PowerPoint presentation, and there will be samples of bird feeders and seed that can be used in your backyard to attract birds.
Program fee: $165. Length: 60 minutes.
To schedule, please email our program manager at tkevalis@ctaudubon.org.
Birthday Parties
Celebrate your child’s birthday with Connecticut Audubon! We provide a fun-filled, 45-minute, nature-based program for your child and up to 15 guests, plus an additional 45 minutes for your own birthday fun. Age-specific themes (appropriate for ages 3 and up) to choose from include Naturalist Adventures, Slither and Slime, Creature Feature and more!
You can schedule a birthday party on Saturdays from 12:30 to 2 p.m. or from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Weekday parties are available on a limited basis by request.
Click here to view the brochure. To book a party, please email Jane Guenther or call 203-259-6305 ext. 109.
Scouting Programs
The Fairfield Nature Center provides programs that meet the needs of scouts and their leaders. Our teacher-naturalists will lead scouts through hands-on, science-based programs during which they will discover unique habitats and wildlife while working towards badge requirements. Our ongoing scouting programs may be scheduled for weekdays and weekends (based on availability). For Girl Scout programs through the Center, click here. For Boy Scout programs, click here.
Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science: Using Binoculars for Birding
Ever wonder how you could use your binoculars to get an “eagle-eye” view of some of your favorite birds? Join Connecticut Audubon’s Dr. Science as she shares (and demonstrates) some dos and don’ts, including how you can listen, spot and focus in on your next super-incredible nature experience.
See below for our previous Dr. Science adventures:
Episode 1: Skunk Cabbage, click here.
Episode 2: Estuaries, click here.
Episode 3: Beach Grass, click here.
Episode 4: Rockweed, click here.
Episode 5: Mud Snails, click here.
Episode 6: Bivalves, click here.
Episode 7: The Great Blue Heron, click here.
Episode 8: Life Under a Log, click here.
Episode 9: The Wood Frog Story, click here.
Episode 10: Owl Pellets, click here.
Episode 11: Dandelions, click here.
Episode 12: Snakes, click here.
