Programs and Events at the Fairfield Nature Center
The Birds of Prey Compound at the Fairfield Nature Center is currently closed.
20% Off Bird Seed for National Bird Feeding Month
Fairfield Nature Store
Open Mondays – Saturdays
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
February is National Bird Feeding Month and at the Center’s Nature Store you’ll save 20% on all varieties and sizes of bird seed and suet the entire month. Shop as often as you like to take advantage of this sale. Your purchases support conservation and environmental education in Connecticut Audubon’s Fairfield Region. Visit the Nature Store at 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Nature Tots
Tuesdays: February 25; March 4, 11, 2025
10 – 10:45 a.m.
(No class February 18)
What do animals do in the winter? How do they survive in the cold temperatures? Young nature explorers 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 years accompanied by an actively participating adult.
Single session fee (per child): Members $20, Non-members $25.
February 25: Register here.
March 4: Register here.
March 11: Register here.
Pre-registration is required. Please wear appropriate indoor/outdoor clothing and footwear. This program is held at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT 06824.
After-School Winter Explorers – Registration Closed
Thursday, February 27, 2025
3:45 – 5 p.m.
Free to Fairfield Residents
Please note: this class is full-registration is closed.
When the school day is over, students in grades 3 – 5 will look forward to being outside and becoming nature explorers! They will search for signs of animals with our teacher/naturalist, who will lead hikes along the wildlife sanctuary’s trails looking for tracks, investigating wildlife up-close and doing hands-on experiments. This program is free for Fairfield residents. Pre-registration is required. It takes place at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, CT.
Meet the Animals – Amphibians and Invertebrates
Saturday, March 8, 2025
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Free program
The animal ambassadors at the Fairfield Nature Center would love to meet you! Come join us for this unique and up-close chance to learn about the amphibians and invertebrates who reside at our Center. Find out why they are here, what care and food they need, and how they are special. You’ll also hear how, in their role as ambassadors, they teach visitors, school groups, and others in our community about the wildlife around us, as well as what we can do to protect their natural 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.
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 6, 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.
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
Four times offered: 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 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. Register here.
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.
Meet the Animals – Mammals
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Free program
The animal ambassadors at the Fairfield Nature Center would love to meet you! Come join us for this unique and up-close chance to meet some of the mammals who live at our Center. Learn about their characteristics, what care and food they need, and about their roles as education ambassadors that teach visitors, school groups, and others about ways to protect 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.
Winter Naturalist Program – Class is Full
Thursdays, through March 13, 2025
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Adult Learning Series
Please note: Registration for this series is closed.
Through indoor presentations and outdoor exploration, this intriguing series pulls back the curtain on New England wildlife and habitats in winter. Learn from field experts who is active, who is sleeping, and who comes to spend the winter in Connecticut and why. Topics include winter plants, birds, marine life and much more.
Sessions and presenters:
February 13: Winter Walk–Stefan Martin, CT Audubon Conservation Manager.
February 20: Winter Plants–Jim Cortina, botanist.
February 27: Planting for Wildlife–Dave Havens, CT Audubon educator/naturalist.
March 6: The Shore in Winter, Dave Havens–CT Audubon educator/naturalist. Note: this program will be held at Sherwood Island.
March 13: Winter Birds–Stefan Martin, CT Audubon Conservation Manager.
Classes meet at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr St., Fairfield, CT – except for March 6 which meets at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.
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.
