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 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.
Single session fee (per child): Members $20, Non-members $25.
April 22: This session is sold out.
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.
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.
Guided Spring Nature Walk
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Naturalist Jim Cortina will lead this walk to explore the springtime transformations happening in the Larsen Sanctuary. We’ll search the trails for wildflowers in bloom, other plants emerging, as well as resident and migrating birds. The diversity of habitats offers so much to see–be sure to bring binoculars if you have them.
Members $20; Non-members $25.
Pre-registration required. Please register here.
This program is for adults. It meets at the Fairfield Nature Center, 2325 Burr St., 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 Stratford Point
Semipalmated Plover by Patrick Comins
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
7 a.m.
Stratford Point is one of Connecticut’s great birding locations on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. Observers have recorded 296 species there (according to eBird). Join Conservation Manager Stefan Martin for an early morning walk where we can expect to see many varieties of migrating and resident song birds and shorebirds at this extraordinary site.
Members: $15; Non-members: $20
Pre-registration is required. Please register here.
This walk takes place at Connecticut Audubon’s Stratford Point Preserve, located at 1207 Prospect Drive, Stratford, CT (in the Lordship area).
Early Morning Bird Walk at Smith Richardson
Song Sparrow, photo USFWS
Thursday, May 8, 2025
7 a.m.
Join Conservation Manager Stefan Martin for this early morning 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 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.
