Programs & Events at Deer Pond Farm
Members receive discounts on programs as well as many other benefits. For more information, click here.
Unless otherwise noted, guided program fees are:
Member: $5 Member Child: Free Non-Member: $10 Non-Member Child: $5
Our trails are open to the public daily dawn to dusk.
Please call 860-799-4074 with any questions or to be put on a wait list for a program.
After your program or hike, feel free to pack a lunch and enjoy on our teaching terrace. We are also happy to provide you with recommendations on local places to eat and visit after coming to Deer Pond Farm.
December First Friday Hike
December 5, 10 AM to Noon, Free
Join us for the First Friday Hike at Deer Pond Farm this December! Enjoy a peaceful walk through the woods, led by our knowledgeable volunteers. This guided hike is a great way to learn about our trail network. Come experience the quiet beauty of the season, stretch your legs, and spend time in nature with others. All are welcome.
To register for the First Friday Hike, click here.
Evergreen Walk
December 10, 10 AM – Noon (rain date 12/17)
$5 member, $10 non-member
Winter is the perfect time to learn about evergreens. Naturalist and forester Lori Lichtenauer will lead this program around the Deer Pond Farm campus describing common evergreens and conifers. You will observe and compare pines, spruce, cedar, hemlock, holly, and more! This program is a great experiential learning opportunity to smell, count, and feel your way to understanding more about evergreens, their part in history, ecology and the economy. Approximately 2 miles on gently sloped trails. To register for the Evergreen Walk, click here.
Winter Bird & Nature Hike @ Tarrywile Park in Danbury
Tarrywile Park Barns
December 21, 10 AM – Noon
Lori Lichtenauer, Sanctuary Manager / Naturalist of Deer Pond Farm will lead this guided hike covering highlights of winter birds and animals that are still active in the colder months and their amazing adaptations. Learn how to observe (listen and look) for animals in various winter habitats, forest, meadow and ponds. The first day of winter is called the winter solstice – come on out to kick off the winter season and connect with fellow nature enthusiasts. Distance: approx. 2 miles on gently rolling hills). Register online here.
Bring binoculars, dress for the weather and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Red Barn (just up the path from parking area)
Tarrywile Park: 70 Southern Boulevard – Danbury, CT
First Friday Hike January
Winter hikers at Deer Pond Farm, Photo by Cathy Hagadorn
January 2, 10 AM to Noon; Free
Ring in the new year with a guided winter hike through the beautiful trails of Deer Pond Farm. Our volunteer guides take different routes each month showing the diverse landscapes. Join us for some fresh air, to get your steps in, and enjoy great conversations along the way. (approximately 2 – 3 miles gently rolling hills) Click here to register for the First Friday Hike.
WINTER BIRDS & FEEDERS (via Zoom)
Red-Bellied Woodpecker Photo by Charles Lichtenauer
January 8, 7 – 8 PM; Free
Bird feeders can be great introductions to birding and can also help you stay connected to nature during the winter months. Deer Pond Farm’s avian expert Lori Lichtenauer will share tips on how to identify local, winter birds and their behaviors. Learn about various bird feeders to attract a diversity of bird species, and how best to support birds in winter. Discover how to best handle uninvited mammalian guests at your feeder (bears, squirrels, and more). Become familiar with Project Feederwatch from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and discover how birding can also help contribute to community science projects. If we protect and support where birds live, we all benefit! Register at ShermanLibary.org
Winter Tree ID (Class & Walk)
Snow Covered Norway Spruce at Deer Pond Farm by Cathy Hagadorn
January 13, 10 AM to Noon
Did you know that you can identify trees without their leaves in winter by observing bark, branching structures, and buds? Level up your tree identification skills at Deer Pond Farm with Lori Lichtenauer, Sanctuary Manager & CT Forester with Volunteer Naturalist Diane Nizlek. Their classroom presentation will cover the basics of winter tree characteristics, including real samples from the field for observation. Then, they will then lead you around our main campus outside to practice your new skills. All bark, no bite! Click here to register for the Winter Tree ID program.
Winter Bird Behaviors (Class & Walk)
Chickadee at Feeder by Charles Lichtenauer
January 31, 10 AM to Noon
Join Sanctuary Manager/Naturalist Lori Lichtenauer at Deer Pond Farm for a program on seasonal differences in bird behavior. Some birds migrate south, but other birds tough it out year-long up north. While some of the more colorful, charismatic migratory birds are away for the winter, this is the perfect time of year to appreciate these year-round (and seasonal) avian residents. These small, smart birds are some of the most fun to watch all winter long. We will start off in the classroom, then go outside to observe winter birds at our feeders. Click here to register for Winter Bird Behaviors program.
First Friday Hike February
February 6, 10 AM-Noon; Free
Join our knowledgeable volunteer guides for a hike at Deer Pond Farm. Enjoy the stillness and beauty of the late winter landscape. This is a great opportunity to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and experience the quiet charm of the season. (Approx. 2 – 3 miles on gentle rolling hills). Click here to register for the First Friday Hike.
Winter Photography (Class & Walk)
Photographer Christy Bonaiuto
February 8, 1-3 PM
Winter photography can be challenging but quite rewarding with the soft light of winter. Join Christy Bonaiuto, local Sherman artist/photographer to learn tips on photographing birds and landscapes in the colder months. We’ll start off inside the Deer Pond Farm Classroom discussing equipment, settings, and doing a brief orientation. Then, we will head outside to view winter songbirds at the bird feeders and practice. This class is digital camera and smartphone compatible. All experience levels are welcome. Click here to register for the Winter Photography program.
Love Birds: Avian Courtship (via Zoom)
Michelle Babyak – Northern Cardinals
February 12, 7-8 PM, Free,
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, learn some of the fascinating courtship behaviors of birds. Avian scientist and Sanctuary Manager of Deer Pond Farm Lori Lichtenauer will share an overview of how male birds engage in dangerous and extreme acts all to attract a mate. She will discuss the evolutionary history behind water dancing grebes, food bearing waxwings, and sky-diving eagles. We will also discuss how birds promote pair bonding with their mates, which birds mate for life, and which ones mate for a season. Suggested donation $5. Click here to register for the Love Birds: Avian Courtship Zoom program.
Wildlife in Winter (Class & Walk)
Winter Animal Tracks at Deer Pond Farm
February 21, 10 AM-Noon
How do animals survive during wintertime? Learn about hibernation, brumation, and more with Lori Lichtenauer, Sanctuary Manager/Naturalist at Deer Pond Farm. Animals find creative ways to keep warm, store, and eat food when resources are scarce. Starting in the classroom, Lori will review how to identify animal tracks and other signs of wildlife in winter. We will then hit the trails to find and identify more evidence of animal activity. Click here to register for the Wildlife in Winter program.
Create Your Own Nature Walk!
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker by Brian Bennett
Can’t make a guided program this month? Create your own nature walk! Use the resources below to make the most of your time exploring the 15 miles of trails spanning Deer Pond Farm.
Deer Pond Farm Suggested Hikes – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Bird Checklist – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Nature Scavenger Hunt – for 8 and under, for 9 and up.
Deer Pond Farm Spring Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Summer Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Fall Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Winter Themed Nature Scavenger Hunt – click here.
Deer Pond Farm Sanctuary Rules – click here.
Directions – click here.
Click on each month to view birds that can be seen each month at Deer Pond Farm:
January February March April May June
July August September October November December
Please note: dogs, horses, fishing, swimming, camping, fires, hunting and collecting are not permitted.
Thank you for staying on the trails.
Schedule Your Own Private, Expert-Led Walk
Baltimore Oriole photo by Tomas Koeck
(Available to purchase as a gift, too!)
During this two hour walk, a staff member will guide you through the diverse habitats of Deer Pond Farm. Participants will learn about the local flora and fauna, as well as the conservation work being done at Deer Pond Farm. Habitat enhancement and data collection projects utilizing eBird, Connecticut & New York Bird Atlas, and the Motus Wildlife Tracking System will also be shared.
Please call (860) 799-4074 to schedule.
Fee: $100 for a two hour walk. This includes up to eight pre-registered and pre-paid attendees.
Volunteer Opportunities
Join us for one workday or the whole season, your time and effort are welcome and appreciated!
Forestry Project Volunteers at Deer Pond Farm
Citizen Science: Support research through data collection! From monarchs to birds and more, Deer Pond Farm supports a variety of citizen science initiatives. Opportunity to work independently or in a group.
Garden Gaggle: Join us in the pollinator garden for maintenance and monitoring! We work while we chat, observe and learn. Our native plants bring in a host of butterflies, bees, and birds. We take the time to enjoy these visitors and conversations with fellow gardeners while weeding and completing other seasonal tasks.
Habitat Helpers: Help us while learning! We’ll work while we talk and enjoy the camaraderie of collective action to improve our sanctuary. Currently, our focus is invasive plant identification and management. You’ll learn by doing and leave knowing what you can do at home.
Photography: As you enjoy the trails during a guided walk or on your own, take pictures and share with us to utilize on the website, social media and flyers.
For more information and to complete a volunteer application, click here. Contact Center Director Cathy Hagadorn, chagadorn@ctaudubon.org to further discuss volunteer opportunities.
