Darien Nature Center

Campers will get their hands dirty and investigate the magic of soil! We will investigate the connections between decomposers, mushrooms, and bugs and how soil improves our world.

Campers will learn about animal habitats, behavior, and how science groups the animal kingdom while exploring Cherry Lawn Parks forest and pond habitats for Connecticut wildlife. Eco-Explorers will also learn to care for our fascinating and friendly resident animals by feeding, cleaning, health tracking, and designing enrichment toys.

Campers will scoop in Cherry Lawn Pond, learn to identify the pond's critters, conduct experiments, and learn firsthand how human activity can affect water quality.

During this week, Eco-Explorers will spend a lot of time exploring the stream and pond in search of critters that make these waters their home. Campers will learn about food webs, freshwater invertebrates, and amphibians and enjoy a lot of time at the stream!

Campers will investigate the mysteries of the night sky, including our Milky Way galaxy, black holes, the moon, and our solar system. We will also focus on what makes our beautiful planet so special.

Campers will investigate the planet through the lens of a geologist. We will explore questions like: What are the three types of rocks, and how are they formed? What is a fossil? What clues does geology give us to life on this planet millions of years ago?

Campers will learn about mammals, reptiles, birds, and amphibians, what makes each unique, and how they are similar. We will spend lots of time with our animal ambassadors and learn about their place in the world.

Campers will tap into their creativity to make art from the materials and inspiration we find on our hikes. They will use nature and all things whimsical to make fairy houses, toad huts, nature mandalas, and more.

Campers will use all their senses and observation skills to understand local wildlife and habitats through tracks, traces, sounds, scat, and animal homes. This week will pique our campers' curiosity as they can ask questions, and our educators will guide them to find the answers.

Campers will become gardeners as they learn about the connection that takes a seed to a plant to our plate and then to the compost heap to return to the soil. Eco-Explorers will get their hands dirty in our new sensory garden growing food, cooking over a fire, learning about the vital role of pollinators, and composting.

Kids are fascinated by rocks and fossils, and using our impressive collection, we will uncover what life on our planet was like a long time ago. Our rock study will include how rocks formed, geological time, minerals, and erosion. We will also examine fossils and explore the secrets they reveal about the past.

Campers will learn survival skills such as fire building, outdoor cooking, shelter construction, knot tying, and basic orienteering. This week will include a special evening campfire and night hike program.

Campers will learn about seeds, plant life cycles, pollinators, composting, and the joy of growing food. Making applesauce, salads for the animals, and other farm-to-table activities will give campers an appreciation for the planet that feeds us.

We will chart our own course as we learn mapping and orienteering skills. Using a map and compass, campers will navigate their way through a week of fun with games, team-building activities, and ways to blaze their own path without electronics!