Explore Fall Fun & Nature at Ansonia Nature Center

Conservation Corps

Tuesday, October 1, 15, 22 and 29; 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.; Saturday,, October 12, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Join us at the Nature Center, preserving and enhancing our precious forests and meadows!  Together, we’re on a mission to protect the integrity of our natural habitats by removing harmful invasive species and nurturing our valuable trees and plants.  Our dedicated team is committed to safeguarding the tree canopy and preventing the further encroachment of destructive plants.  From cutting down invasive Asiatic Bittersweet vines to clearing out other invasive species, we’re actively working to restore and maintain the health and biodiversity of our beloved landscapes.  Whether you’re 18 or 80, our Conservation Corps welcomes newcomers who are eager to impact the environment positively.  Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.  Click here to register.

Think Outside The Bait Box with A Place Called Hope

Friday, October 4, 6:30 p.m.

Join A Place Called Hope, a rehabilitation and education center for birds of prey, for this eye-opening PowerPoint presentation with live bird guests.  This program will focus on the hazards of choosing poisons to mismanage rodent nuisance issues.  Learn why poisons don’t solve the problem, who benefits from their use, how to apply long-term strategies that solve the issue once and for all, the dangers these methods pose on our health, the health of our domestic pets, our predatory wildlife’s wellbeing, and how you can help others to THINK OUTSIDE THE BAIT BOX.  This program is for mature audiences.

The Colors of Autumn

Sat., October 5, 2:00 p.m.

Why do leaves change color?  It’s almost autumn, and the leaves on the trees will turn to different colors soon.  Come with your family to learn why this happens while on a fall walk in the park.  Afterward, join us in the visitor center to make your tree full of autumn colors to take home.  Click here for this FREE family program.

Draconids Meteor Shower

Monday, October 7, 7:00 p.m.

The Draconids are minor meteor showers producing about ten meteors per hour.  It is an unusual shower since the best viewing time is in the early evening rather than the early morning.  The shower runs annually from October 6 – 10th and peaks this year on the night of the 7th. Join us at the Nature Center to view the night sky down at our soccer fields.  Bring blankets and chairs to rest in, and wear weather-appropriate clothing.  Click here to sign up for this FREE program.

Handmade Kite Making

Saturday, October 12, 2 p.m.

The season is changing and with it are the prevailing winds.  Catch those autumn breezes with your handmade leaf-patterned kite!  $5 Materials fee, ages 5 and up.  An adult must accompany children.  Click here to register for this limited-space program.

Babes in Arms - An Autumn Senses Hike

Sunday, October 13, 1:00 p.m.

Embrace the magic of fall with our Babes in Arms hike – a sensory-rich, one-hour woodland walk designed for families with very young children in slings or backpacks.  On this enchanting hike, families will explore the woods and discover the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of fall.  Parents will lead their little ones through sensory experiences, including feeling the crunch of leaves, smelling earthy scents, and observing vibrant colors.  Click here to register for this FREE family program.

Autumn Festival

Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Autumn time is here, and the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center invites you to its annual Autumn Festival.  Celebrate this wonderful season with the staff and the Friends of the Ansonia Nature Center (FANCI).  Walk our haunted trail to the Goldenrod Maze and play games at the picnic pavilion before boarding the horse-drawn wagon ride.  Enjoy lunch from one of our food vendors, and be sure to stop by our table to purchase apple cider donuts and pressed cider.  Learn about creepy crawly animals from one of our naturalists, visit the Nature Shop to buy nature-related items, and enter our living history encampment to chat with one of the Revolutionary War soldiers.  This festival will feature nature-related exhibitors, vendors, and a live animal petting zoo.  You can decorate a pumpkin, make original crafts, and even have your face painted.  All proceeds will benefit the Nature Center’s upcoming projects.  There is no park admission fee.  Sponsored in part by the Friends of the Ansonia Nature and Recreation Center and the City of Ansonia.  RAIN DATE:  Sunday, October 20th.  Call us for more information at 203-736-1053.

High School Habitat Restoration

Wednesday, October 23, 30; November 6, 13, 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Join Ranger Maria, ANC Conservation Corps lead and Master Woodland Manager, as students work to restore habitat.  Participants will study a small plot of land, analyze the soil and plants, and determine the habitat’s ideal purpose.  We’ll remove invasive species and plant native flora and seeds to revitalize the area.  The series will run for four weeks.  Students can count these hours toward their high school volunteer requirements.  This program is for high school students and will be offered once each season, with a different habitat type for each session.  Click here to register for this FREE program.

Western Orienteering Club

Sunday, October 27, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Walking or running our course is much like a hike but with a twist!  Equipped with a map and compass, you can find your way to each of the checkpoints on the orienteering course.  This event is for all levels on a standard course plus a sprint.  Participants will meet at Pavilion #1 to register with the Western Orienteering Club.  FEE: $7 first person, $3 for additional family members.  Paid to the Western Orienteering Club on the day of the event.  No registration necessary.

Whose Bones

Saturday, November 2, 2:00 p.m.

This spooky season, get up close to the Nature Center’s vast collection of animal skulls.  Learn how the different types of teeth and the shapes of bones give us clues to identify the animal they belong to.  During our investigation, you will dissect an owl pellet to try and identify the bones inside!  For ages 8 and up.  Materials fee is $6 per person.  Click here to register for this program.

Leaf Man Story, Hike, and Craft

Sunday, November 3, 1:00 p.m.

Join Ranger Jeremy for a reading of the story “Leaf Man.”  Trek out into the woods to gather various leaves, seeds, pebbles, and pods.  After the hike, come back to the visitor center to build your very own leaf men using the materials you gathered.  Click here to register for this FREE family program.

Handmade Milk Baths

Saturday, November 9, 2:00 p.m.

Would you be interested in learning how to make milk baths? If so, join Ranger Dawn to learn how to make milk baths using a simple homemade recipe. All the ingredients are included for each student to make 2 baths. These make nice gifts for the holidays—materials fee: $20 per person. Click here to register for this adults-only class. 

Would you be interested in learning how to make milk baths?  If so, join Ranger Dawn to learn how to make milk baths using a simple homemade recipe.  All the ingredients are included for each student to make 2 baths.  These make nice gifts for the holidays—materials fee:  $20 per person.  Click here to register for this adults-only class.

Winter Tree Identification Hike

Sunday, November 10, 1:00 p.m.

Discover the secrets of winter’s bare branches with our Winter Tree Identification Hike.  Join us as we explore the woodland landscape and learn to identify trees by carefully observing key features, such as tree shape, bark texture, and location.  Click here to register for this FREE program for all ages.

Full Beaver Moon Hike

Friday, November 15, 6:00 p.m.

Want something different to do on a Friday night with your family?  Join the Nature Center staff for a crisp moonlight hike on our beautiful 156-acre property.  The trees and shrubs will have shed their leaves, and frost begins to gather on the plants in the park.  The wildlife who live here are preparing for their winter slumber.  Fee:  $3 per person.  Click here for this all ages program (children must be accompanied by an adult).  Please wear comfortable walking shoes for uneven terrain.

Tellabration

Sunday, November 17, 2:00 p.m.

Join Author Susie Scheyder as she tells her story “How Will You Change The World”.  This program will lead children to all seven continents, showing how animals take care of the world around them.  Children will become immersed in the storytelling experience and will participate in fun follow-up activities.  This arts-based approach to teaching will reinforce participant’s understanding of the continents, the animals that share them with us, the colors of the visible spectrum, and our responsibility and opportunity to take care of our environment.  FEE:  $10 per family (for grades kindergarten – 5th grade).  Click here to register.

Winter Wreath Workshop

Saturday, December 7, 10 a.m.

Celebrate winter and the festive season as you create a wreath from fresh locally grown greens, then decorate your masterpiece with natural trimmings.  Enjoy some warm mulled cider and a cookie too!  Wreath frames and wire will be provided.  Please bring your garden gloves and hand clippers.  Materials fee:  $15.  Click here to register for this limited-space adult-only program.

Animal Tracks and Traces

Sunday, December 8, 1:00 p.m.

Follow the signs and tracks and become an animal detective.  On our hike discover the clues of the animals that inhabit our forest and fields.  We will teach you how to put together these clues to tell their story.  Make a plaster cast for your collection.  Fee:  $6 per person.  Click here to register for this program.

Needle Felt a Holiday Gnome

Saturday, December 14, 2 p.m.

Join Ranger Dawn as we explore the art of Needle Felting.  You will be supplied with a complete kit with all you need to make a holiday gnome with step-by-step instructions.  Bring a towel you can roll up to felt on.  Materials Fee $20.  Click here to register for this adult-only program.

Winter Fern Identification Hike

Sunday, December 15, 1 p.m.

Uncover the hidden beauty of ferns in winter with our Winter Fern Identification Hike.  Join us for an informative and engaging hike where you’ll learn to identify various fern species by examining their winter features.  Discover how some ferns, like the Sensitive Fern, go dormant at the first frost while others, such as the Christmas Fern, remain vibrant well into the winter.  Click here to register for this free, family-friendly program.

Christmas Break Creature Feature

Saturday, December 21, 12 p.m.

Visit the Nature Center during the winter break to meet our animals.  This live animal program includes information about adaptations and the natural history of each species.  Get a chance to touch a snake or even a hissing cockroach.  FREE for all ages.  Click here to register.

Ongoing Programs

Saturday Creature Feature 

Saturdays, 12 p.m.

Come to meet our furry, scaly, and feathery animal ambassadors.  You’ll have a chance to touch and hold them in this FREE family program for all ages.  No registration necessary!

Sunday Guided Hikes

Sundays, 1 p.m.

Join a Nature Center guide on Sunday afternoons for fun, exercise, and learning. See the above listings for hikes with a specific theme.FREE.  No registration necessary!

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ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org • 10 Deerfield Lane, Ansonia CT 06401 • 203-736-1053