The Darien Nature Center offers site-specific programs for children in grades K – 5. Darien is fortunate to have marshes, woods, rivers and meadows and we will work with you to create the perfect hands-on experience for your class.

At present, all second grades in the district will participate in a seed and pollination program in Selleck’s Woods. All kindergarten classes will participate in a mapping and animal habitats program in Cherry Lawn Park.

The Darien Nature Center will conduct a one half-hour program that will explore what makes animals unique. We will help your preschoolers understand what mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles are and how they are different from each other. 

Children will have the opportunity to experience these different animals in a hands-on, active way. We will watch them move, talk about what they eat and feel their outer covering; however, touching the animals is completely optional on the part of each child. 

Animals in Winter

Where do animals go when the cold winds blow? Who sleeps and who hunts? Students will meet animals who know how to keep warm in the coldest of seasons and find food under layers of snow.

Nocturnal Animals

The fun begins after you’re tucked in. Soaring bats, saucer-eyed owls and midnight mice come to life after dark. This program introduces animals who are active when the sun goes down.

Animals in Winter

Where do animals go when the cold winds blow? Who sleeps and who hunts? Students will meet animals who know how to keep warm in the coldest of seasons and find food under layers of snow.

Nocturnal Animals

The fun begins after you’re tucked in. Soaring bats, saucer-eyed owls and midnight mice come to life after dark. This program introduces animals who are active when the sun goes down.

Insects

What are the most successful animals on Earth? Insects! Students identify local insects by sight and sound, learn about insect anatomy and examine their habits and habitats.

I Dig Dirt

The soil beneath our feet provides minerals and nutrients for growing things and a home for small animals. Students will explore the properties of several soil types and learn about the creatures that rely on them for life.

Rocks and Minerals

What do the rocks we find in our backyards tell us? Students will use mineral tests to identify several local minerals and learn to make a scientific collection.

Animal Behavior

Some animals hoot…others spin….and some play possum. Learn what animals do to survive ~ learn the tricks and traits that keep them alive. Students will learn the difference between instinctive and learned behavior.

Erosion Explosion!

Why do mountains look different?  What formed the Grand Canyon?  Students will learn about erosion through weather and how it affects the earth’s surfaces.

Nature Strikes Back!

Feel the strength of Planet Earth as you explore tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes and other natural disasters.  Students will learn about geology and weather gone wild as they discover how these powerful forces work.

Watersheds

Water is constantly on the move. It evaporates, percolates and travels through the air and underground. Follow the journey of a drop of water through a watershed and learn basic hydrology along the way.

Tree ID

Did you know that leaves have teeth? Which tree has the shaggy bark? Learn the names of the most common trees in Darien’s forests. Students will examine bark, twigs, leaves and silhouettes to discover the identity of trees.