Roaring Brook Nature Center

Roaring Brook Nature Center The Center is tucked away in the woods and offers an interactive and immersive natural experience. We offer year-round educational programs for all ages.
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Roaring Brook Nature Center was founded in 1948 by Canton resident Una Storrs Riddle and was originally known as the Canton Children’s Nature Museum. In 1964, as a result of a bequest to the State of Connecticut, the adjacent 100-acre Werner Farm became available to the Nature Center as a wildlife sanctuary and outdoor classroom. A new building in 1966 provided larger exhibit space and allowed for

expanded programming opportunities. In 1973, the Nature Center became affiliated with The Children's Museum (formerly the Science Center of Connecticut), providing members with a wider range of programs and services for all ages. These programs range from week-long summer experiences to our school-year Discovery Days series for students. Seminars, lectures workshops and field trips are available to adults on a wide range of natural history topic and environmental issues. For the classroom teacher, we offer a wide selection of educational programs both at the Nature Center and as outreach programs in the schools. Seasonal nature walks for all ages are offered throughout the year. Fall foliage walks, winter excursions by snowshoe, March maple-sugaring demonstrations and early morning bird walks provide year-round entertainment as well as first-rate learning experiences. During the summer months, evening nature walks provide an opportunity to learn about nocturnal creatures. In addition to our regular schedule of nature-related programs, special events include: our annual Hobgoblin Fair, a Halloween children’s event sponsored by the Roaring Brook Nature Center Auxiliary; and special events for members and friends.

An early morning walk through Werner’s Woods provides welcome sights and sounds for beginning birders as well as those w...
05/14/2026

An early morning walk through Werner’s Woods provides welcome sights and sounds for beginning birders as well as those with more experience in the field. Bird walks are not geared for younger children. Bring binoculars and dress for wet ground underfoot. Donations welcome. Pre-registration is not required. Meet in front of the Nature Center at 7.

Very informative hummingbird post from our friends at Freedom First Wildlife Rehab Inc.
05/13/2026

Very informative hummingbird post from our friends at Freedom First Wildlife Rehab Inc.

Let's talk about hummingbirds. This is the time of year that hummingbirds are returning to New England. Males come first seeking territory as they wait for the arrival of females. The first calls we get every year are typically for adult male hummingbirds that have been trapped inside sheds or garages. They are exhausted from attempts to escape and usually have head trauma from flying into windows and doors. They are using every ounce of energy to free themselves and have not fed in many hours.

*THIS is what to do if you find an injured hummingbird.

Carefully restrain the bird in a loose hand and place it in a small, well ventilated box lined with tissue or toilet paper or a piece of fleece. Do NOT use a towel or rag as their tiny feet can become tangled in the loops.

***Place the box in a dark , quiet space to allow the hummingbird to go into a deep state of sleep called "torpor". This state of rest allows the hummingbird to conserve energy by lowering their heart rate and reduce their metabolic requirements.

THIS is the most important thing you can do!

*Do NOT feed. (Unless instructed)
*Do NOT handle.
*Get to a wildlife Rehabilitator ASAP.
(Minutes Count for these fragile birds)

Wildlife Rehabilitation is performed by Volunteers.

You will be asked to transport the bird to a rehab facility...please do this ASAP. If you find an injured hummingbird, please finish the deed by swiftly transporting.

Together , we can help these amazing birds!

Any tree people or people clearing their yard out there? 🙂We're looking to replace some stumps and some bigger branches ...
05/11/2026

Any tree people or people clearing their yard out there? 🙂
We're looking to replace some stumps and some bigger branches in our raptor, vulture, corvid and songbird enclosures. The photos are some examples of how we use branches and stumps.
Stumps: up to 2' in diameter: 6" to 3' tall
Branches: 3" to 8" in diameter; 4' to 10' wide.
If anyone has any they are able to bring to us, please let us know! You can either post here or call us at 860.693.0263 and ask for Nancy. Thanks so much!

Happy Mother's Day to all! Here's our surprise 'mom' this year - Conner, our resident Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)! ...
05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all! Here's our surprise 'mom' this year - Conner, our resident Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)! Up until this year, most of us at RBNC thought Conner was male. But she let us know definitively that she is female. :) The eggs are not fertile as she is alone in her enclosure. But she protects them as any mom would.

Nationwide, three million acres are lost each year to non-native invasive plants. Removal is expensive & time-consuming....
05/06/2026

Nationwide, three million acres are lost each year to non-native invasive plants. Removal is expensive & time-consuming. Learn what makes these plants so damaging and how gardeners can restore ecological balance to our neighborhoods.

This lecture is part of a series in memory of Marcia Reid Marsted. The lecture series has been designed by the Roaring Brook Nature Center and presented in cooperation with the Canton Public Library and the Gallery on the Green.

Free Admission. Pre-registration preferred:
https://purchase.thechildrensmuseumct.org/PatronEducation.aspx?pid=435&cal=https%3a%2f%2fpurchase.thechildrensmuseumct.org%3a443%2fcalendar.aspx

And now there are two! We posted our resident Turkey Vulture Tomasina's first egg a few days ago, and she laid another o...
05/04/2026

And now there are two! We posted our resident Turkey Vulture Tomasina's first egg a few days ago, and she laid another one on Saturday! Fun fact: the scientific name for Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura, means “golden purifier” or “purifying breeze". Their stomachs are extremely acidic, which allows them to eat carcasses that have tuberculosis, rabies and even anthrax! They are indeed 'nature's clean up crew'.

We had an upset at today's Turtle Derby. Pickle, our Yellow-bellied Slider, took the reigning two-time champion, Timber,...
05/03/2026

We had an upset at today's Turtle Derby. Pickle, our Yellow-bellied Slider, took the reigning two-time champion, Timber, our Wood Turtle, to task! Pickle kept her eye on the prize and handily beat out Timber, who seemed a little distracted today. Thanks to all who attended our action-packed Derby! We'll have to wait until next year now to see if Pickle can retain the trophy!

The excitement is building as we are close to the start of our Turtle Derby! Come on out and cheer on your favorite turt...
05/03/2026

The excitement is building as we are close to the start of our Turtle Derby! Come on out and cheer on your favorite turtle - either the reigning two-year champ Timber or maybe an underdog who will dash the three-peat hopes! From 1 - 4pm today. Free with admission to the Nature Center.

We have more egg-citing news! Tomasina, our Grand Matriarch Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) has laid an egg. She has bee...
05/01/2026

We have more egg-citing news! Tomasina, our Grand Matriarch Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) has laid an egg. She has been consistent over the past years with the timing - the last couple days of April into the first couple days of May. Since she is by herself, the egg is not viable. She may lay another one in the next day or two. Fun fact: Tomasina came to us in 2001 as an adult, making her at least 25 years old!

Address

70 Gracey Road
Canton, CT
06019

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+18606930263

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