Important Closure Announcement:

The Darien Nature Center is closed to the public for construction on our new animal room.

We look forward to welcoming you back later this summer. 

Our annual fundraiser brings the community together for a fun-filled evening under the stars, featuring great food and drinks, live music and dancing, and exciting auction packages.


Tickets go on sale Monday, August 3, 2026


More than just a celebration, Fireside is an opportunity to directly support the programs and experiences that make the Darien Nature Center such a vital part of our community.


Fireside is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact and your generosity helps us:


  • Expand access to hands-on nature education
  • Provide exceptional care for our animals
  • Grow community programming and outreach
  • Inspire the next generation of environmental stewards
  • Grow our environmental literacy programs for public schools



Beyond Boundaries

Visual odyssey across continents
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Nature's Symphony

Breathtaking colors of our planet
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Sands of Time

Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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The Darien Nature Center does not receive any government funding.

We rely exclusively on donations from our generous donors. We are deeply grateful to our community and local businesses for their continued support, and we hope you will be part of this special evening.


We inspire passion and respect for the natural world through nature education, hands-on experiences with nature, and environmental action and stewardship.

View our hours, location, and contact information!

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Snapshots from the last few weeks of summer camp! #darienct #dariennaturecenter ????❄️?
Snapshots from the last few weeks of summer camp! #darienct #dariennaturecenter 🍓🦋🐠🌞❄️🦉
??We made it to the Summer Solstice! ?? The longest day of the year is finally upon us where the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. The Summer Solstice is a time to welcome the Sun fully back into our lives, getting outside more, getting together with family and friends, and enjoying what these Summer days have to offer us! You can celebrate the Solstice by watching the sunrise or sunset, lighting candles, having a bonfire together, eating dinner or any meal outside, go swimming, and take time to reflect on Summer memories. Happy Summer Solstice everyone!! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #summersolstice
🌞🌞We made it to the Summer Solstice! 🌞🌞 The longest day of the year is finally upon us where the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. The Summer Solstice is a time to welcome the Sun fully back into our lives, getting outside more, getting together with family and friends, and enjoying what these Summer days have to offer us! You can celebrate the Solstice by watching the sunrise or sunset, lighting candles, having a bonfire together, eating dinner or any meal outside, go swimming, and take time to reflect on Summer memories. Happy Summer Solstice everyone!! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #summersolstice
??Our first Full Moon of Summer!! ??June’s Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon! The Strawberry Moon tends to be the last Full Moon of Spring or the first of Summer, a time when flowers are blooming and there is a great abundance of early fruit. The Strawberry Moon doesn’t get its name from the fruit itself but the color of the Moon will be due to its proximity to the horizon and the sun’s light rays passing through the denser layers of our atmosphere. Alternate names for the Strawberry Moon include Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki), Birth Moon (Tlingit), Egg Laying Moon (Cree), and Hatching Moon (Cree). Honey Moon and Mead Moon have also become alternate names coming from European naming. June has been known historically as the month of marriage and of course following marriage comes the “honeymoon” , a cheeky way to tie in an alternate Moon name. ??? The Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination at 7:56PM EST on June 29. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #strawberrymoon
🍓🍓Our first Full Moon of Summer!! 🍓🍓June’s Full Moon is the Strawberry Moon! The Strawberry Moon tends to be the last Full Moon of Spring or the first of Summer, a time when flowers are blooming and there is a great abundance of early fruit. The Strawberry Moon doesn’t get its name from the fruit itself but the color of the Moon will be due to its proximity to the horizon and the sun’s light rays passing through the denser layers of our atmosphere. Alternate names for the Strawberry Moon include Blooming Moon (Anishinaabe), Green Corn Moon (Cherokee), Hoer Moon (Western Abenaki), Birth Moon (Tlingit), Egg Laying Moon (Cree), and Hatching Moon (Cree). Honey Moon and Mead Moon have also become alternate names coming from European naming. June has been known historically as the month of marriage and of course following marriage comes the “honeymoon” , a cheeky way to tie in an alternate Moon name. 🍓🌕🌝 The Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination at 7:56PM EST on June 29. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #strawberrymoon
Taking a moment to shout out our two interns, Jacob and James, on their last day here with us at the Nature Center as our 2026 interns! Jacob and James spent time in our classrooms with our students, helped with Summer Camp prep, and even got to hang out with our animals! We were incredibly lucky to have these two here with us during the end of the school year! Wishing them the best on their next journeys! ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Taking a moment to shout out our two interns, Jacob and James, on their last day here with us at the Nature Center as our 2026 interns! Jacob and James spent time in our classrooms with our students, helped with Summer Camp prep, and even got to hang out with our animals! We were incredibly lucky to have these two here with us during the end of the school year! Wishing them the best on their next journeys! 🦎🍀🦋🌱 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
While much of our fundraising this year has focused on transforming our animal room, the daily work of the Nature Center continues. Caring for our animals, maintaining our building and trails, supporting our dedicated staff, and providing high-quality educational programs all rely on annual support from our community. As we approach the end of our fiscal year, please consider making a donation of any amount by June 30. Every gift helps sustain the programs, animals, and experiences that connect our community to nature. The Darien Nature Center receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of donors like you. Together, we are inspiring curiosity, fostering environmental stewardship, and building a greener future for Darien. We are deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of our community. #dariennaturecenter #darienct
While much of our fundraising this year has focused on transforming our animal room, the daily work of the Nature Center continues. Caring for our animals, maintaining our building and trails, supporting our dedicated staff, and providing high-quality educational programs all rely on annual support from our community. As we approach the end of our fiscal year, please consider making a donation of any amount by June 30. Every gift helps sustain the programs, animals, and experiences that connect our community to nature. The Darien Nature Center receives no government funding and relies entirely on the generosity of donors like you. Together, we are inspiring curiosity, fostering environmental stewardship, and building a greener future for Darien. We are deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for being part of our community. #dariennaturecenter #darienct
One last Tiny Microphone Interview during the last week of school. “What’s your favorite Animal!” ???????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
One last Tiny Microphone Interview during the last week of school. “What’s your favorite Animal!” 🦖🦎🐊🦍🐘🐆🐎🐖 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Scenes from the first few days of Summer Camp! ????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Scenes from the first few days of Summer Camp! 🌞🦎🦉🐠🦋 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What a fantastic day at Darien Pride!! Thank you to every one who stopped by our tent and met our animal ambassadors! @darienctpride ❤️????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What a fantastic day at Darien Pride!! Thank you to every one who stopped by our tent and met our animal ambassadors! @darienctpride ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
? It’s Happening! ? We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have successfully completed our capital campaign to reimagine the Darien Nature Center’s Animal Room! This exciting milestone would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters. We are especially grateful to The Darien Foundation, our Lead Donor, whose initial $50,000 grant launched this project and whose additional $20,000 grant helped us cross the finish line so that construction can begin next week. We would also like to recognize the extraordinary support of The Riley Family Foundation. Their $50,000 challenge grant inspired our community to rally behind this project and created tremendous momentum throughout the campaign. And a heartfelt thank you to every donor, family, volunteer, and friend who believed in our vision. We cannot wait to share this beautiful new space with you. Stay tuned as construction begins and the transformation unfolds! #thedarienfoundation #dariennaturecenter #darienct #06820 #capitalcampaignsuccess
🎉 It’s Happening! 🎉 We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we have successfully completed our capital campaign to reimagine the Darien Nature Center’s Animal Room! This exciting milestone would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters. We are especially grateful to The Darien Foundation, our Lead Donor, whose initial $50,000 grant launched this project and whose additional $20,000 grant helped us cross the finish line so that construction can begin next week. We would also like to recognize the extraordinary support of The Riley Family Foundation. Their $50,000 challenge grant inspired our community to rally behind this project and created tremendous momentum throughout the campaign. And a heartfelt thank you to every donor, family, volunteer, and friend who believed in our vision. We cannot wait to share this beautiful new space with you. Stay tuned as construction begins and the transformation unfolds! #thedarienfoundation #dariennaturecenter #darienct #06820 #capitalcampaignsuccess
We love being a part of @darienctpride ❤️????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We love being a part of @darienctpride ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
⚠️ Important Announcement⚠️ In preparation for our upcoming animal room renovations, starting tomorrow June 5th the Nature Center will be closed to the public (our final day of classes will operate as normal!!) We look forward to welcoming you back later this summer! Stay tuned for behind the scenes updates! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
⚠️ Important Announcement⚠️ In preparation for our upcoming animal room renovations, starting tomorrow June 5th the Nature Center will be closed to the public (our final day of classes will operate as normal!!) We look forward to welcoming you back later this summer! Stay tuned for behind the scenes updates! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Last week, Nature Educators Lindsey and Victoria went on a mission to remove multiple fishing lines that were impacting our pond at Cherry Lawn. There was a significant amount of fishing line cut from branches hanging over the pond, in the pond, and floating into the water. The fishing lines had bobbers, hooks, and fishing lures attached to them, all of which could cause multiple problems if an animal were to ingest them or get caught in them. Please swipe to the second photo to see what was recovered. Always remember to clean up after yourself and cast your lines responsibly. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Last week, Nature Educators Lindsey and Victoria went on a mission to remove multiple fishing lines that were impacting our pond at Cherry Lawn. There was a significant amount of fishing line cut from branches hanging over the pond, in the pond, and floating into the water. The fishing lines had bobbers, hooks, and fishing lures attached to them, all of which could cause multiple problems if an animal were to ingest them or get caught in them. Please swipe to the second photo to see what was recovered. Always remember to clean up after yourself and cast your lines responsibly. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Taking inspiration from @maritimeaquarium in honor of Pride Month. We can’t help but agree with them that biodiversity is one of our greatest strengths. The Nature Center is proud to be a partner of @darienctpride and a place in our community that welcomes people and families of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Happy Pride Month! ?️‍??️‍? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Taking inspiration from @maritimeaquarium in honor of Pride Month. We can’t help but agree with them that biodiversity is one of our greatest strengths. The Nature Center is proud to be a partner of @darienctpride and a place in our community that welcomes people and families of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
☀️? days in the sun ?☀️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
☀️🌞 days in the sun 🌞☀️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
“Once in a Blue Moon,” the second Full Moon for the month of May, the Blue Moon! Don’t let its name fool you, the color of the moon will not be blue. The Blue Moon will reach its peak illumination at 4:45AM EDT on Sunday May 31. This Full Moon will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual as the moon is about to reach apogee. (Apogee refers to the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth.) You might be wondering, well all the other Moons have traditionally had alternate names, stemming from folklore or indigenous peoples across North America, where are the other names for the Blue Moon? In short, this moon doesn’t have any! The term Blue Moon only really came about in the 1980s due to a mistake that was printed in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine and has gone viral ever since. The story goes that James Hugh Pruett had written an article for the Sky & Telescope magazine, misinterpreting an article from a 1937 article in the Maine Farmer’s Almanac that said “a blue moon occurs when a season has four full moons, rather than the usual three” Pruett had mistakenly thought that the article means a blue moon is a second full moon within the same month.” (LA Times Article, Kirchofer, 04/02/1999). This mistake led to the now common mis-definition of “Blue Moon.” #darienct #dariennaturecenter #bluemoon
“Once in a Blue Moon,” the second Full Moon for the month of May, the Blue Moon! Don’t let its name fool you, the color of the moon will not be blue. The Blue Moon will reach its peak illumination at 4:45AM EDT on Sunday May 31. This Full Moon will appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual as the moon is about to reach apogee. (Apogee refers to the point when the Moon is farthest from Earth.) You might be wondering, well all the other Moons have traditionally had alternate names, stemming from folklore or indigenous peoples across North America, where are the other names for the Blue Moon? In short, this moon doesn’t have any! The term Blue Moon only really came about in the 1980s due to a mistake that was printed in a 1946 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine and has gone viral ever since. The story goes that James Hugh Pruett had written an article for the Sky & Telescope magazine, misinterpreting an article from a 1937 article in the Maine Farmer’s Almanac that said “a blue moon occurs when a season has four full moons, rather than the usual three” Pruett had mistakenly thought that the article means a blue moon is a second full moon within the same month.” (LA Times Article, Kirchofer, 04/02/1999). This mistake led to the now common mis-definition of “Blue Moon.” #darienct #dariennaturecenter #bluemoon
⚠️Please be advised that the content in this post may be disturbing and upsetting to some viewers.⚠️ Recently there has been an uptick in fishing lines being left behind here at the pond in Cherry Lawn Park. And unfortunately the trash left behind by irresponsible fisherman has led to the death of a Gadwall Duck. Despite efforts from the staff here at the Nature Center and reaching out to local organizations, we were not able to capture the duck to free it from the fishing line that was wrapped around its beak and body. As seen in the photos, the duck had become entrapped in the fishing line. Due to the fishing line, the duck was unable to open its mouth (the line had completely wound its way around its bill) and had the line entangled around its whole body. The deceased duck was also found with a giant ball of fishing line next to it. It is important to remember that Cherry Lawn Park is not only shared by the community but the animals that reside in our community. Carelessly discarding fishing line can lead to serious harm and in the case of this duck, death. Fishing line can entangle animals or be ingested leading to starvation, strangulation, and deep wounds. While our staff always try to clean up fishing lines that have been left behind, it is the responsibility of fishermen to clean up after themselves, ensuring that they clean up their lines and hooks and casting their lines to not tangle in the trees surrounding the pond. Ultimately the death of this duck (and other animals that have died from irresponsible fishermen) could have been prevented. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
⚠️Please be advised that the content in this post may be disturbing and upsetting to some viewers.⚠️ Recently there has been an uptick in fishing lines being left behind here at the pond in Cherry Lawn Park. And unfortunately the trash left behind by irresponsible fisherman has led to the death of a Gadwall Duck. Despite efforts from the staff here at the Nature Center and reaching out to local organizations, we were not able to capture the duck to free it from the fishing line that was wrapped around its beak and body. As seen in the photos, the duck had become entrapped in the fishing line. Due to the fishing line, the duck was unable to open its mouth (the line had completely wound its way around its bill) and had the line entangled around its whole body. The deceased duck was also found with a giant ball of fishing line next to it. It is important to remember that Cherry Lawn Park is not only shared by the community but the animals that reside in our community. Carelessly discarding fishing line can lead to serious harm and in the case of this duck, death. Fishing line can entangle animals or be ingested leading to starvation, strangulation, and deep wounds. While our staff always try to clean up fishing lines that have been left behind, it is the responsibility of fishermen to clean up after themselves, ensuring that they clean up their lines and hooks and casting their lines to not tangle in the trees surrounding the pond. Ultimately the death of this duck (and other animals that have died from irresponsible fishermen) could have been prevented. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Presenting: the Tiny Microphone Interview! Brought to you by our preschoolers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2026! Enjoy! ????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Presenting: the Tiny Microphone Interview! Brought to you by our preschoolers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week 2026! Enjoy! 🐝🪲🍀🐇📚 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
All the colors of Cherry Lawn Park ??⭐️????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
All the colors of Cherry Lawn Park 🍅🍊⭐️🍀🦋💜🌸🦌 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
?? A sneak peak for our upcoming Animal Room renovations! ?? Our nocturnal crew will be wide awake in their new habitat, turning the lights down and the energy up. In the transformed Animal Room, a beautifully designed snag tree will come alive at night as our sugar gliders and hedgehog eat, explore, and run to their hearts’ content. By day, it will offer a cozy place to rest; by night, an enriching world designed just for them—just like the stunning tree created for our owls. We cannot wait to share this incredible new space with you. We know it will spark curiosity, connection, and joy for everyone who walks through our doors. ?Interested in helping us meet our goal? Click the link in our bio to donate today! ?#darienct #dariennaturecenter
🌙🌙 A sneak peak for our upcoming Animal Room renovations! 🌙🌙 Our nocturnal crew will be wide awake in their new habitat, turning the lights down and the energy up. In the transformed Animal Room, a beautifully designed snag tree will come alive at night as our sugar gliders and hedgehog eat, explore, and run to their hearts’ content. By day, it will offer a cozy place to rest; by night, an enriching world designed just for them—just like the stunning tree created for our owls. We cannot wait to share this incredible new space with you. We know it will spark curiosity, connection, and joy for everyone who walks through our doors. 🌜Interested in helping us meet our goal? Click the link in our bio to donate today! 🌛#darienct #dariennaturecenter
Rain or shine, Spring into Nature was a wonderful celebration of our Earth and Community! Swipe to the end to watch @wildlifeincrisis release a hawk back into the wild! Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered! ?????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Rain or shine, Spring into Nature was a wonderful celebration of our Earth and Community! Swipe to the end to watch @wildlifeincrisis release a hawk back into the wild! Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered! 🐝🌈🌎🌸🌷🐛 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Appreciating our teachers all year and every day! ??????? #teachersppreciationday #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Appreciating our teachers all year and every day! 📚🐛🪲🍀🦋🌼🐝 #teachersppreciationday #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Scenes from Crickets Vacation Camp! ????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Scenes from Crickets Vacation Camp! 🐢🐝🌷🌎🌈 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
???The first of two Full Moons for the month of May, the Flower Moon! The Flower moon will reach its peak illumination at 1:23 PM EDT on Friday May 1. Head outside the night of April 30 to catch a glimpse! The Flower Moon gets its name from, you guessed it, the abundance of flowers that spring up across North America this month! ??? The alternate names for the Flower Moon include; Budding Moon & Leaf Budding Moon (Cree), Planting Moon (Lakota, Dakota), Egg Laying Moon (Cree), Frog Moon (Cree), and the Moon of the Shedding Ponies (Oglala). These names are in reference to the awakening of local flora, marking the time for when seeds should be planted for farming season, the activities of animals by Springs return, and tell us that warmer weather is on its way! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #flowermoon
🌸🌷🌻The first of two Full Moons for the month of May, the Flower Moon! The Flower moon will reach its peak illumination at 1:23 PM EDT on Friday May 1. Head outside the night of April 30 to catch a glimpse! The Flower Moon gets its name from, you guessed it, the abundance of flowers that spring up across North America this month! 🌺🪻🌼 The alternate names for the Flower Moon include; Budding Moon & Leaf Budding Moon (Cree), Planting Moon (Lakota, Dakota), Egg Laying Moon (Cree), Frog Moon (Cree), and the Moon of the Shedding Ponies (Oglala). These names are in reference to the awakening of local flora, marking the time for when seeds should be planted for farming season, the activities of animals by Springs return, and tell us that warmer weather is on its way! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #flowermoon
??? Happy Earth Day!!!! ???
🌎🌍🌏 Happy Earth Day!!!! 🌏🌍🌎
This past Sunday we held our Spring Volunteer Day! Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who braved the rainy weather and joined us cleaning up the trails here at Cherry Lawn! ??️? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
This past Sunday we held our Spring Volunteer Day! Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who braved the rainy weather and joined us cleaning up the trails here at Cherry Lawn! 🌳🌧️🌈 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Our annual Earth Day Celebration is right around the corner! Join us on April 25 from 10:00am - 2:00pm for a fun and festival style Earth Day celebration at the Darien Nature Center! ??? This year, our focus is on protecting Darien’s water! Activities include painting a rock for our kindness garden, Music with Natasha, Soundwaters, Community based art projects, Rent a Chicken, water testing & pollution modeling, a Hawk release from Wildlife in Crisis, face painting, a storywalk in the forest, and animal interactions. Community organizations such as Pollinator Pathway, The Darien Land Trust, and the Garden Club will also be in attendance! Registration is required to attend this event. Follow the link in bio to register now! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Our annual Earth Day Celebration is right around the corner! Join us on April 25 from 10:00am - 2:00pm for a fun and festival style Earth Day celebration at the Darien Nature Center! 🌎💧🌳 This year, our focus is on protecting Darien’s water! Activities include painting a rock for our kindness garden, Music with Natasha, Soundwaters, Community based art projects, Rent a Chicken, water testing & pollution modeling, a Hawk release from Wildlife in Crisis, face painting, a storywalk in the forest, and animal interactions. Community organizations such as Pollinator Pathway, The Darien Land Trust, and the Garden Club will also be in attendance! Registration is required to attend this event. Follow the link in bio to register now! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
We are THRILLED to announce that we are officially open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, April 18! ? We are so grateful for our community’s patience and understanding over this past month while we were closed to the public. A big shout out to our administration, staff, and service providers - especially Fox Hill Builders and Hightower Restoration - for working hard to get our building ready for this reopening! We cannot wait to welcome our community back tomorrow!
We are THRILLED to announce that we are officially open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, April 18! 🥳 We are so grateful for our community’s patience and understanding over this past month while we were closed to the public. A big shout out to our administration, staff, and service providers - especially Fox Hill Builders and Hightower Restoration - for working hard to get our building ready for this reopening! We cannot wait to welcome our community back tomorrow!
We can’t get over how amazing it is to have all of our students back at class! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We can’t get over how amazing it is to have all of our students back at class! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Our Social Media Manager went on vacation and left the preschool in charge of posting!! Please enjoy these drawings of our favorite animals (mythical and real!) #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Our Social Media Manager went on vacation and left the preschool in charge of posting!! Please enjoy these drawings of our favorite animals (mythical and real!) #darienct #dariennaturecenter
ASMR DNC style! For best user experience use headphones and remember our animals are not trained actors nor agreeable to using a microphone while eating. Enjoy! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
ASMR DNC style! For best user experience use headphones and remember our animals are not trained actors nor agreeable to using a microphone while eating. Enjoy! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
?Save the Date!? Join us under the Harvest Moon on September 26, 2026 for our annual fundraiser! Stay tuned for more info coming soon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
🔥Save the Date!🔥 Join us under the Harvest Moon on September 26, 2026 for our annual fundraiser! Stay tuned for more info coming soon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
?? This isn’t an April Fool’s joke, April’s full moon is the Pink Moon! Also known as the Paschal Moon, this Full Moon actually sets the date for Easter! The Pink Moon is the first Full Moon of Spring and will reach its peak illumination at 10:12PM EST the night of April 1, 2026. ?? You might think that the name “Pink Moon” will indicate that the Full Moon will take on a pink or rosy hue, but it actually comes from an early spring bloom wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, or its common names creeping phlox or moss phlox. This pretty pink flower tends to be in full bloom around the April Full Moon, lending its colorful petals to the Moon! ??? The Pink Moon is also known as the Breaking Ice Moon (Alogonquin), Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable (Dakota), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit), Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala), Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), Frog Moon (Cree), and the Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe, named after the harvest of sucker fish). Make sure to take in the glow of the first Spring Full Moon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #pinkmoon #fullmoon
🌸🌕 This isn’t an April Fool’s joke, April’s full moon is the Pink Moon! Also known as the Paschal Moon, this Full Moon actually sets the date for Easter! The Pink Moon is the first Full Moon of Spring and will reach its peak illumination at 10:12PM EST the night of April 1, 2026. 🌸🌕 You might think that the name “Pink Moon” will indicate that the Full Moon will take on a pink or rosy hue, but it actually comes from an early spring bloom wildflower native to eastern North America: Phlox subulata, or its common names creeping phlox or moss phlox. This pretty pink flower tends to be in full bloom around the April Full Moon, lending its colorful petals to the Moon! 🌸🌸🌸 The Pink Moon is also known as the Breaking Ice Moon (Alogonquin), Moon When the Streams are Again Navigable (Dakota), Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs (Tlingit), Moon of the Red Grass Appearing (Oglala), Moon When the Ducks Come Back (Lakota), Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs (Dakota), Frog Moon (Cree), and the Sucker Moon (Anishinaabe, named after the harvest of sucker fish). Make sure to take in the glow of the first Spring Full Moon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #pinkmoon #fullmoon
Happy Spring Equinox! ?? Otherwise known as the Vernal Equinox. At exactly 10:46 AM EDT the Northern Hemisphere will officially be in Spring! The Spring Equinox will have almost the exact same amount of daylight as there is darkness, as both the Northern and Southern hemispheres are sitting equal, neither hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun! ??? Today is a day to spend outside welcoming the Sun and warmth back into our lives! Spend your day planting seeds, baking bread, having a bonfire, spend time in the sun, make a fairy house, and bring fresh flowers into your home! From now until June, the days will keep getting longer and filled with more sunshine! ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #springequinox
Happy Spring Equinox! 🌸🌸 Otherwise known as the Vernal Equinox. At exactly 10:46 AM EDT the Northern Hemisphere will officially be in Spring! The Spring Equinox will have almost the exact same amount of daylight as there is darkness, as both the Northern and Southern hemispheres are sitting equal, neither hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun! 🌸🌷🪻 Today is a day to spend outside welcoming the Sun and warmth back into our lives! Spend your day planting seeds, baking bread, having a bonfire, spend time in the sun, make a fairy house, and bring fresh flowers into your home! From now until June, the days will keep getting longer and filled with more sunshine! 🌸🌷🪻🌳 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #springequinox
Yesterday our staff participated in a professional development day where they spent time discussing nature based books for our bookclub pilot program, having conversations with ECCP about supporting preschoolers with emotions regulation, and ended the day with an informative tree hike lead by Victoria! ???? #dariennaturecenter #darienct
Yesterday our staff participated in a professional development day where they spent time discussing nature based books for our bookclub pilot program, having conversations with ECCP about supporting preschoolers with emotions regulation, and ended the day with an informative tree hike lead by Victoria! 🌲🌳🪾🦆 #dariennaturecenter #darienct
An official statement from the Darien Nature Center ? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
An official statement from the Darien Nature Center 💚 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
✨These are the people running the Nature Center✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
✨These are the people running the Nature Center✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
?? searching for the tiniest bit of green this March ?? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
🍀🌱 searching for the tiniest bit of green this March 🍀🌱 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What we’ve been up to lately! ?????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What we’ve been up to lately! 🦕🐍🐠🐡🌲🌎 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We sincerely apologize for today’s unexpected closure at the Nature Center. We were not aware of the situation until staff began arriving at the building before classes started for the day. As soon as we understood the extent of the situation we contacted families as quickly as possible. The preschool has experienced significant water damage and is currently undergoing remediation. We are actively assessing the situation and will keep you updated as we learn more. Please have notifications turned on to receive updates regarding whether the damage will impact our ability to hold school tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility - The Darien Nature Center ? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We sincerely apologize for today’s unexpected closure at the Nature Center. We were not aware of the situation until staff began arriving at the building before classes started for the day. As soon as we understood the extent of the situation we contacted families as quickly as possible. The preschool has experienced significant water damage and is currently undergoing remediation. We are actively assessing the situation and will keep you updated as we learn more. Please have notifications turned on to receive updates regarding whether the damage will impact our ability to hold school tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility - The Darien Nature Center 💚 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Beware the Ides of March? More like beware the Full Worm “Blood” Moon that is coinciding with a rare lunar eclipse! ??????? The Worm Moon will reach its peak the morning of Tuesday March 3 at 6:38 am EST, for those who are not early birds, be sure to check it out tonight Monday March 2! The March Full Moon has been considered the seasonal turning point for when signs of Spring slowly start to return. The Worm Moon gets its name from the belief that earthworms would reappear as the soil started to warm up in the early spring, drawing the attention of robins and signaling the change from winter into spring. Alternative names for the Worm Moon include Sugar Moon (Ojibwe), Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo), Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine), Goose Moon, and the Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe). As mentioned before, this full moon coincides with a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will reach its greatest point at 6:33 am EST, casting an orange or coppery red glow (where the blood moon name comes from). Monday night head on outside every few hours to watch the moon change colors. This is a total lunar eclipse which means that the Earth’s shadow will slowly move across the full moon giving it a coppery glow and darkening the moon’s appearance. This lunar eclipse will be visible across most of North America (swipe to see more info on a total lunar eclipse). Early birds get the blood moon worm moon! ? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wormmoon #bloodmooneclipse #lunareclipse
Beware the Ides of March? More like beware the Full Worm “Blood” Moon that is coinciding with a rare lunar eclipse! 🪱🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🪱 The Worm Moon will reach its peak the morning of Tuesday March 3 at 6:38 am EST, for those who are not early birds, be sure to check it out tonight Monday March 2! The March Full Moon has been considered the seasonal turning point for when signs of Spring slowly start to return. The Worm Moon gets its name from the belief that earthworms would reappear as the soil started to warm up in the early spring, drawing the attention of robins and signaling the change from winter into spring. Alternative names for the Worm Moon include Sugar Moon (Ojibwe), Wind Strong Moon (Pueblo), Sore Eyes Moon (Dakota, Lakota, Assiniboine), Goose Moon, and the Crow Comes Back Moon (Northern Ojibwe). As mentioned before, this full moon coincides with a lunar eclipse. The eclipse will reach its greatest point at 6:33 am EST, casting an orange or coppery red glow (where the blood moon name comes from). Monday night head on outside every few hours to watch the moon change colors. This is a total lunar eclipse which means that the Earth’s shadow will slowly move across the full moon giving it a coppery glow and darkening the moon’s appearance. This lunar eclipse will be visible across most of North America (swipe to see more info on a total lunar eclipse). Early birds get the blood moon worm moon! 🪱 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wormmoon #bloodmooneclipse #lunareclipse
❄️❄️❄️ We might all have snow fatigue, but our outdoor classrooms and Nature Center look very pretty covered in fresh snow! ❄️❄️❄️
❄️❄️❄️ We might all have snow fatigue, but our outdoor classrooms and Nature Center look very pretty covered in fresh snow! ❄️❄️❄️
❄️not big fans on being “snowed in” over here!❄️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
❄️not big fans on being “snowed in” over here!❄️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It was natural science week here at Groundhogs Camp! ?✨???✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It was natural science week here at Groundhogs Camp! 🪐✨🌎🦕🔭✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
A message from Nature Educator Lindsey about birding! Did you know that this upcoming weekend (February 13-16) the Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place?! Watch this video to learn more about how you can participate in citizen science and stay tuned for more info graphics later in the week! ?️????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #gbbc #birding #backyardbirding @cornellbirds @audubonsociety
A message from Nature Educator Lindsey about birding! Did you know that this upcoming weekend (February 13-16) the Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place?! Watch this video to learn more about how you can participate in citizen science and stay tuned for more info graphics later in the week! 🕊️🦅🦆🦢🦃🦉 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #gbbc #birding #backyardbirding @cornellbirds @audubonsociety
?Happy Valentine’s Day from our animal ambassadors! ?They’ve all felt the love this week from our students and visitors leaving them Valentine’s cards. Now’s your chance to be an extra special Valentine for our animals by becoming an animal sponsor! Interested in learning more about sponsoring one of our animals? Follow the link in bio! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #valentines
💗Happy Valentine’s Day from our animal ambassadors! 💗They’ve all felt the love this week from our students and visitors leaving them Valentine’s cards. Now’s your chance to be an extra special Valentine for our animals by becoming an animal sponsor! Interested in learning more about sponsoring one of our animals? Follow the link in bio! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #valentines
New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks, only one can win the Super Bowl this Sunday! Six of our animal ambassadors had their names drafted to our Darien Nature Center Roster to cast their votes in which team is going to win. A classic East Coast vs West Coast showdown. Vote below who you think will be the victor! #dariennaturecenter #darienct #superbowlsunday #superbowl2026
New England Patriots vs Seattle Seahawks, only one can win the Super Bowl this Sunday! Six of our animal ambassadors had their names drafted to our Darien Nature Center Roster to cast their votes in which team is going to win. A classic East Coast vs West Coast showdown. Vote below who you think will be the victor! #dariennaturecenter #darienct #superbowlsunday #superbowl2026
Incase you missed the video of Nature Educator and resident bird enthusiast Lindsey talking about the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count, here are some more details about the upcoming bird count! Go back and watch Lindsey’s video about how to get involved and check out @cornellbirds website for more details! Happy Birding!! ?️????????‍⬛? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #greatbackyardbirdcount #birding
Incase you missed the video of Nature Educator and resident bird enthusiast Lindsey talking about the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count, here are some more details about the upcoming bird count! Go back and watch Lindsey’s video about how to get involved and check out @cornellbirds website for more details! Happy Birding!! 🕊️🦅🦆🦜🦢🐓🦃🪿🐦‍⬛🦩 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #greatbackyardbirdcount #birding
?Rising at a very snowy time in Connecticut this full Moon is appropriately named! February’s full moon is named the Snow Moon!? The Snow Moon will reach its peak illumination at approximately 5:09 EST on Sunday February 1st. Weather permitting, step outside to catch a glimpse! The Snow Moon gets its name from the typical heavy snowfall that happens during the month of February. According to the National Weather Service, February tends to be the snowiest month in the United States. Historically speaking, the alternative names for the Snow Moon have had connections to animals. The Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon (Cree), Bear Moon (Ojibwe) Black Bear Moon (Tlingit), [fun fact: both the Bear Moon and Black Bear Moon refer to the time of year when bear cubs are born!], Racoon Moon, (Dakota), Groundhog Moon (Algonquin), and Goose Moon (Haida). Like other full moons, there’s no shortage of alternate names. Due to the scarcity of food during this time, The Cherokee called the moon the Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon. ?❄️?️
🌕Rising at a very snowy time in Connecticut this full Moon is appropriately named! February’s full moon is named the Snow Moon!🌕 The Snow Moon will reach its peak illumination at approximately 5:09 EST on Sunday February 1st. Weather permitting, step outside to catch a glimpse! The Snow Moon gets its name from the typical heavy snowfall that happens during the month of February. According to the National Weather Service, February tends to be the snowiest month in the United States. Historically speaking, the alternative names for the Snow Moon have had connections to animals. The Bald Eagle Moon or Eagle Moon (Cree), Bear Moon (Ojibwe) Black Bear Moon (Tlingit), [fun fact: both the Bear Moon and Black Bear Moon refer to the time of year when bear cubs are born!], Racoon Moon, (Dakota), Groundhog Moon (Algonquin), and Goose Moon (Haida). Like other full moons, there’s no shortage of alternate names. Due to the scarcity of food during this time, The Cherokee called the moon the Month of the Bony Moon and Hungry Moon. 🌕❄️🌨️
Two bam or not two bam, that is the question! Thank you to @goldcoastmahjongclub for hosting our mom’s night out! And of course to all our DNC moms who joined us! ??️❄️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Two bam or not two bam, that is the question! Thank you to @goldcoastmahjongclub for hosting our mom’s night out! And of course to all our DNC moms who joined us! 🌸🀄️❄️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It’s hard to believe that we’re already getting ready for Summer Camp 2026! Early Bird pricing for Summer Camp registration starts Wednesday January 14 for Current Families and Members!! ☀️? For more information regarding Summer Camp 2026 registration, what’s new this year, timelines, and themes head over to our website to learn more. Keep your eyes peeled for our Summer Camp 2026 Information email that will be sent out later today. Not on our email list? Now’s the time to join via the link in bio. ?✨??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It’s hard to believe that we’re already getting ready for Summer Camp 2026! Early Bird pricing for Summer Camp registration starts Wednesday January 14 for Current Families and Members!! ☀️🌻 For more information regarding Summer Camp 2026 registration, what’s new this year, timelines, and themes head over to our website to learn more. Keep your eyes peeled for our Summer Camp 2026 Information email that will be sent out later today. Not on our email list? Now’s the time to join via the link in bio. 🌈✨🌙🌿🐇 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Our outdoor classrooms showed signs of animals in winter this morning! Can you guess which critters left their prints behind?? ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter ecenter
Our outdoor classrooms showed signs of animals in winter this morning! Can you guess which critters left their prints behind?? 🐾🐾🐾🐾 #darienct #dariennaturecenter ecenter
For the first full moon of the year, it’s the Wolf Moon! The Wolf Moon will reach its peak at 5:03 A.M. EST on the morning of Saturday January 3, 2026. This full moon will be the first full moon of the year 2026, occurring at perigee (the moon is at its closest point to Earth). Make sure to take a peek at the Moon Friday January 2 if you’re not a 5:00 A.M. early bird). Where did the Wolf Moon get its name from? It’s believed that it is called the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling around this time. There is the old folktale that wolves howl due to the full moon, but it isn’t actually true! Wolves howl to locate other pack members, define territory, coordinate their hunting, and reinforce pack bonds. Other names for the Wolf Moon include Center Moon (Assiniboine people), Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), Severe Moon (Dakota), Hard Moon (Dakota), Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Great Moon (Cree), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki) and the Spirit Moon (Ojibwe). Talk about a popular moon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wolfmoon
For the first full moon of the year, it’s the Wolf Moon! The Wolf Moon will reach its peak at 5:03 A.M. EST on the morning of Saturday January 3, 2026. This full moon will be the first full moon of the year 2026, occurring at perigee (the moon is at its closest point to Earth). Make sure to take a peek at the Moon Friday January 2 if you’re not a 5:00 A.M. early bird). Where did the Wolf Moon get its name from? It’s believed that it is called the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling around this time. There is the old folktale that wolves howl due to the full moon, but it isn’t actually true! Wolves howl to locate other pack members, define territory, coordinate their hunting, and reinforce pack bonds. Other names for the Wolf Moon include Center Moon (Assiniboine people), Cold Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Moon (Cree), Freeze Up Moon (Algonquin), Severe Moon (Dakota), Hard Moon (Dakota), Canada Goose Moon (Tlingit), Great Moon (Cree), Greetings Moon (Western Abenaki) and the Spirit Moon (Ojibwe). Talk about a popular moon! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wolfmoon
?️?️Extra Extra! We have a new dove that needs a name! We’re so excited to have this lady join us here at the Nature Center, but we need your help naming her! Using the poll below, vote on your favorite choice and check back in a few days to see which name has come out on top!?️?️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
🕊️🕊️Extra Extra! We have a new dove that needs a name! We’re so excited to have this lady join us here at the Nature Center, but we need your help naming her! Using the poll below, vote on your favorite choice and check back in a few days to see which name has come out on top!🕊️🕊️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Happy New Year from all of us here at the Nature Center! We hope you have a year filled with adventure and exploration of the great outdoors! Did you know that 2026 is the year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac (which officially starts on February 17)? The Fire Horse to be specific! While we don’t have a horse here at the Nature Center, make sure to stop by and wish our animals a Happy New Year! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Happy New Year from all of us here at the Nature Center! We hope you have a year filled with adventure and exploration of the great outdoors! Did you know that 2026 is the year of the Horse in the Chinese Zodiac (which officially starts on February 17)? The Fire Horse to be specific! While we don’t have a horse here at the Nature Center, make sure to stop by and wish our animals a Happy New Year! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Summer Camp 2026 registration launches tomorrow for current families and members!!! Here’s a quick look back on Summer Camp 2025! ✨????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Summer Camp 2026 registration launches tomorrow for current families and members!!! Here’s a quick look back on Summer Camp 2025! ✨🌈🌻🌞🪐🫧 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Happy Winter Solstice! Get ready to celebrate the longest night of the year! The Winter Solstice also marks the day with the shortest amount of daylight. Don’t fret about the lack of daylight though, from here on out the days will be getting longer and sunsets will be happening later. The Winter Solstice is the official first day of the Winter season, astronomically speaking, meteorologists still determine the actual start of Winter, but the alignment of the moon and stars can help us celebrate the changing of the seasons! Make sure to spend some time outside today watching the sunrise or sunset, gather evergreen branches to decorate with, make diy bird feeders, light candles, hang homemade paper snowflakes around your home, and make pomanders for a cozy winter time scent. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wintersolstice❄️
Happy Winter Solstice! Get ready to celebrate the longest night of the year! The Winter Solstice also marks the day with the shortest amount of daylight. Don’t fret about the lack of daylight though, from here on out the days will be getting longer and sunsets will be happening later. The Winter Solstice is the official first day of the Winter season, astronomically speaking, meteorologists still determine the actual start of Winter, but the alignment of the moon and stars can help us celebrate the changing of the seasons! Make sure to spend some time outside today watching the sunrise or sunset, gather evergreen branches to decorate with, make diy bird feeders, light candles, hang homemade paper snowflakes around your home, and make pomanders for a cozy winter time scent. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #wintersolstice❄️
Snowbirds camp through a film camera! ? From all of us here at the Nature Center have a wonderful holiday season! ❄️?✨?️#darienct #dariennaturecenter
Snowbirds camp through a film camera! 📸 From all of us here at the Nature Center have a wonderful holiday season! ❄️🌲✨🕊️#darienct #dariennaturecenter
“Five miles off the coast of Maine and slightly overdue, a circus ship was steaming south in fog as thick as stew.” ?????? The grand reveal of our Lit Tree Lane 2025 Christmas Tree!! The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen! It’s our best estimate that this book was read approximately over 50 times last year in one particular Nature Time for Two’s class and continues to be one of the most beloved books amongst all our students and staff here at the Nature Center. Make sure you stop by the Darien Library and vote for the fan favorite tree! PS. If your student has Lindsey & Lulu or Lindsey & Victoria as teachers this year, make sure to search the tree for the admit one tickets they decorated! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienlibrary #thecircusship
“Five miles off the coast of Maine and slightly overdue, a circus ship was steaming south in fog as thick as stew.” 🚢🦓🐅🐆🦁🫐 The grand reveal of our Lit Tree Lane 2025 Christmas Tree!! The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen! It’s our best estimate that this book was read approximately over 50 times last year in one particular Nature Time for Two’s class and continues to be one of the most beloved books amongst all our students and staff here at the Nature Center. Make sure you stop by the Darien Library and vote for the fan favorite tree! PS. If your student has Lindsey & Lulu or Lindsey & Victoria as teachers this year, make sure to search the tree for the admit one tickets they decorated! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienlibrary #thecircusship
We’ve reached the end of the year! Time flies when you spend your days outside! Next up Snowbirds Camp! ?✨?️⭐️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’ve reached the end of the year! Time flies when you spend your days outside! Next up Snowbirds Camp! 🌲✨🕊️⭐️ #darienct #dariennaturecenter
This time of year we’re a little extra grateful for all the fantastic teachers we have on staff here at the Nature Center! ??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
This time of year we’re a little extra grateful for all the fantastic teachers we have on staff here at the Nature Center! 🦃🍁🍂 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Our last full moon of the year! The Cold Moon, also known as the Long Night Moon (Mohican), will reach peak illumination on December 4 at 6:14pm (EST)! The name comes from a Mohawk name that talks of the frigid weather conditions that start to happen this time of the year. The Mohican name, as said before, the Long Night Moon gets its name from how the moon rises. The Long Night Moon will rise during the “longest” nights of the year as we approach the Winter Solstice on December 21 (the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year)! Other names for the Cold Moon include, Drift Clearing Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree), Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee), Moon when the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota), Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe), and the Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki). ?❄️☁️?️ #dariennaturecenter #darienct #coldmoon #supermoon
Our last full moon of the year! The Cold Moon, also known as the Long Night Moon (Mohican), will reach peak illumination on December 4 at 6:14pm (EST)! The name comes from a Mohawk name that talks of the frigid weather conditions that start to happen this time of the year. The Mohican name, as said before, the Long Night Moon gets its name from how the moon rises. The Long Night Moon will rise during the “longest” nights of the year as we approach the Winter Solstice on December 21 (the Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year)! Other names for the Cold Moon include, Drift Clearing Moon (Cree), Frost Exploding Trees Moon (Cree), Moon of the Popping Trees (Oglala), Hoar Frost Moon (Cree), Snow Moon (Haida, Cherokee), Moon when the Deer Shed Their Antlers (Dakota), Little Spirit Moon (Anishinaabe), and the Winter Maker Moon (Western Abenaki). 🌕❄️☁️🌨️ #dariennaturecenter #darienct #coldmoon #supermoon
No fears of the dark over here! We’ve been learning about nocturnal creatures! ????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
No fears of the dark over here! We’ve been learning about nocturnal creatures! 🦇🦉🦌🦝🦔 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Saturday’s are back at the Nature Center! Make sure to register for our December 6 and December 13 sessions! Follow the link in bio for more information and registration! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Saturday’s are back at the Nature Center! Make sure to register for our December 6 and December 13 sessions! Follow the link in bio for more information and registration! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’ve been learning about all the different kinds of weather! ??️❄️??️? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’ve been learning about all the different kinds of weather! 🌈🌤️❄️💧🌬️🫧 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
?Join us on November 18, 2025 from 7:00-8:00pm at the Darien Library for the 2025 Coastal Water Presentation.? Bill Cavers, a member of the Town of Darien’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters and Mindy Chambrelli, Director of the Darien Health Department, who will present the annual water quality progress report of Darien’s waters in Long Island Sound. Darien’s coast is less than three miles from east to west, but its many coves and harbors stretch its coastline to over 16 miles. With picturesque harbors, sandy beaches, marshy inlets, and its Maine-like Great Island, Darien’s coast is one of the town’s greatest resources. To monitor and protect these beautiful waters, the Town of Darien and its volunteers, along with the support of key local partners, regularly test for possible bacteria and for long-term indicators of ecological health. Learn about these efforts and the latest and historical testing results, and what you can do to keep Long Island Sound pristine and safe for all! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
💧Join us on November 18, 2025 from 7:00-8:00pm at the Darien Library for the 2025 Coastal Water Presentation.💧 Bill Cavers, a member of the Town of Darien’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Waters and Mindy Chambrelli, Director of the Darien Health Department, who will present the annual water quality progress report of Darien’s waters in Long Island Sound. Darien’s coast is less than three miles from east to west, but its many coves and harbors stretch its coastline to over 16 miles. With picturesque harbors, sandy beaches, marshy inlets, and its Maine-like Great Island, Darien’s coast is one of the town’s greatest resources. To monitor and protect these beautiful waters, the Town of Darien and its volunteers, along with the support of key local partners, regularly test for possible bacteria and for long-term indicators of ecological health. Learn about these efforts and the latest and historical testing results, and what you can do to keep Long Island Sound pristine and safe for all! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It’s the Beaver Moon! The Beaver Moon is the closest to Earth a supermoon will be in 2025. The full moon will be reaching its peak illumination time at 8:19am (EST) on November 5, 2025, so be sure to check it out after nightfall on November 4 to catch a pre glimpse of it. The Beaver Moon will orbit Earth closer than any other full moon of the year (only a short distance of 221,817 miles). ???? Where does the name Beaver Moon come from? Like most full moon names, its origin is rooted in Native American, Colonial American, and European Folklore. In the tradition of naming, each full moon typically represented the month in which it occurred and all phases of the moon, not just the full moon. This time of year, beavers start to take shelter within their lodges, hunkering down for winter. Back when the fur trade was still a bustling business in North America, trappers would catch beavers with their winter coats to sell. The Beaver Moon is also known as; the Digging or Scratching Moon (Tlingit), Deer Rutting Moon (Dakota/Lakota), Whitefish Moon (Algonquin), Frost Moon, Cree & Assiniboine), and the Freezing Moon (Anishinaabe). #darienct #dariennaturecenter #beavermoon
It’s the Beaver Moon! The Beaver Moon is the closest to Earth a supermoon will be in 2025. The full moon will be reaching its peak illumination time at 8:19am (EST) on November 5, 2025, so be sure to check it out after nightfall on November 4 to catch a pre glimpse of it. The Beaver Moon will orbit Earth closer than any other full moon of the year (only a short distance of 221,817 miles). 🦫🌕🌙🌜 Where does the name Beaver Moon come from? Like most full moon names, its origin is rooted in Native American, Colonial American, and European Folklore. In the tradition of naming, each full moon typically represented the month in which it occurred and all phases of the moon, not just the full moon. This time of year, beavers start to take shelter within their lodges, hunkering down for winter. Back when the fur trade was still a bustling business in North America, trappers would catch beavers with their winter coats to sell. The Beaver Moon is also known as; the Digging or Scratching Moon (Tlingit), Deer Rutting Moon (Dakota/Lakota), Whitefish Moon (Algonquin), Frost Moon, Cree & Assiniboine), and the Freezing Moon (Anishinaabe). #darienct #dariennaturecenter #beavermoon
Save the date! Saturday November 22 is our holiday market! Stay tuned for more information regarding vendors! ?✨?✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Save the date! Saturday November 22 is our holiday market! Stay tuned for more information regarding vendors! 🌲✨🎄✨ #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
? Happy Halloween!!! ? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
🎃 Happy Halloween!!! 🎃 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We ?Leaves!! ?✨??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We 💛Leaves!! 🍁✨🍂🪾🍁 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’ve been very egg-cited to be learning about birds and seeds! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’ve been very egg-cited to be learning about birds and seeds! #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Join us for our open house on Sunday November 16 from 11:30-12:30pm! New to town? Curious about what kind of programming the Nature Center offers? Interested in providing your child with a lifelong love of nature? Then stop on by! Meet some of our Nature Educators and fellow parents and learn firsthand why the forest classroom is ideal for your children. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Join us for our open house on Sunday November 16 from 11:30-12:30pm! New to town? Curious about what kind of programming the Nature Center offers? Interested in providing your child with a lifelong love of nature? Then stop on by! Meet some of our Nature Educators and fellow parents and learn firsthand why the forest classroom is ideal for your children. #darienct #dariennaturecenter
This morning as our teachers were setting up in the outdoor classrooms, a small fire was found on the trail that leads behind our Frogpond Classroom. While it was a small fire and easy to extinguish, we are thankful for the Darien Fire Department for coming to make sure it was fully out. We believe the cause was due to a cigarette that was thrown onto the dry wood. Please ensure that any potential fire starters are disposed of properly or extinguished before leaving them unattended in a forested area (or any area). It was a small fire today but with our recent droughts it could have become a larger and more dangerous fire. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #firesafety
This morning as our teachers were setting up in the outdoor classrooms, a small fire was found on the trail that leads behind our Frogpond Classroom. While it was a small fire and easy to extinguish, we are thankful for the Darien Fire Department for coming to make sure it was fully out. We believe the cause was due to a cigarette that was thrown onto the dry wood. Please ensure that any potential fire starters are disposed of properly or extinguished before leaving them unattended in a forested area (or any area). It was a small fire today but with our recent droughts it could have become a larger and more dangerous fire. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #firesafety
Always in search of the next big discovery ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Always in search of the next big discovery 🍅🍁🪵🪻 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What a gorgeous night we had for Fireside 2025! We here at the Nature Center are so thankful to everyone who attended our annual fundraiser and helped us raise money to help us continue spreading our mission of environmental stewardship and teaching the community about nature. A special thank you to all our sponsors, local businesses who contributed to our silent auction, our board members, our administrative staff, @henryjoneslive, our DJ Andrew Singer, @palmersmarket for catering, and of course those who attended. See you next Fireside! ??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
What a gorgeous night we had for Fireside 2025! We here at the Nature Center are so thankful to everyone who attended our annual fundraiser and helped us raise money to help us continue spreading our mission of environmental stewardship and teaching the community about nature. A special thank you to all our sponsors, local businesses who contributed to our silent auction, our board members, our administrative staff, @henryjoneslive, our DJ Andrew Singer, @palmersmarket for catering, and of course those who attended. See you next Fireside! 🔥🔥🔥 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
It’s National Reptile Awareness Day! This day serves as a day to educate the public on the importance of reptiles in our ecosystems and what kinds of challenges they face. The Nature Center is home to seven kinds of reptiles; corn snake, ball python, box turtle, leopard gecko, spotted turtle, painted turtle, and bearded dragon. Make sure you stop on by to visit our reptiles! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #reptileawarenessday
It’s National Reptile Awareness Day! This day serves as a day to educate the public on the importance of reptiles in our ecosystems and what kinds of challenges they face. The Nature Center is home to seven kinds of reptiles; corn snake, ball python, box turtle, leopard gecko, spotted turtle, painted turtle, and bearded dragon. Make sure you stop on by to visit our reptiles! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #reptileawarenessday
Soaking up these finals days of greenery all around us ?☘️??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Soaking up these finals days of greenery all around us 🌲☘️🌿🍃🌱 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Swipe through and see which one of our animals matches your birthday month! ??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #birthdaymonth
Swipe through and see which one of our animals matches your birthday month! 🎉🎂🎊 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #birthdaymonth
@vermontgoodwood is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@vermontgoodwood is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
We have a ton of events happening in October! Head to the link in bio to register!! ??? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
We have a ton of events happening in October! Head to the link in bio to register!! 🍁🎃🔥 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@rings_end is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@rings_end is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Tradewind is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025. Private and scheduled flights are offered in their fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Scheduled flights are offered from the New York area to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and private flights are available to anywhere within the Northeast region. Visit @flytradewind to learn more.
Tradewind is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025. Private and scheduled flights are offered in their fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Scheduled flights are offered from the New York area to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and private flights are available to anywhere within the Northeast region. Visit @flytradewind to learn more.
A pioneer for women in wildlife & environmental conservation everywhere, Jane Goodall had an impact on us all here at the Nature Center. In a trip down memory lane, here is former DNC Educator Nina Miller introducing Chilli the chinchilla to Jane in 2007! In 2007, the Nature Center was one of a few groups that qualified to receive a special Certificate of Recognition for a project that was lead by Nina. Our certificate is still proudly on display here at the Nature Center. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #janegoodall
A pioneer for women in wildlife & environmental conservation everywhere, Jane Goodall had an impact on us all here at the Nature Center. In a trip down memory lane, here is former DNC Educator Nina Miller introducing Chilli the chinchilla to Jane in 2007! In 2007, the Nature Center was one of a few groups that qualified to receive a special Certificate of Recognition for a project that was lead by Nina. Our certificate is still proudly on display here at the Nature Center. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #janegoodall
It’s the Harvest Moon! The largest and brightest supermoon of the year! The Harvest Moon will reach its peak illumination at 11:47 pm Eastern Time. The Harvest Moon is the first of three Supermoons that will happen in 2025. The Harvest Moon gets its name from its proximity to the Autumn Equinox (September 22, 2025), this full moon is closer to the equinox than the previous month’s full moon (the Corn Moon!). This Moon isn’t just an ordinary full Moon, it is set to be a spectacular moonrise, providing near sunset rises and even extended evening light. This full Moon will be at perigee (the closest the moon will be to Earth all year) which will enhance the size and luminosity making for dramatic lunar visions. Other names for the Harvest Moon include; Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon/Ice Moon (Ojibwe and Haida), and Migrating Moon (Cree). Head on outside to capture the Harvest Moon’s luminous glow! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #harvestmoon #supermoon
It’s the Harvest Moon! The largest and brightest supermoon of the year! The Harvest Moon will reach its peak illumination at 11:47 pm Eastern Time. The Harvest Moon is the first of three Supermoons that will happen in 2025. The Harvest Moon gets its name from its proximity to the Autumn Equinox (September 22, 2025), this full moon is closer to the equinox than the previous month’s full moon (the Corn Moon!). This Moon isn’t just an ordinary full Moon, it is set to be a spectacular moonrise, providing near sunset rises and even extended evening light. This full Moon will be at perigee (the closest the moon will be to Earth all year) which will enhance the size and luminosity making for dramatic lunar visions. Other names for the Harvest Moon include; Drying Rice Moon (Dakota), Falling Leaves Moon (Anishinaabe), Freezing Moon/Ice Moon (Ojibwe and Haida), and Migrating Moon (Cree). Head on outside to capture the Harvest Moon’s luminous glow! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #harvestmoon #supermoon
it sure is “gneiss” learning about rocks and soil! ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
it sure is “gneiss” learning about rocks and soil! 🪨🪱🌱🍄 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
We’re big readers over here! Make sure you stop by @barrettbookstore_ this weekend or before October 11 to support our ongoing book drive! We know the power of a good book! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #indiebookstores
We’re big readers over here! Make sure you stop by @barrettbookstore_ this weekend or before October 11 to support our ongoing book drive! We know the power of a good book! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #indiebookstores
The countdown to Fireside 2025 is on! We’re only two weeks away from our annual fundraiser. Join us for a night of fires, drinks, and live music! ?? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
The countdown to Fireside 2025 is on! We’re only two weeks away from our annual fundraiser. Join us for a night of fires, drinks, and live music! 🍁🔥 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@katharinegraybunoski is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@katharinegraybunoski is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@matthewdoughertyarchitect is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@matthewdoughertyarchitect is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
garden visits and making new friends is a pretty big dill over here ?????#darienct #dariennaturecenter
garden visits and making new friends is a pretty big dill over here 🪏🪴🫜🌸🌻#darienct #dariennaturecenter
we really “dew” love being back at school! ??‍???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
we really “dew” love being back at school! 🐍🍄‍🟫🪨🪺🍁 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
@captainzigbeer is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@captainzigbeer is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@rings_end is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@rings_end is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Happy Autumn Equinox! Today is the first official day of Fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. The Equinox happens when the Sun is directly over the Earth’s Equator and happens only one other time a year during the Vernal or Spring Equinox. Today is a day to celebrate Autumn in all its glory! Spend time searching for signs of fall, visiting a local farm, baking an apple pie, having a family bonfire, making a leaf wreath, and reading about the changing seasons. Happy Fall! ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #autumnequinox
Happy Autumn Equinox! Today is the first official day of Fall here in the Northern Hemisphere. The Equinox happens when the Sun is directly over the Earth’s Equator and happens only one other time a year during the Vernal or Spring Equinox. Today is a day to celebrate Autumn in all its glory! Spend time searching for signs of fall, visiting a local farm, baking an apple pie, having a family bonfire, making a leaf wreath, and reading about the changing seasons. Happy Fall! 🍁🎃🍎🍄 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #autumnequinox
In collaboration with @barrettbookstore_, we are asking for donations for new storybooks for the Nature Center! We are so thankful to have such a wonderful local independent bookstore who are a staple in the Darien Community. The book drive will run from Saturday September 20 - Saturday October 11, 2025 and will have a designated table with our wishlist books. Don’t forget to take a stroll around the store while you’re there, you never know what you’ll find amongst the shelves! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #indiebookstores
In collaboration with @barrettbookstore_, we are asking for donations for new storybooks for the Nature Center! We are so thankful to have such a wonderful local independent bookstore who are a staple in the Darien Community. The book drive will run from Saturday September 20 - Saturday October 11, 2025 and will have a designated table with our wishlist books. Don’t forget to take a stroll around the store while you’re there, you never know what you’ll find amongst the shelves! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #indiebookstores
@kdparchitects is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
@kdparchitects is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Tradewind is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025. Offering private and scheduled flights across the Northeast, Southeast, and Caribbean, Tradewind delivers a travel experience defined by comfort, convenience, and confidence. Avoid the crowds, lines, and bypass the chaos of traditional airports by flying from private terminals aboard their fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Visit @flytradewind to learn how to make your next journey effortless. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Tradewind is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025. Offering private and scheduled flights across the Northeast, Southeast, and Caribbean, Tradewind delivers a travel experience defined by comfort, convenience, and confidence. Avoid the crowds, lines, and bypass the chaos of traditional airports by flying from private terminals aboard their fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. Visit @flytradewind to learn how to make your next journey effortless. #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
?Fireside 2025 is less than a month away? We are incredibly thankful for all our Fireside 2025 sponsors! Tickets are available through the link in bio! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
🔥Fireside 2025 is less than a month away🔥 We are incredibly thankful for all our Fireside 2025 sponsors! Tickets are available through the link in bio! #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
School is back in session! We are so excited to be back out in nature and exploring everything around us! ????? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
School is back in session! We are so excited to be back out in nature and exploring everything around us! 🍄🐍🪱🌷🐢 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Vermont Good Wood is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 ?? #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Vermont Good Wood is a proud sponsor of Fireside 2025 🪵🔥 #darienct #dariennaturecenter #darienevents
Volunteers big and small help make our wood chip pile shrink in size! Thank you to every one who joined us on Saturday to help move wood chips into our door classrooms! ???? #darienct #dariennaturecenter
Volunteers big and small help make our wood chip pile shrink in size! Thank you to every one who joined us on Saturday to help move wood chips into our door classrooms! 🪵🪾🍃🍂 #darienct #dariennaturecenter
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