Children entering PreK4 or K will visit Heckscher Farm, explore our forest, and meet our live animals. Each weekly theme will be chock full of age-appropriate, hands-on adventures both inside and out. Children will also create art projects. Each class is taught by an early childhood professional with previous teaching experience at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. Our indoor and outdoor classroom areas are set up with play opportunities unique to each themed session.

Engage your camper in the hands-on exploration of art and nature. In each session campers will discover the diverse resources of the SM&NC’s unique facility with visits to the planetarium, Heckscher Farm, Museum galleries, or nature trails, guided by one of our experienced environmental educators. To enhance the camper’s experience, they will explore a variety of art-making processes with our art educator at Heckscher Barn classroom. STAY FOR LUNCH! For an additional fee, children can bring a lunch and drink and extend their time with us from 12:30 to 1:30 pm.

Join us for this ALL NEW camp held in the kitchen of our Knobloch Farmhouse Building! Aspiring chefs will be led by SM&NC staff for a great week of hands-on cooking! We’ll make our own pasta and sauce, learn to make our own cheese, create a great bread, butter, and jam combo and more! We’ll also learn the importance of sourcing local food and discover what is growing on the farm. Chefs will have lots of tasty treats to take home each day! Chefs will also prepare samples of some of their creations for their families for a special tasting party on our camp Friday! Each chef will receive their own chef’s coat to keep!

Children get a fun week of zoo-based activities, tours, and behind the scenes experiences. Each day patrollers tour an area of the zoo (Rainforest, Predators, Farmyard, Hoofstock) and have a special presentation by our keeper staff. The activities may include making enrichment items for the animals, watching training procedures, learning about new exhibits and more. Each week also offers some of our zoo presentations and introduction to our education animal collection. We offer zoo related games, crafts and activities for the younger groups. The sessions for the older children may include hands on activities involving tracking, scientific observation, and artifact identification. Zoo Patrollers also take part in all special summer shows offered by the zoo. Each day includes time for a snack and a little air-conditioned break! Special Friday activities include a carousel ride and a trip to the gift shop. Sessions are scheduled for children ages 6 to 8, 9 to 11 and 12 to 14. Zoo Patrol takes place in our Research Station and throughout zoo grounds. Children arrive at 9 AM and leave at 12:30 PM.