Nature Adventure Birthday Parties

Create a birthday party experience your child will never forget! Party themes feature live animals, natural crafts, games, nature walks, science exploration and more. Educators tailor parties to age, group size and season so that no two programs are the same! Weather permitting, we use outdoor space for as many party activities as possible.

Our parties have resulted in hundreds of happy parents and birthday memories! Staff are all highly-trained, professional educators who provide a safe, exciting, educational environment for your child and his or her friends! Parties are only open to NCNC members. Your family can join or renew while booking if necessary.

All parties include a 2 hour room rental and an instructor who will lead the chosen activities during that period. The room will be set up with tables and chairs and toys, blocks, etc. will be available to play with. Parents are responsible for set-up and clean-up of additional decorations or activities. Prices are for birthday child and up to 15 friends.

Party themes
Add-ons and options
Traveling Parties
Party registration information

Choose from the following party themes:

Awesome Animals (ages 3-5)
Touch a turtle or eyeball an owl as guests meet six animals from the Nature Center’s teaching collection.

Woodland Wonders (ages 3-5)
Discover the wonders of nature as we meet three woodland animals. We will also go on a nature walk and experience many of the fun adventures to be had in the woods: reading a story in a special spot, going on a scavenger hunt, catching (and releasing!) critters, or playing a game.

Walk On The Wild Side (ages 3-5)*
Explore our trails and grounds like never before! Your group will head out on an awesome adventure to visit some of our naturalists' favorite spots at NCNC. We may visit a pond, look for critters in the Rotten Log hotel, play a game of Camouflage, and more. This is an outdoor program and will be replaced with Awesome Animals in inclement weather.

Garden Magic (ages 4-8)*
Guests decorate an environmentally-friendly pot with stickers, markers and more, and then discover the magic of how plants grow. Guests will plant seeds in their pot to take home and will get to meet a plant-eating animal such as a rabbit or turtle too!

Safari (ages 5-10)*
Travel around the world without leaving the Nature Center! Guests will meet three exotic live animals, from birds to snakes, and then decorate their own pith helmet to take home.

Super Safari (ages 8 & up)*
An extreme adventure! Guests will participate in our Safari party, meeting three live exotic animals and decorating their own pith helmet. In addition, each child will get to stuff their own critter to take home with them. Party child may choose from a variety of 13" tall stuffed critters for party.

Create-a-Critter (ages 6 & up)*
A better alternative to mall-based stuffing parties: Each child will create their own 13" stuffed animal to take home and will also get to visit with three live animals from our teaching collection. We’ll use environmentally-friendly stuffing for our stuffed animals. Each party will have a variety of critter choices.

Science Mania (ages 7 & up)
Explore the fun side of science as we make slime, create volcanic eruptions, launch film canister rockets and more! Experiments vary depending on age, weather, group size and availability.

Night Hike (ages 8 & up)
A unique party idea. Guests will star gaze, test their night time senses and make a spark in the dark as we take an evening trek on the trails. Kids will meet one nocturnal animal, such as an owl or opossum, too. Time varies depending on sunset.

Science of Harry Potter (ages 7 & up)
Enter the world of Hogwarts right here at NCNC. One of our costumed professors will lead your guests through three wizard classes. First, wizards will create their own wands to take home. Then, all guests will meet three magical creatures straight out of Hogwarts, such as an owl, dragon or snake. Finally, all wizards will use their newly-created wands to test their hands at our Potions class!

Survival Challenge! (ages 8 & up)
Could you survive in the wild? Guests will play games to test their survival knowledge and then head into the wood to build a survival shelter. We'll learn about edible bugs and challenge the most daring to a taste test! This is mainly an outdoor party and will run rain or shine except in extreme weather, in which case substitutions will be made.

* The New Canaan Nature Center is permitted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the States of New York and Connecticut for the possession and use of live animals in our educational programs.

Add-ons and Options

Staff-led:
Twenty minute mini-programs in addition to your chosen theme. One per party and one week notice required. For on-site parties only. $30.00

We recommend non-animal add-ons for parties with younger children that already have an animal component. This ensures that younger attention spans have a lot of different things to do.

• Live Animal: 2-3 live animals will visit your guests.
• Reptiles: 2-3 live reptiles will introduce guests to the world of scaly and slimy.
• Mask making: Decorate a cardboard mask with stickers, markers, feathers and more.
• Nature walk: A short trek around our grounds to explore and burn off some energy!
• Science mania: 1-2 science experiments to round out the party, experiments range.
• Nature games: Some of our favorite predator/prey, nature awareness or animal-based games. Outside only.
  

Partyware:

One week notice required. For on-site parties only.

• Cups, small and large plates, napkins, candles, tablecloths and utensils coordinated with your theme. We try to use reusable tablecloths, cups and utensils whenever possible. Set up prior to your arrival to make your party a breeze! $50.00
  
• Partyware utensils only: $15
  
  

Traveling Parties

Book a birthday party at your location! Many of our party themes are available for off-site parties and can travel to your house or party location. Traveling parties are denoted by an asterisk in the list above. For party locations within 10 miles, there is a $25 charge. For distances greater than 10 miles, a $60.00 travel fee is required.

Party Registration Information

Parties are typically held on Friday afternoons and Saturdays. Weekday, Sunday and holiday parties are subject to staff availability.

Party prices include birthday child(ren) and up to 15 friends. Additional children, up to a total of 25 children, may attend for an additional $5.00 per child (an additional $10.00 per child for Create-a-Critter and Super Safari programs). Siblings, ages 2 and up, of the birthday child or guest are included in the total number of children.

Parties include a two-hour room rental and an additional 45 minutes for setup and 30 minutes for cleanup.

The New Canaan Nature Center respectfully requests that the following items not be included in your party: balloons, live animal party favors or noisemaker party favors.

We provide:

• Professional educator to lead your program
• Blocks, puzzles and toys in party room for children to play with
• Tables and chairs for party guests
• Large table for food (extra tables available upon request)
• Use of Nature Center trails and grounds
• Themed party favors created by each child during the party
• Access to kitchen facilities (sink, refrigerator, microwave)
  

A credit card number is kept on file in the event of damage to a room or its contents. A minimum charge of $50.00 will be added to your credit card to cover damages. The New Canaan Nature Center will notify cardholder by phone if a charge is made.

Cancellations and Refund Policy: Please notify the New Canaan Nature Center at least four weeks in advance of your scheduled visit or your payment will be forfeited. The New Canaan Nature Center will charge a 25% administrative fee and the remaining 75% reservation fee will be refunded only for cancellations made at least four weeks prior to the originally scheduled visit. Payments are transferable if you reschedule a program within 60 days of the cancellation.

To book your party call Marianne Dec at (203)966-9577 x20, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.