Nature Walks

Learn about the Park's birds with Nature Center intern Shane, an environmental studies major at U of Vermont who has been birding since age 11. Bring binoculars. Meet on the Nature Center porch. Free.

Our Nature Center intern, Harrison is a bug nut - Come to the Nature Center every Thursday at 1 pm for a treasure hunt to find interesting bugs in our gardens.  Create your own bug with paper cutout parts.  Try your hand drawing one with our expert help.  Learn how to report your findings on...

Sunny days invite butterflies to enjoy the Park's wildflowers! Tiger Swallowtail, Pearl Crescent, Variegated Fritillary, Clouded Sulphur, Black Swallowtail, Monarch, and the ubiquitous Cabbage White are some we expect to see.  Bring binoculars and camera or smartphone. Join butterfly enthusiast Michele Sorensen, as she leads the Friends' Butterfly Walk on August 21 at 2 pm, meeting...

Join butterfly hobbyist Michele Sorensen to explore the gardens and natural areas around the Park’s Nature Center in search of caterpillars, skippers, moths and butterflies. We may see Mourning Cloak, Pearl Crescent, Question Mark, Monarch, Cabbage White, Orange or Clouded Sulphurs, tiny Gray Hairstreaks & Blues, and Black or Tiger Swallowtails. Likely Skippers are Peck’s...

Discover Sherwood Island! Go beach to beach and discover habitats, inhabitants, and special features (9/11 Memorial, Model Airport, wetlands, pine forest) of this waterfront Gateway park. Go beach to beach on a Fun Walk along Long Island Sound- discover habitats, inhabitants, birding locations, viewing platforms, a purple martin enclave, and other special features of this...

Kyra Lerner, a volunteer with Sacred Heart University’s Project Limulus and a former Sherwood Island Nature Center Intern, will lead a talk and walk about Horseshoe Crabs on Sunday, June 4 at 11 am.  The event meets & departs from the Nature Center porch.  Be prepared to wade in shallow water along the shore.  After...

Nature photography walk using cellphone cameras.

Walk the East Beach with our Environmental Educators looking for state-protected horseshoe crabs and diamondback terrapins (turtles) that come ashore in May and June to lay eggs in the sand. Wear water shoes and knee-length pants. Bring your cameras.  Suitable for the whole family.  Free. Meet at the Nature Center.

Discover Sherwood Island! Go beach to beach on a Fun Walk along Long island Sound- discover habitats, inhabitants, birding locations, viewing platforms, a purple martin enclave, and other special features of this waterfront Gateway park. Other park points of interest include Connecticut’s 9/11 Memorial, model aircraft Airport, Trail heads, wetlands, and a pine forest. Comfortable shoes,...