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Visitor Information


Hours / Admission

Mission Statement

History

Facilities

Activities

Driving Directions

Map


Roaring Brook Nature Center
70 Gracey Road, Canton, CT
860.693.0263
Hours and Admission


REGULAR HOURS
Wednesday to Saturday
10 am - 4 pm
Sunday 1 - 4 pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday


NOTE: Special hours may apply
PLEASE CHECK HOME PAGE

 


Admission:

Adults:   $9.00
Seniors(62+):  $8.00
Children: $7.00
Members: FREE

Click here for Membership Information


RBNC Mission Statement

To increase awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of the natural world, and the interrelationships that exist between people and the changing environment.

 

RBNC History

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.


Facilities


Our present facility houses walk-through dioramas that higlight how our landscape and wildlife have changed over time.  These exhibits include a replica of an Eastern Woodland Native American longhouse, a Beaver Wetland exhibit, a Changing Land / Changing Wildlife exhibit. Indoors, a small collection of live animals offer our visitors additional opportunities for learning. Outdoors, visitors can observe variety of birds of prey and turtles pond A small nature store features a selection of nature-related books and gift items.

We maintain five miles of trails on the adjacent State-owned Werner’s Woods property. This refuge is home to a variety of native wildlife species – over 150 bird species have been sighted on the property. Outdoor gardens provide opportunities for visitors to view wildflowers, birds and butterflies in season. Self-guiding trail maps, booklets and wildlife checklists are available in the Nature Center Store. For a Trail Map, click here.


Activities

We offer a year-round schedule of educational programs 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; our Roaring Brook concerts, a music series featuring folk and other fine music; and special events for members and friends.


Driving Directions
Directions - from East
(Click for Map)

Directions -  from West
(Click for Map)

From Hartford

Take Rt. 44 West.  Go over Avon Mountain, through Avon, past the intersection of Rt. 167; look for the McDonald's on the right.  One mile beyond the McDonald's (CVS is on right, Vincent's Funeral Home on left) is another stop light.  Take a right at the light onto Lawton Road.

Bear left at first stop sign.  At the second stop sign, three roads converge.  Take the middle, which is Gracey Road.  RBNC is about 1/2 mile on your left.

From Points Across the CT River

Take Rt. 84 West through Hartford.  Get off the first Farmington exit and follow the exit road (Rt. 4) straight through Farmington.  At the stop light in town, turn right onto Rt. 10 North toward Avon/Simsbury.  Follow Rt. 10 about 5 miles to the intersection of Rt. 10 & Rt. 44.  Turn left onto Rt. 44 West and follow above directions "From Hartford".



From Winsted

Take Rt. 44 East through Canton.  Pass small town green on right, then look for Ethan Allen Furniture Store on left.  At the light, be in the left hand turning lane.   Take the second left onto Lawton Road.

Bear left at the first stop sign.   At the second stop sign, three roads converge into Lawton.  Take the middle, which is Gracey.  RBNC is about 1/2 mile on your left.

From Torrington

Take Rt. 202 East to Canton (about 12 miles).  In Canton, take Rt. 44 East.  Follow above directions "From Winsted."

From New York

Take either Rt. 84 East or Rt. 95 North to Rt. 8 North.  Follow Rt. 8 to Torrington.  Take exit 44 (Rt. 4 & Rt. 202).  At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right onto Rt. 202 and follow above directions "From Torrington".




Directions - from North
(Click for Map)

Directions - from South
(Click for Map)

From Granby/Simsbury Area

Take Rt. 10 South through Simsbury center to Rt. 167.
Turn right onto Rt. 167 (West Street).  Continue about 2.8 miles on Rt. 167.  Look for a white fire house on the right (not far beyond Ethel Walker School fields).  Bear right just beyond the fire house onto Canton Road.  Shortly after, the road forks.   Take the right fork (Wildwood Road).  The first stop sign is at the crossing of West Mountain Road.  Continue straight across to the second stop sign (Notch Road) and turn left.  Take your next right (up Dry Bridge Road).  At the stop sign at the top of the hill, take your immediate right, which is Gracey Road.  RBNC is about 1/2 mile on your left.



From New Haven

Take Rt. 91 North to Rt. 9 West (Rt. 9 will go into Rt. 72).  Follow Rt. 72 through New Britain to exit for Rt. 177.  Take Rt. 177 North through Unionville to the intersection of Rt. 44.  At this intersection go across Rt. 44, onto Lawton Road.

Bear left at the first stop sign.  At the second stop sign, three roads converge into Lawton.  Take the middle, which is Gracey Road.  RBNC is about 1/2 mile on your left.

From Bristol

Take Rt. 6 to Rt. 177.  At the intersection of Rt. 177 and Rt. 44, go straight across to Lawton Road.

Bear left at the first stop sign.  At the second stop sign, three roads converge into Lawton.  Take the middle, which is GraceyRoad.  RBNC is about 1/2 mile on your left.


Map
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Back to Directions

Copyright © 2006 Roaring Brook Nature Center. All rights reserved worldwide.