Activities
Animals
to visit
Animals:
Real and stuffed, Wild and tame. Young children
love animals of all kinds.
Fun
activities to do with children:
Take
children on an animal adventure. Walk around a neighborhood
and ask the child to identify the animal you see on your
adventure, such as birds, squirrels, cats, and dogs.
If
you have a pet and the children are old enough, give the
child the task of feeding the pet. Help you child to observe
your pet. They might draw a picture and talk about what
they see and learn by watching.
FirstGov
for Kids
The
U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. This site was
developed and is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information
Center. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along
with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations
all grouped by subject. Explore, learn, have fun and don't
forget to add us to your favorites!
Visit
Plants and Animals.
For
animal craft ideas visit enchanted
learning and family
fun.
Log
on to State
of Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection to
learn about Connecticut wildlife.
Log
on to Yahooligans
Animals for information on animals, animal games,
cards, science and much more!
Log
on to National
Geographic for Kids for games, information, activities
and more.
Zoobooks.com
is a kid-friendly website about animals. You'll find educational
games and fascinating information about the animals kids
love—just like the monthly magazine!
Visit
American
Library Association for a list of great Zoos &
Aquariums.
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Plan
an animal adventure!
New
Haven County:
Springside
Farm/New Haven
Ecology Project at Common Ground High School,
385 Springside
Ave., New Haven, (203)389-4333 A 20 acre farm located at
the bottom of West Rock Ridge features goats, pigs, ducks,
chickens, turkeys, and sheep. They also offer great educational
family activities on some weekends, organic plant sales,
and fun farm festivals!
Bishop
Farms, 500 S. Meriden Rd. (Rte. 70), Cheshire,
(203)272-8243 A 200 year old working farm, pick-your-own
apples in season, farm animals, and a gift shop. All ages.
Brooksvale
Park, Brooksvale Avenue, Hamden, (203)287-2579 190-acre
recreation area for hiking, picnicking, ice skating, cross-
country skiing, sledding, softball, basketball, and a small
petting zoo with domestic animals. All ages.
Schreiber’s
Farm, 648 Quaker
Farms Rd. Oxford (203)888-0832 View farm animals, in the
fall pick-your-own pumpkins and hayride. All ages.
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Fairfield
County:
The
Beardsley Zoo,
1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport 06610 (203)394-6565 See rare
or endangered species like the Siberian tigers, red wolves
and more. Visit the New England farmyard where children
can enjoy bunnies, goats, geese, sheep, cows, and more.
See the South American rain forest re-creation with its
Toucan, woolly monkeys, ocelots and more. Also there is
a greenhouse with orchids, cacti, and other rare and tropical
plants. A snack bar, picnic area, and a carousel. All ages.
Visit the website for hours and admission.
The
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk,
10 North Water St., Norwalk (203)852-0700 This attraction
includes twenty-two aquariums with sharks, stingrays, bluefish,
harbor seals, river otters, and other sea creatures. Children
will love to handle the sea stars, horseshoe crabs, and
other tidal pool inhabitants in a touch tank. Visit the
museum area which features traditions of early New England
boat builders or take in a film in the IMAX Theater. All
ages. Visit the website for hours and admission.
Silverman’s
Farm,
Sport Hill Rd., Easton, (203)261-3306 Visit the barnyard
where children can see buffalo, llamas, goats, turkeys,
pigs, and more. They can even feed the farm animals. There
is an orchard that offers pick-your-own apples, peaches,
and nectarines in season. Take a first hand look a working
cider mill (seasonal), fall hay rides and a Farmers Market
with fresh baked good s. All ages.
Hartford
County:
Flamig
Farm,
7 Shingle Mill
Rd., West Simsbury, (860)658-5070 A petting zoo of farm
animals, pony rides on weekends and picnic area. All ages.
Middlesex
County:
Allegra
Farm & Horse Drawn Carriage & Sleigh Museum,
Rte. 82 & Petticoat La.,
East Haddam, (860)873-9658 Offering
a hay ride, carriage
ride, sleigh ride (as long as there’s snow), pony
rides, take a tour of the stables, barns and visit the ponies,
donkey and llama. All ages.
Amy’s
Udder Joy Exotic Animal Farm Park & Nature Center, 27
North Rd., Cromwell (860)635-3924. See fifty or more exotic,
rare, or endangered species from around the world. Guided
or self-guided tours, indoor and outdoor exhibits, petting
area and a picnic area. All ages.
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New
London County:
Mystic
Aquarium,
55 Coogan Road, Mystic, (860)572-5955 The
aquarium features over forty exhibits and nearly 3,500 specimens
representing the world’s oceans. Outdoor exhibits
such as beluga whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, sea lions,
black-footed penguin rookery and more. Daily demonstrations
featuring Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. All ages. Visit
the website for hours and admission.
Other
great zoos located outside Connecticut:
Bronx
Zoo, Fordham Road and Bronx River Parkway, Bronx, New
York, (718)367-1010 Visit
an Aquatic Bird House Exhibit, Jungle World, an African
rain forest habitat, Congo Gorilla Forest, Family and Children’s
Educational Programs, food court and picnic area. Visit
their website for Hours and Admission.
Roger
Williams Park Zoo, Providence, R. I., (401)467-1050
Explore the Plains of Africa, Madagascar, North America,
Australia, Greenhouse and Botanical Gardens, Museum of Natural
History and Planetarium, Boathouse (paddle boat rentals
and electric boat tours), a boundless playground, train
ride and more. Visit their website for Hours and Admission.
Public
Libraries offer great books for kids on animals. Your
FREE library card from your local branch will let you take
books from any library in Connecticut. Many have great children’s
sections with toys, computers, storytimes, and special events.
They lend a variety of FREE and reduced-price passes to
area museums, check your local branch for details.
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Yale School of Medicine