Programs & Events

Arrow pointOur goal for programming at the CSMNH is to enhance people's understanding of both natural and cultural history. We strive to develop engaging learning opportunities that showcase research, scholarship, and creativity for audiences of all ages, at the university and across the broader public.

The Museum's programs and events include field-learning activities, workshops, lectures, community outreach, and special events.

Field-Learning Activities

Field-learning activities: Participants make field observations, test ideas, and use tools they may otherwise not have access to. Past field-learning activities include shoe-box archaeology digs, animal tracking tours, and bird walks.

Upcoming field-learning activities:

Nighttime Spring Herp Walk with Susan Herrick

Morning Spring Herp Walk with Susan Herrick

Workshops

Workshops: Museum workshops led by local experts offer hands-on learning activities to small groups of participants. Past workshops have focused on scientific illustration techniques and basic field archaeology methods and best practices.

Upcoming workshops:

There are currently no workshops scheduled.

Lectures

Lectures: Experts from diverse backgrounds, many recognized as leaders in their fields, share their knowledge with the public. Speakers explore contemporary issues and reveal ancient mysteries on varied topics. Recent past lectures have focused on taking local action to address climate change, the pre-agricultural origins of the UConn campus, and the story of Darwin’s fascination with orchids. In addition, the CSMNH co-sponsors the Edwin Way Teale Lecture Series, which brings leading scholars from around the world to UConn to present public lectures on nature and the environment six times each year.

Upcoming lectures:

The CSMNH is a co-sponsor of the Edwin Way Teale Lecture Series "Nature and the Environment". All lectures are free, open to the public, and unless otherwise noted held at 4 p.m. in the Konover Auditorium at the Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn’s main campus in Storrs. A link to this seasons poster and information for lectures in Spring 2025 are listed below.

View Teale Lecture Series Poster

Community Outreach & Special Events

Community outreach events: These events involve the broader Connecticut community and help create awareness of and foster involvement in the CSMNH, emphasizing unique educational opportunities for the public at-large. Past community outreach events where the CSMNH has participated include the Connecticut Archaeology Fair, Willimantic's 3rd Thursday, Celebrate Mansfield Festival, UConn Extension’s Bug Week, and The Last Green Valley's Walktober.

Upcoming community outreach and special events:

The CSMNH is excited to be creating a vignette for the UConn Office of Sustainability's 4th annual Haunted HEEP this October 23rd!

We will also be attending the town of Mansfield's Winter Welcome on Saturday December 7th.

Details about both events can be found below.

If you require an accommodation to attend any of our events, please contact the CSMNH at 860-486-4460 or CSMNHInfo@uconn.edu at least 5 days before the event.

Upcoming Events

EDWIN WAY TEALE LECTURE SERIES

Graphic illustration of Edwin Way Teale in the field with a camera

Realizing the Promise of Nature-Based Water Treatment in the Age of Climate Change Adaptation

with David Sedlack

University of California, Berkeley

27 March 2025

All Teale lectures are free, open to the public, and held on Thursdays at 4pm in the Konover Auditorium in the Dodd Center for Human Rights at UConn Storrs (unless noted otherwise).

Visit the Edwin Way Teale Lecture website for more information and the link to view recorded lectures.

FIELD ACTIVITY

Spring Herp Walks at Allanach-Wolf Woodlands

Friday, 28 March 2025, 7:30pm-9:30pm

and

Saturday, 29 March 2025, 10am-12pm

Allanach-Wolf Woodlands, Windham, CT

 

Herpetologist Dr. Susan Herrick from the University of Connecticut’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology will be leading a nighttime walk to observe the nocturnal spring breeding activity of local frogs and a morning walk to search for the results—frog eggs!

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History is partnering with Joshua’s Tract Conservation and Historic Trust to host seasonal field-learning activities with Dr. Herrick as part of an ongoing research project to observe and track the herps that seek shelter in artificial habitats called coverboards throughout the Allanach-Wolf Woodlands.

Dr. Herrick is a professor at UConn who studies herpetology and behavioral ecology. During these guided hikes, she will explain the ecology and behavior of the herps that people would commonly encounter in Connecticut in their native habitat.

* These events are free and open to the public, but space is limited and separate registration is required for each event!!! *

 

Morning hike (Saturday March 29) is recommended for participants aged 8 and up; evening walk (Friday March 28) is recommended for participants aged 12 and up, and those who are comfortable traversing the woods at night. Those 16 and under must be accompanied by a chaperone.

 

These hikes may be challenging for some and will include hilly, wet areas and forays off trail to view coverboards and wade into vernal pools or ponds. Heavy-weight, water proof boots are recommended, as are pants and headlamps. Vernal pools may be up to adults’ knees – wear your waders if you’ve got them! These events will be held rain or shine!

 

If you have questions or require an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the CSMNH at 860-486-4460 or CSMNHinfo@uconn.edu by Monday March 24, 2025.

View and download program flyer
View and download press release

Register for Nighttime Walk

Register for Morning Walk