What Roaring Brook Nature Center does

Roaring Brook Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit nature center and wildlife rehabilitation facility located at 70 Gracey Road, Canton, Connecticut. Founded in 1948 by Una Storrs Riddle as the Canton Children's Nature Museum and affiliated with The Children's Museum Group since 1973, the organization operates a single physical site comprising indoor exhibits (walk-through dioramas such as the Ancient Forest, Beaver Wetland, and Wild & Scenic Farmington River exhibits), outdoor live-animal enclosures (raptors, reptiles, amphibians), a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic, native plant gardens, and five miles of maintained interpretive hiking trails across the adjacent 165-acre Werner Woods State Wildlife Refuge. The Wildlife Clinic cared for 335 wild animals in 2025 and supplies non-releasable animal ambassadors for educational programming.

The center's product platform is modular, anchored by general admission ($7–$9) and four annual membership tiers ($50–$250), with a portfolio of add-on paid programs: Summer Discovery Days ($270/$315), Vacation Discovery Days, Homeschool Programs ($75–$120), Field Trips ($10–$20/student with minimums), Outreach Programs ($290–$460), Scout Programs ($12–$15/scout), Birthday Parties ($175–$275), Club & Library Programs ($250 + mileage), guided hikes ($11/person), tiered Raptor/Animal Sponsorships ($50/$100/$300), and a gift shop. All programs are aligned with CT Core Standards and NGSS, positioning the center as both a recreational destination and a K–8 educational venue. Distribution is direct-to-consumer on-site and via outreach within the Farmington Valley and broader Connecticut, processed through a shared The Children's Museum Group ticketing platform.

Revenue is diversified across earned streams (admissions, memberships, program fees, gift shop) and contributed streams (individual donations, animal sponsorships, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding from the Connecticut State Legislature/DECD, Avangrid Foundation, NCB Foundation, Silvio Conte Fish & Wildlife Foundation, COA, and EPOC). The center is supported by a small paid staff (10+) and a substantial volunteer corps (105 volunteers logging 3,725 hours in 2025), with no public revenue disclosure and no M&A, funding-round, or leadership-change activity beyond a long-tenured Director Emeritus (Jay Kaplan, 50 years).

Name

Roaring Brook Nature Center

Legal name

Roaring Brook Nature Center

Website

https://roaringbrook.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Roaring Brook Nature Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Canton, CT operating indoor exhibits, 5 miles of trails across a 165-acre wildlife refuge, a licensed wildlife rehabilitation clinic, and curriculum-aligned K–8 nature education, serving Farmington Valley families, schools, scouts, homeschoolers, and community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Visitors pay per-visit admission fees to enter the nature center: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, $7 for children ages 12 and under, with members admitted free.
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership tiers (Individual $50, Family $125, Reciprocal $150, Animal Sponsorship $250) provide free admission, gift shop discounts, and member-only event access. Members receive priority registration for programs.
3. Educational Programs: Revenue from summer camps ($270 members/$315 non-members per program), homeschool programs ($120 for six Nature Explorers sessions; $75 for three Nature Quest sessions), scout programs ($12–$15 per scout), birthday parties ($175–$275), field trips ($10–$20 per student), and vacation discovery day programs.
4. Donations: One-time or recurring donations from individuals and supporters, plus volunteer time, to support animal care, trail maintenance, and educational programming.
5. Sponsorships and Grants: Corporate sponsors and grant funders (e.g., Avangrid Foundation, NCB Foundation, Connecticut State Legislature/DECD, Silvio Conte Fish & Wildlife Foundation) provide financial support for programs, facilities, and wildlife care.
6. Animal Sponsorship: Tiered annual sponsorship of resident raptors and animals at $50, $100, or $300 per year, including plaques, photos, species information, and certificates. Proceeds support animal care.
7. Gift Shop Sales: A nature store within the center sells books, gift items, trail maps, and wildlife checklists. Gift shop proceeds support educational programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Roaring Brook Nature Center operates a 165-acre nature center and wildlife rehabilitation facility in Canton, CT, offering public access to indoor exhibits, live animal ambassadors, five miles of hiking trails, and a licensed wildlife clinic that treats ill, injured, and orphaned native wildlife. The center delivers year-round fee-based educational programming including summer camps, homeschool classes, school field trips, scout badge programs, birthday parties, outreach presentations, and membership subscriptions, supported by admissions, memberships, sponsorships, donations, and grants.

Product overview

Roaring Brook Nature Center is a single-site nature center and wildlife rehabilitation facility located in Canton, CT, offering a unified visitor experience centered on environmental education and wildlife conservation. The core offerings include general admission for indoor exhibits (walk-through dioramas, live animal displays) and outdoor trail access (five miles across 165 acres), supported by a Wildlife Clinic that rehabilitates hundreds of animals annually and provides non-releasable animal ambassadors. The center's programmatic portfolio operates as a platform of modules built around this core experience: structured educational programming (Summer Discovery Days camp, Vacation Discovery Days, Homeschool Programs, Field Trips, Outreach, and Club Programs), lifecycle events (Birthday Parties), and group membership (Membership with tiered levels). Sponsorship add-ons (Raptor Ambassador Program, Animal Sponsorship Program) provide supplemental revenue while deepening visitor engagement with resident wildlife. All offerings are aligned with CT Core Standards and NGSS, positioning the center as both a recreational destination and an educational institution affiliated with The Children's Museum Group.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Per-visit admission to the nature center for individuals and families to access indoor exhibits, live animal ambassadors, and outdoor trails; adults $9, seniors $8, children $7.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic Licensed rehabilitation services providing professional treatment and care for ill, injured, and orphaned wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians) with the goal of returning them to the wild; non-releasable animals become ambassadors.
• Annual Membership Program Tiered annual memberships (Individual $50, Family $125, Reciprocal $150, Animal Sponsorship $250) providing free admission, gift shop discounts, member-only events, and priority program registration.
• Summer Discovery Days Camp Week-long themed summer day camp programs (Acorns ages 4-5, Sprouts K-1, Saplings 2-3, Oaks 4+, Explorations field-intensive) running Monday through Friday, 9 AM to Noon; $270 members / $315 non-members per program.
• School Field Trips CT Core Standards and NGSS-aligned educational programs for Pre-K through Grade 8, ranging from 1 hour 15 minutes to all-day, with pricing tiers from $10 to $20 per student and minimum fees.
• Homeschool Programs Nature Explorers (ages 4-8) and Nature Quest (ages 9-14) structured nature education programs; Nature Explorers $120 for six semi-monthly sessions; Nature Quest $75 for three monthly sessions.
• Scout Programs (Girl Scout & Boy Scout) Badge-fulfillment programs for Girl Scouts (Daisies through Cadettes) and Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts (Lions through Arrow of Light); one-hour programs $12 per scout, two-hour programs $15 per scout, with minimum fees.
• Birthday Parties Indoor ($225 members / $275 non-members) and outdoor ($175 members / $200 non-members) birthday party packages including auditorium or picnic area rental and a one-hour guided hike and animal encounter with a nature educator; up to 25 attendees.
• Outreach Programs In-person classroom ($290, max 30 students), Pre-K ($290, max 18 students), assembly ($460, max 150 students), and virtual nature programs delivered to schools and organizations; mileage fees for distances beyond 25 miles.
• Club & Library Programs Nature presentations available for libraries, clubs, and civic organizations; $250 program fee plus mileage.
• Vacation Discovery Days Seasonal programs during December, February, and April school vacations for students K-5 with nature-themed activities.
• Raptor Sponsorship Program Tiered annual sponsorship of non-releasable resident raptors at $50, $100, or $300 per year; benefits include honorary plaques, framed photos, species info, certificates, and up-close raptor experiences plus wildlife clinic tours at higher tiers.
• Animal Sponsorship Program Sponsorship of resident animals including snakes, turtles, frogs, and reptiles with tiered benefits including framed portraits and certificates.
• Nature Store On-site retail gift shop selling nature-related books, gift items, trail maps, and wildlife checklists; proceeds support educational programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• 335 wild animals cared for in 2025 by the Wildlife Clinic
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• COA (Connecticut Outdoor Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOA is listed as a sponsor for 2026, indicating a partnership aligned with environmental stewardship and outdoor education values.
• Aspell LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAspell Law is a sponsor for 2026, listed alongside other community business sponsors supporting the Nature Center's mission.
• Environmental Professionals Organization of Connecticut (EPOC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPOC is listed as a 2026 sponsor, indicating a partnership between environmental professionals and the Nature Center for mutual educational goals.
• Cherry Brook Garden Club of CantonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe club has expanded and enhanced the Porritt Wildflower Trail through ongoing volunteer efforts, maintaining the garden year after year as a community service contribution.
• The Children's Museum GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 1973, Roaring Brook Nature Center has been affiliated with The Children's Museum Group (formerly Science Center of Connecticut), providing members with access to a wider range of programs and services. The Nature Center shares staff, administrative resources, and an integrated ticketing platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Connecticut Audubon Society: Statewide nonprofit operating sanctuaries, nature centers, and bird sanctuaries across Connecticut with wildlife rehabilitation and environmental education programs; directly comparable mission, mix of admission/membership/donation revenue, and Connecticut footprint.
• White Memorial Conservation Center: Located in Litchfield, CT, this 4,000-acre nonprofit nature center offers trails, live animal exhibits, environmental education, summer programs, and wildlife programming; closely comparable operating model within the same Connecticut market.
• Earthplace: Westport, CT nature center and wildlife sanctuary with indoor and outdoor animal exhibits, nature trails, and family/school programming; comparable scale, Connecticut geography, and mix of admissions, memberships, camps, and educational programs.
• Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center: Nonprofit nature center in Mystic, CT with live animal exhibits, trails, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental education programs for schools and families; closely comparable Connecticut nature center with similar programming mix.
• New England Wildlife Center: Nonprofit wildlife hospital and education center in Massachusetts providing wildlife rehabilitation, animal ambassadors, and educational programming; closely comparable wildlife clinic + public education model in the broader New England region.
• Salzman Tannery Nature Center / Stamford Museum & Nature Center: Stamford, CT nonprofit combining a nature center, farm, and museum with trails, animal exhibits, camps, and school programs; comparable multi-program nonprofit in the same state.

Broad incumbents

• Massachusetts Audubon Society (Mass Audubon): Large regional nonprofit operating wildlife sanctuaries and nature centers across Massachusetts with extensive education and wildlife rehabilitation programs; broader geographic footprint but directly comparable mission and programming mix.
• Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History: Large Connecticut-based natural history museum with nature exhibits, educational programming, and family visitors; broader scope but serves overlapping Connecticut education and family audiences.

Others

• Children's Museum Group (parent affiliate): The Children's Museum Group is the parent/affiliated organization of Roaring Brook Nature Center since 1973, sharing staff, ticketing, and reciprocal memberships; ecosystem partner with overlapping audiences.

Regional players

• Beardsley Zoo: Connecticut's only accredited zoo, located in Bridgeport, CT, featuring animal exhibits, educational programs, and memberships; comparable Connecticut-based nonprofit animal attraction with overlapping family and education audiences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@roaringbrooknaturecenter9831
• Facebookfacebook.com/RoaringBrookNatureCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/roaringbrooknaturecenter/#
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roaring-brook-nature-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roaring Brook Nature Center