$250K Campaign Funds Major Renovation At Darien Nature Center

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Nature Center announced it has completed a $250,000 capital campaign to renovate its Animal Room, with construction beginning June 8.

According to the Nature Center, the project is the largest improvement to the facility since the building opened in 2002.

The renovation will transform the Animal Room into a hardwood forest-themed environment featuring naturalistic habitats and murals depicting trees, a woodland stream, a vernal pool, winter burrows and new animal enclosures designed to highlight Connecticut wildlife and ecosystems.

The project also includes a new generator, kitchen upgrades, new flooring and other infrastructure improvements.

The concept for the project originated in 2024 when The Darien Foundation funded a new habitat for the Nature Center’s resident owls, Blinken and Luna.

Nature Center officials said the enclosure included a hand-painted mural and a snag tree and led to the broader plan to renovate the entire Animal Room.

"We are extremely grateful to The Darien Foundation, our lead donor," Executive Director Angela Whitford said in a news release. "As the earliest champion of this project, they provided the foundational $50,000 grant that launched our campaign and have now ensured its success—and the timely start of construction—with an additional $20,000 grant that helped us cross the finish line."

Whitford also credited The Riley Family Foundation for supporting the fundraising effort.

"The Riley Family Foundation was instrumental in helping our fundraising efforts through their generous $50,000 challenge grant," Whitford added. "The challenge inspired many members of our community to contribute and created tremendous momentum during the final phase of the campaign. Their support was a vital component of our success."

Program Director Molly Robertson said the project is intended to strengthen visitors’ connections to nature.

"This is about much more than creating beautiful animal habitats," Robertson said in a news release. "It is about inspiring children and families to develop a deeper connection with the natural world. We hope every visitor who walks into this space leaves with a greater appreciation for wildlife, habitats, and their role as stewards of our environment."

Nature Center officials thanked foundations, families and individual donors who contributed to the campaign, saying the renovated space will serve thousands of visitors annually, including preschool students, school field trip participants, summer campers, families and community members.

Construction is expected to continue throughout the summer, with the renovated Animal Room scheduled to reopen in fall 2026.