First, a little history. Weir Farm National Historic Site is
a National Park for Art that preserves the life and work of Julian (J.) Alden
Weir, a leading figure in the American Impressionist movement. There are acres of woods, fields, and waterways. Weir’s farm is a national legacy
to American Impressionism, the creative spirit, and historic preservation.
Grounds are open daily, from 7am until 5pm. year-round. (Check the website for current hours and conditions.) Plan
to spend several hours at the park to explore the
gardens and grounds.
Kids can become a Virtual Junior Ranger by following the instructions on the park website, or you can pick up instructions on the visitor center porch. If you download the activity sheets before coming to the park, it will give kids a chance to review them.
Below the gallery activities on the 'Ranger' page is a list of activities you can complete on the grounds. Scrolling towards the bottom of the page you will find the documents you download and print. Each document describes a unique activity that leads to becoming a 'Ranger.'
READ MORE: How to support child-driven learning at home
For the artists in the family the park offers the “Take Part
in Art” program. Bring your own supplies or borrow some from the front porch of
the visitors’ center, and then let your kids create their own masterpieces in
this inspiring setting. Pickup a self-guided tour of dozens of historic
painting sites at the park and try one yourself for extra inspiration.
Since kids love animals, this is also a great place for them
to learn about the flora and fauna of the area. See a wild turkey,
frogs and turtles in the pond, deer, plus lots of butterflies and dragonflies. The
farm is the perfect place for birdwatching also.
For a real educational bent, you can hit up their curriculum page. When the house and visitor's center is open, kids can learn with lessons provided on this page. There are 6 different curricula divided by age that you can follow for your children. The list also specifies what subjects these activities will cover and what state standards it meets. (Remember this is Connecticut.)
When the house and visitor's center is open, high schoolers can learn about the farm with Weir Farm: Home of an American Impressionist. This program and Art Alive! cover Literacy and Language Arts, and Social Studies. Students participating in the Art Alive! program learn about the three generations of American artists who lived and painted at Weir Farm National Historic Site, and experience the authentic, untouched landscape that inspired them.
The Art Alive! program covers the same subjects for Grades 5-8 and Grades 1-4 with age-appropriate materials.
Weir Am I? teaches Social Studies, Oral Language, Language Arts by learning to read, use and design maps to Grades 5-8.
Strengthen your Pre-K through second graders art and literacy skills with Weir Your Badge. This program helps students gain a broad perspective of the park. This field trip packet includes three seasonal visits to the park, as well as in-class lessons. Students will design a symbol or badge to represent Weir Farm National Historic Site using the National Park Service Arrowhead as a model, and use their newfound knowledge of their local national park as inspiration. Download your packet here.
This is a great place for families to get out and spend some
quality time in nature. And who knows, maybe the kids will learn something
while you are there.
Weir Farm National Historic Site
735 Nod Hill Road
Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 834-1896 ext: 0
Park is open 7am-5pm daily
There are resources available on the visitor center porch
for self-guided visits, including maps, self-guided tours, Junior Ranger activities,
and the National Park Passport Stamp.
Be sure to bring out whatever you bring into the farm. (Those are the rules!)
Restrooms, Burlingham House Visitor Center, Historic Weir
House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio are all closed at this time. And no water is available.
Dogs are
welcome at the Farm site and Weir Preserve