Birthday Parties

• A room in our Nature Center, complete with tables and chairs (seating for 30) , and an alternate outdoor picnic area (seating for 18)
• A two and a half hour reservation which includes the following:
  • 30 minutes for set-up before your party begins
  • 60 minutes of naturalist led activities and games
  • 30 minutes for refreshments and gifts
  • 30 minutes to clean up at the end of the party
• Trash bags and clean up supplies (brooms, dust pans, etc.)
• Refrigerator, freezer, sink, and microwave are available

NOTE: If you are not familiar with Schiff’s Nature Center, we advise you visit our facility before booking.

• Inviting guests to your party
• Providing all food and beverages (alcoholic beverages are prohibited)
• Providing all decorations, paper goods, utensils, and table coverings (balloons and open flame of any type are prohibited. Nothing may be affixed to the walls)
• Collecting of all emergency contact telephone numbers for children attending the party (if their guardian’s are not going to be present)
• Assisting the management of the children during the program. While children will be led in activities by a Schiff naturalist, the supervision of children is the responsibility of the hosts and other parents.  All children present must be included and paid for in the final head count. 
• Providing Schiff with a final number of guests one week in advance of the party.  Additional payment is required if your final guest count is greater than 20 guests.
• Cleaning the entire party space, with the help of our staff naturalist. This includes sweeping the floors, throwing garbage and recyclable materials in the proper receptacles.
• Arriving and departing on time.

To familiarize yourself with our facilities, please visit Our Preserves page for pictures and descriptions of our available space.

Please ask in advance for approval of any planned activities beyond birthday party food, so that we can help you have a happy, enjoyable birthday party at Schiff!

Please consider the naturally beautiful, colorful and ever-changing scenery as decoration enough, and challenge yourself and your guests to celebrate with as little impact on the Earth as possible. 

• Use recycled paper or email your invitations
• Decorate with objects from nature
• Make your own party favors from recycled goodies around your house or give each child that attends the party something more useful, maybe a small plant or packet of seeds
• Resist giving children soda, sugary beverages, individually packaged snacks or candy gift items
• Consider requesting a homemade gift, a gently used gift, or a donation in lieu of a gift
• Ask that all gifts be wrapped in newspaper, homemade wrapping paper, children’s artwork or a reusable gift bags
• Encourage friends to carpool to Schiff for the party
• Support local farmers and use local ingredients to make an interesting carrot cake or a homemade apple pie
• Serve organic, local and in-season food

Cost:
$180 Members
$230 Non-Members (includes automatic 1 year family membership)

Posted cost is for parties up to 12 children. There is a $5 fee for each additional child (any child 3+) up to a maximum of 20 children. Infants and supervising adults attend for free and are not included in the maximum count.

Reservations should be made at least a month in advance. Full payment is required to hold your reservation. Please notify the Schiff Nature Center of cancellations at least two weeks in advance of your scheduled party or your payment may be forfeited. The $50 Family Membership fee built into the cost for non-members is considered a donation and is not refundable.