Audubon Center at Bent of the River

The Audubon Center at Bent of the River, owned and operated by the National Audubon Society, lies on 660 acres in Southbury, Connecticut, near the historic village of South Britain. Visitors often call it one of the most beautiful places in Connecticut. It is both an inviting outdoor sanctuary where people can connect with nature on 15 miles of walking trails and an environmental education center where students, young and old, can find strong, enlightening programs.

The Bent of the River is an evolving nature center. Donated to Audubon in 1993 by Althea Ward Clark, the Bent was held as a limited access nature sanctuary through 2000. Since that time, Audubon has opened the gates daily from dawn to dusk and introduced many public and school programs, particularly for middle and high school students. The Bent is envisioned as a place for environmental education, research, advocacy, collaboration, and land conservation; as a laboratory and showplace for habitat preservation and restoration practices; and finally as a sanctuary for nature and people.