Lightning Bugs Take the Stage!

(May 7, 2018) – Come learn all about birds in a banding program or take a night hike with the lightning bugs. Get the kids outside and learn about some cool creatures with Audubon!
Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online and view a complete listing of programs through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Please note: In support of efforts to stem the outbreak of COVID-19, the Audubon Society of Rhode Island is temporarily closing all facilities to the public, including the Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. All programs, and events are also cancelled. We will reopen based on guidelines from the Rhode Island Department of Health. Please check the events calendar at www.asri.org or contact Hope Foley hfoley@asri.org, to insure the following June programs will be running.

Audubon at Home: Nature Play and Learning
In Response to COVID-19
Audubon Brings Environmental Education to Families at Home
Pulling from years of environmental education experience and expert resources, Audubon introduces Audubon at Home, Nature Play and Learning, the new online resource for nature exploration.

Each week Audubon shares a different theme. One week it is all about owls, another week frogs. Watch for a week of birding fun, learn all about the intelligent Raven, bug out with insects and more! Look for videos of Audubon critters, stories and places to hike, download craft ideas, explore fun facts, discover educational activities and more. Engaging and fun, it’s easy to review activities online and keep nature enthusiasts of all ages engaged.

Videos and activities will be posted on Facebook and Instagram, and families are encouraged to visit www.asri.org to find additional materials, downloads and ideas for family fun.

Citizens Bank Free Family Fun Day
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 6, 2020; 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Thanks to Citizens Bank, the Nature Center and Aquarium is open free to the public the first Saturday of every month. Join us for crafts, nature stories, animal discoveries, hikes and more.
June 6, 2020 – Oceans
10:00 am -2:00 pm: Craft table
10:30 am & 2:30 pm: Nature Story
11:00 am: Ocean Walk
1:30 pm: Animal Interview
Activities: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Exhibit Hall: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Trails and Pollinator Garden: Dawn to Dusk
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI.

Bird Banding with Audubon
Three Dates Offered
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 13, July 11, August 15, 2020; 9:30 – 11:30 am
Join Audubon and witness bird banding, where experts capture, band, measure and release songbirds in order to record their movements. Birds will be gently removed from tall “mist nets” set in Audubon’s shrubby habitats. The techniques of identifying, measuring, weighing, and banding the birds will be demonstrated before they are released. The migratory habits and life history of each captured species will be discussed. Bring a camera and binoculars. Programs are limited to 15 participants, so register early.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI ; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $12/non-member adult, $6/non-member child. Ages: 6+.

Audubon Scavenger Hunt
Three Dates Offered
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 14, July 26, August 30, 2020; 12:00-3:00 pm
Head out in nature for a scavenger hunt with Audubon! Check in at the white barn and then hunt for clues as you explore the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Finish back at the barn for with a snack and a prize. Dress for the weather and be prepared to hike on rocky, uneven trails.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: All. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Ice Cream and Lightning Bugs
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
June 19, 2020; 7:30 – 9:30 pm
Summer is here, and the days are longer. Just as it starts to get dark, the lightning bugs appear. Join Audubon at Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge and learn all about these amazing insects. Start the evening by making ice cream sundaes and learning about what makes lightning bugs so special. Then head out for a hike and look for their flickering lights. If you are lucky, a resident beaver may be spotted along the way. This program is fun for the whole family!
Bring a flashlight and wear sturdy shoes.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $12/member adult, $6 member child; $16/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 5 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Sea Glass Workshop for Kids
Two Dates Offered
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 24, July 21, 2020; 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Our popular sea glass workshop is now available for kids! Come create a beautiful pendant with sea glass found on local beaches. Learn how to choose the right piece of glass and transform it using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! Advance registration is required as space is limited to 10 participants. Adult must accompany child.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $10/member child; $12/non-member child. Ages: 8 and up. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Explore the Estuary for Kids!
Three Dates Offered
Prudence Island, RI
June 25, July 7, August 20, 2020; 1:30 – 6:30 pm
Bring the kids to explore the amazing diversity of the estuary, from tidal creeks and salt marshes to the rocky shoreline! Kids will use different types of nets and search for fish, crabs and shrimp in the shallow waters of Prudence Island. Walk the shoreline to see what the tide has left behind and watch the ospreys and egrets hunt for food. This is a great family program!
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $6/member adult, $3/member child; $8/non-member adult, $5/non-member child. Ages: All. For more information on Prudence Island trips and to register, visit the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Firefly Fun with Audubon
Audubon Caratunk Widlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 28, 2020; 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Join Audubon for an evening of fireflies! Come learn about these captivating insects and head out to the fields to watch and count them. Snacks will be provided. (Audubon participates in the Firefly Watch community science program and attendees are invited to participate.)
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: All. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.