Summer Nature Program
Registration is OPEN!
Please check our availability before registering.
In-Person: Summer Nature Program
Join us! Right here, in-person, at The Wetlands Institute!
Spend a week (or two or three!) discovering the New Jersey Shore in a fun and
hands-on way. Engage in science experimentation and exploration, play games, go on field trips, explore the beach, create arts and crafts, and so much more all while enjoying a new theme each week.
For children ages 5-13, programs are held weekly from June 24 – August 19, 2026 and include field trips and beach days. Children age 4 can enjoy special programs during the weeks of June 24, June 29, July 13, July 27, August 10 and August 17, 2026.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
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2026 Summer Nature Program
Registration Packet
Pricing and themes vary by week and age level.
Please download a registration packet for complete details.
Please see current availability below before registering.
Have questions about how the week will run?
Click our Full Week Procedures or Short Week Procedures to
find out more about each week.
Additional Questions? Call (609) 368-1211
2026 Summer Nature Program Themes
June 24 – 26 (Wednesday – Friday)
Theme: Super Slimy Nature
Get ready to dig into mud, investigate slime-making critters, explore the salt marsh, and uncover the science behind nature’s slimiest creations. From fish eggs and marsh mud to tree sap and soil goo, we’re exploring the ooey gooey side of nature.
Registration is AVAILABLE for Ages 4, 5 and 10-13.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 6-7 and 8-9.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
June 29 – July 3 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Avian Adventures
Take flight this summer! Learn about local bird species, investigate feathers and flight, and discover what it takes to survive and thrive as a bird. Join us for a week of exploration, discovery, and winged wonders.
Children ages 5-13 will have a field trip to Garrett Family Preserve at Cape Island Creek. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
July 6 – 10 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Spectacular Sharks
Discover the incredible world of sharks – one of the ocean’s most misunderstood animals. Uncover the science behind shark senses, their teeth, and meet their local relatives. Get ready for a week of jaw-dropping ocean adventure that will change how you see sharks forever!
Children ages 5-13 will have a field trip to Atlantic City Aquarium. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.
Children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
July 13 – 17 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Explore the Shore: Wetland Wonders
Explore the muddy, marshy, and magnificent world of wetlands. Discover why wetlands are some of the most important ecosystems on Earth while meeting the plants and animals that call this place their home. Join us for a week of exploration, conservation, and muddy fun as we discover Wetland Wonders!
Children ages 5-13 will have a field trip to the Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area. Busing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
July 20 – 24 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: You’re Bugging Me!
Get up close and personal with beetles, butterflies, ants, and more while learning what makes bugs so important to our planet. From pollinators to decomposers, discover how these small creatures make a big impact.
Children age 5 -13 will have a field trip to Belleplain State Forest. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is AVAILABLE for Ages 5.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-13.
Children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
July 27 – 31 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Scutes and Scales
From snakes and alligators to turtles and tortoises, reptiles are all around us! Get the opportunity to see Northern Diamondback Terrapins up close and personal and go behind the scenes to meet the scientists who help protect them.
Children age 5 -13 will have a field trip to Cape May Point State Park. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
August 3 – 7 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Amazing Animals
Embark on an exciting adventure through the animal kingdom. Discover incredible creatures from the land, sea, and sky! From jungle giants to backyard critters, learn about what makes them so unique and how they survive in their habitats.
Children age 5 -13 will have a field trip to Cape May County Park and Zoo. This is a parent drop-off/pick-up field trip location.
Registration is AVAILABLE for Ages 5.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 6-7, 8-9 and 10-13.
Children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
August 10 – 14 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Marine Mammals: Thar, She Blows!
Dive into an ocean of discovery as you explore majestic whales, playful dolphins, and intelligent seals. Learn how marine mammals thrive in their ocean habitat and act out some legendary maritime tales along the way.
Children age 5-13 will have a field trip to Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is AVAILABLE for Age 5.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 4, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-13.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.
August 17 – 19 (Monday – Wednesday)
Theme: Art in Nature
From creating mud paint to building nature mandalas, discover that art doesn’t have to take place in a studio – it is all around. Find inspiration in the shell of a terrapin, blooming flowers, or scales of a fish, turning the natural world into your personal canvas. Join us for a week where creativity blooms!
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.
Children age 4 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 12:00pm and children ages 5-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am – 2:00pm.