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 26 – August 21, 2024 and include field trips and beach days. Children age 4 can enjoy special programs during the weeks of June 26, July 1, July 15, July 29, August 12
and August 19, 2024.

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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2024 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

2024 Summer Nature Program Themes

June 26 – 28 (Wednesday – Friday)
Theme: Color my World with Nature
Color plays an important role in nature! Animals use it for communication, hiding, and attention. Join us as we learn about animals who depend on colors, go on a color scavenger hunt, and try to camouflage with our surroundings.
Availability in Ages 10-13.
Registration is Limited for Ages 4 and 5.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 6-7 and 8-9.

July 1 – 5 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Becoming a Naturalist
Together we’ll slow down and enjoy all that nature gives us. Channel your inner naturalist and use your senses to identify plants and animals common to New Jersey salt marshes. It’s a perfect week to absorb the sights, take a deep breath of salty air and listen to all the animal calls around you.
Children ages 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 Limited for Ages 10-13. 
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 4, 5, 6-7, and 8-9.


July 8 – 12 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Explore the Shore: Wetland Warriors
Grab a net, put on your boots and bring your outdoor warrior spirit because this week we’re exploring all things wetlands. From saltwater to freshwater, and everywhere in between, we will be wading out in the water to learn about the wildlife that lives in the wetlands.
Children ages 5-13 will have a field trip to Cox Hall Creek Wildlife Management Area. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is Limited for Ages 10-13.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 5, 6-7 and 8-9.

July 15 – 19 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Reptile Wranglers
Spend this week flipping logs, digging in the dirt, and wading in the creeks to wrangle some reptiles and search for their elusive amphibian friends! Get up close and personal with the most famous reptile in the salt marsh, the Diamondback Terrapin, and meet the scientists who study them.
Children ages 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 Limited for Age 4.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 5, 6-7, 8-9 and 10-13.

July 22 – 26 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: 
Go with the Flow
Splash into the week learning about the importance of water on Planet Earth. Make fun water discoveries as we learn about rivers, lakes, oceans, and the animals who call water home, including the Delaware Bay’s own living fossil. Get ready for a wet and wild adventure!     
Children age 5 -13 will have a field trip to Bayshore Center at Bivalve. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is Limited for Age 10-13.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 5, 6-7, and 8-9.

July 29 – August 2 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: 
Wildlife Detectives
How can you figure out an animal has been in your backyard? Does it leave tracks, nests, fur, or even poop? Scientists rely on all of these clues and more to track down and observe animals. Join us this week to figure out the mystery of who has been visiting the salt marsh.
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 Limited for Age 5 and 10-13.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 4, 6-7, and 8-9.

August 5 – 9 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Marine Mammals: Get Your Swim On!
Did you know that scientists don’t know that much about the ocean? Swim into this week to learn about our local marine life and the unique adaptations that allow them to survive in the ocean! Participate in a beach cleanup and learn all the ways we can help our ocean friends.
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 FULL and CLOSED for ALL AGES.

August 12 – 16 (Monday – Friday)
Theme: Going Green
Become an environmental champion this week as we focus on green living. Learn what you can do to help preserve animal habitats, turn everyday trash into artsy treasures, and live sustainably off the land that surrounds you. It’s sure to be a green-tastically good time!
Children age 5-13 will have a field trip to Atlantic County Utilities Authority. Bussing is provided from The Wetlands Institute to the field trip location.
Registration is Limited for Age 5.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 4, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-13.

 August 19 – 21 (Monday – Wednesday)
Theme: Salty Shorebirds: Surviving the Jersey Shore
Cape May County is known all over the world for its amazing bird species, especially those that stop here during their migration! This week learn more about our feathered friends and the technology we’re using to track them. Join us on a hike out in the salt marsh and test your bird ID knowledge.
Availability in Age 4.
Registration is FULL and CLOSED for Ages 5, 6-7, 8-9, and 10-13.

 

Support for Summer Nature Program generously provided by Donna and Craig Rothman.