It is hard to believe that next week marks the final week of Summer Camp at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. While we’ve had our share of rainy days, they certainly haven’t dampened the excitement. Our campers have embraced every opportunity to explore, discover, and get their hands (and clothes!) dirty as they experienced nature through science, stewardship, and play.
One of this summer’s highlights has been Coastal Camp, where campers stepped into the role of marine biologists as they explored the ocean and examined a variety of marine life. From American eels, summer flounder, and northern pufferfish to hermit crabs, pipefish, and countless other fascinating species, each discovery sparked questions and a deeper appreciation for the ecosystems just beyond our shoreline.
For our youngest campers, we “bring the beach” to the main campus so that they can explore the Coastal Camp marine discoveries made at our Third Beach property.
What makes Summer Camp at Norman Bird Sanctuary unique is that learning extends far beyond the classroom. The conservation work happening across our campus becomes part of each day’s experience. Campers have studied poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and bachelor’s buttons (Centaurea cyanus-mixed) in our Coastal Pollinator Meadow, observed monarch butterflies and other insects up close in our caterpillar enclosure, helped care for plants in the garden, and explored the forest and fields where our staff conduct year-round research and stewardship.
At Norman Bird Sanctuary, our 300-acre campus is more than a Sanctuary. It is a living laboratory where every restoration project, scientific study, and stewardship initiative is designed not only to protect the land, but also to create meaningful opportunities for education. Our programs are built around the conservation work happening on the property, allowing participants to experience science in action and have a hand in our efforts to protect this special place. Whether you’re five or ninety-five, there is always something new to discover and a way to be involved.
The caterpillar enclosure was installed in Spring 2026 as an interactive display highlighting pollinators and their habitats.
As summer gives way to fall, this spirit of discovery continues. The Curiosity Lab will reopen in September with new, interactive exhibits inspired by the natural world and the conservation work happening right here at Norman Bird Sanctuary. Curiosity Lab features in the year ahead will highlight our pollinator meadow as well as ongoing wildlife and water quality research. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the science behind our stewardship efforts through hands-on discovery in the Lab.
From “Fledgling” campers identifying their first marine species to researchers studying bird populations and behaviors across our landscape, Norman Bird Sanctuary offers opportunities for people of all ages to connect with real conservation work shaping the biodiversity and ecological health of Aquidneck Island. If you are inspired to learn more and support these critical efforts, I invite you to reach out: drop us a note, come to a program, or make a gift today.
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