The Marion Natural History Museum’s Summer Program is one of the most well-known and well-regarded in the Southcoast area. Children from across the country visit us each summer and participate in the program. The programs are designed for small groups, and registration is limited. Friday morning programs nature programs will take place from 9 am to noon. The cost is Members: $25, Non-Members: $30.
July 7 – Seaweeds | Grades entering 3 – 6 Meet at Brainard Marsh to learn a little about our local seaweeds and the invasive species affecting the ecology of our shorelines. We’ll also be collecting and inspecting the seaweeds we find with microscopes and magnifiers, and each student will be making a seaweed pressing. Location may have to be switched to the museum due to inclement weather.
July 14 – Amphibians | Grades entering 3 – 6 Frogs, salamanders and newts, oh my. What makes these animals so special? We’ll be taking a close look at amphibians and aquatic invertebrates in the wetlands at Washburn Park. We’ll be netting vernal pools and ponds, looking under logs and exploring the woods looking for our resident species. Location may have to be switched to the museum due to inclement weather.
July 21 – Bird Island | Grades entering 2 – 6 Trip to Bird Island with Marion Harbormaster. Let’s learn to identify the rare and special bird species that rely on Bird Island for their nesting habitat. What efforts have been made to restore the island to make it available for nesting? Meet at Island Wharf. Don’t wait to register – this one will fill fast. Location may have to be switched to the museum due to inclement weather.
July 28 – Barrier Beach | Grades entering 3 – 6 Let’s meet at Planting Island Beach to explore two examples of Marion’s coastline. We’ll take a look at our rocky intertidal shores and our calmer salt marshes. We’ll find out what’s so special about barrier beaches and what important roles they play in our coastal landscape. Location may have to be switched to the museum due to inclement weather.
August 4 – How to Build a Wetland | Grades entering 3 – 6 Most of our region’s cranberry bogs were once white cedar swamps or other wetlands. Because of the manipulation of the water when the bogs are made, an abandoned bog needs help to recover to a wetland habitat. We will explore the geology, hydrology and ecology of a restored cranberry bog at Grassi Pond in Marion and discover the value of diverse wetland habitats. Location may have to be switched due to inclement weather. Meet at Grassi Bog.
August 11 – Sandy Beaches | Grades entering 3 – 6 Meet at Silvershell Beach to explore our sandy beaches and saltmarsh. We’ll also look at Sprague’s Pond with hands 0n experiments and take a look at the important service this area is designed for. We’ll also be netting fish with the seining net and try our best to identify the species. Location may have to be switched to museum due to inclement weather.
August 18 – Shellfish | Grades entering 3 – 6 Shellfish and fish prints. Can you tell a bivalve from a mollusk? We’ll be taking a look at the upwellers on Island Wharf, learning about oysters and other shellfish with Marion’s Shellfish Warden and hearing about the important role they play in the bay. We’ll also be making fish print t-shirts. Please bring a clean cotton T-shirt or cloth the day of the program. Meet at Harbormaster’s office, Island Wharf.
Please go to the Museum’s website to sign up for these programs and more: www.marionmuseum.org.