Raptors, Reptiles and Amphibians too…
Meet Cool Critters During April School Vacation Week at Audubon!
April 10 – 15, 2023
Events Offered at Audubon Wildlife Refuges in Bristol, RI, Smithfield, RI, and Seekonk, MA.
Get outside in April! Come to Audubon for pond explorations, get up-close with cool critters, take a guided birding walk geared just for kids, and more. Audubon offers plenty of activities to keep the kids engaged during April School Vacation Week. Come join the fun!
Owl Pellet Dissection at Audubon. Photo credit Courtesy Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Ponding at Audubon. Photo credit Glenn Osmundson
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Events Offered at Audubon Wildlife Refuges in Bristol, RI, Smithfield, RI,
and Seekonk, MA.
(March 1, 2023) – Get outside in April! Come to Audubon for pond explorations, get up-close with cool critters, take a guided birding walk geared just for kids, and more. Audubon offers plenty of activities to keep the kids engaged during April School Vacation Week. Come join the fun!
April School Vacation Week
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium
1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI
April 10 – 14, 2023; 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Spring has arrived! Vacation week programs and activities are available each day and are free with admission. No registration required. Nature crafts will be available from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm each day, as well as a nature story at 10:00 am and animal interviews at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm.
Special programs for children are also available each day at 1:00 p.m. These programs are recommended for children ages 6+*.
Monday, April 10, 2023: Spring Nature Walk – Explore the wildlife refuge and use your senses to find signs of spring. Look for spring colors, smells, animals, and more!
Tuesday, April 11, 2023: Owl Pellet Dissection – Join Audubon naturalists in dissecting real owl pellets and discover what owls like to eat!
Wednesday, April 12, 2023: Fairy Fort Building – Head outside to our woods with a naturalist and build tiny forts and shelters for fairies and other small critters.
Thursday, April 13, 203: What’s a Bug? – Learn the difference between different types of bugs, link insects, arachnids, and more! Explore bug specimens and play some buggy sorting activities.
Friday, April 14, 2023: Turtle Races – Join Audubon naturalists while we race some of our turtles to see who can reach the finish line first!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Free with Admission. Ages: All.
April School Vacation Week
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge
12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI
Advance registration is required for all vacation week programs at Powder Mill Ledges. Visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar to register.
Owl Babies
April 11, 2023; 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Where is Momma owl? Her three fuzzy owlets search and wait in the dark of night for her return. Come listen to the award-winning story Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and meet a live owl.
Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 3 and up.
Turtles are Terrific
April 11, 2023; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Turtles are amazing, armored beasts and Rhode Island has some pretty cool species. Come learn about these interesting creatures and meet some live turtles.
Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 4 and up.
The Wild Garden – Storytime and Planting Seeds
April 12, 2023: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Jilly and her grandfather live in a village where people love their community garden. Listen to a story by Cynthia Cliff and find out what happens when Jilly and her grandfather show others the Wild Garden that lives beyond the edge of the village. After the story, plant some seeds to take home and watch them grow.
Fee: $8/member child; $10/non-member child Ages: 4 and up.
Make and Take: Birdfeeders
April 12, 2023; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Invite your local feathered friends to dinner by making a couple of simple bird feeders to take home. All materials will be provided. Dress for mess. Note for those with allergies; the birdseed used may contain peanut or tree nut pieces.
Fee: $8/member child; $10/non-member child. Ages: 5 and up.
Two Toad Tales
April 13, 2023; 11:-00 am – 12:00 pm
Come experience two transformative tales about the “lowly” toad. In one, a toad is first viewed as vile and gross; but in the end, his adaptations save his life. In the other, all the toads are bewitched in a hilarious wordless fantasy that all happens one Tuesday night. After our tales, meet a live giant marine toad and a tree frog and learn all about these amazing amphibians.
Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 3 and up.
Big Hawk – Little Hawk
April 13, 2023; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Come and meet two live raptors – a Red-tailed hawk and a Merlin – the largest and the second smallest hawks that are found in Rhode Island. Learn about the lives of these amazing birds and examine preserved feathers, wings, and talons.
Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 4 and up.
Pond Exploration
April 14, 2023; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
You may know that frogs and ducks and turtles live near ponds, but have you ever looked for the small creatures that live in the mud and skate across the water surface? Come along on this search for ALL the life of a pond. Using nets and magnifiers, check out pond plants and animals that often elude the naked eye. Come dressed for mud and wet (water boots recommended).
Fee: $10/member adult/child pair; $5 each additional member; $14/non-member adult/child pair; $7 each additional non-member. Ages: 5 and up.
April 14, 2023; 2:00 – 3:30 pm
How many scavenger hunt items can you find and photograph out on the wildlife refuge within an allotted time? Easy items are one point. Harder ones are five or ten points. Special prize for the most points, but all participating children will get a nature treat bag. Bring your smartphone or a digital camera with a view screen for photos.
Fee: $10/member team (min 1 adult/1 child; max 5 people); $14/non-member team (min 1 adult/1 child; max 5 people) Ages: 5 and up.
April School Vacation Week
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge
301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA
Birding for Kids
April 15, 2023; 9:30 – 11:00 am
Join an Audubon naturalist and discover the joy of birding! Families will identify local year-round birds and a few migratory species through sight and sound. Learn how to use binoculars, field guides, and birding phone apps. Dress for the weather. Binoculars will be available to borrow during the program. Parents must accompany children.
Fee: $5/member child; $7/non-member child. Ages: 7 and up.
Visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar to register.
12 Sanderson Road
Smithfield, RI 02917-2600
Phone: (401) 949-5454
Fax: (401) 949-5788
www.asri.org email: