Bats, Bees and Birds…Summer is Here!
June 2025 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Start your summer off right – in the great outdoors! Join Audubon for a cold brew and search for bats, design a wildlife garden for your yard, head out on a horseshoe crab expedition, learn to identify wildflowers, and more!
Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Register online and view a complete listing of programs through the events calendar at www.asri.org/calendar.
Audubon Wednesday Morning Bird Walks
Locations Across Rhode Island
June 4, 11, 2025;9:00-11:00am
Eastern Bluebird by Jennifer Zartarian (Bluebirds and Blue Skies, June 14, 2025)
Audubon offers small-group Wednesday Morning Bird Walks with naturalist Laura Carberry. Each week a new birding destination will be chosen. Advance registration is required. Location will be sent to registered participants in advance. Note that Wednesday walks will resume in September, 2025.
Locations determined weekly; Every Wednesday through June 11, 2025; 9:00-11:00 am; Fee: $5/member, $10/non-member. Ages: 14+. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Wednesday Walk and Watercolor: Four Class Series
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
June 4, 11, 18, 25, 2025; 9:00am-1:00pm
Come to the Maxwell Mays Art Studio for walks and watercolor painting. A new watercolor technique will be explored each week and put into practice with a seasonal theme. At end of each class a matted 8″x10″ painting will be ready for you to take home and frame. Beginners welcome, all materials and morning coffee/tea provided. Meet at the parking lot.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; Fee for four-week session: $120/member, $130/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Open Art Studio on Thursday: Walk & Work
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
June 5, 12, 19, 26, 2025; 4:30-8:00pm
Enjoy a short nature walk and share your work with other artists. Meet weekly every Thursday afternoon to enjoy an open studio and end the session with lively conversation and sharing of ideas.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; Every Thursday from May 1 thru October 23, 2025; Fee per session: $30/member, $40/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Designing a Wildlife Garden
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Three Dates Offered, See Below
Join Audubon for a workshop on creating welcoming habitats for a variety of wildlife, including migrating songbirds, overwintering bumblebees, and endangered butterflies. Participants will leave with practical steps and personalized garden plans to enhance their home and community spaces, helping to support local ecosystems and promote biodiversity.
June 4, 2025; 6:30-8:00 pm
July 19, August 9, 2025; 1:00-2:30pm
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $25/member adult, $30/non-member adult. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Beginner Carpentry Class with Audubon: Two Session Program
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
Audubon for a hands-on program and discover the field of Carpentry! This program includes one evening class inside the barn, and one morning session putting learned skills to use. During the evening class, participants will learn the basics of using a drill and driver. For the second session we will meet at either Caratunk (Seekonk, MA) or Touisset (Warren, RI) Wildlife Refuges to build a boardwalk and apply your new skills.
This space welcomes marginalized groups to attend and learn to be more self-sufficient in everyday life.* No experience necessary, all supplies included, but feel free to bring your own tools and safety equipment if you have them (eye/ear safety, drill/driver, and gloves).
Session 1: June 5, 2025; 7:00-9:00pm
Session 2: June 7, 2025; 10:00am-12:00pm
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee*: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 16 and up. *Scholarships available, apply at lcarberry@asri.org.
Saturday ‘Bagels & Brushes’
Open Studio & Plein Air Painting on the Refuge
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
June 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025; 9:00am-1:30pm
It’s open Studio! Bring your artwork on Saturdays to share and work in the Maxwell Mays Art Studio space or outdoors En Plein Air. Bagels and morning coffee and tea provided. Meet in the parking lot at 9:00am.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; Every Saturday from April 12-October 18, 2025; Fee per session: $30/member, $40/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Horseshoe Crab Expedition at Conimicut Point
Join Audubon on this full moon night for a unique experience to learn about the fascinating anatomy and life history of horseshoe crabs and their important role in coastal ecosystems. Start the expedition with a short introduction and then walk along the beach in search of these captivating critters. For more information, email jminker@asri.org.
Conimicut Point Park, Point Avenue, Warwick, RI; June 11, 2025; 8:00-9:30 pm; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 10 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Sea Glass 201: Jewelry Workshop
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 14, 2025; 1:00-2:30pm
You asked, we answered. This advanced Sea Glass class is for folks who have joined Audubon for one of our beginner sea glass workshops, and want to take their jewelry-making to the next level. Come create that “point up” pendant! With sea glass found on local beaches, learn advanced wrapping techniques and create a beautiful pendant to bring home. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! Advance registration is required as space is strictly limited to 10 participants.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bluebirds and Blue Skies
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 14, 2025; 8:00-10:00am
Observe the beautiful Eastern Bluebirds of Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Learn more about their life history, behaviors and habitat. Enjoy a walk through the fields to watch them in action and check out their homes and neighbors. Bluebird boxes will be available for sale. Please dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult/child pair, $5/each additional member; $14/non-member adult/child pair; $7/each additional non-member. Ages: 10 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Ice Cream and Lightning Bugs
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 20, 2025; 7:45-9:15 pm
Just as it starts to get dark, the lightning bugs appear! Come make a delicious ice cream sundae and discover what makes these insects so special. An Audubon naturalist will lead a hike to look for their flickering lights. If you are lucky, a resident muskrat might be spotted along the way. Fun for the whole family! Please bring a flashlight.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $12 member adult/ $6 member child; $16/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 5 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
All landscapes tell their stories. A snapshot of the plants and animals that live there can reveal a great deal about the events that led to the current ecosystem dynamics. This three-part series is designed to provide you with skills to assess the past history of a landscape while looking at the present. After this series, you may be able to predict the future for this landscape – using geological and ecological understandings. Explore terrestrial succession, the rock cycle, and the geological cycle through discussions and hands-on field experiences.
Led by Dan Bisaccio: Brown University (2008-2017) Faculty Director of Science Education. Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee for three sessions: $100/member; $125/non-member. Ages: 15 and up. For more information and to register, visit asri.org/calendar.
Yoga at Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 22, 2025; 9:00-10:00am
Experience the joy and benefits of practicing yoga while connecting with nature. Led by certified yoga instructor Joanne DeCataldo, this class is designed for people of all skill levels and abilities. Proceeds support Audubon scholarships, education programs, and animal care.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. For details and to register, visit the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Walking Through Wildflowers
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 22, 2025; 8:00-10:00am
Start your day with a morning walk through Caratunk’s beautiful meadows and learn how to identify several species of wildflowers and butterflies. Led by expert naturalist and science teacher Joe Koger, this exploration is sure to be an educational and fun-filled morning. Please bring binoculars, water and dress appropriately for hiking through meadows. Advanced registration required.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Horseshoe Crab Expedition with Audubon
Napatree Point, Westerly, RI
June 24, 2025; 6:30-8:00pm
Join Audubon and The Watch Hill Conservancy for a unique experience to learn about the fascinating anatomy and life history of horseshoe crabs and their important role in coastal ecosystems. Start with a short introduction and then walk along the beach in search of these captivating critters and the shorebirds that feast on their eggs! Parking details will be shared closer to the program date. For more information email jminker@asri.org.
Offered in partnership with the Watch Hill Conservancy.
Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI; Fee: Free. Ages: 10 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bats and Beer in Bristol
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
June 28, 2025; 7:00-9:00pm
Big Brown Bat by Jason Major (Bats and Beer, June 28, 2025)
Fly into the night at the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium for a bat-tastic evening of discovery and drinks! Grab a cold beer (or wine!) and get ready for a fascinating presentation on these misunderstood creatures of the night. Learn about the incredible ways bats use echolocation, their vital role in ecosystems, and how they navigate the dark. Afterward, head outside for an exciting bat-watching adventure as we catch sight of these nocturnal wonders in flight. It’s a night full of fun, facts, and of course—beer!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $30/member adult, $35/non-member adult, Ages 21 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Fourth Fridays: The Fresh Palette
Monthly Watercolor Class
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
June 27, 2025; 7:00-9:30pm
Enjoy the company of a small group in the quiet respite of the Maxwell Mays Art Studio. Create an original 11”x14” seasonal matted watercolor. Beginners welcome; all supplies included. Meet in the parking lot.
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly on Bee Balm by Mary Ann Cofrin (Designing a Wildlife Garden, June 4, 2025)
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, RI; Fee per session: $55/member, $65/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Nesting Birds
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
June 29, 2025; 7:00-9:00am
Discover the amazing nesting birds that live in the habitats of Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy a cool, early morning bird walk along the trails with an experienced naturalist and search for Purple Martins, Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallows and more. Participants might also spot Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Blue-winged Warblers. Wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them. Advance registration is required. The program is weather dependent.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Art Exhibit by JooHee Yoon: 100 Birds of Rhode Island
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Through June 30, 2025; 9:30am-4:30pm
Providence illustrator JooHee Yoon shares a glimpse into her artistic process, celebrating the many feathered creatures that can be found in the Ocean State. Featuring a chronicle of birding during the past year that resulted in an illustrated bird guide, this exhibition showcases how the book was made, tracing the steps from ideation to print production. The art on display will include finished illustrations, sketches, bird photos taken by the artist, and samples of the spreads from the finished book, highlighting the spot printing method.
Yoon’s work is often featured in periodicals such as The New York Times, and has appeared in picture books, posters and textiles. She has taught at RISD along with giving workshops and lectures at other universities
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; May 3-June 30, 2025; 9:30am-4:30pm; Free with admission. Ages: All.