Audubon is a Cool Place to be this Summer.
July 2025 Highlights from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island
Join Audubon when the sun goes down! Head out on the evening trails and watch for fireflies, or enjoy a cool brew and learn about local bats. Pull out a paintbrush for open art studio or a watercolor class in the evening at the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge. Audubon is a cool place to be in the summer!
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.
Wednesday Walk and Watercolor: Four Class Series
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 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
July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 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: $20/member, $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Meet the Trees
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
July 5, 2025; 10:00-11:00am
They stand tall in climate resiliency! Join an Audubon naturalist and discover the unique qualities and characteristics of tree species on the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge. Take a summer morning walk, learn tree identification tips, and discover their historical and contemporary uses.
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.
Saturday ‘Bagels & Brushes’
Open Studio & Plein Air Painting on the Refuge
Audubon Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, Coventry, RI
July 5, 12, 19, 26, 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: $20/member, $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Ice Cream and Lightning Bugs
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
July 11, 2025; 7:30-9:30pm
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. A naturalist will also lead a hike to look for their flickering lights. If you are lucky, a resident beaver might be spotted along the way. Fun for the whole family! Please bring a flashlight.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; 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.
Fireflies!
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
July 11, 2025; 7:00-9:00pm
Join Audubon for an evening celebrating the living lightshow that is the firefly. Learn about how they use their flickering lights to communicate and how to recognize them during the day. Make a glowing firefly craft to take home and end the evening by going out to the fields to watch their blinking displays.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 6 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Touisset Bird and Wildlife Walk
Audubon Touisset Wildlife Refuge, Warren, RI
July 12, 2025; 9:00-10:30am
Enjoy a morning walk through fields and forests with an Audubon naturalist and discover the hidden gem that is the Touisset Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the different habitats found, from meadows to salt marshes, and the wildlife that calls them home. Early summer provides wonderful opportunities to see many species of butterflies and birds!
Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge, Touisset Road, Warren, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 12 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Glow & Sip: Illuminating Conversations and Cocktails
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
July 12, 2025; 7:00-8:30pm
Head to the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium for a glowing evening of science, nature, and spirits! Sip on a glass of wine or beer as we dive into the fascinating world of fireflies. Discover the secrets behind their mesmerizing flickering lights, how they communicate, and what they do to attract a mate. Then, take the fun outside as we head into the fields and try to witness these enchanting insects in action with their stunning light displays. It’s an unforgettable night of learning, laughs, and glow. For ages 21+.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Saturday, Fee: $30/member adult, $35/non-member adult. Ages 21and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Family Firefly Fun!
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
July 18, 2025; 7:00-8:30pm
Join Audubon for a fun family evening celebrating the living lightshow that is the firefly. Learn about how they use their flickering lights to communicate and how to recognize them during the day. Make a glowing firefly craft to take home and end the evening by going out to the fields to watch their blinking displays. Program will be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather. Rain date is July 19, 2025.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 6 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Bats and Beer at Caratunk
Audubon Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, Seekonk, MA
July 18, 2025; 7:30-9:00pm
Join Audubon for local brews and learn about the fascinating world of bats! Start with a brief presentation and sip a chilled beer as you learn about the bats that live in the area. Then head out onto the trails in search of these winged creatures. Please bring a flashlight.
Caratunk Wildlife Refuge, 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. Ages: 21 and up. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Designing a Wildlife Garden
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
Two Dates Offered
July 19, August 9, 2025; 1:00-2:30pm
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.
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.
Yoga at Audubon
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, Bristol, RI
July 20, 2025; 9:00-10:00am
Experience the joy and benefits of practicing yoga while connecting with community and nature at an Audubon wildlife refuge. Led by certified yoga teacher and East Bay resident Joanne DeCataldo, this class is designed for people of all skill levels and abilities. DeCataldo generously volunteers her time and all proceeds support Audubon scholarships, education programs, and animal care. Please bring your own yoga mat, a water bottle, and any other props you may like to include in your practice.
Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $15/member; $20/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Explore the Estuary for Kids!
Prudence Island, RI
July 23, 2025; 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Bring the kids along to explore the amazing diversity of the estuary, from tidal creeks and salt marshes to the rocky shoreline! Kids will use different nets and search for fish, crabs, and shrimp in the shallow waters of Prudence Island. Walk the shoreline to see what the tide has left behind and watch the ospreys and egrets hunt for food. This is a great all-day family program!
Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Fee: $12/member adult, $6 member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: All. For more information and to register for Prudence Island trips, visit asri.org/calendar.
Bats and Beer at Fisherville
Audubon Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, Exeter, RI
July 25, 2025; 7:30-9:00pm
Join Audubon for an evening of fun discussing the fascinating world of bats and tasting some local brew. Start with a brief presentation and sip a chilled beer as you learn about the bats that live in the area. Then head out onto the trails in search of these winged creatures. Stop at the pond to watch bats at work catching their evening meal and to look for the resident family beavers at work. Please bring a flashlight.
Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $20/member; $25/non-member. 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
July 25, 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.
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.
Protecting Pollinators in Your Landscape
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
July 31, 2025; 6:30-8:00pm
The pollinators of the world are losing ground at an alarming rate. Learn what has been happening to their populations and what you can do on your property to support pollinator health. The food, nesting, and sheltering needs of pollinators will be discussed as well as simple changes you can make to your gardens. Maintenance schedules, curbing the use of pesticides, and growing native plants can all encourage these vital little beings to thrive.
Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: Adult. Register online through the events calendar at asri.org/calendar.
Photos:
Bat by Jason Major for “Audubon Bats and Beer” July 18 and July 25, 2025.
Spicebush swallowtail butterfly by Mary Ann Cofrin for pollinator and garden programs. July 19 and 31, 2025.