Search for School Programs at Wellfleet

Learn the basic characteristics of frogs and salamanders through acting out the life cycle of a frog and exploring inquiry-based learning stations. Discover some of the amphibian species that can be found on Cape Cod and discover the amazing adaptations that allow these animals to survive in wetland and aquatic habitats.

How do animals survive the winter on Cape Cod? Work together to solve this mystery through an entertaining puppet show describing animal adaptations, an investigation of fluffy fur and downy feathers, and a “blubber glove” experiment to demonstrate how marine mammals survive in chilly water!

What marine animals live along our coast? Touch and hold animal artifacts while visiting inquiry-based stations and play an active feeding game.

Who is that bird outside my window? Learn to identify some of the birds that can easily be found just outside your back door or in your schoolyard. Discover how birds are different from other groups of animals while exploring a variety of bird artifacts.

Banding is an important tool for the research and conservation of birds. Visit Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary to observe a licensed master bander during the banding process, practice collecting data, and learn how bird banding has influenced our understanding of birds. The welfare of the birds is our priority and we cannot guarantee live birds will be observed in-the-hand.

What beak is best? It all depends on what you eat! Visit inquiry-based learning stations to explore bird beaks and why birds need specialized beaks to find and eat their favorite foods.

In this field exploration we'll practice observation skills while looking and listening for birds along the trail. We will search for clues birds leave behind and learn about protecting habitats that are essential to birds.

Learn about life cycles, adaptations, and habitats while exploring bird models and artifacts at inquiry-based stations. Practice making observations while identifying familiar birds of Cape Cod and look for physical adaptations like beak shape and camouflaged plumage.

American eels have an incredible and unique life history! These amazing fish utilize a variety of habitats during their different life stages. Discover the biology, ecology, and conservation efforts of the American eel.

Fish are fascinating! Learn about fish characteristics, behaviors, habitats, and adaptations all while observing fish artifacts and playing a schooling game.

What are the different parts of a tree and what do trees need to survive? Explore tree artifacts and discover how trees provide food and shelter to help certain animals survive in the forest habitat.

Swamps, meadows, and ponds...oh my! Explore these three different habitats at the sanctuary and use aquatic sampling equipment and other science tools to discover some of the different animals that call these habitats home.

Learn about birds, turtles, fish, and other groups of animals and plants during a short exploration of several habitats at the sanctuary. Listen for sounds in nature, mimic animal behaviors, and use special science tools to discover what lives at the bottom of a pond or under a log.

Horseshoe Crabs are often referred to as living fossils! Discover where Horseshoe Crabs live, their adaptations, and how they fit into the food web. Uncover human impacts to this amazing species and learn how horseshoe crab blood has become critical in the biomedical industry.

Explore the characteristics of several local insects through singing a song, exploring models, puppets, and pictures,“flying” like bees, and "eating" like butterflies.

Which bird species are found on Cape Cod year-round and which bird species are only here during spring and fall migration? Explore the classification of birds and become familiar with some common residential and migratory bird species.

What is life like without a backbone? Learn how marine invertebrates like clams, mussels, shrimp, and crabs have adapted to survive in the tidal flats and salt marsh. Examine and hold artifacts from a variety of different marine creatures.

Explore the meadow habitat and some of the animals that live there through station-based observation activities. Discover what foods these animals eat and work together to create a meadow habitat food web.

Let's learn about the nocturnal animals found on Cape Cod. These animals have special adaptations which allow them to be active at night. Discover how our own senses stack up against nocturnal animals!

Owls are awesome! Learn about owls and their specialized adaptations as we study owl wings, dissect a pellet, and listen to the different calls of the owls of Cape Cod.

At the sanctuary, explore the pond using dipnets and other scientific equipment to collect macroinvertebrates. Learn how these animals can help to assess the health of a freshwater habitat and discover the unique life cycles and adaptations of some of these animals.

Many animals call the pond home, but how do they survive in this wet world? Observe pond animals and use field guides and pictures to identify them. Discover how certain physical adaptations help pond creatures survive below the pond's surface.

Learn about the characteristics of reptiles through observation of artifacts, getting a “feel” for being cold-blooded, and exploring several common reptile species found on Cape Cod.

How have bird populations on Cape Cod changed over time? Use data collected from bird banding to notice changes in bird populations over time, and work to understand how habitat change and climate change impact bird populations.

The Diamondback Terrapin is the only turtle in North Americal to make its home exclusively in brackish water salt marshes. Learn about Diamondback Terrapins and their biology, nesting behavior, and the ongoing conservation efforts to protect this unique turtle.

Join us for an exciting exploration of the coastal habitats found at the sanctuary. Use dip nets and fish traps to discover fiddler crabs, shrimp, minnows, and other marine organisms that inhabit the salt marsh and tidal flats. Focus your search with a scavenger hunt, sharpen your observation skills while comparing animals, and practice proper sampling techniques like a scientist.

Salt marshes are incredibly important habitats. Use your senses to smell salt marsh peat, feel salt marsh plants, and look for animals as we learn about the salt marsh and its inhabitants.

Join Mass Audubon educators as we learn how energy from the sun powers life on Earth, both living processes and the technologies we use to power our communities. Each lesson explores one aspect of the energy cycle within biotic and abiotic systems; including photosynthesis, consumers, decomposers, renewable, and non-renewable energies.

Trees provide much more than shade or pretty additions to city streets and neighborhood parks. This unit explores habitats, adaptations, and life cycles, with trees as a unifying theme. With accessibility to all learners as a priority, lessons highlight the diversity of trees across various Massachusetts habitats, including suburban, urban and rural areas. Nature journaling assignments highlight observation and other science skills and encourage students to choose a tree near their home or school to chronicle throughout the unit.

Are trees the solution to climate change? Through place-based, inquiry driven investigation, students will study the role of trees in the carbon cycle, and expand their investigation to find out whether forest sequestration, or indeed any one nature-based solution, is enough to fight climate change. Finally, students will explore their own role as a changemaker by planning a collective, climate-positive action.

In this unit we will explore different types of "minibeasts", or invertebrates, like worms, pill bugs, and more. Students will engage in outdoor investigations to find out where the best place is for a minibeast to live. Students will document their observations in field journals as they explore different habitats in their schoolyard and use models to explain how these habitats may or may not support the needs of invertebrates. Finally, students will expand their investigation to explore the role invertebrates play to enrich the soil, and understand how humans can learn from them to reduce their footprint and protect their local environment.

In this unit, students will get outside and investigate the ways stronger storms impact their communities, specifically through rain and snow. They will identify places of vulnerability and places of resilience in their schoolyard or neighborhood. As a culminating project, they will design solutions to help reduce the impacts of stronger storms in their area and communicate it with members of their community.

Juvenile sea turtles are found cold-stunned and stranded on Cape Cod Bay beaches every year in the late-fall and winter. Join us to learn about the biology of sea turtles and uncover the mystery behind why they strand. Walk the beach to help look for stranded sea turtles and use sea turtle models to get a hands-on perspective of rescue efforts. Discover what steps are taken when a turtle is found and how it is safely transported to the New England Aquarium for rehabilitation.

Learn about the sea turtle species that can be found in Cape Cod Bay during certain times of the year through inquiry-based exploration of shells, models, and other artifacts. Explore how sea turtles can become cold-stunned and stranded on Cape Cod Bay beaches and discover what you can do to help sea turtles.

Shorebirds are always on the move! Learn about life cycles and chart the movements of some of our common shorebirds. Discover why shorebirds visit Cape Cod and what we can do to keep them safe while they are here.

How are shorebirds different from other birds? Identify some of the common shorebirds found on our shoreline and learn about the special adaptations that help these birds survive.

Is it spring yet? Learn about the sounds, sights, and smells that signify the start of the season. Act out the life cycle of a frog, examine bird nests, and listen to animal calls.

Practice acting as a scientist while exploring tidal flats and salt marsh habitats through inquiry-based stations. Explore shells and other artifacts and learn how these dynamic ecosystems provide habitat for a variety of birds and other wildlife.

Tidal flats are always changing! Learn about the different animals that call this habitat home and the specialized adaptations that help them survive in this ever-changing habitat.

Turtles inhabit a variety of habitats including ponds, meadows, and salt marshes. Some sea turtle species can even be found in the North Atlantic Ocean surrounding Cape Cod during certain times of the year! Observe and hold turtle shells from eight different species and discuss each turtle's habitat and adaptations.

Turtles can be found in a variety of Cape Cod habitats. Join us as we explore and search the sanctuary ponds, salt marshes, fields, and meadows for these shelled wonders! Practice observation skills, use science tools, and discover some of the conservation efforts that help to protect turtles on Cape Cod.

Learn about the water cycle and how vernal pools change through the seasons. Identify some of the common amphibians and aquatic macroinvertebrates of the vernal pool and discover why these wetland habitats are so important.

Explore the sanctuary trails and search for turtles, insects, salamanders, and more! You may also get your hands wet as you try to catch fish and crabs at the salt marsh or tadpoles at the pond.