Norman Bird Sanctuary > a 300+ acre wildlife refuge near Newport RI, offering over 7 miles of hiking trails.

Choose a camp program for your children:

Preschoolers with Parents - Ages 3-5 with Parent/Caregiver
Fledglings - Ages 3-5
Lunch Bunch - Ages 3-5
Nature Day - Entering Grades K-4
Explorers - Entering Grades 4-6
Field Explorers - Entering Grades 5-7
Island Adventures - Entering Grades 6-8
Summer Challenge - Entering Grades 6-8
Ecology Adventures - Entering Grades 9-12
Before and After Care - Entering Grades K-8

PRESCHOOLERS WITH PARENTS (Ages 3-5 with Caregiver)
Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 A.M.

Explore the wonders of NBS with your young child! This interactive program introduces children ages 3-5 to the delights of nature. With the help of our five senses, we will explore animals and habitats and discover our place in the world around us—all in an unhurried, age-appropriate atmosphere. Songs, crafts, and games round out the engaging, active programs.

This popular series is led by Marilyn Lyell and is limited to twelve adult-child pairs.

Session A: June 30, July 7, 14, and 21

Program Cost: $75 per child. One adult per child please.

FLEDGLINGS (Age 3-5)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Due to popular demand, we have expanded our Fledglings program, making it available to twice as many campers!

This half-day program is the perfect introduction to camp for your young learner! Together, we‘ll explore the Sanctuary‘s trails, meet education animals, listen to stories, play with puppets, create crafts, and sing songs! We‘ll also take a break for a mid-morning snack. One day of our adventure will lead us to Third Beach, where we‘ll explore the shoreline and salt marsh.

In response to parent feedback, we have expanded the program to five days per week. Fledglings campers are also invited to sign up for our new "Lunch Bunch" option, which features a lunchtime with friends and an extra hour for fun and games. All Fledglings participants must be completely toilet trained before beginning camp.

Session 1 (June 28-July 2) - Sense of Wonder: Your young learner will develop their love of the natural world as we explore the NBS trails, dip net in the pond, and amazing animals of all shapes and sizes.
Session 2 (July 6-9) - I Love Dirt!: We’ll discover the amazing world beneath our feet as we roll over logs, plant a garden, and investigate worms, slugs, bugs, and more!
Session 3 (July 12-16) - Nature Cha Cha Cha: Get your toes a tappin’! We’ll dance to the animal beat in this hands-on week of camp! Campers will discover the many ways our animal friends slither, crawl, and climb! Songs and crafts are all part of the fun, too!
FULL! Session 4 (July 19-23) - Once Upon a Seashore: Come along with ‘Sandy the Sand Grain’ as we tell the story of beaches, ponds, creeks, and other watery worlds. We’ll meet aquatic animals, make coastal crafts, and much more!
Session 5 (July 26-30) - Let's Be Sensible: Join us as we use our five senses to explore the world around us. Some of our favorite animal friends will stop by to show us how they use each sensational sense to survive!
FULL! Session 6 (August 2-6) - Where the Wild Things Are: It’s a jungle out there! Get to know snakes, salamanders, spiders, and many other mysterious creatures. Games and crafts are all part of the fun.
FULL! Session 7 (August 9-13) - Nature's Art Box: Get naturally crafty in this fun-filled camp. We’ll use materials from the great outdoors to make our own natural masterpieces and recycled works of art.
FULL! Session 8 (August 16-20) - Summer Sendoff: STILL not ready for summer to end? Neither are we! Join us as we explore nature’s playground during one last week of games, outdoor exploration, and – most importantly – FUN!

Program Cost: $100 for Session 2; $120 for Sessions 1, 3-8. Partial scholarships are available.

Lunch Bunch - Fledglings Only
Monday-Friday 12:00 - 1:30 P.M.

For Fledgling campers that just don’t want their day to end, we are happy to introduce our new “Lunch Bunch” program! This add-on features a supervised lunch time with friends, followed by additional exploration time, crafts, and games. Ample time is also provided for rest and quiet activities.

Lunch Bunch is held from 12:00-1:30 in the Ed Shed, and is optional for all Fledgling participants.

To sign up, please select the “Fledglings with Lunch Bunch” option on the online registration form. This program is available by the week only.

Program Cost: $45 per week; $35 for Session 2.

NATURE DAY CAMP (Entering grades K-4)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Join us in our 325-acre outdoor classroom, as we hike along trails, investigate life in and around ponds, get eyeball-to-eyeball with snakes and salamanders, and much more! All camps include hiking, songs, spirited group games, and a trip to Third Beach. Children are grouped by age and led by trained educators.

Don‘t see your child‘s favorite activity listed here? Not to worry—ALL weeks will include traditional camp favorites such as hiking, animals, beach visits, and more!

Session 1 (June 28-July 2) - May the Forest Bewitch You: Be a ‘tree hugger’ in this fun-filled week in nature. We’ll explore NBS trails from the ground up and meet the animals that call the forest (and other NBS habitats) home. Don’t miss Photosynthesis Theater!
Session 2 (July 6-9; 4 Days - Prorated) - Ick-ology: We’ll study things gross and gooey in this hands-on session. Mix up your own science experiments and make things fly, foam, and fizz! We’ll also meet nature’s coolest “icky” animals and learn the science behind these “Untouchables.”
Session 3 (July 12-16) - Sea Life Safari: This camp is all wet! In this exciting program, we’ll focus on the aquatic world and good ol’ H2O. Dip net in the pond, meet microscopic plankton, and check out streams and wetlands.
Session 4 (July 19-23) - Up in the Air: It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Meet the plants and animals that soar and fly high far above our heads. We’ll also make our own flying machines and investigate the final frontier of space.
Session 5 (July 26-30) - Earth Day, Every Day: In honor of the 40th year of Earth Day, discover what YOU can do to make a difference for the world around us. We’ll study a different habitat each day, meet Rhode Island’s endangered and threatened animals, and make earth friendly crafts to take home.
FULL! Session 6 (August 2-6) - Animal Olympics: In the spirit of competition, let’s meet the record holders of the animal world! From the fastest fliers to the largest and smallest creatures to ever walk the planet, this camp has it all! Games and animal presentations are also featured.
Session 7 (August 9-13) - Science Undercover: Discovering the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of the Great Outdoors: Each day is a new mystery to solve for our scientific sleuths in this exciting week of camp. Together we’ll unlock the mysteries of nature through games, experiments, and trail exploration.
FULL! Session 8 (August 16-20) - Time Traveler Camp: Venture back into the past as we explore animals that lived long ago, and the cultures and customs of the Native Americans and pioneers of Aquidneck Island. Try your hand at native tools, candle making, learn about dinosaurs, and meet their modern cousins, birds and reptiles!

Program Cost: $165 for Session 2; $205 for Sessions 1, 3-8. Partial scholarships are available.

EXPLORERS (Entering grades 4-6)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. (Wednesday 3:00 P.M.-9:00 P.M.)

These exciting sessions for older campers are filled with hiking, teambuilding activities, nature experiments, and a Wednesday evening campfire. This program, which will now be open to students in grades 4-6, will stay onsite throughout the week, with a day trek to Sachuest Point. Please note the Wednesday schedules for all Explorers weeks.

Don‘t see your child‘s favorite activity listed here? Not to worry—ALL weeks will include traditional camp favorites such as hiking, animals, beach visits, and more!

Session 1 (June 28-July 2) - Habitat Challenge: Get outdoors and test your survival sense as we explore the fields, forests, ponds, and other fantastic habitats of NBS! We’ll “rough it” in the great outdoors, make outdoor shelters, and explore our amazing ecosystems during this fun-filled kickoff to the summer season!
Session 2 (July 6-9; 4 Days - Prorated) - Flight School: To bee or not to bee? That is the question! We’ll investigate the physics of flight in this week of camp and learn how animals and people soar sky high. This camp includes interactive encounters with owls and hawks, goes behind the scenes with visits to the NBS apiaries, and much, much more!
Session 3 (July 12-16) - Project Nature: Learn about local foods and gardening as we don our chef hats for the Sanctuary’s Top EcoChef, discover the fashionable side of science in NBS Nature Runway, and learn about animal songs in Eco Idol. Don’t miss “The Real Wildlife of Newport County!”
Session 4 (July 19-23) - Working With Wildlife: Go behind the scenes and learn about animal conservation – for all wildlife enthusiasts, this is a camp not to be missed. We’ll study a different animal group each day, help to care for NBS animals, and learn what scientists are doing to conserve threatened and endangered wildlife around the globe.
Session 5 (July 26-30) - Changes in Latitude: Get your bearings in this fun-filled week of camp! We’ll use compasses, maps, and natural clues to find our way, and complete scavenger hunts as we investigate a variety of habitats.
FULL! Session 6 (August 2-6) - Scientist for a Day: Want to be a marine biologist, veterinarian, chemist, or geologist? Or maybe you just like learning about the natural world? Then THIS is the program for you! We’ll study a different “ology” each day, with hands-on experiments, animal presentations, games, and activities galore.
FULL! Session 7 (August 9-13) - As the Tide Turns: Let’s hit the beach for a week of aquatic adventures. This camp focuses on the drama and intrigue of the underwater world as we explore Narragansett Bay and the NBS waterways! Animals and experiments are featured in each action-packed day, and we’ll even put on a dramatic skit or two of our own.
FULL! Session 8 (August 16-20) - Keepers of the Earth: Learn how YOU can make a difference and participate in earth-friendly projects at NBS! We’ll pitch in to make the world a better place and lead our fellow campers and friends in the NBS Eco-Action Challenge!

Program Cost: $165 for Session 2; $205 for Sessions 1, 3-8. Partial scholarships are available.

FIELD EXPLORERS (Entering grades 5-7)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. (Wednesday 3:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.)

Our Field Explorers program combines the traditional schedule of Explorers, PLUS one offsite day trip per week. Trips will be to nearby nature centers, state parks, and other locations that relate to the theme of the week; campers will also walk to Sachuest Point one day per week. Field Explorers is for students entering grades 5-7 and is limited to twelve campers per session. Each week will also feature the evening campfire and alternate schedule, with a late Wednesday drop off and pick up.

Trips around RI will be featured

Session 1 (June 28-July 2) - Habitat Challenge: Visit Colt State Park in Bristol, RI
FULL! Session 2 (July 6-9; 4 Days - Prorated) - Flight School: Visit the Eco Tarium in Worcester, MA
Session 3 (July 12-16) - Project Nature: Go "Behind the Scenes" at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in Westport, MA
Session 4 (July 19-23) - Working With Wildlife: Take a Farm Tour at Watson Farm in Jamestown, RI
Session 5 (July 26-30) - Changes in Latitude: Visit Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, RI
FULL! Session 6 (August 2-6) - Scientist for a Day: Explore Life in the Wetlands at the Bristol Audubon Environmental Education Center
FULL! Session 7 (August 9-13) - As the Tide Turns: Get dirty in the Galilee Mud Flats in Bristol, RI
FULL! Session 8 (August 16-20) - Keepers of the Earth: Visit the Jamestown Salt Marsh and Beavertail State Park

Program Cost: $185 for Session 2; $225 for Sessions 1, 3-8 (Includes all transportation and program fees). Partial scholarships are available.

ISLAND ADVENTURES (Entering grades 6-8)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Island Adventures provides an active, exciting week of scientific investigation and discovery, as students explore local waterways, forests, and ridges! Each week features at least three offsite trips per week, plus a day trek to Sachuest Point and Hanging Rock hike.

This year, we are once again offering our popular Kayaking and Adventure Course programs, along with Rhode Island Challenge, Horseback Riding, and Environmental Adventures. All camps will include field study, creative projects, animals, hiking, and lots of fun! Island Adventures sessions are limited to twelve students per week.

Session 1 (June 28-July 2) - Kayaking: We‘ll spend two days paddling local waterways in this returning favorite. We‘ll also visit other aquatic sites throughout the week and explore the dynamic Narragansett Bay ecosystem.
Session 2 (July 6-9; 4 Days - Prorated) - Horseback Riding: We‘ll spend at least two days on horseback during this new camp! Perfect for beginners and experienced riders, this program also features hiking and plenty of outdoor exploration.
Session 3 (July 12-16) - Rhode Island Challenge: We‘ll hike, paddle, and bike our way around the state in this exciting new program. Prepare to get wet and muddy as we visit state parks, waterways, and other nearby hotspots.
Session 4 (July 19-23) Environmental Adventures: Join us as we visit some of our favorite nature spots around New England! We‘ll go behind-the-scenes as we visit nature centers, aquariums, and zoos as we learn about animals, explore current environmental issues, and much more.
Session 5 (July 26-30): Please see Summer Challenge schedule (Below)
Session 6 (August 2-6) - Kayaking
Session 7 (August 9-13) - Adventure Course: Test your limits during this popular camp as we complete low and high ropes courses, and focus on teambuilding and group challenge activities.
FULL! Session 8 (August 16-20) - Rhode Island Challenge

Program Cost: $230 for Session 2; $280 for Sessions 1, 3-8 (Includes all transportation and program fees). Partial scholarships are available.

SUMMER CHALLENGE (Entering grades 6-8)
Monday-Tuesday 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.; Wednesday 12:00 P.M. - Friday 12:00 P.M.

SESSION FIVE (JULY 26-30) ONLY.

This exciting camp for students entering grades 6-8 provides hiking, outdoor adventure, and an overnight experience at NBS! Monday and Tuesday follow the regular 9:00-3:00 schedule, but campers arrive Wednesday at 12:00 two nights of overnight camping.

Camping is primitive, so participants prepare and cook their food and wait to take a shower until Friday afternoon. Meals are provided from Wednesday dinner through Friday breakfast. (Packing lists and additional information can be found on our website.)

Activities include a day trip to Sachuest Point, hiking to Hanging Rock, and one day each of kayaking and adventure course. This session is coed, and is staffed by one female and one male teacher. Summer Challenge is limited to ten students.

Session 5 (July 26-30): Join us for this intense nature experience in the great outdoors! We‘ll go kayaking, take part in group and individual challenges, and spend two full nights ¨roughing it" in the NBS campground. All activities are held rain or shine, and we‘ll end the week tired and full of our own amazing accomplishments!

Program Cost: $340 (Includes all transportation and program fees). Partial scholarships are available.

ECOLOGY ADVENTURES (Entering grades 8-12)
Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Our high school camp will include five full days of trips to nature and outdoor sites around New England! These not-to-be-missed sessions include exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, hiking, kayaking, and high ropes courses. Students entering grades 8-12 are eligible to attend. Some day trips may require early departure times or pick ups, but parents will be notified prior to any scheduling change.

Session 4 (July 19-23) - Adventure New England: In only one week‘s time, participants will bike, raft, climb, and trek their way around New England, as we challenge ourselves to new heights and thrilling adventures. We‘ll even squeeze in a trip to Boston and complete a high ropes challenge course. Hiking, rafting, and mountain biking will also be featured.
Session 7 (August 9-13) - The Blue Planet: Join us on five days of fully guided trips to Block Island, Cape Cod, the New England Aquarium, Plum Island, and much more during this hands-on marine science adventure program. We‘ll kayak, hike, wade, and sail all around the New England shoreline, with additional stops at state parks and fabulous hidden coastal treasures. Groups will even wade into the waters of Narragansett Bay during a visit to an oyster farm, and go offshore fishing. Don‘t miss the whale watch and behind-the-scenes tours!

Full itineraries and additional travel details will be available soon.

Program Cost: $430 (Includes all transportation and program fees). Partial scholarships are available.

Before and After Care
For children entering grades K-8

For the busy parent, extended care is offered between the hours of 8:00-9:00 A.M. and 3:00-5:00 P.M. During this time, campers may participate in their choice of supervised, unstructured activities.

Before and after care are only offered in one hour increments. Parents will be charged for after care if more than 15 minutes late for camper pickup. When possible, we request that you register and pay for extended care in advance. Both options may be selected during online registration or by calling the Camp Office at (401) 846-2577.

Extended care is held in the Ed Shed, and parents should follow all regular sign out procedures. Please note: After care is available Monday-Friday, but due to Monday morning registration and check in, before care is only available Tuesday-Friday.

Program Cost: Before Care: $40 (Tuesday-Friday) After Care: $80 (Monday-Friday). During Session 2, Before Care will be offered Wednesday-Friday for $33, and After Care will be offered Tuesday-Friday for $65.