Take a walk on the wild side, with one of our engaging, age-appropriate Birthday Parties! Our nature-based programs will create a memorable birthday that your child will never forget!

Birthday Parties at NBS are offered in two hour blocks on Saturdays throughout the year. The party fee includes the rental of one of our classroom spaces and a one hour education program at the beginning of your party. For an additional fee, you may select an 20 minute “add on” activity, listed below.

CHECK OUT OUR BRAND NEW BIRTHDAY PARTY THEMES:

Animals, Art and Adventure:In this fun filled birthday party, children will get up close and personal with a live animal of your choosing and complete a take home craft. On sunny days, we will look for adventures on NBS’ trails. On rainy or cold days we will search for adventure in a story book. Specific themes include: Snake Surprise, Amazing Amphibians, Lounge Lizards, Friends with Fur and Turtle Time.

Discovery Hike:Take a walk on the wild side as we investigate NBS habitats! We’ll peek under logs, go on a nature scavenger hunt, and make other seasonal discoveries as we explore the great outdoors.

Lost in the Wild (Ages 8+): Test your survival skills in this exciting outdoor program. We will practice compass skills, build outdoor shelters, look for animals signs and identify edible and poisonous plants.

What’s Bugging You?: Party goers will learn all about insects and other invertebrates as we meet live insects, dress our friends up, play interactive games, look under logs, and explore field habitats with nets and bug boxes.

Winging It: What makes a bird a bird? We’ll get to know our feathered friends through bird biofacts and active games before heading out on NBS trials to look for birds with binoculars.

Pond Life (offered seasonally): Discover the amazing plants and animals that call the pond home. We’ll use collecting nets to look for frogs, dragonfly larvae, and other aquatic critters. A visit with one of our aquatic animals will complete the fun! 

Mabel’s Gardeners ( offered seasonally): Get your hands dirty as we explore NBS’ Good Gardens! We will challenge our senses while tasting and smelling plants, look for garden wildlife and explore the soil. We may even create a yummy snack of our own!

Native Ways: Take a journey back in time as we examine what life was like for Native Americans living on Aquidneck Island. We will visit a Native American garden, play traditional games, examine tools used by the Wampanoags, and look for evidence that they once lived right here at NBS.

Add-on Options

Looking for even more fun and excitement? You can choose to “supersize” your NBS party by adding an extra staff-led activity. One 20 minute add-on may be selected per party (total event time is still 2 hours). We recommend choosing activities that differ from the theme of your party. A variety of options are available, including:

Animal Adoption (NEW): Make your child's birthday extra-special with the gift of an Education Animal Adoption. This add-on will include a 15 minute animal presentation, a framed 5x7 photo, certificate of adoption and an animal fact sheet given to your child during his or her party. Special Price: $40

Animal Presentation: Choose one NBS education animal to visit your party. Trail Walk: Add an interpretive hike through the forest – you never know what you might discover! 

Nature Craft: Let us design an earth-friendly craft to complement your program.

Scavenger Hunt: Join us for an exciting, seasonally-themed scavenger hunt along the trails.

Nature Games: Let’s get moving with some of our favorite nature-based active games. 

Program Information and Pricing: 

Birthday parties are offered to Norman Bird Sanctuary members for $125 and to Non-members for $175.You may purchase a family membership when booking your party. Family memberships are available for $55 and grant you access to our trails and camp programs. You will also receive a discount on public programs and merchandise in the owl gift shop.

Party prices include the birthday child and up to 12 guests. Children 2 and under attending with parents but not participating in party activities are free. Additional children, up to a maximum of 20, may attend for an additional $4.00 per child. Programs may be booked for children turning 4 or older.

Only one “add on” activity may be selected per party, for a $25 fee. These activities must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.

In order to reserve your event, there is a non-refundable deposit of $75. The remaining cost of the party is due the day of the event.

To book your party please contact Education Coordinator, Nicole Souza at
401-846-2577 Ext. 32 or nsouza@normanbirdsanctuary.org