School and Group Programs

Why Choose Our Programs?

• All our programs meet Massachusetts State Frameworks.
• We distribute pre and post field trip materials, which include key concepts, activity suggestions, vocabulary lists, and a list of frequently seen species.
• We offer custom programs! Our programs are interdisciplinary and can fit into your curriculum.
• Our state of the art green facility has an exhibit area, butterfly garden, four aquaria, gift shop, indoor bathrooms, and picnic area. For more information, download our FAQs (PDF 28K) or contact us.

Our trained Teacher/Naturalists specialize in providing hands-on, interactive learning experiences that encourage investigation of the natural world. Our programs explore the varied habitats of Wellfleet Bay and help enrich the understanding of human interrelationships with the environment. They are designed to invite participation and active inquiry and to develop environmental literacy.

Environmental education programs are offered for all ages. We maintain a ratio of one naturalist to 20 participants in an outdoor setting, with a smaller ratio recommended for younger groups. Due to our extensive system of trails, as well as our access to the Cape Cod National Seashore, town conservation lands, and other natural areas, we can serve up to 120 participants at one time.

Our Education Coordinator and Teacher/Naturalist are available by phone or e-mail to assist both teachers and students with any natural history questions or to schedule a program

Visit Wellfleet Bay-for naturalist-led, hands-on learning.

Field Walks
1.5 to 2 hours, 20 people per naturalist, $90 per hour per naturalist (1.5 hour minimum). Discounts are given to Cape Cod schools and to programs scheduled off-season (Oct. 15-April 15). Our most popular walks include, but are not limited to, the following:

Tidal Flats Walk: Explore the tidal flats with a naturalist and you may find scurrying crabs, dig up a horseshoe crab or moon snail, catch a swimming silversides, discover several kinds of shells, or spot a feeding shorebird. Go on a scavenger hunt to find even more! (Can be combined with Salt Marsh Walk)

Salt Marsh Walk: Use dip nets and fish traps to catch shrimp, eels and green crabs. Pick up scurrying fiddler crabs, search for coffee bean snails, taste one of the salt marsh plants, and discover the incredible adaptations these species have in order to live in this important saltwater wetland. (Can be combined with Tidal Flats Walk)

Dune Hike: Hike the sand dunes of Truro and learn how Cape Cod was created by glaciers, shifting sands, and scouring winds. This hike will provide students with panoramic views of the ocean, bay, and the tip of Cape Cod.

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Boat Trips

Marine Life Cruise: Hold a crab, feel a live, pulsing scallop, get squirted by a squid, touch a flounder, watch the seals, check out planktonic crabs, and more! Experience the marine environment of Cape Cod through the use of three different types of nets and a fish pot. Cruising from Wellfleet Harbor aboard the Naviator, a commercial fishing vessel, we'll bring aboard fish, invertebrates, and plankton for students to touch and hold. Students may also observe seals hauled out or in the water. Pricing: Up to 45 people; 2.5 hours for $700 or 1.5 hours for $600 (on-Cape schools receive a discount, please call or email for details). Read more detailed Marine Life Cruise information.

Nauset Marsh Cruise: Take your group cruising through Nauset Marsh aboard a pontoon boat. Along the way we'll stop to pull up an eel pot and check out crabs and other animals that have crawled inside. We'll also get off the boat and explore the tidal flats to look for crabs and snails, as well as dig for clams and sea worms. Explore a barrier beach, observe the power of the waves, and stroll the tide line in search of shells. (2 hours, up to 15 people, $35 adult/$25 child)

Canoeing: Explore quiet kettle ponds by canoe and give your students a whole new perspective on nature. A naturalist will instruct students on proper paddling techniques, and interpret what you see (& even what you can't). Leader is certified Basic Water Rescue and Small Craft Safety and has been leading canoeing trips on Cape Cod for over 20 years. Students must be at least 12 years of age. Trips are wind and tide dependent. Paddles and PFDs (lifejackets) are provided. $30 per student. Maximum 16 people.

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Field Studies
Up to 20 participants, $90/hour

Box Turtle Tracking: Take part in an ongoing research project on the Eastern Box Turtle, a species of special concern. Trek through fields and woods and use radio telemetry equipment to find some turtles. Upon finding one students will measure, weigh, and record data that will be added to our database.

Salt Marsh Die Back: Investigate the issue of sudden marsh dieback by collecting data while working along transects. The data collected by students will be added to our database to create a picture of the health of our marsh.

Habitat Restoration: Take an eye-opening look at the threats to biodiversity, the problem of invasive species, and ecological management tools for conserving rare habitats. Visit a restored coastal heathland and learn how fire can benefit this ecosystem.

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Group Presentations

Green Building Tour and Activities ($90/hour)
Tour our new nationally-certified green building. Solar energy, composting toilets, recycled graywater system, and recycled materials are all included. Follow up by participating in activities focused on alternative energy, such as making s'mores in a solar cooker built by the students or constructing wind anemometers and testing wind speeds on the Sanctuary. Tour and activities each last 45 - 60 minutes.

Large Group Presentations (50+ people)
$75-$100 for daytime presentations
$100-$150 for evening presentation
(Local includes towns of Brewster, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro & Provincetown)
A naturalist will provide artifacts, such as whale bones, sea turtle shells, and bird mounts, a captivating presentation, and experience and knowledge about the topic. Some popular topics include, but are not limited to:

• Whales of Cape Cod
• Sea Turtles
• Coastal Water Birds
• Cape Cod Natural History

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In-class Lessons
The Wellfleet Bay Education Staff will meet with teachers to design a program or continuing program suited to their current curriculum. All lessons are connected to the Science Curriculum Frameworks. Programs we have already conducted at a K-8 level and are listed below:

Habitats/Cape Cod Habitats: Barrier Beach, Coastal Heathland, Dunes, Field, Forest, Ocean, Pond, River, Salt Marsh, Tidal Flats, Vernal Pool

Animals/Cape Cod Animals: Birds, Butterflies, Coyotes & Foxes, Ducks, Fish, Herptiles, Horseshoe Crabs, Oysters, Insects, Mammals, Marine Invertebrates, Owls, Raptors, Sea Turtles, Shorebirds, Squid & Octopus, Turtles of Cape Cod, Whales & Seals

Marine Environment: Aquaculture, Cape Cod Wind Farm, Coastal Issues, Horseshoe Crab Harvesting, Marine Fisheries, Shellfishing

Ecology: Endangered Species, Human Impact, Introduction to Ecology, Invasive Species, Nitrate Loading, Run off and Non-Point Source Pollution, Water Chemistry, Bio-Indicators

Animal Adaptations/Behavior: Introductions to Barnacles & Feeding, Mummichogs & Social Interaction, Periwinkles & Grazing, Shrimp & Movement, Crabs & Defense Mechanisms

We have also conducted various programs/projects at a high school level, including Coastal Waterbirds, Habitat Studies, Pillbug Project, Salamander Coverboard Project, and Invasive Species.

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Pre-school Groups
Pre-school lessons could include sensory activities, dramatic play, movement, live animal presentations, demonstrations, and observations.

Animals in your Classroom/Touch Tank: We bring the touch tank into your classroom and give your students a fish-eye view of Cape Cod’s coastal marine life. Crabs of all kinds will be there, along with moon snails, whelks, clams, sea stars, mummichogs, and others! Students will be able to observe and handle these local species, up-close and personal. (Recommended length: 45 minutes; Maximum group size: 20 students; Fee: $100.00)

In-class lessons include, but are not limited to, the following: Animals of the Night; Animal Tracking; Bats; Birds (could include a separate class on owls); Crabby crabby; Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders; Insects (could include separate classes on bees, butterflies, or dragonflies); Marsh Muckers; Metamorphosis; Predators and Prey; Seals; Skullduggery (skulls and bones); Snakes in the Grass; Spiders & Their Webs; Trees & Leaves; Turtles; Whales.

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Scout Groups: Boy Scout and Girl Scout Programs
Let our enthusiastic naturalists lead your group on a trail adventure. Choose from the array of outdoor exploration programs already listed, or let us help you set up a program that meets your needs and interest in earning badges. We would be happy to set up a program any day of the week or weekend.

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Birthday Parties
Celebrate your birthday at the Sanctuary and you will have the chance to hike on the sanctuary trails with a naturalist for 1.5 hours; use dip nets, buckets, & fish traps; play an organized nature game; and use our program room for an hour after the walk. Cost is $200 plus a $100 security deposit. Birthday parties are only scheduled from September through April.

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Teacher Workshops
Throughout the year we offer an array of workshops that provide content knowledge and classroom lessons in local habitats and wildlife and environmental issues. We can also custom design special topic seminars for your school site. Call to register or to discuss the possibilities. Mass DOE–PDP Provider

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Schedule your program

To schedule a program, contact the Education Coordinator. We recommend scheduling a program 2–6 months in advance. Please have the following information available when calling or e-mailing:

• Program choice
• Dates/times available for program
• Name, address, phone number of group
• Grade level and size of group

It is also helpful for the Education Coordinator to understand what your group is studying and your expectations of the program. If you have any further questions about our programs or would like to request a special program not listed, please contact the Education Coordinator.

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Contact Us:
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
PO Box 236
South Wellfleet, MA 02663
508-349-2615 (ph)
508-349-2632 (fx)
e-mail: wellfleet@massaudubon.org

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