Special Events & Programs

Each spring and fall, tens to hundreds of thousands of birds move across the Napatree Point Conservation Area under the cover of darkness, passing overhead in one of nature's most extraordinary yet largely invisible phenomena. This presentation invites you into an evening exploration of bird migration, with a special focus on the hidden world of nocturnal songbird migration along the Rhode Island coast.  Join Sam Miller, non-game bird wildlife biologist as he describes the remarkable strategies birds use to travel between breeding, stopover, and wintering habitats across vast geographic scales, and the challenges they face along the way. Deepen your appreciation for this hidden natural phenomenon, and learn practical conservation strategies, many of which you can practice to protect birds during one of nature’s most remarkable journeys.

The Stanton-Davis House and property are all that remain of the vast 17th and 18th century holdings of the Stanton Family of Stonington, CT. The lecture will present the history of the house, property, and its owners, and describe the methods and process of building archaeology, revealing the evolution of this grand house and the technology of its construction and alteration. 

Watch Hill’s homes are an essential part of the community’s identity and coastal heritage. Many of these properties were built centuries ago with exceptional craftsmanship, yet they face increasing challenges from aging materials, intense coastal conditions, and changing weather patterns. This educational presentation, designed for both full time residents and seasonal homeowners, focuses on responsible stewardship: how thoughtful maintenance, resilience planning, and appropriate protection work together to help preserve older homes while respecting their important history and character.

Join Catherine Shotick, inaugural director of the highly anticipated Westerly Museum of American Impressionism as she discusses how artists working along the Northeast coast shaped a distinctly American interpretation of Impressionism. Drawing from works in the museum’s collection, she examines key artist colonies—from Ogunquit, Maine, to Cape Ann, Old Lyme, and coastal Rhode Island—where painters responded directly to the region’s light, atmosphere, and seasonal rhythms.  Through selected case studies, the presentation considers how place, community, and environment informed both subject matter and technique, resulting in paintings that are at once regionally grounded and central to the broader narrative of American art.  

Dr. J. Douglas Nisbet Rhode Island Acadamy of Wine, Providence, RI