Horseshoe Crab Community Science Program – Project Limulus
2026-06-29 09:30 - 11:30, 2026-06-29 21:30 - 23:30, 2026-07-01 11:00 - 12:30, 2026-07-12 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Select morning and evenings during the May, June & July full and new moon high tides
Ages 12+ (Registration required)
Join us for our 20th year participating in Project Limulus, a scientific survey tracking horseshoe crab populations. Volunteers will walk two miles along the Napatree Point Conservation Area during the May and June full and new moon high tides—prime spawning time for these ancient creatures. The survey takes 1-4 hours, depending on horseshoe crab activity (anywhere from zero to a thousand crabs might be encountered). While all are welcome to participate in this important conservation effort, participants should be prepared for the physical demands of the survey. Experience these “living fossils” up close while contributing valuable data to this long-term research program.

REGISTER HERE

A Lifeline of Liberty: Local Privateering 1775–1777 with Jack Spratt
2026-07-01 18:00 - 19:00 | The Chaplin B. Barnes Reading Room, 1 Bay Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join Captain Jack Spratt as he commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a compelling story of the Revolutionary War along our shores. In 1775 and 1777, continental privateers—the “maritime militia”—sailed from our waters, driven by both patriotism and the promise of profit. By capturing British merchant ships, they kept the “Struggle for American Liberty” fed and armed at its most desperate hour while drastically disrupting British commerce throughout the Atlantic Basin.
British warships chased, engaged, and seized American privateers off Watch Hill, treating them as pirates and sending many to the notorious prison ships anchored in New York Harbor at Wallabout Bay, where the infamous HMS Jersey became a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. Stonington and Fishers Island endured British foraging raids, while Gardiners Island, firmly Loyalist along with much of Long Island, stood with the Crown, creating a stark divide across the Sound.
This is a story of how ordinary sailors and their neighbors, in what was truly our country’s first civil war, helped win the struggle for independence. As part of the program, Captain Jack will also share recommended local Revolutionary War sites to explore during this remarkable milestone of democracy.
The event is free and open to the public.
Presented by The Westerly Historical Society, with support from The Watch Hill Conservancy and Grey Sail Brewing.

Discovery Table
2026-07-04 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-05 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-11 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-12 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-18 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-19 11:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-25 11:00 - 14:00 | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Can’t join a program? Find us at the Discovery Table every Saturday and Sunday from June through August. Our interactive information table tells the story of Napatree and showcases what you may find during your visit!

No Registration Required

Bird and Learn
2026-07-05 08:00 - 09:30 | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
New and experienced bird watchers, join us in exploring the variety of bird species in the Napatree Point Conservation Area, recognized as a “Globally Important Bird Area” by the National Audubon Society!

REGISTER HERE

Napatree Investigators Program (Ages 7-13)
2026-07-07 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-08 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-09 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-14 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-15 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-16 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-21 08:30 - 10:30, 2026-07-22 08:30 - 10:30 and 1 more date | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Attend once a week, a few dates, or just one program. Each week covers a different conservation theme. Please read the full description.

We ask that you register each child for only one day per week of the program, as all the sessions for that week are the same.
You can attend once a week, a few dates, or just one program.
Registration is required for this program.
Each week covers a different conservation theme. (Each registration ticket will tell you the theme of that week)
Week 1: Tidal Pools – July 7, 8, 9
Week 2: Crabbing – July 14, 15, 16
Week 3: Lagoon Exploration – July 21, 22, 23
Week 4: Seining – July 28, 29, 30
Week 5: Beach Combing – August 4, 5, 6
Week 6: Clamming – August 11, 12, 13
Foster your child’s curiosity for the flora and fauna of the various habitats and ecosystems of the beautiful beach environment of Napatree Point, a premier RI coastal Conservation Area. With a different conservation theme each week, participating Investigators will spend the morning on the beach with The Watch Hill Conservancy’s Naturalists as they learn and explore. Each child will take home a custom t-shirt as a souvenir of this special opportunity to be up close and personal with nature and the beautiful shoreline.

REGISTER HERE

Seine Net Program
2026-07-11 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-07-25 09:00 - 10:30 | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Saturday Mornings
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Saturdays – July 11, July 25, August 8 and August 22
All ages
Join Naturalists as they cast a 20-foot seine net, catching marine life for up-close examination, highlighting the importance of ecosystems within Little Narragansett Bay!

REGISTER HERE

Lanphear LIVE! Presents: Norman Smith, The Snowy Owls of Logan Airport
2026-07-13 18:00 - 19:00 | The Chaplin B. Barnes Reading Room, 1 Bay Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Presented by Norman Smith, Raptor Specialist
Snowy Owl Project, Mass Audubon, Lincoln, MA
Since 1981, raptor specialist Norman Smith has spent countless days and nights, in every imaginable weather condition, observing, capturing, banding, and relocating Snowy Owls from Logan International Airport. Affectionately called “the Owl Man of Logan Airport,” Smith has single-handedly relocated more than 900 of these magnificent birds, gathering valuable data on their roosting patterns, hunting behavior, and seasonal movements. Enjoy a screening of this award-winning documentary short about his work, followed by a live presentation and Q&A with Norman to find out what he has learned, what questions remain and how this project expanded to include studies of Northern Saw-whet Owl populations.

Natural History Walk
2026-07-18 09:00 - 2026-07-20 10:30 | Napatree Point Conservation Area, Fort Road, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
Join our Naturalists for a guided walk to learn about the natural history, flora and fauna of Napatree Conservation Area! Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. This program is designed to last 90 minutes so participants can use the free parking along Bay Street. This program will start at 9:00 AM and meet at The Napatree Point Conservation Area entrance. Registration is required. Light rain will not cancel these events, but a downpour will.

REGISTER HERE

Lanphear LIVE! Presents: Sam Miller, Wings in the Dark: The Secret Nightlife of Migrating Birds
2026-07-20 18:00 - 19:00 | The Chaplin B. Barnes Reading Room, 1 Bay Street, Westerly, RI, 02891, United States
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.

Beach Bums Children’s Program (Ages 4-6)
2026-07-26 09:00 - 10:00 | RI
Ages 4-6 (Registration required)
This program is for our conservation kiddos! Napatree Naturalists will read a themed children’s story coupled with a hands-on activity! Our stories and activities will cover topics such as horseshoe crabs, shorebirds, hermit crabs, and keeping our beaches clean. Each participant will take home a small, child-safe souvenir. Parents must accompany their children.
This program is designed to last 60 minutes so participants can utilize the free parking along Bay Street.
Rain will cancel these events. Program cancelations will be communicated via email.
This is a FREE program offered by The Watch Hill Conservancy

REGISTER HERE
