Wetlands Classes for All Ages

From budding kindergarten naturalists to high school students with a serious interest in the environment, the Wetlands Institute has a full schedule of summer classes that use the beaches, dunes, marshes and forests as the classrooms to teach children more about the natural world around them.

For the younger students, kindergartner to 6th grade, the Wetlands Institute offers eight, one-week Summer Nature Classes that begin June 21 and continue into August. Topics range from turtles to crabs to osprey and insects and all materials are adapted to the appropriate grade level. Each weekly theme takes a look at animals and plants of the coastal eco-systems and their interrelationship with one another to give youngsters an appreciation for the abundant diversity of life around them.

Kindergarten classes have a beach day on Wednesday and grades 1 to 6 have a Tuesday beach day and a Thursday field trip. The kindergarten program is 9:30 to 11:30 Monday to Friday and the tuition is $70 for members and $85 for nonmembers. Grades 1 to 6 meet 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tuition is $135 for members and $150 for nonmembers plus the cost of field trips.

Tuition is reduced for week three because of a four-day week and all classes are geared toward the grade level most recently completed. There is also additional charges for scheduled field trips.

The Junior Naturalist Experience for grades 7, 8 and 9 focuses on exploring the coastal environment and learning what local professionals are doing to protect our eco-systems. One- week classes begin July 6 and continue to Aug. 9 to 13. Tuition per week is $215 for members and $245 for nonmembers; for July 6 to 9, tuition is $168/$196.

Intern for a Week is an opportunity for high school students with serious interest in the natural sciences to work side by side with college interns conducting research projects in areas of beach biology, turtle research, fish and bird studies. The intern programs will be June 21 to June 25 and July 12 to July 16 for students in grades 10, 11 and 12. Tuition is $250 for members; $300 for nonmembers. Call the Wetlands Institute for additional application information.

Throughout the summer, the Wetlands Institute hosts Family Night at the Institute every Wednesday plus an ongoing variety of programs and special events including dune walks, bird walks, birding tours and more. For details about classes, events and exciting programs call the Wetlands Institute at 609-368-1211 or stop by the Institute, 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd. or visit the website at www.wetlandsinstitute.org.

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Author: Press Release--Wetlands Institute