Join the Audubon experts on a winter birding trip, search for owls on the evening trails, or create a festive wreath that entices your feathered friends. Take a break from the holiday rush and celebrate the natural world with your family this season!

Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. View the December Events Calendar here, or click on the program title to register.

Head out on the trails for an evening of fun learning about the owls of Rhode Island. Start with a presentation on these amazing creatures and visit with one of Audubon's live owls, then walk the evening trails in search of these intriguing birds in their nature setting. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight.

Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Fee: $10/member adult, $5/member child; $14/non-member adult, $7/non-member child. Ages: 7+.

Winter Birding Van Trip:
Waterfowl and Seabirds at the Shore
December 2, 2017; 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Join Audubon for a trip to Rhode Island's coastal habitats and ponds in search of winter waterfowl and seabirds. Stop at birding hot spots to search for a variety of waterfowl including Barrow's Golden-eye, Canvasback, Eider and more. We'll be visiting scenic coastal locations such as Trustom Pond, Point Judith, Quonochontaug Pond and more. Please bring a lunch and optics. Dress for the weather.

Departs from Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge, 99 Pardon Joslin Road, Exeter, RI; Program Fee: $50/member; $60/non-member. Ages: 16+.

Audubon Christmas Tree Sale and Photos with Santa
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 2, 2017; 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Come pick out your freshly cut Christmas tree, grown locally on a Rhode Island tree farm. After browsing for your tree, your child’s picture can be taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Seasonal crafts and activities for children will be available and food donations will be collected for the local food bank.

Admission is free. Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI.

Audubon Holiday Craft Fair Artisan Gifts with a Natural Flair
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
December 2, 2017; 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

With local vendors selling a variety of nature and wildlife related wares, you are sure to find perfect gifts for the nature enthusiasts on your list. Jewelry, children's items, ornaments, stationery and other locally made treats are just a few items to choose from. The Audubon Nature Shop will also be featuring a variety of bird feeders, seed and field guides.

Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI.

Needle Felted Owls
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 3, 2017; 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Join Audubon educator and fiber artist Tala Wunderler-Selby and learn how to make different local mushrooms from wool. Participants will sculpt their own mushrooms using the technique of needle felting, which involves using a notched needle to “stab” fluffy, colorful wool until it become solid. This class is for beginners- no felting experience or artistic skills necessary! Make something special to give as a gift, or to keep for yourself. All materials will be provided.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $25/member; $30/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult.

Seals and Seabirds
Prudence Island, RI
December 4, 2017; 9:45 am – 3:00 pm

Head out to explore beautiful Prudence Island with a focus on seals and seabirds. We will make several stops to look for a variety of bird species in protected ponds and coves. Expect to see grebes, eiders, mergansers and many other species. After warming up while we eat lunch, we will head back out to the south end of the island to view the winter population of harbor seals that enjoy basking on the rocks just offshore.

Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Prudence Island, RI; Program Fee: $8/member adult, $4/member child; $12/non-member adult, $8/non-member child. Ages: 8+.

Ducks at Trustom Pond
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, South Kingstown, RI
December 9, 2017; 8:00 – 10:30 am

Winter is great for "ducking!" Lauren Parmelee, Audubon Senior Director of Education, will help to hone your birding skills as you search for ducks, raptors and songbirds. This instructional walk is perfect for beginning and intermediate birders, so dress for the weather, grab your binoculars and join our adventure.

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, 1040 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, South Kingstown, RI; Program Fee: $15/member; $18/non-member. Ages: Teen to Adult.

Sea Glass Jewelry and Ornaments
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 9, 2017; 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Come create a beautiful pendant or holiday ornament with sea glass found on local beaches. Learn how to choose the right piece of glass and transform it using quick and easy wire wrapping techniques. Program includes all materials. Find something special on the beach? Bring that too! This class fills quickly, advance registration is required.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: Adult.

Junior Naturalists: Wonderful Whales
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 12 & 13th, 2017; 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Our popular home-school program is now an hour and a half! We’re making time for more outdoor exploration, so come dressed for the outdoors. Join other home-schooled kids to learn about nature and science. This program will introduce participants to a different topic each class, with hands-on experiments and nature-based activities that are sure to foster a love of the natural world. Classes are limited to 15 children, so please register early. Adult must attend with child.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; 1:30-3:00 pm; Program fee: $10/member child, $6/member siblings; $12/non-member child, $8/non-member siblings. Ages: 6-12.

Wildlife Wreath Making
Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, Smithfield, RI
December 16, 2017; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Make a winter wreath that is both beautiful and edible to birds and other wildlife. Using wire or straw wreath bases, add greens, dried flowers, seed heads, leaves, fruit and nuts to entice your feathered friends to visit. All items will dry nicely if you prefer to keep the wreath for decorative purposes. Materials will be provided.

Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $30/member; $35/non-member. Ages: 14+.

Paint and Sip: Winter Birds
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 16, 2017; 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Create your own beautiful painting while enjoying a glass of wine! No painting experience necessary- we’ll lead you through the creative process with step-by-step instruction. Start with a blank canvass, and leave with your own masterpiece! Did you paint winter birds last year? No problem—we will be creating a different painting this year. Registration is required.

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; Program Fee: $35/member; $40/non-member. Ages: 21+.

Owl Prowl at Fort Refuge
Fort Wildlife Refuge, North Smithfield, RI
December 21, 2017; 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Bundle up and head to the Fort Wildlife Refuge for the winter solstice. Your guide will call for different species of owls as you travel through mixed and pine woods. While we never know if we'll actually get to hear or see an owl, participants will be sure to learn a lot and have a great night hike. Wear heavy socks and shoes or boots and dress warmly. Bring a flashlight. Hike will be canceled in the event of inclement weather or icy trails.

Fort Nature Refuge, (Rt. 5), 1443 Providence Pike, North Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $10/member; $14/non-member. Ages: 12+.

December School Vacation Week with Audubon
Audubon Environmental Education Center, Bristol, RI
December 27th - 30th, 2017

Don't know what to do with the family during the December school vacation break? Audubon is the solution! Special programs and activities are available each day and are free with admission*. Registration is not required.

Nature crafts will be available from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm each day

Nature Story at 10:00 am and 2:30 pm.

Audubon’s popular animal interviews are held each day at 1:30 pm.

Special programs (listed below by date) for children ages 6 and up are held each day at 11:00 am:

- December 27, 2017: Mini Nature Film Fest. Pull up a rug and watch selection of short nature films just for kids! Themes include monkeys, plants, marine life and more.

- December 28, 2017: Nature Games. Try a round of animal games! Learn about the food web, predators and prey, animal adaptations, and more.

December 29, 2017: Cooking for the Birds. Young nature enthusiasts become “bird chefs” and create unique and tasty dishes for feathered friends in their backyards. Will we make a Tweet-Tweet Trail Mix or perhaps a Suet Sundae? Come find out!

December 30, 2017: Icy Investigation. Discover the science behind ice. Kids will investigate what makes ice melt, why it floats, and more. Work together to build a sculpture out of colorful ice to display on the wildlife refuge!

Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI; December 27 - 30, 2017; 10:00 am-3:00 pm; Free with Admission*. Ages: All.
*Admission: Members (2 adults and up to 4 children) free; Non-Member Adults $6.00; Non-Member Senior $5.00; Non-Member Child (4-12) $4.00; Children 3 and under free.