The Shore Blog

There are so many ways to connect with nature when you’re down the shore. From beach walks to meeting live animals at the Wetlands Institute, there is something going on every day of the week. If you want to get back to nature and learn more about the ecosystems along the shore, we’ve put together a schedule of events.

Monday

Stone Harbor
Exploration Point with The Wetlands Institute
Every Monday at 9:30 am
Bring your beachcombing buckets and start your week at the beach off right as you explore Stone Harbor Point for awesome seashells, cool birds, fun things that live under the sand, and give a lesson in sand castle building. Meet an educator from The Wetlands Institute at the trailhead at 122nd Street in Stone Harbor. Activity recommended for children age 3-7 accompanied by a parent. Suggested $3 donation to The Wetlands Institute.

The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Creature Feature
Weekdays 11:15am and 1:15pm
We will highlight a different live animal or group of animals each day! Get up close with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs and the popular animals of Finding Nemo and Sponge Bob. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Catch ‘o the Day
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 3:15 pm
Get your feet wet (or wear waders) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help drag a seine net through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more. Activity recommended for ages 8 and up (younger children are welcome to attend and can assist in removing creatures from the net). This activity is tide-dependent and may not occur during low tide. Free with admission.

Tuesday

Ocean City

Beach Walks
Tuesdays, 9:00 am (July and August)
South End Location: 59th Street and Central Avenue (Entrance to Corsons Park)
Tickets may be purchased on-site. Adults $1.00 Children $.50.

Sea Isle City
Guided Beachcombing
Tuesdays, 10:00 am – 11:00 am (June 25-August 2)
29th Street Beach and Promenade
Learn all about our beaches and the creatures that dwell in and around them from beachcombing guides, and then explore the beach for your own treasures. $1 cost includes a free beachcombing bucket.

Stone Harbor
The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Creature Feature
Weekdays 11:15am and 1:15pm
We will highlight a different live animal or group of animals each day! Get up close with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs and the popular animals of Finding Nemo and Sponge Bob. Free with admission.

Aquarium Feeding at The Wetlands Institute
Tuesday and Thursday 3:15 pm
Saturday 2:15pm
Act as an Aquarist for a day and help feed the local marine life. Feeding is open three times each week so you can see the turtles chasing minnows and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp. Not all animals are fed every day. Free with admission.

Totally Turtle Tuesday at The Wetlands Institute
Every Tuesday evening at 5:00 pm
The Wetlands Instituted loves to highlight our favorite reptiles, birds, plants, pollinators and arthropods. Meet live animals, release a terrapin or horseshoe crab from our dock and make a difference. Tuesday nights are all about turtles.

Wednesday

Avalon

Avalon Dune and Beach Walk
9:30 am – 10:30 am
48th Street and Dune Drive
Meet at 45th Street and Dune Drive in Avalon for an interpretive walk with a naturalist along the maritime forest and dune trails as you learn about the animals and plants that thrive in this environment.

Ocean City
Beach Walks
Wednesdays 6:30pm
59th Street and Central Avenue (Entrance to Corsons Park)
Tickets may be purchased on-site. Adults $1.00 Children $.50.

Stone Harbor
The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Creature Feature
Weekdays 11:15am and 1:15pm
We will highlight a different live animal or group of animals each day! Get up close with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs and the popular animals of Finding Nemo and Sponge Bob. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Catch ‘o the Day
Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 3:15 pm
Get your feet wet (or wear waders) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help drag a seine net through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more. Activity recommended for ages 8 and up (younger children are welcome to attend and can assist in removing creatures from the net). This activity is tide-dependent and may not occur during low tide. Free with admission.

Helping Hands Wednesdays at The Wetlands Institute
Every Wednesday evening at 5:00 pm
The Wetlands Instituted loves to highlight our favorite reptiles, birds, plants, pollinators and arthropods. Meet live animals, release a terrapin or horseshoe crab from our dock and make a difference.

Thursday

Sea Isle City
Guided Beachcombing
10:00 am – 11:00 am (June 27-August 29)
94th Street Beach (Registration is at Townsends Inlet Waterfront Park Pavilion)
Learn all about our beaches and the creatures that dwell in and around them from beachcombing guides, and then explore the beach for your own treasures. $1 cost includes a free beachcombing bucket.

Stone Harbor
The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Creature Feature
Weekdays 11:15am and 1:15pm
We will highlight a different live animal or group of animals each day! Get up close with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs and the popular animals of Finding Nemo and Sponge Bob. Free with admission.

Aquarium Feeding at The Wetlands Institute
Tuesday and Thursday 3:15 pm
Saturday 2:15pm
Act as an Aquarist for a day and help feed the local marine life. Feeding is open three times each week so you can see the turtles chasing minnows and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp. Not all animals are fed every day. Free with admission.

Horseshoe Crabmania Thursday at The Wetlands Institute
Every Thursday evening at 5:00 pm
The Wetlands Instituted loves to highlight our favorite reptiles, birds, plants, pollinators and arthropods. Meet live animals, release a terrapin or horseshoe crab from our dock and make a difference. Tuesday nights are all about crabs. Free with admission

Friday

Stone Harbor
The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Creature Feature
Weekdays 11:15am and 1:15pm
We will highlight a different live animal or group of animals each day! Get up close with turtles, fish, crabs, sea stars and urchins, mollusks, horseshoe crabs and the popular animals of Finding Nemo and Sponge Bob. Free with admission.

The Wetlands Institute – Catch ‘o the Day
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 3:15 pm
Get your feet wet (or wear waders) as you discover what swims in the back bays. Help drag a seine net through the water to find crabs, shrimp, fish and more. Activity recommended for ages 8 and up (younger children are welcome to attend and can assist in removing creatures from the net). This activity is tide-dependent and may not occur during low tide. Free with admission

Saturday

Stone Harbor
Hooked On Fishing at The Wetlands Institute
Every Saturday morning at 9:30 am
Need something to do while you’re waiting for check-in time on Saturday? Go fishing! The Wetlands Institute will teach you how to bait a hook, cast a line, catch the fish and reel it in. Fishing poles and bait provided. Free with admission.

Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Tours (July 6 through August 24)
Saturdays 10:00 am, Egret Espy Trail entrance at 114th Street and 2nd Avenue
Experienced docents lead guided tours through a maritime forest and barrier dunes and teach visitors about the natural history and wildlife of the Bird Sanctuary. Tours are one hour long.

The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

Aquarium Feeding at The Wetlands Institute
Tuesday and Thursday 3:15 pm
Saturday 2:15pm
Act as an Aquarist for a day and help feed the local marine life. Feeding is open three times each week so you can see the turtles chasing minnows and the horseshoe crab gobbling shrimp. Not all animals are fed every day. Free with admission.

Sunday

Cape May
Free Family Nature and Wildlife Show
Every Sunday evening 7:30 pm through September
Cape May Convention Hall
Steve Serwatka will present the New Jersey Nature Program. Come in and see Steve as he explains his efforts to save and rehabilitate wildlife. You can count on him to bring along some of the animals he has rescued for you to meet. The FREE of charge program is fun for all ages.

Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary Tours
Sundays 10:00 am (June 2 through August 25)
Egret Espy Trail entrance at 114th Street and 2nd Avenue
Experienced docents lead guided tours through a maritime forest and barrier dunes and teach visitors about the natural history and wildlife of the Bird Sanctuary. Tours are one hour long.

The Wetlands Institute Salt Marsh Safari
Weekdays 10:00 am, 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm
Weekends 11:00 am and 1:00 pm
Starting in Marsh View Hall, watch The Wetlands Institute’s award-winning film, “Secrets of the Salt Marsh”. Then take a guided interpretive walk through the wetlands. You will travel along the new elevated walkway, down the salt marsh trail and out onto the dock overlooking Scotch Bonnet creek. To fully experience the marsh, make sure to wear shoes that can get wet and muddy. Free with admission.

Seashell Sunday at The Wetlands Institute
Sundays at 10:00 am
If you’re starting a shell collection, want to know where shells come from or can’t figure out what you just found on the beach, bring it in and learn all about seashells and how to collect them without harming the environment. This event features an assortment of live mollusks and cool artifacts. Free with admission

Crabbing at the Dock of The Wetlands Institute
Sundays at 2:15pm
Drop a line in the water and see what pinches it! We’ll provide the bait and handlines… You reel in the blue crabs. Free with admission.