Maria Mitchell Association

Programs

MMA offers year-round programming for all ages so that visitors and residents alike can experience Nantucket’s unique flora and fauna. Field trips for all ages, lectures, adult workshops, and special programs are among the activities offered through the Natural Science Museum. For current and upcoming events, browse our program brochure or scroll down.

Looking for information about our popular Summer Discovery Classes for kids? Check out our Education page.

Natural Science Museum Programs

(Click here for programs through the Aquarium)

Besides housing exhibits on Nantucket's birds, mammals, insects, geology, and ecosystems, the Natural Science Museum offers all of the programs listed on this page. Click a link below to learn more or just scroll down the page.

Special Museum Programs:

Carnivorous Critters

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am
Before the museum opens to the public, join us for a unique experience. Observe the feeding habits of the turtles, frogs, fish, snakes and more! $5 members, $10 non-members. Limit 12, call (508) 228-0898 to reserve space.

American Burying Beetle Field Expeditions

The American Burying Beetle is among the rarest beetles in North America. It disappeared from Nantucket but has been reintroduced to the island in one of the only successful insect reintroductions in the United States. Participants will learn about the beetle's life cycle while helping with field work to monitor and boost the natural population. Please wear appropriate field clothes. Space is limited. Call ahead (508-228-0898) for further details or sign in to register.

Trap checking
June 19, June 20, June 26, June 27 (Rain or Shine) @ 6am
Join MMA Museum staff and staff from the Roger Williams Park Zoo as we check our traps. We will collect live American Burying Beetles and identify and discuss other beetle species caught in the traps. Members $10; Non-members $20

Provisioning beetles
July 5, July 10 @ 5pm
We will be burying male and female beetle couples with dead quails. They will prepare the carcass and rear young on it. We will also be unearthing previously buried carcasses to count larvae and check for adult beetles. Members $10; Non-members $20

Naturalist In Training

Click here to learn about the Naturalist In Training program

Family Programs:

Nocturnal Nuts

Wednesdays June 30 - August 25 Investigate Nantucket at night! We will walk through one of Nantucket’s unique habitats while learning about the site’s nocturnal animals. We’ll explore how and why these animals spend their waking hours in the dark through experiments and observations. Recommended for families and their children aged 8 and up. Must pre-register. Register by clicking on the desired date:

June 30 July 7, 14, 21, 28 August 4, 11, 18, 25

Field Trips:

MMA field trips are designed to provide participants with a hands-on experience learning about and seeing up close unique Nantucket wildlife and plants. No pre-registration necessary. All Field Trips meet in the MMA Science Library Courtyard at 2 Vestal Street. Please arrive promptly to maximize the time spent exploring Nantucket's unique ecosystems. These are car pooling events. Wear appropriate clothing for the field. Field trips costs: Members: $10 adults/$5 child; non-members $20 adults/$10 child.

Birding Field Trips

Tuesdays & Fridays, June 1st - Sept 10th @ 8 am
Join Ornithologist Dr. Bob Kennedy and/or our professional birding staff on a tour of the "birding hotspots" on Nantucket. Weekly destination varies but sites do include Eel Point, Harbor Flats and Madaket for Shorebirds, and State Forest, Squam Farm and the Woods for land birds. Call ahead (508-228-0898) to find out where the next trip will be. Binoculars are available for loan.

Incredible Insects and Spiders Field Trip

Wednesdays, July 14 to Aug 18 @ 8 am
Join an MMA expedition to collect, identify, and observe insects and spiders of every size and color! The group will take a short walk to nearby parks to use nets, magnifying glasses, and ingenuity to catch critters. All equipment provided, just bring curiosity. All ages welcome.

Nantucket Wildflower Field Trips

Thursdays, 8am
Explore Nantucket's wild areas identifying the "bouquet" of wild flowers in bloom as the season progresses with MMA's Naturalists. Visit www.mmo.org for weekly destinations.

Workshops

MMA's Workshops are designed with a hands-on learning approach of natural science topics for Adults and older children. Gear Up! Most are field oriented so wear appropriate field cloths. Space limited unless you can drive your own vehicle. Car-pooling encouraged.
2-Hour Workshops: Members $25/non-members $35.
4-Hour Workshops: Members $50/Non-members $60.

To register, click the date of the workshop for which you'd like to register.

Backyard Science

Wednesdays, July 21 & Aug 18 8-10 AM
This program is for parent - child pairs. Join us to learn about and try out activities that connect your children with nature in your own backyard. We will identify the birds, mammals, insects, and spiders that inhabit a typical backyard and learn how to explore this world with kids. We will be exploring the Museum garden and grounds and participants will learn how to use collecting equipment and how to handle what has been captured.

Field Ornithology

Wednesdays, July 7, & Aug. 4 8am-12pm
Join Dr. Bob Kennedy for an understanding of birding basics, an introduction to ornithology, and a unique field trip to remote research sites that may include Coatue for gulls and shorebirds, Ram Pasture for Ospreys, and Polpis Harbor for Barn Owls. Binoculars available for loan.

Designing a Backyard Wilderness Perserve

Monday, July 12 and Wednesday, August 25, 8AM - 12PM
Does your garden dance with butterflies, buzz with dragonflies, and sing with birds? Wildlife is intrinsically linked to the native plants within its ecosystem; the more diverse the plants, the more complex and alive your garden becomes. Native plants support an average of 71 species of insects, while alien ornamentals support only 4. Learn which plants feed the wildlife you want to see in your backyard wilderness preserve!

Field Geology

Wednesdays, July 14 , & Aug. 11 8am-12pm
How old is Nantucket? What came first, Nantucket or Cape Cod? Join Dr. Bob Kennedy to explore the glacial origins of Nantucket, from Altar rock to Sankaty Cliffs, and learn what geologic forces are changing the island today.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases

Wednesday, July 28 8am-10am
With Nantucket having one of the highest incidences of Lyme Disease in the World, everyone on-island should learn to identify ticks, how to avoid them and what to do if ticks become attached to you. Important for anyone who enjoys the outdoors on Nantucket.