Saturdays, Apr. 7, & May 5, 9 am – 5 pm
Free Admission for Kids!
The first Saturday of the month is free for children ages 15 and younger. Explore the exhibits, buy lunch in the cafeteria, and browse in the gift shop. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Saturday, Apr. 7, 12-1 pm
First Saturday Storybooks & Stamps
Listen to the children’s librarian read books by Native authors about rabbits, and then make bookmarks to take home. Limited to 25, ages 4-10, with an adult. $3 activity fee per child. Register: (800) 411-9671 or email seleazer@mptn-nsn.gov. Walk-ins are welcome, if space permits.
Saturday, Apr. 7, 11 am-1:30 pm
Seal Watching on Narragansett Bay
Museum Members Only. Join fellow Museum members, MPMRC Executive Director Kimberly Hatcher-White, Membership Administrator Sarah Eleazer, and Senior Researcher Dr. Jason Mancini for a trip on Narragansett Bay in Newport to watch seals. After the one-hour boat trip, lunch at The Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina Pier 49 restaurant. $80 per person. RSVP by Mar. 24 to Sarah Eleazer at (860) 396-6890 or seleazer@mptn-nsn.gov.
Wednesday & Thursday, Apr. 11 & 12, 10 am-4 pm
Animals, Fish, and Fun
Learn about animals and fish: make a clay animal ($5 activity fee), play the Fish & Ladders game at 1 pm on the terrace, and stop by the Discovery Carts located outside the Pequot Village to identify animal furs and play with Native toys. Except as noted, free with Museum admission, free to Museum members.
Wednesday & Thursday, Apr. 11 & 12, 11-11:45 am
The Bat Lady – Geri Griswold
Geri Griswold brings her bat friends to the museum: Poppy is a big brown bat, Sonic is a little brown bat, Babs & Tutti are two Egyptian fruit bats, plus Kya who is an African gray parrot. Learn what these kind, gentle creatures do for our planet. Free with Museum admission, free to Museum members.
Wednesday – Friday, Apr. 18-20, 11 am-2 pm
Recycled Crafts
In honor of Earth Week, create unique crafts with recycled materials in the Gathering Space ($5 activity fee). At 2 pm, take a tour to learn how Native people transformed their resources into useful objects. Except as noted, free with Museum admission, free to Museum members.
Friday & Saturday, Apr. 20 & 21, 1 pm
Herring and Native People
Mashpee Wampanoag elder and volunteer environmental educator Errol Hicks talks about the cultural significance of herring and fishing rights specific to Native people. Stephen Gephard, supervising fisheries biologist with CT DEEP, Inland Fisheries Division, brings information about current projects to help herring return to ponds and lakes. Free with Museum admission, free to Museum members.
Saturday, Apr. 21, 10 am-noon
Earth Day on Lantern Hill
Learn about Lantern Hill and its importance to Native people for more than 10,000 years from Senior Researcher Dr. Jason Mancini during a hike while tidying up the trail. Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the rigorous path, and bring litter-picking-up gloves, snack, and water. We provide litter bags. Limited to 25, ages 10 and older. Register: (800) 411-9671 or email seleazar@mptn-nsn.gov by Apr. 20. Free.
Saturday, Apr. 21, 10 am-3 pm
Spring Harvest Cooking Demonstration
Join Museum Educator Leah Hopkins (Niantic/Narragansett) as she demonstrates traditional cooking methods — used by southern New England indigenous peoples in the early 17th century — for fresh greens, wild fowl eggs, rabbit, and fish, as well as foods stored over the winter. Free with Museum admission, free to Museum members.
