They're back….by popular demand. "BIG BUGS".

Garden in the Wild admission $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID, $4 children 3-18, includes BIG BUGS Exhibit and BIG BUGS special weekend events. Free Garden in the Wild and BIG BUGS admission for members and children under 3.  RAIN OR SHINE.

For group tour information and pricing, please contact Bonnie Drexler, Program Manager, bdrexler@newenglandWILD.org  or 508-877-7630 ext. 3302.

SPECIAL EXHIBIT FAMILY EVENTS: Included with admission except for Animal Ambassadors which carries a separate fee.

June 30      ANIMAL AMBASSADORS live animal show 10 a.m. - pay at the door

July 12       BIG BUGS GRAND OPENING Meet the BEETLES FESTIVAL - Live Beatles Music by Beatles Tribute Band HELP! at 1 p.m.

Jul 19-20   BIG BUGS LADYBUG WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Can you tell a ladybug's age by counting her spots? Join a ladybug release in the meadow garden and learn about insects with warning colors"

July 21       ANIMAL AMBASSADORS live Animal Show with Curious Creatures        10 a.m. - pay at the door

Jul 26-27   BIG BUGS DRAGONFLY WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Celebrate these winged wonders as they swoop to catch their prey out of midair. Make a dragonfly mobile fron sticks and seeds.

Aug 2-3      BIG BUGS BEE WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Meet beekeepers, watch a working hive of honeybees, and try some wildflower honey. Make a bumblebee craft to celebrate our native bees - important pollinators of native plants.    

Aug 9-10    BIG BUGS ANT WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Learn how ants find their way to your picnic, even if they are not invited. Make some ant-ennae and fingerprint "ant art".

Aug 11        ANIMAL AMBASSADORS Live Animal Show with Curious Creatures      10 a.m. - pay at the door

Aug 16-17  BIG BUGS DAMSELFLY WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) How can you tell a damselfly from a dragonfly? Learn about their watery pasts and their favorite foods. Make a damselfly craft.

Aug 23-24  BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL (Activities 10 a.m.-4 p.m.) Did you know butterfly colors come from the colorful plants they sip for nectar? Celebrate these "flying flowers" with butterfly walks, programs and demos on butterfly gardening. Lewarn about the butterfly life cycle and observe a variety of caterpillars, chrysalis cases, and adult forms. Make a butterfly lif cycle craft.

Sept 6-7     BIG BUGS PRAYING MANTIS WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Who has big eyes and clever camouflage? Look for these predators in the meadow garden and make a mantis craft to take home.

Sept 13-14 BIG BUGS DADDY LONGLEGS WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) What are those long lefs for? Find out why daddy longlegs isn't a "true" spider. Looke closely at these awesome arachnids and then make your own Daddy or Mommy Longlegs sculpture.

Sept 20-21 BIG BUGS MONARCH MIGRATION WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) As we observe their migration to Mexico, celebrate the Monarch's beautry and endurance. Learn about the flowers that fuel their journey and create some monarch wings for your finger.

Sept 27-28 BIG BUGS GRASSHOPPER WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) How far can you leap at our "Grasshopper Jump"? Compare yourself with these stars of the insect long jump and make a grasshopper noise maker.

Oct 4-5       BIG BUGS ASSASIN BUG WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Learn why this sneaky insect is the one "true bug" of the BIG BUGS exhibit. Could it be his wings that cross? Make an assasin bug craft for your collection.

Oct 5          BIG BUGS STUDENT ART SHOW Students in grades K-12 may enter a drawing or painting of an insect/plant interaction to be displayed at the Garden. Bring your artwork that day or create your own during your visit.

Oct 18-19  BIG BUGS SPIDER WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Get ready for Halloween by learning about spiders, their tricks for catching prey and their skill at weaving webs. Make your own spider and web to match.

Oct 25-26  BYE BYE BUGS WEEKEND (Activities 12-3 p.m.) Your final chance to visit BIG BUGS before they leave the Garden. Vote for your favorite bug and make a goodbye card.

Oct 31        BIG BUGS FINAL DAY

CLASSES

Held at Garden in the Woods with pre-registration required at registrar@newenglandwild.org (unless noted). Classes have fees. Please refer to http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/classes-for-children-and-families for a fuller explanation and pricing.

Apr 29      Connecting Your Children to Nature, A program for adults

May 18     Flower Power- Children with adult companion-Learn about the awesome power of flowers.

June 4      Nature’s Hide and Seek-Kids Grades K-2. Where would a chipmunk hide? How about you?

June 18    Water Wonders-Kids Grades K-2. Tadpoles, newts, lily pads and more

July 24     BIG BUG, Little Bug Children with adult companion  Plant mini gardens and make sculptures

Jul 29-Aug 1 Cattail Nature Kids program for ages 5.5 + 6-Take time to walk, explore, and discover

Aug 5-8    Cattail Nature Kids program for ages 7-9.Do nature crafts and dip for pond life

Aug 5-8    Cattail Nature Kids program for ages 10-11 Explore insect habitats, use microscopes

Aug 16      Insect Sounds Night Hike for children with adult companions. A magical sound experience

Aug 20      Insect Safari - Kids Grades 2-5. Catch a variety of insects and make a mini-field guide.

Sep 20      Night Flashers Night Hike for children with adult companions. Fireflies, moths, and more.

Sep 25     Bug Eaters of the Bog - Kids Grades K-2. Meet insect eating plants at the Garden