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Massachusetts

Exploring the Wild Side of Cape Cod

Program No. 25145RJ
One of New England’s most famous coastal regions, Cape Cod is for nature lovers! Experience the best Cape Cod has to offer, land and sea, from a naturalist’s point of view.
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Outdoor AdventuresSmall GroupAnimals & WildlifeNature & EnvironmentNew
Length
7 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
3,549
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
15 meals ( 6B, 4L, 5D )
5 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet the Study Leader and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Study Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Everyone will be responsible for their own luggage, with some assistance available. Transportation will be provided by motorcoach. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Study Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 75 miles, under 2.5 hours riding time. Walking for an hour and standing for up to an hour in a museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and board the motorcoach to Falmouth, traveling through Cape Cod’s scenic landscape. Along the way, we’ll stop in the town of Sandwich to visit the Sandwich Fish Hatchery, where we’ll learn from a local expert about fish conservation efforts and see trout in various stages of growth. Continuing to Falmouth, we will split into two groups. One group will get a behind-the-scenes visit of the Marine Biological Laboratory and their library to learn about the species they are researching. The group will also get to visit the Woods Hole Aquarium. The other group will get a behind-the-scenes exploration of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) and their docks, followed by a trip to the Ocean Science Discovery Center. The Ocean Science Discovery Center showcases marine biology, groundbreaking ocean exploration, and an exhibit on the recovery of the Titanic.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, the groups will switch places and visit either the Marine Biological Laboratory/Woods Hole Aquarium or WHOI/Ocean Science Discovery Center. Following our afternoon field trips, we will drive by motorcoach to Hyannis and check in to our hotel for the week.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Back at the hotel, a local whale biologist will give a lecture on her research.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 70 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Activities in Popponesset Bay include kayaking which is generally calm, but wind and tides can impact difficulty. Walking a short distance to board the boat. There is little to no shade on the water. Bring a water bottle, hat, and sunscreen.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Departing from our hotel via motorcoach, we will begin the day kayaking in the serene waters of Popponesset Bay. Fed by the Mashpee and Santuit Rivers, and protected by barrier beaches, the picturesque area is known for its tranquil water, lush coastal greenery, and diverse wildlife. Here, we may come across piping plovers, common terns, and least terns.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will head east towards Chatham and make our way out to the elbow of Cape Cod, where we will explore the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge consists of barrier islands that are made up of sand dunes, fresh and saltwater marshes, ponds, ocean, islets, and shoals. It is known for hosting a large population of grey seals, as well as horseshoe crabs, and at least 25 species of seabirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl. We will spend the afternoon taking a naturalist-led ride aboard a boat to see all of this wildlife, the highlight being all of the grey seals. We will then return to the hotel and have some downtime to relax and freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
During dinner, we will be joined by a local biologist who will give a presentation on her research studying the ocean sunfish (Mola Molas). These giant fish, often described as a bulbous head with no body, are one of the largest bony fish species in the world, measuring up to 8-10 feet in length, and weighing up to 2,000 pounds. They are known to migrate north up to Cape Cod Bay and the Gulf of Maine in the summer, before returning to tropical waters in the winter. Due to their heavy bodies, sunfish sometimes swim too close to shore and get stranded and need to be rescued. Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 60 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Hiking over 1 mile through the Atlantic White Cedar swamp; boardwalk trail is moderately difficult. There are some steep stairs going down the boardwalk, and a return route on 1/2 mile of sand. The afternoon shorebird field trip will require walking for up to 2 hours on a boardwalk trail, across a salt marsh to a sandy beach.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach and drive to Wellfleet, stopping first at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, where we can take in panoramic views of Nauset Marsh and learn about the natural and cultural history of Cape Cod. From there, we’ll continue to the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, a scenic 1.2-mile loop that descends through a unique landscape, starting in a stunted oak and pine forest before leading into a lush, mature woodland. The highlight of the trail is a winding boardwalk that takes us through the picturesque Atlantic white cedar swamp, offering a serene and immersive nature experience.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will depart via motorcoach to the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary where we’ll learn about piping plovers and other local shorebirds. The tiny, sand-colored shorebird nest in Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard during the spring and stay around with their young offspring until the fall. Many of the beaches are protected during their nesting period and do not allow visitors. We’ll learn from a local naturalist about the Mass Audubon’s efforts to protect their populations. Following this lecture, we will go on an expert-led field trip along a boardwalk, past a salt marsh, to a sandy beach to look for shorebirds feeding on fiddler crabs in the tidal flats. Those that do not want to participate will have independent time to walk the trails. Afterwards, we’ll depart Wellfleet via motorcoach and head back to our hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 105 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time. Getting on/off open-air vehicles; approximately 1 hour riding time on sand dunes. Extent and duration of walking and other activities during independent exploration according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board the motorcoach to Chatham to visit the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of white sharks and their habitats through research, education and community engagement. While here, we will have a lecture from a staffer on local white shark populations and the AWSC’s efforts to study them. Made famous as a scary maneater in the movie Jaws, this misunderstood species is the only natural predator of seals in the area and plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. Following our time at the museum, we will drive to Provincetown or as locals call it, “P-town.” Sitting on the outermost part of the cape, P-town has some interesting history; did you know that the Pilgrims, before settling in Plymouth, first landed in Provincetown? Today it has become known for its unique ambiance and lively art scene.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy the local restaurants in Provincetown.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will enjoy Art’s Dune Tours, which is a unique expert-led experience though the beautiful sand dunes of Cape Cod. We’ll ride in open-air vehicles to see stunning views, while learning about the local ecology and history. Afterwards, we will have some more time to independently explore Provincetown and its rich history. The Study Leader will be happy to offer recommendations on what to see and do.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Getting on/off a boat via ramp; depending on tides, ramp may be at an incline or decline; boat ride is approximately 3-4 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will have a lecture from the Study Leader on tips and tricks to maximize our time spotting and photographing whales. We will then board our motorcoach to Barnstable, where we’ll embark on a thrilling whale-watching cruise at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This feeding ground is home to humpback, fin, and minke whales, offering us the chance to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. While aboard the ship, an expert naturalist will give facts about the local whale populations, their behavior, migration patterns, and the vital role they play in our ecosystem.
Lunch:
On the cruise.
Afternoon:
We’ll head back to the hotel for a change of clothes and to unwind. Take some time to relax and explore Hyannis before we head to dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Transfer departs Hyannis at 8:30 a.m. to Boston Logan International Airport. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 73 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Please do not schedule flights before 12:30 p.m. Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and transfer by motorcoach to the airport. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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