The Wells Reserve offers school programs for elementary, middle, and high school students. Wild Friends in Wild Places is a program for grades K-2 in partnership with a local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility. Exploring Estuaries is geared for grades 3-5 and gives students the chance to spend a day at the Reserve learning about coastal ecology.  Microscopic Drifters is a plankton program that introduces participants to estuarine systems and the variety of plankton occurring in the Gulf of Maine.

A diverse mix of programs is offered to residents, tourists, and community groups throughout the year. The reserve Evening Lecture Series offers monthly presentations by specialists on a variety of topics. The Lunch ‘n Learn series is an informal lunch time lecture program that often highlights reserve research, natural history topics, or staff and volunteer travels. Docent-led Interpretive Walks address the history of the site, wildflowers, signs of wildlife, and estuarine ecology. Special Programs aimed at families and adults include owl prowls, night hikes, vernal pool walks, intertidal exploration, and fall foliage walks. Group tours are offered to groups such as scouts, Elderhostel, day care, and other community groups.

The Reserve hosts several annual educational community events, including an Earth Day and a National Estuaries Day celebration.

The Wells Reserve’s interpretive exhibits draw upon the resources of the site and demonstrate the importance of stewardship to cultural identity and environmental health. In addition, interpretive signs along trails and on buildings give visitors an opportunity for informal learning about the site and its resources. The recently redesigned Discovery Booklet series provides an opportunity for families to learn about watersheds, habitats, and the history of the site through interactive trail booklets and backpacks.

The reserve works with colleges and universities that wish to use the Reserve as a field site for classes. The Reserve also offers internships and volunteer opportunities for college students pursuing degrees in the environmental sciences and education.

Just for Kids are half-day nature camps on a variety of topics for children ages 6-9. Campers explore habitats, play games, learn about intriguing science experiments, and create crafts. Junior Researchers is a one-week program offering experiential science activities for campers between ages 9 and 12.

The reserve offers teacher training on a variety of topics including estuarine ecology, the Project Learning Tree curriculum, the Project Wild curriculum, and more.