Outdoor Activity

A torchlit reenactment of the Nativity. Starting at 5pm along Dock Square and Main Street, ending at the Congregational Church.

We've done this in the past and it's a great time.

Ornithologist Sue McGrath, of Newburyport Birders, will lead us on a birding adventure along the Merrimack River!

This event provides a preview of great eagle spotting locations in advance of the Merrimack River Eagle Festival on February 12!

Be sure to dress for your comfort and the cold weather, in layers for including sturdy waterproof boots, wool socks, hat and gloves. Expect ice, snow, and uneven ground. This entire program will be conducted outside along the river's edge.

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. Take-home crafts, science stations, outdoor exploration, seasonal scavenger hunts, conservation tips for all ages, and more. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!

• Suitable for children ages 2 - 12
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Registration not required

TIDE POOL TOUCH TRAYS All ages. Take a close look at LIVE crabs, hermit crabs, shrimp, and other marine life from Plum Island.

INTERTIDAL MARVELS OF MEDICINE  What do horseshoe crabs, barnacles and sea urchins all have in common? They all support biomedical research!

SEAWEED SUPERPOWERS! Using simple props, learn why seaweed is important and what it is used for in everyday products.

MATCH UP A MOLLUSKS! Learn the skills to identify seashells and find out what commercial uses they have.

TAKE-HOME CRAFTS: Sandy Sea Stars, Traveling Tide Pools, Build an Invertebrate, Make a Wave, and more!

MINI PRESENTATIONS at 12PM & 2PM: Informative and entertaining presentations for ages 3 and up. Using simple props, we’ll role play a day in the life of tide pool creatures and learn about their habits and adaptations.

This Home School field Trip is part one of a two part Lesson.  The other Field Trip Details are here: Homeschool Study: Salt Marsh Trek. Our plan is to meet at Joppa and start things off with a fun ice breaker!

This Home School field Trip is part two of a two part Lesson.  The other Field Trip Details are here: Homeschool Study: River Ecology Road Trip. We’ll do an art project with river water, then a lesson and game about the water cycle.

Predators such as the eastern coyote can't go to the market for groceries, so how do they get their food? We'll spend some time indoors learning about the different predators in Massachusetts, including how they hunt and how they stay warm to survive the cold winter months. Then we'll take a walk to look for fishers, river otters, foxes, hawks, and owls. Tracks, chews, scat, pellets, and bones will show us where predators have partied.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

What is happening underneath the layer of snow that covers the ground in winter? Find out about mice, voles, and shrews that may be busy and cozy right beneath your feet. We will make our own winter shelters out of snow and branches to see how warm we can make them.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

Not all birds have gone south. Join us during this peaceful season as we venture along the sanctuary trails in search of birds that overwinter in our area, including the ever-curious chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and more. Using nuts, seedpods, and other natural foods, we will decorate a tree for them. Bring binoculars, or we will provide them if you do not have your own.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

Our winter holidays vacation program offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break! Each session offers a different theme, with art activities, experiments, group games, and more. It's free-flow learning for the whole family. Come once or make it a three-day adventure; fly by for a few minutes or stay all day for a vacation activity that suits your family schedule.

• Suitable for ages 2-12
• An adult must accompany each child.
• Themes are subject to change.
• Preregistration is not required.
• Some activities will take place outdoors.

Our winter holidays vacation program offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break! Each session offers a different theme, with art activities, experiments, group games, and more. It's free-flow learning for the whole family. Come once or make it a three-day adventure; fly by for a few minutes or stay all day for a vacation activity that suits your family schedule.

• Suitable for ages 2-12
• An adult must accompany each child.
• Themes are subject to change.
• Preregistration is not required.
• Some activities will take place outdoors.