Pre-School

Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Arctic Animals

Come learn about the animals of the polar habitats at the Joppa Flats Center! Photo: Kathy Crane, NOAA Arctic Research Program

Joppa Flats Education Center invites kids 3-6 for a fun-filled morning program that is perfect for you and your active preschooler! Our structured activities include hands-on science, music and movement, a thematic snack, and an outdoor adventure if the weather complies. Keep learning with coloring pages and follow-up activities to continue the fun at home.  This particular program will focus on the Arctic and Antarctic habitats and the animals that live there.

When: 
Friday, March 15, 2019 10-11:30am

Open House Mornings for Families: Eagles, Owls, & Hawks

Come learn about birds like Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Hawks and other birds of prey at Joppa Flats Center during February Vacation Week! Photo: Bill O'connor

Joppa Flats Education Center vacation programs offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break. Beat the winter blahs during school break! Drop in for an hour or stay all morning, either one or both days, for a vacation destination that suits your schedule. Drop in for family fun! You'll see winter bird banding demonstrations and try out science and art activities. "Miss Lisa" invites you to join her at 11:00 for an energetic educational presentation where everyone particpates in the fun of an interactive mult-media show. After the presentation, weather permitting, we'll go outside for a group game.

When: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 10am-Noon

CraneExplorer: Tackling Trash

Come celebrate Earth Day in Ipswich Massachusetts and join the beach cleanup at Crane Beach

As you explore the beach, what do you notice that doesn’t belong? Marine debris impacts beaches and marine life worldwide, so what can we do about it? Join this program to learn about types, sources, and impacts of marine debris, observe microplastics, and learn how scientists and community members (like you!) are studying marine debris and taking action to tackle the issue of trash in our fragile marine environments.

When: 
Friday, April 21, 2023 10am-Noon

Easter Egg Hunt at Hastings House

Join the fun at the Hastings House's Easter Egg Hunt in Beverly Farms!

Bring your young children and join your neighbors for a fun Easter activity at Hastings House. We will host separate egg-hunting areas for kids under 5 from older kids. Please RSVP for your family so we get an idea of how many are coming. This year's generous sponsors are Matt Gibbons Cross Country Mortgage, Sweetwater & Co, and Kennerkenecht Design Group.

When: 
Saturday, April 8, 2023 10-11:30am
Location: 

Nature Walk Wednesdays | Spring on the River

Kids will learn returning birds and other marsh creatures at Joppa Flats Center in Newburyport

Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family-friendly seasonal nature walks in the area. Together we will explore the salt marsh, the woods, and more. We will look for birds, mammals, and of course, mushrooms! We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and learn, play, and discover together.

When: 
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 10-11:30am

Winter DROP IN Preschool Farm Explorers

Farm Explorers is a great way for preschoolers to explore Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Winter is in the air and the animals of the farm and woods have prepared themselves for winter. Can we find their signs, like homes, tracks, and caches of food? What happens in winter around the farm? We invite little farmers to experience life at the farm in winter. Through farm “chores,” age-appropriate hands-on activities, stories, and visits with our barnyard animals, little farmers will become fully immersed in what life is like for a farmer.

When: 
Fridays, January-March 24, 2023 11am-Noon
Location: 

Turtle Time at NTL

Learn about turtles from the Seacoast Science Center at the Newbury Town Library

What turtles live here in New Hampshire and what is the difference between land and sea turtles? Meet Raspberry, a 3-Toed Box Turtle, to learn more about body parts that all turtles have in common, what they like to eat, why we think they are so special, and what you can do to help keep them safe.

When: 
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 3:30-4:30pm

Debbie & Friends at the Cabot Theater

Debbie & Friends tell stories that children know and love with music and song!

From the moment that Debbie and Friends launch into the original song, “I’m Glad You’re Here,” the children in the crowd understand their role: to jump up and down participate. As the lyrics suggest, “You’re part of the show.” From that high-energy opener to the ecstatic ending, the pacing of a Debbie and Friends show perfectly aligns with the attention spans of their audience. They’ll rock out and get the kids dancing in a theatre-sized conga line, and then they’ll bring them down gently to relax and engage in more attentive ways. Drawing heavily from fairytales that kids will already be familiar with, Debbie presents enough lyrical updates to keep these stories fresh, and to keep everybody tuned in and laughing, including the parents!  

When: 
Saturday, February 18, 2023 10:30am
Location: 

Crane Beach WinterFest

Bring the whole family out to celebrate the season at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts

Nothing is more magical than Crane Beach in the winter time! Bring the whole family out to celebrate the season at Crane Beach. Enjoy the serene winter landscape of one of New England’s most treasured coastal destinations while enjoying the band and a hot beverage around a warm glowing fire. Cap off the evening with a visit to the Beach Store for your favorite gear and a star-soaked view of Crane Beach after sunset!

When: 
Friday, February 24, 2023 6-9pm

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Camp Whirlygig for kids ages 4-10 at the Wenham Museum in Massachusetts

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

North Shore Kids' PMC Bike Ride

Kids are encouraged to ride their bikes to raise money for the Pan Mass Challenge in Manchester
The Pan-Mass Challenge North Shore Kids' Ride will be one of many PMC Kids Rides held in neighborhoods throughout New England and beyond. Kids from Gloucester, Rockport, Beverly, Salem, Ipswich, Manchester, Hamilton-Wenham and other North Shore Towns will be riding in this event. Through the PMC...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Newburyport Farmers' Market

Newburyport Farmers find organic locally grown produce, meat, dairy Newburyport
The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine!  Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

CoastalExplorer: Shoreline & Shipwreck Scholars

Families learn about shipwrecks at Castle Hill and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts
Coastal exploration with a side of shipwreck! Participants will be guided on a Castle Hill hike to Steep Hill Beach, where we will explore the beach and discover treasures washed up by the waves. Piece together clues to learn what is living under the sand and below the water line. We will use field...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Vintage Base Ball Opening Day

Come see how baseball used to be played at Spencer Pierce Little Farm. Photo: Matthew Muise Photography
Join Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm and the Essex Base Ball Association for a day of vintage base ball as we celebrate the 20th season of this partnership! The four teams of Essex Base Ball, the Newburyport Clamdiggers, Lowell Base Ball Club, Portsmouth Rockingham's, and the Lynn Live Oaks, play using...
11:00 am to 3:30 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Tri-town Pride Parade

Tri-Town Pride Parade ends at the Town Common in Topsfield Massachusetts
The Tri-Town Pride Parade is an annual celebration of love, diversity, and inclusivity in our community, encompassing Boxford, Middleton, Topsfield, and surrounding towns in Massachusetts. Sunday, June 1st at 1:00 PM the parade will wind its way through the charming downtown area of Topsfield,...
1:00 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Pajama Story Time at Manchester Public Library

Kids are invited to the pajama time book reading at the Public Library in Manchester by the Sea Massachusetts.
Join Miss Audrey for a cozy pajama storytime and craft the first Thursday of every month from 6-7. This program is for kids ages 4 and up and their families. 
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, June 14

Annual Art in the Barn Exhibit and Sale

Art in the Barn is a fundraiser for the Essex County Greenbelt Association Essex Mass
Art in the Barn is recognized as one of the North Shore’s premier art events, showcasing the work of some of the most talented artists in the region. An annual fundraising event for over 30 years, the show takes place at Greenbelt’s headquarters, Cox Reservation in Essex, an iconic plein air...
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Father's Day Pizza & BBQ Bash at Appleton Farms

Fathers Day BBQ, Beer and Bluegrass at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Bring Dad to Appleton Farms on Father’s Day weekend for our own seasonal wood-fired pizza, local beer, local BBQ, and live music! We’ll have Notch Brewing on-site serving up some cold suds, and barbecue from Fat Belly Food Truck and Sweet Treats from the Down River Ice Cream.
12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Sunday, June 15

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Spring Birding Walk—Symphony of Bird Song!

You and your child can learn the basics of birding at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts
Stroll our seaside treasure with birding basics.  Hear the symphony of spring bird song!  Watch for them at the field’s, woodland’s, and ocean’s edge.  Learn about their sounds, habits, and flight patterns.  Enjoy extraordinary views. 
8:00 am to 10:00 am

Newburyport Farmers' Market

Newburyport Farmers find organic locally grown produce, meat, dairy Newburyport
The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine!  Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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