Discovery

Parent/Child Morning Walkabout: Hop, Wriggle, Swim!

Discover the creatures that live in Mill Pond's habitat with the Mass Audubon

On this excursion kids will be ponding with Joppa Flats Education Center at Mill Pond in West Newbury! Come explore the pond habitat and learn about the creatures that live there! We will be exploring the edge of a pond with safe shore access using nets, scoopers, strainers, cups, bowls and spoons. We’ll examine the water, leaf litter and plants with hand lenses and magiscopes. We’ll walk along the edge of the meadow near the pond looking for signs of life and spotting birds. We’ll give out binoculars to all participants. Each participant will take home coloring packets!

When: 
Friday, September 20, 2013 10-11:30 am
Friday, September 20, 2013 1-2:30 pm

Monarch Butterfly Banding at IRWS

Help Mass Audubon tag monarch butterflies at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary!

Bring your young naturalist to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for a day of butterfly banding!  The annual migration of eastern monarch butterflies to central Mexico and back is one of the most remarkable events in nature. Cindy Dunn has been tagging monarchs at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton for many years. Join her for an afternoon of tagging monarchs on the sanctuary. Learn about the fascinating life history of these butterflies and find out how you can help monarchs in your own backyard.

When: 
Saturday September 7, 2013 1-3pm

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Mill Pond

Join Joppa Flats at Mill Pond in W. Newbury to explore ponds!

Adults and children can spend quality family time in the great outdoors finding, observing, and admiring local wildlife. Excursions with Joppa Flats Education Center include a group game to burn off some steam, an on-the-water scavenger hunt, or a guided tour. We'll observe, investigate, and compare pond habitats and their inhabitants, both on-and offshore. Participants play out the roles of biologists, researchers, birders, and botanists. Thisadventure will leave your family excited to come back for more!

When: 
Sunday, September 8, 2013 1-3:30pm

Essex River Paddle

Take a paddle on the Essex River with the ECGA!

Join Greenbelt for a monthly "experience" on the water. Bring your own kayak or canoe, or use a Greenbelt loaner.  We'll depart from Greenbelt's Cox Reservation Headquarters and paddle the Essex River. Please RSVP and let us know if you need a loaner and life jackets. Dress for the weather. Hat, sunscreen, bug spray, camera and binolculars recommended. NOTE: as of August 21, 2013 this event no longer has loaner kayak or canoes available!

 

When: 
Sunday, August 25, 2013 1-3:30pm
Location: 

Cape Ann Capers: Salt Marsh Exploration

Get muddy with Audubon field teacher Andrew Prazar at Cox Reservation in Essex.

What lives in the mud, grass, and water of a salt marsh? How is the marsh like a sponge? We'll use nets and trowels to look for mussels, clams, oysters, hermit crabs, and other marsh critters. Watch egrets in flight and participate in a snail race as you explore the hidden wonders of the salt marsh. Prepare to get muddy!

When: 
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 10am-12pm
Location: 

Curiosity Companions

Kids can explore the Coolidge Reservation with their favorite adult!

Curiosity companions explore the woodlands of Bungalow Hill, Clarke's Pond, and meadows of Ocean Lawn - discovering the wonders of nature while using all your senses. Song, stories, and puppets included! This program is for young children accompanied by their favorite adult. Learn about the conservationists who provided this community gift. This program is for young children accompanied by their favorite adult. Pre-registration required. Join us for all five sessions Pre-registration required.

When: 
Thursdays through August 8, 2013 11am-noon

Cape Ann Capers: Beachcombers

Explore the beach and shore habitats of Mass Audubon's Eastern Point Reserve

Enjoy a morning at the beach during low tide and discover the living wonders of the rocky shore and sandy coastline. We will look for crabs, starfish, shorebirds, and other seashore animals. Explore the wrack line and sandy beach to compare and sort the natural materials and seaweeds that have washed ashore. We will preserve our memories of the day by creating our own beach collages.

When: 
Friday July 19, 2013 1:30 - 3pm

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Mud Flats at Joppa

Explore the transitional zone of the Joppa Mud Flats in Newburyport

Come to Joppa Flats Education Center where adults and children can learn about the transitional habitat of the mud flats at Joppa and spend quality family time in the great outdoors finding, observing, and admiring local wildlife. Excursions include a group game to burn off some steam, an on-the-water scavenger hunt, or a guided tour. We'll observe, investigate, and compare coastal environments and their inhabitants, both on- and offshore.

When: 
Sunday, April 7, 2013 9:30am - 12:00 pm

Kayak Family Paddle on Plum Island Sound

Kayaking basics are taught along with this family kayak exploration at Joppa

Late spring is a great time to experience on-the-water ecology, and kayaking is the perfect way to capture every moment. From wading birds to waterfowl, the salt marshes provide the backdrop to sights and sounds that are uniquely available from the water. Kayaking quietly on the calm waters of the Plum Island Sound, we'll visit secluded areas where we can witness wildlife without disturbing their activities. We may even see horseshoe crabs mating!

When: 
Sunday, June 9, 2013 10am - 2pm

Kids Flower Ramble at Maudslay State Park

Rhododendron's are plentiful at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport!

Flowers are for kids, too! Children ages 6 – 10 can accompany their parents and the park interpreter to learn about the fabulous flowers at Maudslay, one of the premier viewing locations in Massachusetts. Meet at the park headquarters on Curzon Mill Rd. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Children must be accompanied by an adult!

When: 
Fridays in May 2013 10:30-11:30 am

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Landmark Summer Experience at Landmark School in Beverly Massachusetts

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

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts
Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P....
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Friday, February 21

Music Together - Friday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
10:30 am to 11:15 am

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Bradley Palmer State Park
Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Saturday, February 22

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

Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt

Kids will enjoy this treasure hunt at the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

First Aid, CPR & AED Training at ESM

Get First Aid, CPR or AED Certified in this workshop at Essex Shipbuilding Museum in Massachusetts
Take a CPR, First Aid, and AED Certification Course hosted by the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum at the charming Museum School House. Gain essential life-saving skills and the confidence to handle emergencies with ease.
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms

Visit Appleton Farms' sugaring operation and learn about making maple sugar syrup!
Maple Season is here! This special program for ages 3-11 & their families will focus on the magic of maple from start to finish. We will discover this tradition by observing trees, tasting sap, learning the tools involved, and finally, tasting the sweet product. We will make sure to have time...
10:45 am to 3:00 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

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 pm to 11:30 pm
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