Discovery

S'mores & More at Ipswich River

Enjoy a winter night hike, campfire and s'more at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts

Come enjoy a hike at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, one of Mass Audubon's largest sanctuaries. Make lanterns that will light the way for our evening hike as we look and listen for local owls and other nighttime wildlife. Spend time warming up around the campfire as you roast marshmallows and make smores, learn about winter adaptations, and watch the moon rise. Two Sessions: 2-3:30 or 4-5:30

When: 
Saturday, January 20, 2024 2-5:30

All Family Field Trips: Mushroom Hunting

Join the hunt for mushrooms with Massachusetts Audubon in Gloucester Massachusetts

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the North Shore. Joppa Flats' engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, November 10, 2023 10am-Noon

Inclusive Hiking Experience with Waypoint Adventures

 Join Trustees staff in conjunction with Waypoint Adventure for an inclusive hike around Ravenswood Reservation in Gloucester Massachusetts!

Welcome all! Join Trustees staff in conjunction with Waypoint Adventure for an inclusive hike around Ravenswood Reservation. This special outing invites individuals both with and without disabilities to participate in an outdoor adventure. Enjoy connecting with nature and other hikers in a safe and supportive environment.

When: 
Saturday, November 18, 2023 10am-1pm
Location: 

Cranberry Bogging at Parker River Wildlife Refuge

Discover and explore the cranberry bogs at Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport

Join us for a tour of the naturally occurring cranberry bogs on the refuge! Get behind the scenes to learn about the history, ecology, and wildlife in the bogs. Then, pick your own bag of cranberries to take home!  *Note: Waterproof shoes recommended - the bog is wet.

When: 
November 10, 2023 1-2:30pm
November 15, 2023 1-2:30pm

All Family Field Trips: Coastal Erosion Walk & Beach Grass Planting

Help preserve the dunes at Plum Island Beach with Mass Audubon in Newbury Massachusetts

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the North Shore. Joppa Flats' engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, November 3, 2023 10am-Noon

Wee Explorers at Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Stevens-Coolidge Place hosts a nature based outdoor programs for toddlers that encourages outdoor play and exploration!

To encourage outdoor play and exploration of the great outdoors, this nature-based toddler playgroup will combine themed guided play with opportunities for free time for children and their caregivers to peek under rocks, inspect tree bark for hiding bugs and explore the gardens. Held at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens every Tuesday morning, join one or all of the sessions and explore the hidden worlds beneath our feet and above our heads.

When: 
Tuesdays through March 28, 2023 9:30-10:30am

Fun in the Field at IRWS

Learn about butterflies and other field creatures at the MassAudubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary!

Fields are alive with animal activity on warm, fall days. Spend an early October day chasing butterflies, grasshoppers, and crickets with nets while taking some time to closely observe these amazing insects. We may also encounter predators of the field, such as Blue Birds, Leopard Frogs and Garter Snakes! This will be a hands-on experience the entire family can enjoy.

When: 
Saturday, October 7, 2023 10-11:30am

Life Under Logs at IRWS

What lives under logs? Kids will find out at Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

What is hiding under the rocks and logs of the sanctuary? Is it a centipede? Is it a salamander? Come find the hidden treasures beneath the forest floor. Walk with us through the forest to see how the changing season affects animals, trees, and plants. Examine tree holes and look for animals in the leaves, whatever we find, we will explore!

When: 
Saturday, October 21, 2023 10-11:30 am

All Family Field Trips: Wetland Walk

Explore Bradley Palmer Stat Park for wetland creatures with Massachusetts Audubon in Topsfield Massachusetts!

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the North Shore. Joppa Flats' engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, October 13, 2023 10am-Noon

Beginner Bird Walk in the Great Marsh

Beginner Bird Walk in the Great Marsh | A Trails & Sails Event at Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Rowley Massachusetts

You're invited to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge to learn about the endangered birding as part of Trails and Sail. Plum Island is a bird magnet. We will walk from the salt marsh to the dunes overlooking the ocean using the Hellcat Boardwalk, then go out on the dike to see many of the habitats in the Great Marsh and the birds that are there in the late fall. Plum Island is an important stopover for birds migrating back south after breeding in the Arctic tundra and the forests of Canada and northern New England, providing food to fuel their onward journey to avoid the cold and dark of winter. We will have an easy walk of about a mile over two hours.

When: 
Saturday, September 23, 2023 10am-Noon

Pages

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

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

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 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

Story Walk | This Is the Nest Robin Built

Kids will enjoy this self-guided story based tour of the Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts! Photo by Bill O'Connor
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise at Halibut Point State Park during February Vacation! Join us on the grounds of the for a self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book This is the Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. A...
8:00 am to 3:00 pm

Hike & Seek: Magic in the Winter Forest

Kids will learn about the winter survival skills of animals at the Stevens Coolidge Place in North Andover Massachusetts!
Have you ever wondered what happens in nature during the winter months? Do you have questions like, “where do certain animals go” or “why does it snow”? Join us this February school vacation for this self-guided winter themed family-friendly bundle for use along the Stevens-to-Stevens trail in...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Tuesday, March 4

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

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

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® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

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

Wednesday, March 5

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 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

Music Together - Wednesday

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...
9:30 am to 11:15 am

Mini Movers at North Shore Children's Museum

Things to do for children in Peabody MA
Mini Movers is an engaging dance and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Led by experienced instructors, the program introduces young children to the world of dance in a safe and nurturing environment.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Thursday, March 6

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 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

Friday, March 7

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm
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