Exploration

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Butterflying in the Backyard

Learn about butterflies at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport!

This week we learn about butterflies, how to catch them and what they eat! Adults and children can spend quality family time in the great outdoors finding, observing, and admiring local wildlife. Excursions might 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. Each adventure will leave your family excited to come back for more!

When: 
Sunday, June 29, 2014 1-3:30 pm

Summer Solstice Celebration

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with Mass Audubon at the Ipswich River Sanctuary

The summer solstice has been celebrated for centuries, with all sorts of traditions growing up around it. Join us on the longest day of the year and create your own traditions, by celebrating nature and being outside. After reading The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, we will stroll along the sanctuary trails observing the delights of the season. Upon our return, we will create sun art and light the traditional bonfire. You are welcome to bring a picnic supper to enjoy after the celebration.

When: 
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4-6pm

Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Friends in the Garden

Come discover the wonder of the garden at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newbur

Preschoolers will Imagine, Sing the Learn about animal groups in this session! This parent/child program is designed for the creative, curious, and active preschooler. This is a 90 minute program for preschoolers and a grown-up all about t ladybugs and honey bees and how they are friends of the garden. Today “Miss Jan” had a full class and had so much fun singing songs, teaching about how insects help the garden and the farmers, and making bug puppets, and eating our “bugs in a bowl” snack made from fresh fruit: see attached photo for a quick sneak peek.

When: 
Friday, June 13, 2014 10-11:30am

It's Sand Man! - Saturday

Kids will learn all about sand at Sandy Point Reservation!

You're invited to Sandy Point State Reservation to learn all about sand, where it comes from and surprising facts about the make up of sand!  Join the interpreter in a sand sifting excursion to find the composition of the material that covers our New England beaches. Appropriate for children.

When: 
Saturday, June 14, 2014 9-11am

Follow the Flower Flow

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

Maudslay State Park has one of the best shows of flower bloom in the Commonwealth. Come and join the beginning of this cycle with a look at the two varieties of trilliums that bloom at Maudslay with the park interpreter. This month, we enjoy the bloom of Lily-of-the-Valley, Ghent/Exbury Azalea, Columbine, and Ox-eye Daisy. Wear comfortable shoes and appropriate warm clothes. Meet at the park headquarters at 74 Curzon Mill Rd

When: 
Saturday, June 28, 2014 2-3pm
Sunday, June 29, 2014 2-3pm

Catch and Release: Amphibians

Catch and release amphibians that you findat the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuar

Are you a frog catcher, snake wrangler, dragonfly hunter, or deer stalker?  Do you love splashing through mud, crawling under logs, and running through fields with nothing but a net and your sense of adventure? Then catch and release is for you!  This session's topic: amphibians. We'll search the wetlands for frogs and tadpoles, the woodlands for toads, and under logs for salamanders. Learn where to look, when it's okay to catch a creature, and when to just follow them and observe, how to hold them carefully so you can take a good look, and how to return them gently and safely to the wild.

When: 
Saturday, June 7, 2014 1:30-3pm

Parent/Child Walkabout: Salt Marsh Hide & Seek

Explore the marsh with your child at Joppa Flats Education Center!

In every kind of weather, our favorite thing is to head outdoors to our spectacular local habitats! Each nature exploration will focus on the importance of a sense of place as we explore the ecology, sights, and sounds of our natural landscape. Wildlife, local and migrating birds, collecting techniques, and environmental awareness will be presented in a fun, energetic format that adults and children alike will enjoy.

When: 
Wednesday, May 21, 2014 2-3:30 pm

Hunger Games Spring Survival for Teens

Teens will learnb wilderness survival skills in this session at Mass Audubon's I

In this spring session of the program based on the hit book series The Hunger Games, we will continue to learn the skills necessary to survive in the wild. Navigation in the woods can be tough, and finding edible foods can be even tougher. Didn't you walk by that tree already? 

When: 
Saturday, May 10, 2014 1:30-3:30pm

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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

Step up for Colleen 5k

The Step up for Colleen 5k is a memorial fundraiser in memory of Colleen Ritzer a beloved North Shore Lacal Teacher.
The friends and family of Colleen Ritzer have created this 5K walk/run to celebrate Colleen’s life and her commitment to help and inspire others. Through the Step Up for Colleen event, organizers hope to enhance a sense of community and overall goodwill as we come together to honor Colleen and the...
8:30 am

Tulip Festival at Cider Hill Farm

Come cut your own tulips at Cider Hill Farm in Amesbury Massachusetts
A gorgeous, fan-favorite variety of 100k tulips are scheduled to bloom in early May. Welcome spring with this multi-weekend festival featuring free live music, self-guided blooming orchard walks, outdoor hard cider bars, food trucks, fitness n' family activities and cut-your-tulips. General...
8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Twin Lights Half Marathon

Twin Lights Half Marathon starts at Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester and follows a route along the Gloucester's beautiful back shore.
Come enjoy beautiful ocean views as you run along the scenic coastline on Cape Ann and race towards our huge finish line arch! The Twin Lights Half Marathon offers a spectacular course with the seashore visible for much of the race's 13.1-mile route. Runners will also enjoy an up-close look at many...
9:00 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

Chase the Butterfly 5k

Chase the Butterfly Family 5K Road Race and Kids Fun Run is a benefit for the YMCA of Ipswich Massachusetts
Ipswich's own, Talia Duff, is fighting CMT4J. Your involvement not only helps ensure that programs like swim safety, childcare, and youth development remain accessible to everyone who needs them but also strengthens our community bond. We can’t wait to see you at the starting line.
10:00 am to 12:00 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

Spring Bloom Fest at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Spring Bloom Fest at the Trustees Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover!
Join The Trustees of Reservations  for the start of Spring at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens with a celebration of bulbs at our Spring BloomFest weekend! Stroll through our beautiful gardens with budding tulips, daffodils, and other spring bulbs while enjoying the crisp spring air and...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Chess Night at Beverly Library

BevRec and the Beverly Public Library are teaming up to offer Chess Nights in the Beverly Massachusetts Library.
You do not have access to view this node and BevRec are teaming up to offer Chess Nights in the Barnett Gallery in the main Library at 32 Essex St, Beverly. The first Monday of each month through May, come and play the world’s greatest game (if you don’t count Pac Man) with your neighbors. This is...
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 18

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

Bluefin Blowout Family 5k to Benefit Alzheimer's Association

The Bluefin Blowout Family Fun Run in Gloucester Massachusetts raises funds to combat the diseases of Alzheimer's and all other dementias
On Sunday, May 18th, 2025, come to Stage Fort Park, Gloucester for the Bluefin Blowout Family Fun Run 5K, Presented by the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group - Benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association. Run, walk, or stroll from Stage Fort Park to Hammond Castle and back to Stage Fort Park for a 5K loop. Enjoy the...
7:00 am to 10:30 am

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 the trails of this seaside treasure while learning birding basics. Hear the symphony of spring bird song, watch for them in the woodland’s and at water’s edges. Learn about bird sounds, habits, and flight patterns. Enjoy extraordinary views. Bring binoculars if you have them!
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

Hill to Harbor 10k Road Race

North Shore Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA Hill to Harbor 10k Marblehead Massachusetts
Join North Shore YMCA and the Lynch van Otterloo YMCA for the 2025 Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA Hills to Harbor 10K Road Race on May 18th! Traverse the hills and shoreline of Marblehead and finish the 'Hill to Harbor 10K at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA!
9:00 am

Beverly Warrior Weekend

Warrior Weekend at Beverly Massachusetts HighSchool
Warrior Weekend is a two day event that pays tribute to veterans through demonstrations and other events for the community. There will be all kinds of military hardware on site including tanks!
9:00 am to 4:00 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

Touch a Truck Beverly

The Annual Touch-a-Truck event is hosted at the Beverly High School Massachusetts.
The annual Touch-a-Truck Event is a unique, interactive, one-day event held in Beverly Massachusetts during National Public Works Week.
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
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