Geology

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!

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. Learn about the buildings, bridges, and breakwaters built to last. Touch tools of the trade. Find out how they moved these large, heavy stone pieces, and how they “paved” dirt streets in our Nation’s growing cities—and around the world! Heavy rain/snow cancels.

When: 
Tuesdays, January 9-March 12, 2024 11am-12:30pm

Reading the Granite Landscape

Find out the story behind the granite at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!

Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! A rock is not a thing but a drama, it can teach us about the great unifying science and the unique geology of Cape Ann. Rocks can tell us a lot about how the landscape was formed and the geology of Cape Ann tells us great stories, all visible at Halibut Point. Meet at the Visitors Center in the park. For all ages. Rain or shine, pouring rain cancels.

When: 
Thursdays, August 22, 2019 10-11am

The Hidden Life of Trees

Come learn about the secret life of trees at Halibut Point State Park.

Come to Halibut Point State Park to learn about trees! Often, what we do see of the natural world is less significant than what we don’t see. An exploration into the wood wide web of the perennials around us, revealing surprises of communities, environmental influences and conscious behavior. Bring sunscreen, clothing layers and hydration. Rain cancels. Best for those eight and over.

When: 
Sunday, October 7, 2018 10-11am

Life on a Layer Cake

Find out the story behind the granite at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport!

What makes up the ground below what’s at our feet? This program at Halibut Point State Park serves as a gentle introduction to stratigraphy, the branch of geology about dealing with the position of strata and its meaning within the geological time scale. We’ll visit some of the park’s soil/bedrock contact points and explore the story they tell. Most appropriate for those twelve and over. Entails over a mile of walking. Rain cancels.

When: 
Wednesday, August 8, 2018 10-11am

Exploring Science Together: Bugs!

Kids and families are invited to learn about bugs at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Take a closer look and explore the world of minuscule bugs! Learn together through hands-on activities designed to show you how to classify and identify these numerous and diverse creatures! Participate in activities in our incredible arthropods gallery. Observe and touch live invertebrates, and then go outside and collect some of your own. Dig in the dirt and learn how invertebrates help people compost food waste into soil. Create your own scientific equipment that will help you continue the study of entomology at home. All activities are designed to be fun and interactive experiences for elementary age students and their families to participate in together.

When: 
Saturday, July 7, 2018 10:30-Noon

Exploring Science Together: Minerals!

Kids and families are invited to learn about minerals at the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

What makes a mineral a mineral? Find out in this hands-on and interactive program. Be a geologist for the day and learn how to identify minerals. Discover the secret properties that make some minerals truly unique. Participate in gallery explorations of our mesmerizing mineral collections. Investigate the different uses of minerals and even create your own mineral pigment artwork to take home! All activities are designed to be a fun and interactive experience for elementary age students and their families to participate in together.

When: 
Saturday, March 3, 2018 10:30-Noon

The Real World of Minecraft Minerals

See real ores and minerals at the Harvard Museum of Natural History!

Do you or someone in your house play Minecraft? Have you ever wondered whether any of those blocks exist in the real world? Get out of the house and explore some of the REAL rocks and minerals that appear in Minecraft at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Pick up a gallery exploration card in the Earth & Planetary Sciences Gallery, read about the Minecraft minerals, and compare to actual samples on display. Come find gold without digging 32 layers down a digital mine!

When: 
February 16-18, 2016

NU Marine Science Center Open House

N.U. Marine Science Center Open House offers educational fun for the family!

All are invited to the Northeastern University Marine Science Center Annual Open House! You'll learn from researchers about marine habitats, meet some of creatures living there and explore the habitat in real time. In addition to some faithful standards such as touch tanks and tours of East Point, the Center will be showcasing the work and talent of its research labs and academic programs. With a half dozen new faculty members in the past year, there’s a lot more to explore!

When: 
Saturday, October 5, 2013 from 10 am to 3 pm

Geology Walk at Moraine Farm

Moraine Farm invites you explore the fields and learn about Geology!

Join geologist James Matz and farm manager Gretta Anderson for a tour of Moraine Farm in Beverly. A geologist and member of Beverly's Planning Board, James Matz will present information about the geology and soils of the farm. Farm Manager Gretta Anderson will introduce participants to the 23-acre organically-managed community vegetable farm which is owned by The Trustees of Reservations.

When: 
Saturday, May 11, 2013 1–3PM,
Location: 
Harborlight Montessori School - Infant to Grade 8 - Beverly MA

April Vacation Week at Ipswich Library

sapring Vacation Activities at Ipswich Public Library in Massachusetts
Come to Ipswich Public Library during April Vacation week for family fun. We'll have 4 days of family activities from Tuesday - Friday! Schedule as follows:
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Weather at Sea at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn about Weather at Sea during April Vacation at Maritime Gloucester in Massachusetts. Image is AI Generated
Join Maritime Gloucester's educators for fun hands-on activities exploring different marine life found in Gloucester while discussing the importance of the ocean. Some of the most extreme weather on Earth can be credited to the ocean. From underwater earthquakes and tsunamis to hurricanes and water...
10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

DIY Birdfeeders at NPL

Kids are invited to come to NPL to make their own custom birdfeeders at the Newburyport Library in Massachusetts
Kids are invited to come to NPL to make their own custom birdfeeders. Make your neighborhood birds happy! We’ll create super-simple feeders with pipe cleaners & cereal.
10:00 am to 11:30 am

All Family Field Trip | Early Spring Woods & Wetlands Walk

Come explore the woods with Joppa Flats and see if you can find the signs of Spring in Newburyport Massachusetts
Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the north shore. Our 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....
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

CraneExplorer: Animals in the Estuary

Families are invited to join us for an exploration of the Castle Hill grounds in Ipswich Massachusetts
Take in beautiful views of the Crane Wildlife Refuge while learning about estuary flora and fauna and environmental conditions at the Crane Boat Dock. Families will conduct measurements of water quality and weather, census native vs. Non-native crabs, collect and observe plankton using field...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

April Vacation at PEM 2024

PEM has a great lineup for kids and families during April Vacation 2024
Looking for things to do during your April Vacation on the North Shore? Peabody Essex Museum has a fabulous line-up of fun activities, performances, and tours for kids and families. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the cultural exchange project that brought Yin Yu Tang to Peabody Essex Museum !...
10:00 am to 3:59 pm

Aleppo Shriners Circus

Aleppo Shriners Circus in Wilmington Massachusetts is a great time for the whole family!
Fun for the whole family! Let us help you make memories this April Vacation with a show they won't forget!The all-new Aleppo Shriners Circus thrills during April school vacation week. Enjoy elephant rides, clown photos, and all sorts of exciting acts - right up close.
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

April Vacation at CAM | Celebrate Spring

Cape Ann Museum has some great April Vacation programs for school aged kids! Photo: Still life by Harold Rotneberg
Celebrate the return of spring with a visit to the Cape Ann Museum during April School Vacation Week! The Museum will be free for school-age children, 18 and under, and their guardians from Tuesday, April 16 – Friday, April 19. Explore the galleries with a scavenger hunt and family-friendly...
10:00 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 3:59 pm

Padro the Lucky Racing Pigeon Storytime at NSCM

Padro the Lucky Racing Pigeon Storytime at North Shore Children's Museum
North Shore Children's Museum hosts the local author of Pedro the Lucky Racing Pigeon as she reads her book
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Vacation Week: Solar Bugs at APL

Kids are invited to craft their own solar bugs at the Amesbury Public Library in Massachussetts during April Vacation
Come by the side lawn of the Library to create a solar powered bug! Find out why bugs are attracted to light and how solar energy works to move your bug!
10:00 am to 11:00 am

1-Minute to Win It Challenge at HWPL

Science Fridays with Ms. Katie at the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library in Massachusetts
Do YOU have what it takes? Join us over April Vacation on Thursday, April 18 at 11:00am for a variety of 1-minute S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) challenges and compete against the clock for fun prizes! Designed for children ages 5 and up. No registration is necessary.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Under the Sea Storytime: Tales & Touch

Salem Sound Coastwatch, Essex Heritage and Salem Public library host a Tales & Touch session in Salem Massachusetts
Join Salem Coastwatch during April school vacation week for a special family event where we will be “diving in” to all things under the sea! Come enjoy some ocean-themed stories, songs, and games, followed by a craft and the chance to meet and learn about real Salem sea creatures from Salem Sound...
2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Reading to a Therapy Dog at NTL

Kids can sign up to read to a therapy dog at the Newbury Town Library in Massachusetts
Children can register to come and read to a certified therapy dog. This program encourages reading confidence and is a fun way for kids to practice literacy. Sessions last for 15-minutes, and we ask that you please arrive for the time slot that you register for.
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

LEGO Club at Danvers Library

LEGO club at Danvers Library Massachusetts
Peabody Institute Library - Danvers invites kids to an afternoon of building and fun! Activities will include free build, themes and instructional design. All structures will remain on display in the Children’s Room till the following weeks's session
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Lego Club at MPL

Children in grades 2 and up are invited to come to the Manchester Massachusetts Library's Lego Club
Drop in from 3:45-4:45 to make your own Lego creation! This program is for kids in grades 2 and up.
3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

Friday, April 19

Historic Beverly Scavenger Hunt at Lynch Park

Historic Beverly April Vacation Scavenger Hunt at Lynch Park in Beverly Massachusetts
NEW for April school vacation week this year! If you loved our Independence Park Scavenger Hunt you’ll love this one even more! More space to roam and much more to find!
Where: Lynch Park
9:00 am to 11:00 am

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 3:59 pm

April Vacation at CAM | Celebrate Spring

Cape Ann Museum has some great April Vacation programs for school aged kids! Photo: Still life by Harold Rotneberg
Celebrate the return of spring with a visit to the Cape Ann Museum during April School Vacation Week! The Museum will be free for school-age children, 18 and under, and their guardians from Tuesday, April 16 – Friday, April 19. Explore the galleries with a scavenger hunt and family-friendly...
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

A Whale of a Time at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn all about whales at this Maritime Gloucester April Vacation drop off program in Gloucester Massachusetts
Here in Massachusetts we are lucky enough to host some of the largest animals on earth - whales! Join us in learning more about these majestic mammals! Particitpants learn all about whale behaviors and observe their food source under our microscopes. Create your own unique whale tail design to take...
10:00 am to 3:00 pm

April Vacation at PEM 2024

PEM has a great lineup for kids and families during April Vacation 2024
Looking for things to do during your April Vacation on the North Shore? Peabody Essex Museum has a fabulous line-up of fun activities, performances, and tours for kids and families. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the cultural exchange project that brought Yin Yu Tang to Peabody Essex Museum !...
10:00 am to 3:59 pm

Aleppo Shriners Circus

Aleppo Shriners Circus in Wilmington Massachusetts is a great time for the whole family!
Fun for the whole family! Let us help you make memories this April Vacation with a show they won't forget!The all-new Aleppo Shriners Circus thrills during April school vacation week. Enjoy elephant rides, clown photos, and all sorts of exciting acts - right up close.
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

CraneExplorer: Shifting Sands

The Trustees' Crane Estate hosts a beach-centric science learning experience for kids in Ipswich Massachusetts
The beach is much more than just sand! In this family education program, participants will learn about the diverse habitats of the sandy beach and dunes. Learners discover shells, seaweed, plants, animal tracks, and other signs of life on the beach and in the dunes, get an up-close look at sand to...
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

April Vacation Week at Ipswich Library

sapring Vacation Activities at Ipswich Public Library in Massachusetts
Come to Ipswich Public Library during April Vacation week for family fun. We'll have 4 days of family activities from Tuesday - Friday! Schedule as follows:
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Yoga for Kids at NSCM

Yoga for Children during February Vacation at North Shore Children's Museum in Peabody Massachusetts
In Miss Shelleys yoga class for kids, the focus is on making the practice fun, interactive, and age-appropriate. The class includes warm-up activities, teaching yoga poses through storytelling and games, and incorporating music, props, and visuals.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Cape Ann Symphony Concert | Katy and the Big Snow

Sawyer Free Library hosts a family friendly concert based on Katy and the Big Snow in Gloucester Massachusetts
Vacation week free fun for families! Cape Ann Symphony, along with the Sawyer Free Library, presents Katy and the Big Snow. Enjoy the beloved story by Gloucester's own Virginia Lee Burton read aloud by local actress Heidi Dallin, and set to music for this ensemble performance. Musicians will also...
10:30 am to 11:15 am
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