Hike

Expedition! Vacation Week (ages 7-12)

This February Vacation week come join us for a week full of winter woodland family fun at Ravenswood Park and the Cape Ann Discovery Center. Activities are designed to encourage exploration, stimulate the imagination, and kick start creativity. With a new theme each day, you can register your child (accompanied by his or her favorite adult) per day or join us for the full week at a discounted rate!

When:

Monday, February 15 - Friday, February 19, 2016 10AM-Noon

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

February Vacation

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Creature Feature: Night Creatures

Meet live night creatures at Ravenswood Park and go for a guided night tour

Have you seen the barred owls, foxes, or red squirrels of Ravenswood Park? Come to our new Cape Ann Center for Learning & Discovery when these live animals visit, and get a close-up view of these creatures to learn about their habits and behaviors. Tonight we'll discover nocturnal animals, such as bats and foxes, that sleep during the day and are active at night – then we'll take a guided hike in the park to see if we can spot a few in their natural habitat.

When:

Saturday, February 20, 2016 5-7 PM

Location:

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Igloo Building Contest on the Grand Allee

Join the fun and build an igloo on the Crane Estate's Grande Allee during February Vacation!

Looking for an outdoor activity during school vacation? Come build snow forts with us! We'll have a contest to determine the best winter architects - which igloo is the most structurally sound? The most creative? The one that best represents Ipswich history? The one that best fits the Crane Estate landscape? At the end of the day we'll enjoy some hot chocolate to warm ourselves. Please note: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather to maximize comfort and minimize misery! Water is always good to have along.

When:

Friday, February 19, 2016 1-3pm

Location:

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

February Vacation

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Valentine's Day Apres Ski with Appleton Cheeses

Enjoy the snowy trails of Ravenswood Park in Gloucester on Valentine's Day!

Celebrate Valentines Day the natural way... outdoors! Escape the hearts and join us for an afternoon of skiing or snowshoeing (or hiking if no snow) through Ravenswood's carriage paths of rolling hills and dales. Warm up afterwards around the woodstove with a tasting of Appleton Farms cheeses, local chocolate, and wine. Pre-registration required. Bring your own skis or snowshoes (or rent snowshoes from us).

When:

Sunday, February 14, 2016 1-3pm

Location:

Ravenswood Park

Sports Stop

Gloucester

Trustees of Reservations

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The Amazing Arctic Race

Have an Outdoor Adventure at Ravenswood Park, then warm up by the fire with a hot cocoa at the Cape Ann Discovery Center in Gloucester

An afternoon of arctic adventure awaits the whole family. We've set up winter challenges throughout the park. Use maps and compass to navigate the park, find hidden markers, complete challenges and post your team's time. Win prizes! Bring your skis or snowshoes (or rent our snowshoes)!

When:

Saturday, February 13, 2016 12-3pm

Location:

Ravenswood Park

Gloucester

Scavenger Hunt

Trustees of Reservations

Walk

Hike

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Pre Game Walk at Coolidge Stevens Estate

Take a pre game walk at the Coolidge Estate in North Andover

Join the The Trustees of Reservations for a walk at the Coolidge Estate! Super Bowl Sunday, pack your boots, snowshoes, hats, and gloves as we make the 2.5 mile round trip journey along the Stevens to Stevens Trail. Meet in the Stevens-Coolidge Place parking lot on Chestnut Street.

When:

Saturday, Febraury 7, 2016 9am-Noon

Location:

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

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Polar Explorers After-school Club (ages 7-12)

Polar Esxplorers Club is for kids ages 7-12 at Ravenswood Park in Gloucester Massachusetts!

Join the Polar Explorers Club (after-school adventures for kids ages 7-12) for hardy adventurers ready to explore in the coldest weather. We'll learn how to read a compass and build a shelter, track animals and end our day around the wood stove hearing tales of high adventure. Dress for the outdoors!

When:

Thursday, January 14, 2016 3-5pm

Thursday, January 28, 2016 3-5pm

Thursday, February 11, 2016 3-5pm

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

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Creature Feature: Owl Prowl

Come to the owl Prowl at Ravenswood Park, meet an owl and learn to spot them

Have you seen the barred owls, foxes, or red squirrels of Ravenswood Park? Come to the Cape Ann Center for Learning & Discovery when these live animals visit, and get a close-up view of these creatures to learn about their habits and behaviors. Tonight we'll learn all about owls, then go on a guided night-time owl prowl in the park. Please Register

When:

Saturday, January 30, 2016 5-7 PM

Location:

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Weekday Little Explorers: Groundhog Day Celebration

Celebrate Groundhog Day with Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield! Photo: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Groundhog Day is just a few days away, and we have planned a special walk. We will learn all about these true hibernators, and then we will head out to the fields in search of groundhog holes. Learn some songs and create a groundhog mask to take home.

When:

Wednesday, January 27 , 2016 10-11:30 am

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Weekday Little Explorers: The Mitten

Read "The Mitten" by Jan Brett and then take a hike to look for animal homes

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a wonderful program for preschoolers! These walks are offered as individual classes. Join us for one or more of these winter explorations. We'll read [amazon 039921920X inline] by Jan Brett and then take a hike to look for animal homes in the sanctuary. Using a very large mitten, we will recreate the story. As a group, we'll build a people shelter and see how warm we can make it.

When:

Wednesday, January 13, 2016 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary