Join us as we share a children's nature story before we explore the woods, fields, and wetlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. This month we'll focus on animals preparing for Winter by foraging nature's harvest.
This wildside walk is a tide-pooling adventure! 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. Participants play out the roles of birders, trackers, and astronomers in all venues. Each adventure will leave your family excited to come back for more!
Join us as we share a children's nature story before we explore the woods, fields, and wetlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. This month we'll focus on the secrets of salamanders.
Nature journaling is a tool for making discoveries about nature. It involves drawing, but you don't have to be an artist. It involves writing, labeling, and making notes about what you notice and wonder. Above all, it involves taking a closer look. After a brief orientation and introductory exercises, the class will explore the journaling process along the trails of the sanctuary.
Let's celebrate our beaches, tide pools, and salt marshes with a full day of fun outdoor/indoor activities! Handle live tide pool animals from our 110-gallon touch tank, go on a guided salt marsh walk, and enjoy a virtual whale watch trip.
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!
Join watercolorist Brenda Sloane in a monthly program that combines nature and art. We will start with a walk on the sanctuary to observe the topic of the month. We will then return to the Nature Center to create a follow-up work of art.
Lisa Hutchings Teacher-Naturalist from Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper invite you and your family for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem. Hands-on science and interactive props are on hand to make this learning experience a fun adventure as attendees search for waterfowl, seals and other marine life.
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.
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!
