Winter on Crane Beach offers us a unique opportunity to go where we've never gone before - on the sand! Join us on a fun and educational oversand adventure as we explore the winter landscape of Castle Neck and Crane Beach. You will learn all about the natural history of the barrier beach as we keep a look out for winter wildlife including snowy owls!
Join The Trustees of Reservations as they celebrate March's Worm Moon Hike! Bring your kids out for a family full moon adventure in the dunes of the Crane Wildlife refuge, ending with a fun sparkler dance party! This is an earlier, shorter, slower full moon hike experience, perfect for both younger and older participants. We will stick to a short dunes loop with stops for fun dunes facts, enjoy the sunset on the beach, and play in the twilight with sparklers.
Spring celebrations begin early at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary with the age-old tradition of maple sugaring. The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maples, causing buds to swell and resulting in sweet-smelling billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse.
Winter is a great time to look for predators and the evidence they leave behind. Today, we'll look at animal bones, fur, scat, tracks, and chews. Then we'll hike the sanctuary in search of hawks, foxes, fishers, river otters, and more. We'll investigate how these animals are able to hunt prey in the cold winter weather.
Can you imagine living outside through the entire winter? We'll explore the woodlands, wetlands, and field edges for nests, cavities, burrows, dens, and lodges to discover how birds, mammals, and insects find homes in this challenging season. We'll build an igloo or shelter and see how warm it can be inside.
The Crane Estate isn’t just the home of the ultimate summer adventure (SummerQuest), it’s also home to exciting spring and winter adventures! Join us during school break for a special half-day drop-off program for children ages 7-14, full of outdoor adventure, hands-on STEM activities, games, and crafts! Come for one day or all week!
Don't miss historic downtown Salem's sweetest event of the year. Salem Main Streets, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, Destination Salem, and local retailers, restaurants, and businesses invite you to attend the 17th annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival. A decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping…don’t miss Salem’s sweetest event of the year!
Have you ever walked through the woods looking for owls during the day? Owls are most active at night, of course, but if you know what to look for you can find their daytime roosts. Together we'll discover what our local owls look like, what they eat, and what they sound like. As a special activity, everyone will help to dissect an owl pellet.
Get outside with your family for some fresh air and to experience the beauty of the sanctuary. A Mindful Nature Experience incorporates elements of mindfulness, forest bathing, ayurveda, and yoga to connect mind and body in community with the outdoors, reinvigorate your senses, and deeply immerse you in the healing power of nature. As a family, awaken your bodies with easy, flowing exercises, and use mindful breathing techniques to connect with and offer gratitude for the natural world. Walk with awareness to immerse deeply in nature, explore your senses using various sensory techniques that awaken curiosity, and find your own personal sit spot to meditate as one with nature.
Get ready for tulips, tours and tinkering because it’s time for the Stevens-Coolidge Place’s annual Tulip Festival! Begin your day with a tour of this historic estate, followed by some friendly competition at corn hole, tip toe through the tulips with a guided tour and end the afternoon with a picnic on the lawn or make a flower sun catcher to bring home. Welcome spring!
