Water telescopes are long tubes with glass at the bottom to view things underwater. Fishermen in Norway have used them for centuries to search for herring and cod. We’ll make our own water telescopes, and then head to the beach to try them out by the tidepools. Who knows what we’ll discover!
May is Historic Preservation month and we are celebrating by offering Preservation focused programs throughout the month. May 4th and 14th, join the The Trustees of Reservations with your family for a NEW tour offering of the Stevens-Coolidge House. This hands-on family friendly tour will bring the past to life for you and your child. Stories, photos, and objects allow kids to consider differences and similarities between the past and today. Please note that space is limited and pre-registration is required!
Join us among the flowers to hear a story, make a craft, and explore the gardens with your pre-schoolers and early elementary students. Each week, a new theme will tie together stories with accompanying activities that will enliven imaginations and deepen connections to the natural world.
Step back into the 1920s during this season’s monthly Open Houses at The Stevens-Coolidge Place. Curious to see the full house? Join the Trustees for full house tours being offered every half hour from 10am to 2pm on a first come, first serve basis. The last house tour will begin around 1:30. The tours will bring you through the whole house and will lead you in the story of Helen and John Coolidge.
The Trustees of Reservations hosts an adventure-filled weekend camping at the Crane Estate! Our special site in the Pine Grove is an ideal location for both experienced campers and first-timers. This overnight includes a choice of optional programs and activities on Saturday afternoon, which may include a Great Marsh Creek Walk, a Dune Hike through the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a Guided Kayak Paddle in Essex Bay, or a Scavenger Hunt for the little ones. Of course you are also free to simply lounge on the beach, or explore the property on your own. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday. REI will teach us how to make a delicious, nutritious camp out supper – and we’ll follow that with s’mores around the campfire on Saturday night. A light breakfast will be provided on Sunday morning. After you pack up on Sunday morning, you are welcome to spend Sunday afternoon at the beach (parking in the lot by the Barn only).
Appleton Farms' final two Farmers Markets of the year are coming up soon. November 13th will be our Late Fall Farmers Market, perfect for your pre-Thanksgiving shopping. Our Holiday Market will be on December 11th, with lots of items for your winter holiday gift giving, dinners or gatherings.
Our cheese making classes are back! Join Appleton’s own award-winning cheese maker, Kristian Holbrook, for a hands-on cheese making class in our farm kitchen. You’ll learn all the basics of cheese making, make your own mozzarella and ricotta to take home, and get a behind-the-scenes tour of our dairy operation and cheese cave. Pre-registration required.
Join Appleton Farms for a kids in the kitchen session for preschoolers and try out some delicious kid-friendly recipes with ingredients right from the farm! Each week we’ll practice our cooking skills and make something tasty together. While our creations bake, cool or simmer we’ll pass the time with a fun farm craft. Recipes will include: Bread & Butter, No-Bake Granola Bars, Farm Frittata, and Home Made Apple Sauce. Please pre-register. Fee covers one adult and child. Younger siblings are welcome with an additional fee of $24/$30 for member/nonmembers.
Cooking together and having fun in the kitchen makes our farm family happy and we want to share that enthusiasm for cooking with you. With the help of our cheesemaker we will make a batch of fresh farm cheese while we learn about how our cows turn green grass to creamy, nutritious milk. Afterwords we'll enjoy the sweet fruits of our labor together. This program is designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Cooking together and having fun in the kitchen makes our farm family happy and we want to share that enthusiasm for cooking with you. We will make homemade rolls and top them with freshly made Jersey butter. We will learn about how our cows turn green grass to creamy, nutritious milk, then enjoy the sweet fruits of our labor together. This program is designed for families with children ages 4-7 (but younger kids are welcome if you can give a helping hand).
