Trustees of Reservations

Egg-cellent Garden Adventure & Egg Hunt

Join the fun of the egg hunt at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover!

Springtime is a busy time in a garden. The bugs, birds and butterflies at The Stevens-Coolidge Place are ready to get to work planting seeds and spreading pollen, but first they need your help! In this program, participating children are on a hunt to find these garden workers resting inside their eggs throughout the property. Bring your own egg carton (sorry no bags allowed) to collect 12 eggs, then enjoy a craft time, story and seed planting to learn about how our garden grows and celebrate all things spring!

When: 
Monday, April 4, 2020 9:30am-3pm
Location: 
Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens
North Andover
Farm
Trustees of Reservations
Scavenger Hunt
Easter Egg Hunt

Live Action CLUE for Families

Was it the butler in the pantry with the pipe wrench? Come find out at the Crane Estate Family CLUE party!

Was it the butler in the pantry with the pipe wrench?  Come find out at the Crane Estate! You've been invited to Miss Florence Crane's birthday party in 1928. Everyone is having a good time until someone dies. Can you figure out who did it, in what room, and with which weapon?

When: 
Saturday, March 28, 2020 1-3pm
Location: 
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Ipswich
Trustees of Reservations
Performance
Scavenger Hunt
Solve a Mystery

Family Pasta Making Workshop

Kids and familes will make homemade pasta together at this Appleton Cooks workshop in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Skip the pasta machine and get ready to use your hands to create orecchiette (little ears), cavatelli (dimpled pasta) and more with Chef Emily! This simple pasta dough has just three ingredients, and is easily shaped by both big and little hands. Parents and kids will work together to mix and knead their dough, shape the noodles, then share a delicious meal using local produce and meats from Appleton Farms. Chef Emily will use the finished pasta to demo an easy seasonal recipe and everyone will have time at the end to eat.

When: 
Saturday, March 28, 2020 10:30am-12:30pm
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Farm
Instruction
Cooking
Baking
Cuisine
Trustees of Reservations

WinterQuest at the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts offers a morning program for kids 7-14 during February Vacation!

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!

When: 
Daily, February 17-21, 2020 9am-Noon
Location: 
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Ipswich
Morning Program
Trustees of Reservations
February Vacation
Outdoor Activity
STEM
Games
Crafts

North Shore Nordic Ski & Smores

Join the Trustees for a snowy exploration of Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts on snowshoes.

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a snowy exploration of Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts on snowshoes. We'll loop through the pastures and woodlands and return to the farmstead to warm ourselves by the fire with hot cocoa and s'mores. All ages and abilities are welcome. No experience is necessary. If there isn't enough snow, we'll take a hike!

When: 
Saturday, February 1, 2020 1-3pm
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Farm
Trustees of Reservations
Outdoor Activity
Cross Country Ski

Gingerbread Cookie Decorating & Story Hour

Come make gingerbread farmers and join the holiday fun at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.

It’s not the holidays without gingerbread cookies! Join us in the kitchen for a gingerbread cookie decorating workshop for kids. First we’ll learn how to make the dough from scratch – measure ingredients, learn about the science behind baking, work the dough, and cut out the shapes. Then we’ll provide gingerbread cookies, and icing and candies for decorating. Each child will take home five (5) decorated cookies. After our creations are complete, we’ll move into the dining room to enjoy treats, hot cocoa, and a gingerbread man story.

When: 
Saturday, December 22, 2019 10-11:30am
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Holiday
Christmas
Farm
Trustees of Reservations
Gingerbread

Winter Solstice Celebration

Come for a solstice hike at Ward Reservation to celebrate the Winter Solstice and watch a fire-themed performance by Tetra!

Celebrating the winter solstice goes back 5,000 years. Join us as we light up the night with a Solstice stroll and celebration at Ward Reservation. Participants will meet in the parking lot for a guided candlelit walk through the woods that will include presented passages from the story "The Shortest Day" by Wendy Pfeffer.

When: 
Wednesday, December 18, 2019 6-8:30pm
Strolls at 6-7pm or 7:30-8:30pm
Location: 
Ward Reservation
Andover
Gloucester
North Andover
Hike
Walk
Exploration
Outdoor Activity
Discovery
Trustees of Reservations

Holiday Children's Party at Castle Hill

Kids will meet Santa at the Crane Estate in Ipswich MA!

Make memories with your child or grandchild at our Children's Christmas Party. Set in the magnificent Great House lavishly decorated for the holidays, you'll enjoy holiday songs with children's entertainer Jennie Mack, a craft, refreshments, and of course, a special visit with Santa who will have a gift for every child. Reservations strongly recommended. Your name will be on a reservation list at the door rather than receiving tickets.

When: 
Tuesday, December 17, 2019 4-5:30pm
Location: 
Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
Ipswich
Santa
Holiday
Christmas
Party
Crafts
Scavenger Hunt
Trustees of Reservations

Milking Time at Appleton Farms

Come see the Appleton Farms milking cow herd in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Join us Every Sunday at 4PM to see our Jersey heard being milked. See the cows bring brought in from pasture, get a look at the milking up close and ask our dairy farmer a few questions! Perfect for kids and adults alike. While you are here take a peek in the cheese kitchen viewing room, visit with our other barnyard animals or have a picnic in the stone paddock!

When: 
Sundays through November 24, 2019 4-5pm
Location: 
Appleton Farms
Ipswich
Farm
Animals
Live Animals
Trustees of Reservations

Pages

Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk
Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
Where: Halibut Point State Park
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
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Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
7:00 am to 7:00 pm
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Trails & Sails
Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm
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Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
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Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour
Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
Where: Downtown Salem
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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Crescent Farm Corn Maze
Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
Where: Crescent Farm
9:00 am to 9:00 pm
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Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle
Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor
Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
Where: Downtown Rockport
10:30 pm
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Sunday, September 21

Marbleheaders in the American Revolution
Glovers Regiment in Marblehead Massachusetts is just one stop on this Trails & Sails tour.
Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary and experience an Anglican service at St....
Where: Downtown Marblehead
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Long Hill Garden Tours
Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens
11:00 am to 12:00 pm
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Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
11:00 am
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Vintage BaseBall at Spencer-Peirce Little Farm
Come see how baseball used to be played at Spencer Pierce Little Farm. Photo: Matthew Muise Photography
It’s Base Ball, 1864 style at Spencer Peirce Little Farm! These fun, historically accurate games feature underhand pitching and no gloves are allowed. A ball bounced once and caught is an out! Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase. Come and see for yourself how this game was...
Where: Spencer Peirce Little Farm
12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
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Fireman's Muster in Salisbury
Join the fun of the Fireman's Muster in the heart of Salisbury Massachusetts as part of Salisbury Days
The Town of Salisbury hosts a fireman's muster as part of Salisbury Days! Come join the fun with your family and watch the teamwork involved in this New England Tradition! As Part of Salisbury Days Celebration, on Sunday, in addition to the Muster event attendees can enjoy:
Where: Salisbury Town Common
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Salisbury Days: Touch a Truck
Kids (and adults) can get up close and personal with all kinds of trucks in Salisbury Massachusetts
Salisbury Days are hosting a Touch-A-Truck event! Get up close and personal with all the trucks/unique vehicles you see on the road. Meet the people who drive them and learn about what they do!
Where: Salisbury Town Common
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Brocklebank Museum Open House

Explore the Brocklebank Museum in Georgetown Massachusetts as part of Trails and Sails!
Visit the Brocklebank Museum, built in the late 1600s, with ties to the abolitionist movement and the famous Beecher family. tep back in time to the birth of our Nation. The Revolutionary War era in Essex County. Stop by and visit the Georgetown Historical Society in our tavern room at the...
Where: Brocklebank Museum
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
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Step Aboard the Friendship of Salem

Permission to come aboard the Friendship of Salem is granted at Derby Wharf in Salem Massachusetts!
Explore the FRIENDSHIP OF SALEM, a replica tall ship based on a 1796 Salem vessel at Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
Where: Salem Maritime National Historic Site
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
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Saugus Iron Works Tours
Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
2:00 pm
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Nice n' Easy Hike at Maudslay State Park
Take a nice n' easy stroll at Muadslay State Park with your family in Newburyport Massachusetts!
Take a nice n' easy stroll at Bradley Palmer State Park with your family! Join the park interpreter for a basic recreational hike to explore the diverse landscape on a variety of trails through different areas of the park. For all ages.
Where: Bradley Palmer State Park
2:00 pm
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