Come venture along the sanctuary trails on a sensory tour. We will explore the magic of the outdoors by using our many senses. Let's see what we can discover using our eyes, ears, nose, hands, and even taste. Using found materials from nature, we will create a nature collage.
Have you ever seen a water boatman up close? How about a caddisfly larva or water scorpion? If not, then join us for a summer morning of pond dipping. Using hand lenses, microscopes, and strainers, we'll search for turtles and frogs and delight in the sights and smells of a morning on the pond. We will provide sketch pads, pastels, and watercolors so you can recreate your findings in detail.
Don't miss the most fantastic outdoor dog festival in New England! Pooch-A-Palooza will be held at the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Topsfield, MA on September 6th and 7th, 2014! Over 8,000 people are expected to attend this two day party so mark your calendar!
The summer solstice has been celebrated for centuries, with all sorts of traditions growing up around it. Join us on the longest day of the year and create your own traditions, by celebrating nature and being outside. After reading The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, we will stroll along the sanctuary trails observing the delights of the season. Upon our return, we will create sun art and light the traditional bonfire. You are welcome to bring a picnic supper to enjoy after the celebration.
Are you a frog catcher, snake wrangler, dragonfly hunter, or deer stalker? Do you love splashing through mud, crawling under logs, and running through fields with nothing but a net and your sense of adventure? Then catch and release is for you! This session's topic: amphibians. We'll search the wetlands for frogs and tadpoles, the woodlands for toads, and under logs for salamanders. Learn where to look, when it's okay to catch a creature, and when to just follow them and observe, how to hold them carefully so you can take a good look, and how to return them gently and safely to the wild.
In this spring session of the program based on the hit book series The Hunger Games, we will continue to learn the skills necessary to survive in the wild. Navigation in the woods can be tough, and finding edible foods can be even tougher. Didn't you walk by that tree already?
Join instructors from the Cape Ann Waldorf School at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for an enjoyable and entertaining puppet show. “Little Louse and Little Flea” is a charming tale of friendship and loyalty with a delightful sense of the absurd. What would we do without our dearest friends?
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.
At this time of the year, the night sky is in transition. Although the winter constellations are still on prominent display, they are slowly making their way offstage to the west. Meanwhile, the stars of early spring are entering from the east. What causes this seasonal variation, what are some of the better known stars and constellations, and what celestial treasures are there for you to enjoy through a telescope? This evening's program is intended to help you find out.
Community Giving Tree is proud to announce the Annual Toy Fair held at the Topsfield Fairgrounds in Coolidge Hall. This massive annual toy sale, is a good time to pick up gifts for the holidays as contributions will go to benefit Essex County children and families in need.
