Outdoor Activity

Garden Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Garden Scavenger Hunt ChallengeCome to a Scavenger Hunt at the Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover

Join the The Trustees of Reservations or some family fun this April Vacation week! We’ve got activities all week long! On Friday we will close out the week of activities with a scavenger hunt challenge in the gardens. Work together with your child to follow clues through the gardens and discover hidden treasures among the plants.

When: 
Friday, April 22, 2014 10am-Noon

Make Your Own Stamp-Quest Fest!

Kids and families will learn all about questing on an exploration in Ravenswood!

At this Family Quest Fest you'll learn all about Questing--clue-based treasure hunts discovering stories about this very special place--while on an expetition to find a treasure box!  You'll make your own stamp, grab a passport, and participate in the fastest growing family recreational activity this side of the Atlantic. 

When: 
Friday April 22, 2016 1-3pm
Location: 

Vernal Pool Exploration at Crane Refuge

Explore the vernal habitats of the Crane Wildlife Refuge with the Trustees at Ni

Join The Trustees of Reservations on a misty evening in early Spring, vernal pools are hopping! The swales we find tucked amongst the dunes are coming alive, host to a variety of creatures waking from a long winter’s nap and ready for action! We’ll hike out under cover of darkness to spy on – and listen to – this celebration of awakening. Bring a flashlight or headlamp, and wear boots!  We’ll have nets and buckets for up-close observations, but our specimen collecting is strictly catch-and-release.

When: 
Sunday, April 17, 2016 7-9pm

Eco Games Free-for-All: Sustaining the Sea

Is your Tuna farmed or wild and what's the difference? Find out at Joppa Flats!

We know how important it is to be "green," but how do we apply that to the way we live on the New England coast? Come to Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats for a full day of activities all about ocean creatures like whales, sea turtles and fish! We’ll learn about ocean sustainability and seashore conservation with fun, informative games like mini sporting events, quiz competitions, model building, and art projects for all ages!

When: 
Sunday, March 20, 2016 10am - 3pm

Winter Games at Maudslay

Kids will explore Maudslay State Park with Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport!

Let the games begin! Beat the winter blahs with a high-energy scavenger hunt for footprints, nests, and burrows. Winter shelter building, animal tracking races, and adaptation demonstrations are part of the line-up for this active and educational romp through the park. We’ll cap it off with cookies and cocoa to celebrate our time together outdoors.. Meet at Maudslay State Park, Newburyport . $5 parking fee. Hosted by Joppa Flats Education Center. Please dress for the weather. 

When: 
Sunday, February 21, 2016 1:30-4 pm

Expedition! Vacation Week (ages 7-12)

This February Vacation week come join us for a week full of winter woodland family fun at Ravenswood Park and the Cape Ann Discovery Center.

This February Vacation week come join us for a week full of winter woodland family fun at Ravenswood Park and the Cape Ann Discovery Center. Activities are designed to encourage exploration, stimulate the imagination, and kick start creativity. With a new theme each day, you can register your child (accompanied by his or her favorite adult) per day or join us for the full week at a discounted rate!

When: 
Monday, February 15 - Friday, February 19, 2016 10AM-Noon
Location: 

Igloo Building Contest on the Grand Allee

Join the fun and build an igloo on the Crane Estate's Grande Allee during February Vacation!

Looking for an outdoor activity during school vacation? Come build snow forts with us! We'll have a contest to determine the best winter architects - which igloo is the most structurally sound? The most creative? The one that best represents Ipswich history? The one that best fits the Crane Estate landscape? At the end of the day we'll enjoy some hot chocolate to warm ourselves. Please note: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Dress for the weather to maximize comfort and minimize misery! Water is always good to have along.

When: 
Friday, February 19, 2016 1-3pm

Learn to Snowshoe

Learn  Snow Shoeing Basics at The Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich!

Discover the joy of winter and the freedom of snowshoeing! On this field outing, you'll learn snowshoeing techniques, ascending and descending hills, snow hazard awareness, and winter preparedness. Don't have snowshoes? We provide snowshoes, snowshoe poles and professional instruction on proper use of equipment, to make every trip a success.

When: 
Sunday, February 7, 2016 9am-Noon
Location: 

Pre Game Walk at Coolidge Stevens Estate

Take a pre game walk at the Coolidge Estate in North Andover

Join the The Trustees of Reservations for a walk at the Coolidge Estate! Super Bowl Sunday, pack your boots, snowshoes, hats, and gloves as we make the 2.5 mile round trip journey along the Stevens to Stevens Trail. Meet in the Stevens-Coolidge Place parking lot on Chestnut Street.

When: 
Saturday, Febraury 7, 2016 9am-Noon

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Glen Urquhart School Pre-K through 8th grade in Beverly MA

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo is the subject of this STORYWALK Series. Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 3:59 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Kidleidoscope at Bradley Palmer

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Bradley Palmer State Park
Kids ages 3-6 are invited to join this fun, engaging activity session where they will learn about nature through stories, craft and outdoor activitiies. Topics vary by week, so come for them all! Meets at the Nature Center at 40 Asbury Street.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Backyard Growers Garden Storytime

Join Backyard Growers at Sawyer Free Library Garden in Gloucester Massachusetts for Garden Storytime
Backyard Growers brings a fun outdoor children's gardening program to the library! Children will plan, plant, water, weed, maintain & harvest a garden at the library all summer in this series of Thursday morning events.
10:00 am

Plankton Safari

Join the team at Maritime Gloucester Massachusetts for a Plankton Safari every Monday and Thursday
Come to Maritime Gloucester and discover what lives near the bottom of the oceanic food chain using digital microscopes!
10:30 am to 3:30 pm

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.
11:00 am

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....
11:45 am to 3:00 pm

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.
2:00 pm

The Backyard Growcery

Join Backyard Growers at Burnham's Field in Gloucester Massachusetts for a weekly Farmer's Market
Stop by Gloucester’s new weekly farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, managed by Backyard Growers. The Backyard Growcery is located at Burnham's Field, an urban park near Gloucester’s thriving waterfront, and features small-scale North Shore farmers, bakers, a seafood vendor, an artisanal pizza...
2:30 pm to 6:00 pm

Ipswich Homegrown Market

Ipswich Homegrown Market on the Middle Green in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Every Thursday through the Summer, you will find fresh local produce and other foods from local vendors at the Middle Green in Ipswich Massachusetts! Come enjoy this weekly community event featuring local growers, makers, artists, and dreamers.
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Salem Farmers' Market

The Salem Farmer's Market bring the goodness of local farm to downtown Salem!
The Salem Farmers' Market brings fresh local produce and other foods from North Shore farms and other local resources to downtown Salem every Thursday at  Bentley Academy Charter School!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Cow Connection at Appleton Farms

Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for Cow Connection in Ipswich Massachusetts
Immerse your family in the heartwarming experience of being up close and personal with one of our favorite farm animals – cows! Cuddle, brush, and sit with our hand-raised cows at Appleton Farms. Visit our scenic and historic farm and enjoy Family Cow Connection session with our two Jersey Dairy...
4:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Salisbury Farmers' Market

Salisbury Farmers Market is a great source of local produce.
The Salisbury Farmers' Market offers a vibrant community experience with a variety of fresh, locally sourced produce, unprocessed honey, farm-fresh eggs, and maple syrup. Enjoy music, local market creations, and engage with local farmers. The market also features monthly craft markets, cooking...
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Castle Hill Picnic Concert - Entrain

Entrain brings rock funk jam music to the Crane Estate in this Thursday evening
Looking for a fun family outing on the North Shore of Massachusetts? Don't miss the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich! These concerts offer a perfect opportunity to enjoy quality time with your loved ones in a beautiful and exclusive setting on the North...
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Wednesday, August 21

Bubbles & Books at the Castle

Kids will enjoy a story time and lots of bubble fun at the for Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachsuetts
Come to Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts every Wednesday morning in July & August for Bubbles and Books on our seaside lawn. Fairytales do come true at castles by the sea! Doors open at 10 am. Stories start at 10:15 am.
10:00 am

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.
11:00 am

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
Essex Hertiage invites you to learn the true causes and events behind the Salem Witch Trials in our documentary film, then discover the myths during our walking tour. The Salem Witch Trials happened over 300 years ago, and it has been dramatized in books, documentaries, movies, and even TV shows....
11:45 am to 3:00 pm

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.
2:00 pm

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

FREE Family Flicks at the Beach!

Enjoy a movie with freinds and families under the stars at DCR's Salisbury Beach Reservation!
Pack up a blanket, lawn chair and picnic for FREE movies under the stars at DCR’s Salisbury Beach on Saturdays. All movies begin at dusk. All events subject to weather conditions. Please call park number above for update.
8:15 pm

Thursday, August 22

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
“Summer’s Flight, Pollen’s Delight,” by Flora C. Caputo is the subject of this STORYWALK Series. Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

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.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm
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