Ecology

Lisa Hutchings Teacher-Naturalist from Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper invite you and your family for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem.

Eco-art programs programs combine nature exploration and a craft project. Construct simple sailboats out of bark and leaves, then hike to the river and launch them from the canoe landing. What might a tiny sailor onboard see in the water? Using strainers and tubs, we will dip into the water to see what organisms we can find.

Where might deer and foxes, squirrels and chipmunks, rabbits and mice, and other mammals live at the sanctuary? We will take a hike to visit some of the places where we might find signs of them. On our return, we will create mammal masks from natural objects to take home.

Connect with nature and tune in to the multitude of organisms that surround us, starting here at Joppa Flats! This free drop-in family event features an engaging mixture of indoor and outdoor activities that will open your eyes to the great biodiversity of animals, plants, and insects in our gardens, salt marshes, and backyards.