Ecology

Wetlands are a hotbed of activity in mid-June and this program will focus specifically on the amphibians and reptiles that make ponds and streams their home. Join the Essex County Greenbelt Association to look for nesting turtles, tadpoles, and snakes that may be patrolling the shoreline. Families will learn the key differences between reptiles and amphibians, and hopefully will begin to be able to identify specific species.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge invites families to join Katie Hone, The Monarch Gardener, for this fun and interesting one hour program about the monarch butterfly.  The program will include a presentation about monarchs with interactive role playing and live animals AND making milkweed “seed bombs” (to take home).  Meet, tag and release live monarch butterflies to the wild! This program is geared to younger children and their parents.  This program will take place in the refuge visitor center classroom.  NO preregistration for this program.

How long does trash last? Come to the library for a fun recycling activity with Barbara Roy! Kids will learn what kinds of trash last and for how long a time, and how to protect sea creatures by keeping that trash out of the ocean. Barbara Roy is a 20-year Marblehead resident who recently crossed the Atlantic on a scientific mission to study micro-plastics. Children are invited to this interactive program, chosen as part of our Green Paws activity series.

As part of COASTSWEEP Beach Cleanup, volunteers are encouraged to help in the statewide effort to keep our coastline clean along the shore in Beverly Massachusetts. Trash collected will be measured and analyzed, and the data will be sent to Washington DC to aid the government in creating legislation to minimize trash in our oceans! This specific cleanup is coordinated by Salem Sound Coastwatch. For a complete updated listed for a Coastsweep volunteer opportunities in your region, visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/coastsweep-cleanup-list