Vernal Pool Party: Big Night Celebration at IRWS

Each spring, on the first warm, rainy night, frogs and salamanders emerge and begin an extraordinary journey to the vernal pools where they breed.

Each spring, on the first warm, rainy night, frogs and salamanders emerge and begin an extraordinary journey to the vernal pools where they breed.

Experience the age-old tradition of maple sugaring at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary! The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maples resulting in sweet-smelling, billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse. On a naturalist-guided walk, learn how to identify a sugar maple, observe tapping and sap collection methods, watch the sap being boiled down in the sugarhouse, and get a sweet taste of the final product.

Mass Audubon's North Shore Youth Climate Leadership Program (YCLP) invites you to their annual Youth Climate Summit, designed by youth, for youth. Youth Climate Summits are an opportunity for young people ages 13-18 to learn about climate change, climate justice, and climate solutions. Participants will choose from a variety of interactive workshops and explore pathways for climate action in their community. Please register to attend via the link. Hosted by Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.

When winter returns to the lower Merrimack Valley, so do Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls and other exciting winter wildlife. Every year Mass Audubon hosts a grand event marking their return. Come to Newburyport on Saturday, February 14, 2026, for a full day of fun indoor and outdoor activities that celebrate the return of the Bald Eagles! Learn about these magnificent eagles and other amazing raptors, and why our local habitat is so important to them.

Experience the excitement of an owl prowl as we take a hike under the light of the moon to look and listen for Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-Owls. Before we head out on our nocturnal adventure, we will learn fun owl facts in our cozy barn using real owl feathers, skulls, and talons. The evening ends with an owl-hooting lesson and smores by the fire pit.

Get a close look at some live local birds of prey while keeping warm in our barn! Learn each bird's unique story, discover why raptors play such a vital role in our environment, and explore their amazing adaptations, like keen eyesight and powerful talons, that help them survive in the wild. Perfect for nature lovers of all ages, to have a unique experience with these special birds, some of nature's most skilled hunters.

Welcome to the wild world of animal tracking! Participants will learn how to identify animal tracks by focusing on key details such as number of toes, toenail impressions, and overall size of the print. In addition to tracks, participants will learn how to look for scat, bits of fur, and evidence of feeding or digging. We will start in the barn with an animal track mystery then take a hike (about a mile) out on the sanctuary to see some for ourselves!

Mammals such as squirrels, rabbits and deer leave many signs that they are active in winter. Learn how to interpret the tracks and signs or clues of active animals in winter. Stay active and warm with a group challenge about hibernation. Conduct an experiment about snow insulation.

Celebrate the shortest day of the year and welcome the lengthening days ahead with a candlelit evening walk on the trails of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. The evening will begin by making your own mason jar lantern in our cozy, heated barn while sanctuary naturalists share the science of the solstice. With your own lantern in hand, we'll light up the night with a stroll through the forest and perhaps catch sights or sounds of animal activity during the winter season.

Bring the family for a nature-themed Halloween at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary this October. This charming, not-so-spooky event invites visitors to take a hoot-i-ful woodland walk and learn about nocturnal (costumed) animals that live at the sanctuary.