Mass Audubon

Otters, Beavers, and Muskrats, Oh My!

Join us as we look for elusive river mammals at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: American Beaver ©Scott Santino

Wetlands are home to many fascinating creatures, including some unique mammals. While visiting the numerous wetlands on the sanctuary, we will explore active and abandoned beaver lodges, scan the marshes for signs of muskrats, and search for signs of otter activity. With a little luck, we may see some of these mammals making their final preparations for winter.

When: 
Saturday, December 2, 2023 10-11:30am
Saturday, December 9, 2023 10-11:30am
Saturday, December 16, 2023 10-11:30am

S'mores & More at Ipswich River

Enjoy a winter night hike, campfire and s'more at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts

Come enjoy a hike at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, one of Mass Audubon's largest sanctuaries. Make lanterns that will light the way for our evening hike as we look and listen for local owls and other nighttime wildlife. Spend time warming up around the campfire as you roast marshmallows and make smores, learn about winter adaptations, and watch the moon rise. Two Sessions: 2-3:30 or 4-5:30

When: 
Saturday, January 20, 2024 2-5:30

All Family Field Trip: Gather, Gorge & Store!

Visit Maudslay State PArk in Newburyport Massachusetts to learn about how animals prepare for the winter

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the north shore with Joppa Flats Education Center . Our engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, December 15, 2023 10am-Noon

All Family Field Trips: Mushroom Hunting

Join the hunt for mushrooms with Massachusetts Audubon in Gloucester Massachusetts

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the North Shore. Joppa Flats' engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors. Sign up for one, some, or all!

When: 
Friday, November 10, 2023 10am-Noon

Flocktober at IRWS

Gather your flock and head to Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts for Flocktoberfest!

Join us at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for Flocktober on November 4 from 3:00-6:00PM! Spend the afternoon, outdoors, listening to live music, guided hikes in the foliage, playing a round of cornhole and other lawn games, and viewing birds in their natural habitat. You can get your fill of food from Butter Ur Biscuit food truck and craft beer from Ipswich's True North Brewery. This event is part of Mass Audubon's first ever Flocktober. Gather your flock of family and friends for a fun fall evening!

When: 
Saturday, November 4, 2023 3-6pm

Autumn Adventure Walk

Walk the trails of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary looking for signs of animals preparing for winter!

Focus your "peepers" on more than just leaves this fall! Autumn is an exciting time of change in nature, when both plants and animals get ready for the coming cold. Walk the sanctuary trails while investigting some of the signs of this beautiful season. Learn about the amazing ways that plants and animals prepare themselves for survival and test some of your own skills.

When: 
Saturday, November 4, 2023 10-11:30am

Cranberry Bogging at Parker River Wildlife Refuge

Discover and explore the cranberry bogs at Parker River Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport

Join us for a tour of the naturally occurring cranberry bogs on the refuge! Get behind the scenes to learn about the history, ecology, and wildlife in the bogs. Then, pick your own bag of cranberries to take home!  *Note: Waterproof shoes recommended - the bog is wet.

When: 
November 10, 2023 1-2:30pm
November 15, 2023 1-2:30pm

Fall Full Moon Family Hike at IRWS

Walk through the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary lit only by the full moon

Spend an evening walking in the crisp autumn air looking and listening for nocturnal wildlife and experiencing the sanctuary in a whole new way. Let your eyes adjust to the moonlight, hear the distant hoots of owls, feel the crunch of leaves underfoot, and smell the chilly air reminding us that winter is just around the corner. Walks are leisurely in pace and lead by an experienced nature educator. What a perfect way to spend a quiet evening and give thanks for the natural wonders all around us!

When: 
Saturday, November 18, 2023 5:30-7pm

Volunteer Salt Marsh Clean-up

Volunteers are invited to Fall cleanup of the marshes near Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts

Volunteers ages 5 and up are welcome to participate in a clean-up of the Joppa Flats salt marsh! The tide will be low, so we can access all the debris that has been brought in by recent storms. This is a wonderful opportunity to become involved in helping to protect one of the valuable natural resources here on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

When: 
Saturday, October 21, 2023 9am-Noon

Wetland Wonders at IRWS

Explore the Bunker Meadow Pond at Ipswich river Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts

Wetlands are known for their rich variety of plant and animal life. Come explore Bunker Meadow Pond and the Ipswich River for a close-up look at a place where hundreds of hungry creatures are always on the hunt. Using nets and other collecting equipment, we'll dip into the water, sweep through the weeds, and scoop up some mud to discover the creatures that live there. Wear boots if you have them. For kids ages 3-11.

When: 
Saturday, October 14, 2023 10-11:30am

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Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

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

Tower School Open House and Curriculum Showcase

Tower School Marblehead MA hosts an open house for families on the North Shore.
A Tower Open House is an exciting opportunity to visit campus, engage with students and faculty, and tour the school with parent and student admissions ambassadors. Open House events begin with a welcome from members of the academic leadership team followed by campus tours.
8:30 am to 10:00 am

Thursday, April 24

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

April Vacation at Cape Ann Art Haven

April Vacation Programs at Art Haven in Gloucester Massachusetts
Cape Ann Art Haven has a week full of fun activities planned for kids during April Vacation week. There are programs for kids k-5th grade that will appeal to many styles of artistic expression with morning classes from 9am to Noon or 9am to 3pm. Scholarships are available. Open to elementary...
9:00 am to 12:00 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 4:00 pm

April Vacation at MIT Museum

Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during April Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities and pop-up surprises planned for the week of April 17-23. See our week-at-glance calendar to view the extended hours and additions for our drop-in...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Aleppo Shriners Circus

Aleppo Shriners Circus in Wilmington Massachusetts is a great time for the whole family!
Fun for the whole family! Let us help you make memories this April Vacation with a show they won't forget!The all-new Aleppo Shriners Circus thrills during April school vacation week. Enjoy elephant rides, clown photos, and all sorts of exciting acts - right up close.
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

April Vacation Week at MFA - Boston

April Vacation Week at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston Massachusetts
All are invited to April Vacation Week for free activities exploring connections between the people, places, and art made in Massachusetts. All ages and abilities are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. See Visiting with Kids and Family for more information.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

April Vacation at CAM

Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts has some great April Vacation programs for school aged kids!
This April Vacation, young visitors are invited to discover the art and history of Cape Ann at the CAM Green!  Explore the newest exhibition, Breath of Life – C.B. Fisk, Designers & Builders of Pipe Organs to learn about these incredible instruments. View intricate models of the architectural...
10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Friday, April 25

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

April Vacation at Cape Ann Art Haven

April Vacation Programs at Art Haven in Gloucester Massachusetts
Cape Ann Art Haven has a week full of fun activities planned for kids during April Vacation week. There are programs for kids k-5th grade that will appeal to many styles of artistic expression with morning classes from 9am to Noon or 9am to 3pm. Scholarships are available. Open to elementary...
9:00 am to 12:00 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 4:00 pm
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