Have you ever visited a beaver lodge or had an opportunity to see the resident beaver itself? Join in for an evening walk to a beaver lodge on the sanctuary and discover how busy beavers really are. You will learn to recognize some of their favorite trees, see how a lodge is constructed, and listen for the slap of a tail on the pond.
Experience what life is like as the largest rodent in North America. We will examine a beaver mound up close, and then take a walk to see a beaver lodge, dam, and scent mounds. Discover how beavers continue to change the habitats in which they live and how other species of plants and animals benefit. On our return, we will make beaver dioramas out of natural materials.
Haunting Tales and Bewitching Cocktails at Peirce Farm at Witch Hill, Topsfield.
Travel back to Victorian times at the gentleman farm of railroad tycoon T.W. Peirce where you will be spellbound by eerie ghost stories in the manor house, enjoy games and music in the barn, and savor a complimentary signature cocktail.
Ipswich River Sanctuary invites you to come explore! Looking to get off the beaten path and take "the one less traveled?" Haven't yet hiked alll 12 miles of our sanctuary's interconnected trails? Have a yearning to explore places like Hassocky Meadow or White Pine Loop? Come with us as we trek some of the sanctuary's less frequented trails to discover new sights and sounds in these spectacular habitats.
Rita Gallant, Lead Field Teacher at IRWS will read Festive Occasions - Special Event Rental Equipment by Joanne Ryder. Let's find out what butterflies live in our area. Using sweep nets and hand lenses, we'll observe butterflies in the gardens and fields of the sanctuary. Become a butterfly as we learn about the life cycles of these fluttering marvels.
Salamanders are often found in dark, wet places such as under a rock or log in the soil, while their eggs can be found in vernal pools. We will go for a walk, looking under rocks and logs for salamanders, and visit a vernal pool to discover where they lay their eggs each spring. Each participant will create a clay salamander to take home.
Rita Gallant, Lead Field Teacher at IRWS will read Crickets and Grasshoppers by Theresa Greenaway. Using nets and hand lenses, come explore with us as we examine a field and learn why crickets and grasshoppers sing and jump, how they eat, and what their similarities are.
Eco-art programs programs combine nature exploration and a craft project. Come learn how different birds build their nests and what natural materials they use. We will take a hike to look for nests and collect materials to make our own birds' nests.
Join Music at Eden’s Edge and award winning composer Robert Honstein for a fun and engaging workshop on what it means to compose classical music!
During the presentation Mr. Honstein will break down music into its simplest components and ask students to change these in fun and interesting ways, and then shape these elements into a piece of music. The result is an insight on how a composer writes classical music. Children of all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Space is limited, so please RSVP by emailing Jacques Lee Wood at director@edensedge.org
Join Mass Audubon for a night of camping under the stars with your family. Have an early dinner at home, and then come with your family and your tent. We will explore nature through games and hands-on activities, set up our tents near the Barn before sundown, and tell stories after the sun sets. All campouts include an evening and a morning activity or hike and a light breakfast.
