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.
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!
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!
Canceled - The Essex County Greenbelt Association and North Shore Nature Programs to meet some of our favorite critters! Some critters get a bad rap! But there is lots to love about the creepy, wiggly, and crawly creatures in our woods! We'll look for spiders, bugs, centipedes and millipedes, as well as signs of cool predators like owls, coyotes, and weasels.
At sundown this Halloween season, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary will be transformed into a magical forest. Take a guided walk along our Halloween trail, lit by glowing luminaries and home to some interesting characters that come out just for Halloween. Learn about local animals of the night and signs of the season on this, fun family-friendly walk. Allow about one and a half hours for this walk.
There are so many stories about this beautiful former family estate. Join the park interpreter for this series of walks to view the house sites, gardens and farm complex to learn more about these areas of the Moseley Family estate. For ages 8 & up.
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.
Fields are alive with animal activity on warm, fall days. Spend an early October day chasing butterflies, grasshoppers, and crickets with nets while taking some time to closely observe these amazing insects. We may also encounter predators of the field, such as Blue Birds, Leopard Frogs and Garter Snakes! This will be a hands-on experience the entire family can enjoy.
What is hiding under the rocks and logs of the sanctuary? Is it a centipede? Is it a salamander? Come find the hidden treasures beneath the forest floor. Walk with us through the forest to see how the changing season affects animals, trees, and plants. Examine tree holes and look for animals in the leaves, whatever we find, we will explore!
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!
