Hike

Notch Traveling Biergarten at Appleton Farms

Come to the Notch Brewery Biergarten at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich!

Back by popular demand! The Trustees and Notch Brewing are partnering up again to bring you another series of family-friendly outdoor Biergartens. Relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of our gardens, farms, historic homes, and parks throughout the summer while enjoying one of Notch’s locally crafted session beers. Not just for grown-ups and beer drinkers – modeled after the popular European style Biergartens, it’s a family affair. Scavenger hunts and quests for children, property tours for adults, plus lawn games with plenty of room to spread out and explore for all.

When:

Friday, October 4, 2019 5-9PM

Saturday, October 5, 2019 2-7PM

Sunday, October 6, 2019 1-6PM

Location:

Appleton Farms

Ipswich

Trustees of Reservations

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Blueberries for Sale at Weir Hill

Join the Trustees on a hike up Weir Hill in North Andover in search of wild blueberries! Children and their caregivers are invited to take a stroll through Weir Hill and celebrate blueberry season with a story time of the classic children’s book, [amazon:978-0670175918:inline] by Robert McCloskey. With lowbush blueberries abound, participants will feel like they have joined Sal on her adventure on Blueberry Hill. “Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!”

When:

Monday, July 16, 2018 9:30-10:30am

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

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Seasonal Kid Craft Day at Veasey Park

Seasonal Kid Craft Day at Veasey Memorial PArk in Groveland, MA

Create colorful corn, pinecone turkeys, and more at Veasey Park! A great way to decorate your Thanksgiving table. Great for ages 3 and up!
All supplies will be included. Tickets are $10 per family. Register and pay online or at the door.

When:

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 1pm

Location:

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STEAM for Kids | Monarchs and Wilkweed

Spring STEAM activities for kids at Veasey Memorial PArk in Groveland, MA focused on plants that attract butterflies

Poisonous Plants, Endangered Insects, and Beneficial Bombs! Huh?!
When are bombs beneficial? How can toxic plants actually help and support an endangered species? Join us to learn more about Monarchs and Milkweed, make native milkweed seed bombs, and, while they dry, craft Butterfly Suncatchers. Take the suncatchers home or help us adorn Veasey's enclosed porch! When the seed bombs are dry, you can take them home or toss them into the field at Veasey Park.

When:

Tuesday, May 17, 2022 2:30-4pm

Location:

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STEAM for Kids at Veasey Park

Spring STEAM activities for kids at Veasey Memorial PArk in Groveland, MA

Drop-in during one of our sessions! $10 / family will include everything you need! Ages 3 & up. Caregivers are responsible for children during activity, and may need to help children with some of the steps. Online ticket sales will end a day before the scheduled class. If you are unable to make it to the event, and would like a take home kit, please get in touch!

When:

Tuesday, June 7, 2022 1-2:30pm

Location:

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ECTA: Chebacco Woods Trail Walk

Join ECTA Trail Steward Sue McLaughlin (amazing woman and friend of NSK) for a hike through the Chebacco Woods area. Chebacco Road is off Essex St (Rte22) in Hamilton. We will meet at the main entrance on the west side of Chebacco Road. There is parking for about 8 cars at this entrance, and there is more parking at the canoe launch down the road.

When:

Saturday, May 7, 2016 at 9 AM

Hamilton

Hike

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A House for a Mouse

A family-friendly stroll down a forest path. We’ll read a story about animal houses and then we’ll go explore some real animal habitats along the trail. Do you know where birds live? Chipmunks? Beaver? Come join us and find out! We recommend bringing water, insect repellent, sun screen, binoculars and camera.

Appropriate for Pre-K to K level. Program will meet at the nature center at the entrance to the campground, 133 Jenkins Road in Andover

When:

Friday May 13, 2016 10:00-11:00am

Location:

Harold Parker State Forest

Andover

Hike

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Crane Estate Father’s Day Weekend Family Camp Out

campout with the Trusteees at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts for Fathers Day!

The Trustees of Reservations hosts an adventure-filled weekend camping at the Crane Estate! Our special site in the Pine Grove is an ideal location for both experienced campers and first-timers. This overnight includes a choice of optional programs and activities on Saturday afternoon, which may include a Great Marsh Creek Walk, a Dune Hike through the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a Guided Kayak Paddle in Essex Bay, or a Scavenger Hunt for the little ones. Of course you are also free to simply lounge on the beach, or explore the property on your own. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday. REI will teach us how to make a delicious, nutritious camp out supper – and we’ll follow that with s’mores around the campfire on Saturday night. A light breakfast will be provided on Sunday morning. After you pack up on Sunday morning, you are welcome to spend Sunday afternoon at the beach (parking in the lot by the Barn only).

When:

Saturday, June 18 - Sunday, June 19, 2016 11AM

Location:

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

Hike

Kayaking

Scavenger Hunt

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Sense of Wonder Walks for Families: Witches' Brooms and Gingerbread Houses

Galls can be seen on all sorts of plants and are actually temporary bug homes!

Can you imagine eating the home that you grew up in? Some insects lay eggs inside plants and cause strange-looking growths called galls. The walls of these miniature "bug castles" give the developing insect larvae food and shelter. This is evidence of another fascinating relationship between insects and plants. We will examine a variety of galls and learn about the lives of their inhabitants. On our walk, we'll hunt for as many kinds of galls as we can find.

When:

Sunday, October 18, 2015 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Winter Homeschool for Ages 12 to 15

Tweens and Teens will explore the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary to learn wilderness skills on the North Shore Massachusetts!

Ipswich River's weekly homeschool classes promote an active engagement with nature through inquiry-based, hands-on environmental education. Join us as we explore the many different habitats provided by our nearly 2,000-acre sanctuary, and lay the foundation for a lifelong connection with nature. This season, we will focus on the survival skills that all animals (including humans) need to survive the harsh New England winter.

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

North Shore as Classroom

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Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...

Where: Maudslay State Park

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Salem Arts Festival 2025

For three days, this annual family friendly art festival transforms downtown Salem into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase their talents. The popular free event will feature many artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. The family...

Where: Downtown Salem

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

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.

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Music Together - Friday

Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:30 am to 11:15 am

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Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

11:00 am

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Saugus Iron Works Tours

Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

2:00 pm

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Sunday, June 15

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

Where: Maudslay State Park

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

7:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Spring Birding Walk—Symphony of Bird Song!

Stroll our seaside treasure with birding basics. Hear the symphony of spring bird song! Watch for them at the field’s, woodland’s, and ocean’s edge. Learn about their sounds, habits, and flight patterns. Enjoy extraordinary views.

Where: Halibut Point State Park

8:00 am to 10:00 am

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Newburyport Farmers' Market

The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine! Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...

Where: Tannery Marketplace

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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North Andover Farmers' Market

The North Andover Farmers Market is the perfect destination for anyone living in the Merrimack Valley or the North Shore to shop and enjoy locally-sourced products. The market will take place in the center of town at the intersection of First Street and Main Street. The market has become known for...

Where: Downtown North Andover

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Long Hill Garden Tours

The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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