Exploration

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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Discovering Nature Through Story, Music, and Art

Kids will explore the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary to connect with nature and learn about the creatures of the North Shore Massachusetts wilderness!

Preschoolers and young kids will explore the wonders of winter in the "enchanted woods" of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in this four-session series. We'll begin in the Nature Center with story, poetry, and imagination. Next, we'll bundle up for a winter walk to awaken our sense of wonder to the silence, scents, and scenery of the sleeping winter woods. Along the way, discover how the trees, plants, birds, beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, and other wildlife spend the winter. We'll look for animal stories in the snow (tracking) and much more. After our walks, we'll create artwork that reflects the wonders of winter that we discovered, while listening to winter nature songs. These keepsakes will bring home winter's secrets and beauty as we await the signs of spring.

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

North Shore as Classroom

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Wee Farmers at Appleton Farms

Wee Farmers is designed for our 3-5 year old friends who want to explore the farm, meet our animals, and get a taste of what Farm Camp is like at Appleton! You’ll get to dig into life on the farm and lend a helping hand brushing our goats, feeding our bunnies, making butter and taste testing in the education garden! Learn about how we grow our vegetables and see how good your senses are with Harvest Blanket. Meet our cows and learn how we milk them. We’ll start our morning with a quick craft before venturing out for some farm discovery and nature exploration.

When:

Monday-Friday through August 2019 9-10:30am

Location:

Experiential Learning

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Family Tour at Cape Ann Museum

Cape Ann Museum Family Tours in Gloucester Massachusetts

See the Museum through the eyes of a child with this animated family tour of paintings, sculpture and maritime objects. Learn to think and see like an artist, a fisherman or quarry worker. Created for children ages 3–12 with their caregivers. This 30-minute tour ends in the Activity Center for art projects and play. Free for CAM members or with Museum admission. Space is limited, registration required.

When:

Saturday, August 31, 2019 1-1:45pm

Location:

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Appleton Farms’ Preschool Farm Explorers

Farm Explorers is a great way for preschoolers to explore Appleton Farms in ipswich Massachusetts!

Spring is here, the plants are blooming, and the farmers are busy! We invite your little farmers to experience life at the farm as they explore the farmstead harvesting, hiking, and playing. Through farm “chores,” such as collecting eggs, brushing rabbits, and other age appropriate hands on activities, stories, and adventures, little farmers will become fully immersed in what life is like for a farmer. Each session will last 1 hour and will have a different theme such as “what plants need to grow.”

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

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Outdoor Ecology for Families: Backyard Ecology

Kids and families are invited to come explore the Ecology of the back yard with naturalists from the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

It is summer! Join us in the riverside yard at Joppa Flats to learn about wildlife in the salt marsh, pond, rocky shore, and backyard habitats! You'll identify wild creatures, design small habitats, participate in small group challenges, and more. Sign up for one or all and see nature through the lens of a naturalist!

When:

Thursday, August 4, 2022 1-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Outdoor Ecology for Families: Pond Ecology

Kids and families are invited to come explore the pond habitat with naturalists from the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

When:

Thursday, July 14, 2022 1-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Outdoor Ecology for Families: Rocky Shore Ecology

Kids and families are invited to come explore the rocky shore with naturalists from the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

When:

Thursday, August 11, 2022 1-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Meet the Machines at Appleton Farms

Balers and bucket loaders and harrows, oh my! Grab the family and spend a spring afternoon at Appleton Farms meeting our machines. You’ll get to climb aboard and check check out the view from our a variety of equipment used every day at the farm throughout the year.

When:

Sunday, May 22, 2022 Noon-5PM

Location: