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Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!

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 beach that protects the tidal estuary of the Essex River basin. Running along its back side is the Castle Neck River, a superb location for paddlers of all skill levels to explore these sheltered waters.

When:

Saturday & Sundays through August 31, 2025 Time Varies

Other Dates Available: Memorial Day

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Ipswich

Paddle

Exploration

Trustees of Reservations

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Ipswich RiverFest

Ipswich River Watershed Association Paddle-a-thon is a fun day on the Ipswich River for the whole family!

Celebrate the start of summer and Father’s Day weekend at RiverFest—a free, family-friendly festival full of outdoor fun, nature, music, and more—on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Ipswich River Park in North Reading.

When:

Saturday, June 14, 2025 10am-1pm

Location:

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LEGO-Palooza at North Shore Children's Museum

Kids are invited to a freestyle LEGO buiild session

Come and build Legos with us at NSCM! With TONS of Legos available, come and build your creations. This will be a casual club where all participants can follow whatever direction their engineering intuition takes them, we will not be teaching how to make specific models. Recommended for ages 4+, with siblings always welcome.

When:

Wednesdays, June 11 & 25 from 9 AM - Noon & 1-4 PM

Location:

North Shore Children's Museum

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CraneOutdoors: Kayak Historic Fox Creek

Kayak the twists and turns of Fox Creek in Ipswich with the Trustees of Reservations

The Great Marsh—the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England—is not only brimming with fascinating natural history, it is also home to a rich cultural history. Nowhere is this more evident than in the meandering waters of Fox Creek. Connecting the tidal estuaries of the Essex River basin and the Ipswich River, it contains the oldest saltwater canal in the United States and the remains of the historic Robinson’s Shipyard, where over 100 minesweepers used in WWII were once built.

When:

Sunday, June 8, 2025 9am

Saturday, June 14, 2025 1pm

Saturday, June 28, 2025 1pm

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

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LEGO Club at Newbury Library

Kids are invited to a freestyle LEGO buiild session at the Newbury Town Library!

Come and build Legos with us at NTL! We have TONS of Legos. Feel free to come and build your own creations, or build off a project that has already been started. We will even put your creation on display! This will be a casual club where all participants can follow whatever direction their engineering intuition takes them, we will not be teaching how to make specific models. Recommended for ages 4+, with siblings always welcome.

When:

Thursday, May 8, 2025 3:30-4:30pm

Location:

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Second Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum

Second Saturdays mean free admission for local Families at Cape Ann Museum!

The Museum is free all day for Cape Ann residents* on the second Saturday of every month in 2025! The second Saturday of every month is free for Cape Ann families. Pre-registration and timed tickets are required.

When:

Second Saturday Monthly 10am-6pm

Location:

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Appleton Culinary Workshop: Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Pot Pie Culinary Workshop at The Trustees of Reservations Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts

Is there anything better than a chicken pot pie for dinner on a chilly night? Learn how to make this classic pie from complete scratch with our baker Kami. From all butter pie dough, to utilizing chicken bones to make stock for the gravy base, you will leave this class with the knowledge of how to get the best out of your chicken. Class participants will leave class with a fully formed pie, extra pie dough, and a shared slice at the end.

When:

Friday, March 21, 2025 6-8PM

Location:

Trustees of Reservations

Health

Nutrition

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Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts

Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P. Killam, Jr. Fund.

When:

Mondays, February 3, 10 & 24, 2025 6-7pm

Location:

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For the Love of Birding at Halibut Point

Meet at Halibut Point State Park for Beginning birding - held on the 3rd Sunday of each month.

Start your morning strolling our seaside treasure with Birding Basics Halibut Point State Park. For all ages.
Winter brings birds and ducks to the seashore that escape freezing ponds up north. You’ll see Harlequin ducks and loons among the winter visitors at the rocky coastal water’s edge. Join us for a short, leisurely walk while learning about their sounds, habits, and flight patterns. Halibut Point is such a great place to bird watch with all of its micro environments and seaside location.

When:

Sunday, February 16, 2025 8-10am

Location:

Halibut Point State Park

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CraneExplorer: Valentine's Coastal Craft

Make Valentines crafts from materials that we find along the shore at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts

The Trustees of Reservations invites ages 12 and up to a valentine craft making workshop! This Valentine’s Day, give a gift from the sea! From seaweed pressings to shell collages, beach treasures make beautiful greetings and keepsakes. Join this workshop to learn fun craft ideas and make marine art with our coastal educators. This program will start with a beach walk to collect coastal treasures, and then we will head inside for crafting. Materials and inspiration provided.

When:

Sunday, February 8, 2025 10am-Noon

Location:

Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

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Todd Farm Market

From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families! Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!

Where: Todd Farm Market

5:00 am to 3:00 pm

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Monday, September 1

Tuesday, September 2