Join us on Thursday, October 24, 6:30 to 8:30 pm for Acer's Fall Innovator Symposium.
Acera’s Innovator Symposium, a free community event open to all, is part of our efforts to break down the walls between science and the general public.
New Planetarium Show Suited for Adults and Children with Sound/Light Sensitivities, and More
The first show, Big Bird's Adventure: One World, One Sky (Soft Light, Soft Sound) will be offered for the first time October 6 at 10:30 am and will also be shown on the first Sundays of November and December as well. With looser house rules, audience members should feel comfortable to talk amongst themselves and move from their seats, so that everyone feels welcome to enjoy the Planetarium experience and the wonders of the night sky regardless of sensory needs, ability, or age.
Tucked away on the roof of the Museum's parking garage, the Gilliland Observatory is a wonderful resource for our starry-eyed public. On clear nights, you can view stars, planets, the Moon, and other astronomical phenomena. On cloudy nights, tour the inside of the Observatory, and participate in astronomy-related activities run by our knowledgeable staff. Astronomy After Hours is the perfect place to kick off your weekend with your family.
North Shore Nature Programs is happy to be participating in our first ever Trails and Sails event! Join experienced naturalists Andrew and Dan on a guided hike through Camp Denison’s fields and forests. Your family can expect to see katydids, dragonfly’s, centipedes, millipedes, and sow bugs! Each family will have the opportunity to touch and hold as many invertebrates as they please! You will also learn about the amazing adaptations these creatures require to live in the wild.
Come tour the Cat Cove Marine Laboratory as part of Trails & Sails! The Cat Cove Marine Laboratory is operated by Salem State University to promote the sustainable use of aquatic resources on the North Shore and elsewhere. Massachusetts’ North Shore is historically, culturally and economically linked with the ocean. More recently, the ecological importance of coastal waters has been recognized. Salem State University and its Cat Cove Marine Laboratory acknowledge the traditional, biological and social importance of our coastal waters. Methods to preserve, manage and utilize this treasured resource are developed and disseminated at the Laboratory. Participants in Trails & Sails will tour the Laboratory, learn about its relevance and gain insight into how some of their tax dollars are being spent. The visit is interactive, be prepared to feed fish, shellfish and to handle creepy crawlers!
Eco-art programs programs combine nature exploration and a craft project. Construct simple sailboats out of bark and leaves, then hike to the river and launch them from the canoe landing. What might a tiny sailor onboard see in the water? Using strainers and tubs, we will dip into the water to see what organisms we can find.
Oh My Butterflies is an interactive program where your youngster can learn about butterfly habitat, food and migration. Learn about different kinds of butterflies found on the North Shore, how to spot them and what will attract them.
Where might deer and foxes, squirrels and chipmunks, rabbits and mice, and other mammals live at the sanctuary? We will take a hike to visit some of the places where we might find signs of them. On our return, we will create mammal masks from natural objects to take home.
In this Imagine, Sing and Learn Session, you and your child will learn all about the tide pool habitiat and the creatures that live there. Using fun props and lots of hands on science, we’ll look at everything there is to know about this habitat found along the coast!
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary hosts a Springtime Stargazing Party! Hidden amongst the brighter stars of the night sky are the celestial jewels that one can only see with the assistance of a telescope and, to some extent, a good pair of binoculars. These are the deep-sky objects, which include variable stars, binary stars, star clusters, gaseous nebulae, galaxies, and more. In the indoor portion of this evening's program, we will review some of the many deep-sky objects of the spring constellations. Afterward, weather permitting, we'll step outside to view a small sampling of them using a large reflector telescope.
