Science

Join the park interpreter and special guest Russ Hopping on a walk to view and identify various butterfly species at Maudslay.  Russ is an active member of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club and enjoys sharing his knowledge of butterflies with others.  Russ is the Ecology Program Director for The Trustees of Reservations. He has worked for The Trustees since 1997, overseeing the stewardship of ecological resources at The Trustees’ more than 26,000 acres.

These fun-filled morning programs are perfect for you and your active preschooler! Our structured activities include hands-on science, music and movement, a thematic snack, and an outdoor adventure if the weather complies. Keep learning with coloring pages and follow-up activities to continue the fun at home! This week we'll focus on coral reefs and the special creatures that live there!

Take a closer look and explore the world of minuscule bugs! Learn together through hands-on activities designed to show you how to classify and identify these numerous and diverse creatures! Participate in activities in our incredible arthropods gallery. Observe and touch live invertebrates, and then go outside and collect some of your own. Dig in the dirt and learn how invertebrates help people compost food waste into soil. Create your own scientific equipment that will help you continue the study of entomology at home. All activities are designed to be fun and interactive experiences for elementary age students and their families to participate in together.

Families will examine our collection of bird nests to study how they're built and what materials were used in their construction. We'll explore the trails looking for nests and places where birds might build them. On our return, we will create our own nests using natural materials.