Science

April Vacation at MIT Museum

Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during April Vacation Week!

Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities and pop-up surprises planned for the week of April 17-23. See our week-at-glance calendar to view the extended hours and additions for our drop-in activities, and check out the teen and family workshops listed below.

When: 
Daily, April 17-23, 2023 10am-5pm
Location: 
MIT Museum
Cambridge
Museum
Science
Marine
Biology
Family Fun Night
April Vacation
Activity
Technology
Workshop
Showcase
Exhibit
Tour
Gallery
Education

Vernal Pools | Family Nature Series

Vernal Pools - Family Nature Series with Essex County Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs

Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs team up for this event for all ages! What sound do frogs make? Turns out, they make a lot of different sounds! Come meet the residents of the vernal pools to learn who says ribbit, quack, chirp, peep and more!​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We recommend all participants wear waterproof boots, as the woods can be quite soggy this time of year!

When: 
Saturday, April 5, 2025 10-11:30am
Location: 
Farnsworth Reservation
North Andover
Hike
Walk
Exploration
Outdoor Activity
Field Trip
Science
Live Animals
Amphibians
Vernal Pool

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.

A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. They offer one of the most accessible dune landscapes in New England and trails that provide a firsthand look into the delicate and ever-changing dune habitat. This includes numerous lookouts offering stunning views of Choate Island and the varied ecosystems of Castle Neck, including Pitch Pine forests and naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

When: 
Sunday, January 5, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, January 19, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, February 2, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, February 16, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, February 22, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, March 2, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, March 16, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, March 22, 2025 1-3pm
Sunday, March 30, 2025 1-3pm
Location: 
Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
Ipswich
Hike
Walk
Outdoor Activity
Natural History
Trustees of Reservations
Ecology

Gloucester Education Foundation's Power of Play Festival

Gloucester Education Foundation is proud to host Power of Play Festival, a day of play for Gloucester Massachusetts families and kids of all ages. Gloucester Education Foundation's Power of Play Festival

Gloucester Education Foundation hosts the annual Power of Play Festival in Gloucester Massachusetts. A day of hands-on, low-tech play for all ages, hosted by Gloucester Education Foundation and run by a powerhouse team of community and student volunteers.

When: 
Sunday, March 23, 2025 11am-2pm
Location: 
Gloucester High School Field House
Gloucester
School Fundraiser
Play
Craft
Excercise
Sport
Fitness
Health
Science
Family Fun
School Fair

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!

Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!

When: 
Saturday, March 15, 2025 2-5 pm
Saturday, March 29, 2025 2-5 pm
Saturday, April 12, 2025 2-5 pm
Saturday, April 26, 2025 2-5 pm
Saturday, May 17, 2025 8-11 am
Saturday, May 24, 2025 2-5 pm
Saturday, June 7, 2025 2-5 pm
Location: 
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Topsfield
Volunteer
Training
Outdoor Activity
Science
Ecology
Environment
Mass Audubon

Family Open House: Signs of Spring Celebration

Come to the Joppa Flats Education Center for our Spring open house in Newburyport Massachusetts

Drop in to learn about returning songbirds, animals waking up from winter, and migrating ocean creatures! Test your knowledge and skills at a science station, examine natural objects with our new bioscope, and take home a fun nature craft or two. Family presentations with Miss Lisa at 11am about whales and at 2pm about sea turtles.

When: 
Saturday, March 1, 2025 10am - 3pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Science
Birding
Mass Audubon
Presentation
Demonstration
Indoor Activity
Outdoor Activity
School Open House

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Appleton Farms offers great farm-based Vacation Week Programs for kids ages 5-11

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk
Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
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

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
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
Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
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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StoryWalk Series at Maudslay
“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
Where: Maudslay State Park
7:00 am to 8:00 pm
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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
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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Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
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
Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
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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Friday Night Party at Salisbury Beach
Salisbury Beach Summer Beach Party every Friday through the Summer.
Get ready for family fun every Friday night all summer long at Salisbury Beach! Starting at 7:15 PM on the Salisbury Beach stage, enjoy a full evening of summer tunes and excitement. DJ Ralphie B will be spinning your favorite hits, while hosting kid-friendly activities that will keep everyone...
Where: Salisbury Beach Stage
7:15 pm to 10:00 pm
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Saturday, August 16

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...
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden
Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
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
♦ Read More →

Come as You Art
Celebrate the end of summer with a full day of artmaking at Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Celebrate the end of summer with a full day of artmaking! Try out a new technique, find inspiration around the CAM Green campus, and celebrate the process of creating a work of art. Crafting stations will be set up outside and in the Carlson Education Center for visitors of all ages to explore.
Where: Cape Ann Museum
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
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Kids Sail Free on the Schooner Lannon
Kids ride free on the 10:30am an Noon Saturday Cruise on the Schooner Lannon through Summer
Schooner Thomas E. Lannon is a fixture on the Gloucester Harbor vista throughout the day in the warm months, but to really experience the Lannon, you need to come aboard and go for a cruise!  Sail and see lighthouses, castles, scenic beaches, and magnificent waterfront homes.
Where: Schooner Thomas E. Lannon
10:30 am to 12:00 pm
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Salem Jazz & Soul Festival
Salem Jazz and Soul Festival in Salem Massachusetts - Salem Massachusetts Common.
The Salem Jazz and Soul Festival has always been about bringing great music to the people of Salem, so we are bringing the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival downtown this year with a special one day event at Salem Willows Park. Enjoy live performances, vendors market, educational workshops, and more!
Where: Salem Willows Park
11:00 am to 7:00 pm
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Boat Tour to Misery Island
Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound Massachusetts
Journey on Essex Heritage’s landing craft Naumkeag to Great Misery Island in Salem Sound. Along the way, hear stories about the rich history of the harbor and how the Misery Islands acquired their unique name. When you arrive, you’ll have 2 hours to explore the trails, open meadows, rocky shoreline...
Where: Salem Ferry Terminal
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
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Long Hill Garden Tours
Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
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
♦ Read More →

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
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
♦ Read More →

Newburyport Reggae Fest

Soul Rebel Project headlines the Reggae Fest at the Newburyport Brewing Co. in Massachusetts
Join us for our annual Reggae Fest on Saturday, August 16th from 12 - 9 PM at the Newburyport Brewing Co! Big outdoor/indoor event with Food trucks, ice cold beer and hard seltzer and tons of positive vibrations and family fun.
Where: Newburyport Brewing Co.
12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
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CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure
Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm
♦ Read More →
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