Science

Hands-on Science with Dad Cruise

This Father's Day Ecology Cruise aboard the Yankee Clipper with naturalists from the Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Education Center Newburyport

Join Lisa Hutchings and the crew of the Yankee Clipper for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem. Each month will feature a specific theme with hands-on science, interactive props, and seasonal wildlife. We'll also look for seabirds, seals, and waterfowl on every trip. Your family will have a wonderful time cruising and learning about this vital part of the area's natural history.

The Yankee Clipper is US Coast Guard inspected and licensed and has life jackets and a marine toilet for your convenience.

All children must be accompanied by adults. The deadline for preregistering for this program is 4:00 pm on the day before the program. We will run this program in all weather except thunderstorms or small craft advisories.

When:

Sunday, June 18, 2017 8:45-10:45 am

Location:

Newburyport Harbor Tours

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Family Campouts: Late Summer River Camping

Camp by the riber at IRWS in this overnight camping excursion.

Explore the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary after hours and join us for a night of camping under the stars. Have an early dinner at home and then come with your family, your tent, and a dessert to share. This campout will focus on the Ipswich River. We will start the evening by setting up our tents at the top of the hill, and then head down to the river for an evening canoe trip.

When:

Saturday, September 16, 2017 6pm - Sunday, September 17, 2017 9am

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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MIT ESI Earth Day Celebration

Celebrate Earth Day with MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative in Cambridge Massachusetts!

Get outside and celebrate Earth Day with MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative! Learn about the environment and how we impact our planet through hands-on, interactive activities for all ages.

When:

Saturday, April 22, 2017 9am-12pm

Location:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Game Design Week at HMNH

Kids wilol desing a digital game during April Vacation that encourages museum visitor to tour the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Have you ever wanted to design your own game? Join Green Door Labs founder Kellian Adams and museum staff to plan and create a digital game set inside the museum. You will work in small groups to invent a game designed to help visitors explore the museum. After prototyping the concept on paper, you will build the game on the digital platform and test it with real museum visitors. The best games have the opportunity to be featured in the museum.

Location:

Harvard Museum of Natural History

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A Guide to the Early Springtime Night Sky

Learn about the stars in the Spring Sky at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

The early days of spring experience a transition in the evening sky. Winter constellations such as Orion and Taurus gently bow down towards the western horizon, while such springtime constellations as Leo and Cancer rise in the east. This evening's program will take you on a tour of these constellations and others in between. Some of the celestial treasures hidden amongst these stars will be revealed, including galaxies, star clusters, and more.

When:

Friday, April 14, 2017 7:30-9pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Topsfield

Outdoor Activity

Astronomy

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Stargazing Fools at Crane Beach

Learn about the stars at Crane Beach in Ipswich!

Bundle up and join the Trustees at Crane Beach in Ipswich for a chance to learn to identify the constellations of Spring! At this time of year there are no fewer than ten first-magnitude (really bright!) stars in the evening sky at once. No other season, not even winter, can offer so many. We’ll set up our viewing station on the boardwalk at Crane Beach to gaze at the more common clusters such as the Big Dipper, and also at those we might not be familiar with, including the zodiacal constellations Leo the Lion and Virgo the Maiden. We will have a couple of telescopes to share, but folks are welcome and encouraged to bring their own.

When:

Saturday, April 1, 2017 8-9:30pm

Location:

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MIT Museum: Nautical Night

Nautical Night 2017 at MIT is a night of exploration at the MIT Museum!

MIT Museum invites you for an evening of nautically-themed science and engineering! The museums annual Nautical Night event celebrates the sea, and MIT’s rich history in nautical design and research. We’ve planned interactive demonstrations, short talks, and a rare chance to view plans and prints from our renowned collection. Visit from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for this free event. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find:

When:

Thursday, March 30, 20174 6-8pm

Location:

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Spring into Science Saturday

Spring into Science Saturdays with MIT students as they "show and tell" the amazing work they are creating on campus. Topics for additional sessions will be announced, so check back here to see the latest schedule and plan your visit.

Spring into Scinece Saturday will be held on the following dates (11am-1pm):

When:

Select Saturdays through May 13, 2017 11am-1pm

Location:

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Kids’ Conservation Cinema: Brave

Kids are invited to PArker River Wildlife Refuge for a free showing of Brave!

On selected Sunday afternoons through Winter, the refuge will be screening FREE, child-friendly films that feature a wildlife and/or environmental theme. All films will be projected on the big screen in the refuge visitor center’s awesome auditorium. No preregistration; simply show up! All movies begin at 1:30 pm.

When:

Sunday, February 19, 2017 1:30pm

Location:

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

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I ♥ Science

The Harvard Museum of Natural History celebrates the love of science and invites you to join in! !

Explore the marvelous science of our natural world in this annual daylong festival featuring dozens of activities. Dig into the soil to see what’s there, watch live marine creatures, design a LEGO^® brick home for an insect, investigate fossils, explore the Glass Flowers, and more! Awaken your love of science with activities led by Harvard scientists, graduate students, and enthusiastic explorers. Hear short talks on current research at Harvard. I ♥ Science has something for everyone and is appropriate for children and adults of all ages.

When:

Saturday, February 11, 2017, 10am-4pm

Location:

Harvard Museum of Natural History