Pre-School

Vacation Week Flyby: Get Ready, Gather, and Go!

Lots of fun activities are part of every Fly-by at Joppa Flats Education Center!

Our school vacation programs offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during break! Each session offers a different theme, with art activities, experiments, group games, and more. It's free-flow learning for the whole family. Come once or make it a multi-day experience! Fly by for an hour or stay all day for a vacation activity that suits your family schedule.

When: 
Thursday, December 28, 2012 10 am - 2 pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Vacation Week
Science
Nature
Conservation
Crafts

Family Flyby: Boats Afloat!

Make your own boat, then see if it floats at Joppa Flats Education Center!

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!  This week, kids are encouraged to be a pirate for the day, learn the skills a sailor needs at sea, and learn about ocean conservation!

When: 
Saturday, July 7, 2012 10am - 2pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Science
Nature
Conservation
Live Animals
Crafts
Touch Tank

Family Flyby: Return of the Touch Tank

You can look at, AND touch the creatures in Joppa Flats touch tank!

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!  This week we're thrilled to have our touch tank back for the season. Come look AND touch the creature that live in our tank!

When: 
Saturday, June 2, 2012 10am - 2pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Science
Nature
Conservation
Live Animals
Crafts
Touch Tank

Family Flyby: Gardening for Wlildlife

What you plant in your yard determines the kid of wildlife that visits!

CANCELED: 5/5 8 a.m. Note to all readers: Lisa Hutchings & Elyssa Davis want to inform you that we had to cancel the gardening family flyby that was scheduled for Sat May 5th.

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!  This week we'll focus on how to make your back yard more inviting to wildlife by choosing the right plants and planting them to create shelter.

When: 
Saturday, May 5, 2012 10am - 2pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Science
Nature
Conservation
Crafts

Family Flyby: Flippered Friends

Learn about animals with flippers, their similarities and differences!

What do whales, dolphins, sea lions, seals, walruses and manatees have in common?  They all have flippers! Join us for free-flow learning at Joppa Flats that is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!

When: 
Saturday, April 14, 2012 10am - 2pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Science
Nature
Conservation
Crafts

Family Flyby: Animal Folklore

Brer rabbit and the tar baby is a classic american folktale

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!

When: 
Saturday, March 10, 2012 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Science
Nature
Conservation
Crafts

Family Flyby: Super Birds

This month's Family Flyby will be in conjunction with the Super Bowl of Birding!

This Family Flyby will run in conjunction with the Superbowl of Birding 2024.  This competition is a big deal in the birding world, and the Joppa Flats Education Center is going to be brimming with avid birders!  What a great opportunity to learn from folks with lots of experience!

When: 
Saturday, January 28, 2012 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Newburyport
Exploration
Scavenger Hunt
Vacation Week
Science
Nature
Conservation
Crafts

Meet Backyard Birds

What birds come to your yard in the winter? Find out at Joppa Flats Education Center!

Drop in at Joppa Flats for an up-close winter wildlife experience! On select weekend and school vacation days, Joppa Flats volunteer Deb La Roy presents demonstrations on bird research and banding. After capturing wild birds in the Joppa backyard, Deb brings them inside to measure, weigh, examine, and then release them. The unique band that Deb places carefully on each bird’s leg connects other bird researchers with the data she’s collected. You’ll learn about your own backyard birds and why they’re here while watching scientific research in action.

When: 
Fridays, January 13 & 20, 2017 10:30-1:30
Location: 
Joppa Flats Education Center
Topsfield
Exploration
Nature
Instruction
Mass Audubon
Birding

Eco-Art: Busy Beaver Builders

Join us as we look for elusive river mammals at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: American Beaver ©Scott Santino

Experience what life is like as the largest rodent in North America. We will examine a beaver mound up close, and then take a walk to see a beaver lodge, dam, and scent mounds. Discover how beavers continue to change the habitats in which they live and how other species of plants and animals benefit. On our return, we will make beaver dioramas out of natural materials.

When: 
Thursday, July 11, 2013 9-11:00 am
Location: 
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Topsfield
Hike
Walk
Exploration
Outdoor Activity
Science
Discovery
Ecology
Mass Audubon

Pages

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
♦ Read More →

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
♦ Read More →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 15th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree . The exhibit will open in early September with more than 50 temporary works on display in addition to the 20 pieces in the permanent collection of Pingree School. The exhibit ...
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Marblehead Farmers' Market
Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
Where: Marblehead Farmers' Market
9:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Saturday
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
Where: Grace Episcopal Church in Salem
9:15 am to 11:15 am
♦ Read More →

2nd & 4th Saturday at Lynn Museum
Lynn Museum in Massachusetts offers free admission on the second Saturday of each month.
Come to the Lynn Museum and Historical Society for FREE family fun. Join us on the second and fourth Saturday of each month for FREE admission to the Museum from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.! You can view our latest exhibitions, purchase Lynn-themed goods in our shop, check out books in our free library, and...
Where: Lynn Museum and Historical Society
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
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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 2024! The second Saturday of every month is free for Cape Ann families. Pre-registration and timed tickets are required.
Where: Cape Ann Museum
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
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Renaissance Faire Day
Return to the Renaissance on the oceanside lawn at Hammond Castle in Gloucester Massachusetts
Step back in time at our Renaissance Faire Day! Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of medieval and Renaissance culture with live performances by The Harper & The Minstrel and the L.I.A.R.S. (Ladies of Integrity, Aristocracy, Repute, and Society), offering a mesmerizing blend of medieval,...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
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CraneExplorer: Animals in the Estuary
Families are invited to join us for an exploration of the Castle Hill grounds in Ipswich Massachusetts
Take in beautiful views of the Crane Wildlife Refuge while learning about estuary flora and fauna and environmental conditions at the Crane Boat Dock. Families will conduct measurements of water quality and weather, census native vs. Non-native crabs, collect and observe plankton using field...
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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HeartSaver CPR & First Aid Training with BevRec

First Aid, CPR or AED Certified in this workshop with the Beverly Recreation Department
Longtime instructors, Greater Boston Safety Training will lead this one day class (4 hours). This course is designed for Teachers, Coaches, Babysitters, Construction workers, and the general public. This classroom course includes essential information and training in the first-aid skills...
Where: Camp Paradise
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
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Sing & Dance with the Music Man
Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham
10:00 am to 10:45 am
♦ Read More →

Cat's Meow at the Crane Estate
Kids will have a blast exploring the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts!
Our imagination is one of our greatest assets. Imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family servant find our mischievous Siamese? Once he’s...
Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate
10:30 am to 11:30 am
♦ Read More →

Salem Arts Artoberfest
Salem Arts ArtOberFest showcases local artists and explores Salem's history with witchcraft, religion and Haloween.
Salem Arts Association celebrates October in Salem each year with this seminal exhibition.  This year, we ask our members and the artist community at large to take a deep dive into the season and into Salem’s history, exploring the themes of witchcraft, the occult, autumn, and Halloween.  This op
Where: Salem Arts Association
12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Harvest Market at Appleton Farms
Harvest Farmer's Market at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts. Fresh Local Fall Harvest Produce and other foods
Join The Trustees in celebration of the harvest season at a special farmers market, featuring a bounty of Appleton organic produce along with a selection of other local edibles & gifts from area artisans, crafters, and producers of fine foods. The Appleton culinary team will have sweet &...
Where: Appleton Farms
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

CraneOutdoors: Castle Neck Hike in the Dunes
Hiking the Dunes at the Crane Wildlife refuge with the Trustees of Reservations.
While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime...
Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
♦ Read More →

Wednesday, November 27

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
♦ Read More →

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 15th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree . The exhibit will open in early September with more than 50 temporary works on display in addition to the 20 pieces in the permanent collection of Pingree School. The exhibit ...
Where: Pingree School
8:00 am to 6:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Music Together - Wednesday
Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
Where: St. John's Episcopal Church in Beverly Farms
9:30 am to 11:15 am
♦ Read More →

We Walk the Woods!
Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.
Where: Harold Parker State Forest
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle
A holiday themed tour of Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts
Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...
Where: Hammond Castle Museum
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory
Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
Where: Mendel Observatory at Merrimack College
7:00 pm
♦ Read More →

Thursday, November 28

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
♦ Read More →

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
♦ Read More →

Run for the Pies in Ipswich

Burn some calories before the Thanksgiving Feast at Ipswich's Run for the Pies!
Start your turkey day by burning off some calories with a run or walk along the Ipswich River! Every 10th adult finisher receives a large Russell Orchards pie; every child Fun Run finisher receives a 4" Table Talk pie. and you'll have a chance to win a ready-to-bake pie! Racers, runners, walkers or...
Where: Ipswich Town Hall
8:00 am
♦ Read More →

Wild Turkey 5 Mile Road Race

Run like a turkey through downtown Salem MA on Thanksgiving Day! Proceeds benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem.
Join the fun for the annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run in downtown Salem Massachusetts Thanksgiving morning and raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem! This is the largest race on the North Shore, now in its 21st year, with 2,000 anticipated participants.
Where: Peabody Essex Museum
8:00 am
♦ Read More →
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