Pre-School

CraneExplorer: Tackling Trash

Come celebrate Earth Day in Ipswich Massachusetts and join the beach cleanup at Crane Beach

As you explore the beach, what do you notice that doesn’t belong? Marine debris impacts beaches and marine life worldwide, so what can we do about it? Join this program to learn about types, sources, and impacts of marine debris, observe microplastics, and learn how scientists and community members (like you!) are studying marine debris and taking action to tackle the issue of trash in our fragile marine environments.

When:

Friday, April 21, 2023 10am-Noon

Location:

Crane Beach on the Crane Estate

Read more about CraneExplorer: Tackling Trash

Easter Egg Hunt at Hastings House

Join the fun at the Hastings House's Easter Egg Hunt in Beverly Farms!

Bring your young children and join your neighbors for a fun Easter activity at Hastings House. We will host separate egg-hunting areas for kids under 5 from older kids. Please RSVP for your family so we get an idea of how many are coming. This year's generous sponsors are Matt Gibbons Cross Country Mortgage, Sweetwater & Co, and Kennerkenecht Design Group.

When:

Saturday, April 8, 2023 10-11:30am

Location:

Read more about Easter Egg Hunt at Hastings House

Nature Walk Wednesdays | Spring on the River

Kids will learn returning birds and other marsh creatures at Joppa Flats Center in Newburyport

Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family-friendly seasonal nature walks in the area. Together we will explore the salt marsh, the woods, and more. We will look for birds, mammals, and of course, mushrooms! We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and learn, play, and discover together.

When:

Wednesday, April 5, 2023 10-11:30am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Nature Walk Wednesdays | Spring on the River

Forest Furry Friends at Halibut Point

Come meet furry amabassadors from the Center for Wildlife at Halibut State Park in Rockport Massachusetts

Meet The Center for Wildlife staff and their wildlife ambassadors. Learn about these animals, their habitats, the challenges they face and the role we can play to help. For all ages. Co-Sponsored by Friends of Halibut Point State Park.

When:

Saturday, February 25, 2023 11am-12:30pm

Location:

Halibut Point State Park

Read more about Forest Furry Friends at Halibut Point

Winter DROP IN Preschool Farm Explorers

Farm Explorers is a great way for preschoolers to explore Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Winter is in the air and the animals of the farm and woods have prepared themselves for winter. Can we find their signs, like homes, tracks, and caches of food? What happens in winter around the farm? We invite little farmers to experience life at the farm in winter. Through farm “chores,” age-appropriate hands-on activities, stories, and visits with our barnyard animals, little farmers will become fully immersed in what life is like for a farmer.

When:

Fridays, January-March 24, 2023 11am-Noon

Location:

Appleton Farms

Ipswich

Farm

Trustees of Reservations

Read more about Winter DROP IN Preschool Farm Explorers

Turtle Time at NTL

Learn about turtles from the Seacoast Science Center at the Newbury Town Library

What turtles live here in New Hampshire and what is the difference between land and sea turtles? Meet Raspberry, a 3-Toed Box Turtle, to learn more about body parts that all turtles have in common, what they like to eat, why we think they are so special, and what you can do to help keep them safe.

When:

Tuesday, March 14, 2023 3:30-4:30pm

Location:

Experiential Learning

Read more about Turtle Time at NTL

Debbie & Friends at the Cabot Theater

Debbie & Friends tell stories that children know and love with music and song!

From the moment that Debbie and Friends launch into the original song, “I’m Glad You’re Here,” the children in the crowd understand their role: to jump up and down participate. As the lyrics suggest, “You’re part of the show.” From that high-energy opener to the ecstatic ending, the pacing of a Debbie and Friends show perfectly aligns with the attention spans of their audience. They’ll rock out and get the kids dancing in a theatre-sized conga line, and then they’ll bring them down gently to relax and engage in more attentive ways. Drawing heavily from fairytales that kids will already be familiar with, Debbie presents enough lyrical updates to keep these stories fresh, and to keep everybody tuned in and laughing, including the parents!

When:

Saturday, February 18, 2023 10:30am

Location:

Read more about Debbie & Friends at the Cabot Theater

Crane Beach WinterFest

Bring the whole family out to celebrate the season at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts

Nothing is more magical than Crane Beach in the winter time! Bring the whole family out to celebrate the season at Crane Beach. Enjoy the serene winter landscape of one of New England’s most treasured coastal destinations while enjoying the band and a hot beverage around a warm glowing fire. Cap off the evening with a visit to the Beach Store for your favorite gear and a star-soaked view of Crane Beach after sunset!

When:

Friday, February 24, 2023 6-9pm

Location:

Crane Beach on the Crane Estate

Read more about Crane Beach WinterFest

Eagle Festival Field Trips

Families are invited to take a field trip with Joppa Flats naturalists to search for Bald Eagles in the Newburyport area

Bald Eagles are our goal as we search the skies and trees near the mouth of the Merrimack River on Eagle Festival Saturday. Choose among eight opportunities to join us to observe the surprises among all our winter-visiting birds, including many species of raptors, ducks, and more. Families with children ages 8 and above are welcome. Prices for these hour-and-a-half programs are deeply discounted, thanks to the generosity of our Eagle Festival sponsors, Boston Partners Financial Group and Newburyport Bank.

When:

Friday, February 18, 2023

4 Morning Sessions 9:30-11am

4 Afternoon Sessions 12:30-2pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Eagle Festival Field Trips

Becoming a Wildlife Detective

What animals do you see in winter? Kids will learn about how animals survive the winter months

Even in the middle of winter, nature is a very busy “place!” Though you may not see them, there are an amazing variety of critters going about their business, outdoors, all winter long. What you can see are the tracks and other sign that they leave behind. Participants in this program will be able to explore selected areas to look for clues that paint a picture of “who was here” and “what they were doing.” Participants should meet the ranger at the Hellcat Trail in parking lot 4. Please arrive 10-15 minutes early. This program is appropriate for people of all ages and skill sets.

When:

Sunday, January 29, 2023 10-11:30am

Location:

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge