Just what it sounds like! Stop by, relax, and have a snack. We’ll put out coloring sheets and bookmarks as well as some tasty cookies. Kids of all ages and abilities welcome. Drop-in.
The library wants our programs to be safe for everyone! Please call us with any questions or concerns about food allergies.
Come to the library to make snowflakes using pipe cleaners and pony beads. Simple, easy fun! Kids of all ages and abilities welcome. Please note there will be small beads in the room and caregivers will need to monitor any young children they bring.
Drop in any time between 10 and 11:30 for non-directed playtime and socialization. We’ll fill our big program room with tunnels, trucks, toys, and more. This program is best suited for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers. No registration required.
The Trustees of Reservations hosts an adventure-filled weekend camping at the Crane Estate! Our special site in the Pine Grove is an ideal location for both experienced campers and first-timers. This overnight includes a choice of optional programs and activities on Saturday afternoon, which may include a Great Marsh Creek Walk, a Dune Hike through the Crane Wildlife Refuge, a Guided Kayak Paddle in Essex Bay, or a Scavenger Hunt for the little ones. Of course you are also free to simply lounge on the beach, or explore the property on your own. Bring a bag lunch for Saturday. REI will teach us how to make a delicious, nutritious camp out supper – and we’ll follow that with s’mores around the campfire on Saturday night. A light breakfast will be provided on Sunday morning. After you pack up on Sunday morning, you are welcome to spend Sunday afternoon at the beach (parking in the lot by the Barn only).
Can you imagine eating the home that you grew up in? Some insects lay eggs inside plants and cause strange-looking growths called galls. The walls of these miniature "bug castles" give the developing insect larvae food and shelter. This is evidence of another fascinating relationship between insects and plants. We will examine a variety of galls and learn about the lives of their inhabitants. On our walk, we'll hunt for as many kinds of galls as we can find.
Preschoolers and young kids will explore the wonders of winter in the "enchanted woods" of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in this four-session series. We'll begin in the Nature Center with story, poetry, and imagination. Next, we'll bundle up for a winter walk to awaken our sense of wonder to the silence, scents, and scenery of the sleeping winter woods. Along the way, discover how the trees, plants, birds, beavers, squirrels, chipmunks, and other wildlife spend the winter. We'll look for animal stories in the snow (tracking) and much more. After our walks, we'll create artwork that reflects the wonders of winter that we discovered, while listening to winter nature songs. These keepsakes will bring home winter's secrets and beauty as we await the signs of spring.
Come to NTL after school lets out early and enjoy a free showing of the movie Ferdinand, a classic childrens tale brought to life by the magic of animation. After he's mistaken as a dangerous beast and torn from his home, a peace-loving bull named Ferdinand rallies a misfit team of friends for an epic adventure to return to his family. Popcorn and water provided. Walk-in Movie. No Registration Required.
Cooking together and having fun in the kitchen makes our farm family happy and we want to share that enthusiasm for cooking with you. With the help of our cheesemaker we will make a batch of fresh farm cheese while we learn about how our cows turn green grass to creamy, nutritious milk. Afterwords we'll enjoy the sweet fruits of our labor together. This program is designed for families with children ages 5-10.
Celebrate the longest day of the year (and the first day of summer) with us! Learn why we have seasons and express your appreciation for the summer with sun-themed activities, crafts, and songs. We'll make cosmic suncatchers and flower-power crowns, conduct a human sundial experiment, and make sun-themed snacks.
Join Newburyport Youth Services and Seacoast Technology Workshops for an instruction session in SCRATCH, a coding interface for kids developed by MIT. In this fun and action-packed class participants will learn how to program their very own Space Invaders game that can even be played on a mobile device!
