Kids

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

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Nature Drawing with Janet Youkeles: Bugs

Kids will learn drawing and painting techniques at this art workshop at Joppa Fl

Have you ever wished you could draw like a real artist? Or did you ever wonder how artists make images of birds, animals, flowers, and imaginary creatures to look and feel so real? If so, then this is the class for you! We'll learn how to draw birds to look and feel light, soft, and feathery. We'll make bugs look creepy and buggy and flowers appear so real you can practically smell them. We'll try our hands at mastering new materials, such as craypas, metallic pencils, and pastels. Join the fun of learning how to make your own "wow" works of art.

When:

Thursday, August 2, 2012 9:30-11am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Family Flyby: Animal Folklore

Brer rabbit and the tar baby is a classic american folktale

When:

Saturday, March 10, 2012 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Family Flyby: Endangered Species Success Stories

Many whales are bouncing back from the brink of extinction!

Come learn about the human impact, the conservation movement, and the local species that have been de-listed in Massachusetts! Lots of hands-on and take-home crafts to enjoy!

When:

Saturday, February 4, 2012 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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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 2026. 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

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Nature Drawing and Landscape Painting

Kids will learn drawing and painting techniques at this art workshop at IRWS

Have you ever wanted to paint or draw like a real artist? Or did you ever wonder how artists make their paintings and drawings look and feel so real? If so, then this is the class for you! We'll learn how to make birds look and feel light, soft, and feathery. We'll learn to make sea shells 3-D and make trees look like they are growing and reaching for the sky. We'll also learn to make skies with sunrises and sunsets and how to make sunlight seem warm and shiny. Join the fun of learning how to make your own "wow" works of art.

When:

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 3:30-4:45pm

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 3:30-4:45pm

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 3:30-4:45pm

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 3:30-4:45pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

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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Boston Bruins Annual Pajama Drive

The Boston Bruins will be hosting their 19th annual PJ Drive with the goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of pajamas from February 1st - March 15th, 2026. The drive will benefit Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two non-profits that ensure positive living conditions for children. Local businesses...

7:00 am to 9:00 pm

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February Vacation Programs for Kids at Danvers YMCA

Looking for fun plans during February vacation week? The Danvers YMCA is hosting Vacation Break Adventures from February 16–20, offering a full week of engaging, hands-on activities for kids. There are themed days full of arts & crafts, science fun, gym games, swimming, and more. Highlights...

Where: Danvers Community YMCA

9:00 am to 4:00 pm

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February Vacation Week at Appleton Farms

In the winter, many people hunker down to stay indoors, but at Appleton Farms, we make the most of the cold, quiet season. There is no better place to spend winter farm days than in exploring in the snow and learning to love the outdoors in all seasons! This program is for kids who are looking to...

Where: Appleton Farms

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

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February Vacation at MIT Museum

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 planned for the week of February 14-22, including extended Maker Hub and Learning Lab hours, tours, gallery cart demos and family workshops. With the...

Where: MIT Museum

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt

Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!

Where: Halibut Point State Park

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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StoryWalk at Halibut Point

Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Self-guided reading pages posted along a lovely Park trail near the visitor center. Connect with nature and each other while enjoying the...

Where: Maudslay State Park

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.

Where: Breakheart Reservation

10:30 am to 11:30 am

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Family Nature Hike at Parker River

Get outside for February School Vacation Week! Join a refuge ranger for a guided nature program at the Hellcat Trail. Learn about refuge wildlife, winter adaptations, and more. This program is entirely outside. Dress warmly!

Where: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Sunday, March 22

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...

Where: North Shore Children's Museum

2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

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Symphony by the Sea | Winter Dreams

Symphony by the Sea performs a special Winter Concert inspired by Slavic fairytales and the beauty of the Russian landscape, our program explores the rich synthesis of Western musical tradition and Russian folk melodies. Tchaikovsky’s energetic and tuneful Serenade, Arensky’s touching tribute to...

Where: The Cabot

3:00 pm

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