Tweens

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms

Visit Appleton Farms' sugaring operation and learn about making maple sugar syrup!

Maple Season is here! This special program for ages 3-11 & their families will focus on the magic of maple from start to finish. We will discover this tradition by observing trees, tasting sap, learning the tools involved, and finally, tasting the sweet product. We will make sure to have time to visit our barnyard animals!

When: 
Saturdays, February 8-March 1, 2025 10:45am, Noon, 1pm or 2pm
Location: 

Animal Adventures Series: Inside & Out

Come learn about your favorite animals and their habitats at the Joppa Flats Center in Newburyport Massachusetts! Photo: Kathy Crane, NOAA Arctic Research Program

Joppa Flats Education Center invites families for family fun about your favorite animals with hands-on science, songs, a take-home craft and outdoor time, weather permitting. This is a three-week series for young "naturalists" and their adventure-loving adult to learn about animals together. Please note there are no live animals in these programs.

When: 
Friday, January 24, 2025 1:30-3pm
Friday, February 7, 2025 1:30-3pm
Friday, March 7, 2025 1:30-3pm

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts

Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P. Killam, Jr. Fund.

When: 
Mondays, February 3, 10 & 24, 2025 6-7pm

Read to a Dog at APL

Kids are invited to read to a dog at Amesbury Massachusetts Public Library. Image generated with AI.

The Amesbury Public Library invites kids to come read to a dog at the Library! Gus, a mixed lab and certified reading partner dog, would love to hear you read aloud! This is a great way to practice some early reading skills or give some confidence to reluctant readers. If you have a child who is reading themselves or working on their reading skills, sign up for a 15 minute slot! Gus will be back in the Library every two weeks so you can register for more than one session if you'd like or just for one! 

When: 
Thursday, January 23, 2025 3:30-4:30pm

February Break at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Sign up for one or all days of February Vacation Activities at IRWS in Topsfield

Winter is an exciting time for outdoor discovery. We have put together four sessions of hands-on, awesome, age-appropriate activities and games to explore the natural world in winter. Sharpen your observation skills as we locate and learn about winter animals and tap a sugar maple tree to make syrup. Sign up for the entire 4-day session, Tuesday-Friday from 8:30am-3:00pm. Separated into three age groups: ages 5-6, ages 7-8, and ages 9-12.

CraneExplorer: Valentine's Coastal Craft

Make Valentines crafts from materials that we find along the shore at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts

The Trustees of Reservations invites ages 12 and up to a valentine craft making workshop! This Valentine’s Day, give a gift from the sea! From seaweed pressings to shell collages, beach treasures make beautiful greetings and keepsakes. Join this workshop to learn fun craft ideas and make marine art with our coastal educators. This program will start with a beach walk to collect coastal treasures, and then we will head inside for crafting. Materials and inspiration provided.

When: 
Sunday, February 8, 2025 10am-Noon

Family Owl Prowl

Join a Family Owl Prowl Campout at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Santino

People of all ages love owls, and many species of owls can be found right here in Massachusetts year-round. Experience the excitement of an owl prowl as we take a night hike to look and listen for Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-owls. Before we head out on our nocturnal adventure, we'll learn fun owl facts in our cozy Barn using real owl mounts, feathers, talons, and a brief slide show. We'll end our evening with an owl-hooting lesson.

When: 
Saturday, February 8, 2025 5:30-7:30pm

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Landmark Summer Experience at Landmark School in Beverly Massachusetts

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Saturday, April 12

Dads & Donuts Storytime at NTL

Dads & Donuts Storytime at Newbury Town Library in Massachusetts
Come to our Dads and Donuts monthly event to get quality bonding time with your child, listen to some stories, and eat donuts! You don't have to be a dad to come- all family members are welcome.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Big Night at IRWS

Come explore the vernal pools of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary with Mass Audubon!
On the first warm rainy night of spring, wood frogs and salamanders begin a mass migration to the vernal pools where they breed. This mass migration is referred to as "Big Night!"
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

Walk through the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich Massachusetts with the Trustees under the full moon.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading...
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Full Moon Hike at Ward Reservation

Join the Trustees on a journey up Holt Hill under the light of the full moon at Ward Reservation in Andover!
The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at some lesser explored Trustees properties across the Northeast Region, at the right time of year to see these special places shine. These beginner hikes will not be too strenuous, and will offer frequent stops for learning and...
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Sunday, April 13

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 pm

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Amesbury Winter Market

The Amesbury Winter Market happens every other Sunday indoors at Barewolf Brewing in Amesbury, Massachusetts.
Welcome to Amesbury Market Daze at BareWolf Brewing, a bi-weekly vendor market where local surrounding Amesbury talent and community spirit converge. We take pride in curating a consistent marketplace that showcases local art and food from talented local artisans, chefs, farmers, creators and...
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Monday, April 14

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!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Read to Keeva at HW Library

Read to Keeva a certified therapy dog at the Hamilton Wenham Public Library in Massachusetts
The Therapy Dog is In! Drop by starting at 3:30pm to get 10-minutes of one-on-one reading time with Keeva and her trainer, Ms. Fleming. Keeva provides a calm, welcoming space for emerging readers to practice their read-aloud skills.
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
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