Witness the rhythms and relics of New England's oldest working farm. Walk along bucolic meadows, planted fields, and see our grazing cattle before visiting the historic buildings. See the newly renovated, LEED certified, Old House Visitor Center and go behind the scenes in the dairy area, which is normally closed to the public.
Join The Trustees of Reservations and Essex River Basin Adventures (ERBA) for a guided kayak paddle of Crane Wildlife Refuge in Essex Bay. This introductory paddle teaches participants the basics of sea kayaking before setting out to explore what Yankee Magazine called "the best place to kayak in New England."
Lisa Hutchings Teacher-Naturalist from Mass Audubon's Joppa Flats Education Center and the crew of Newburyport Harbor Tours Inc.'s Yankee Clipper invite you and your family for an exciting exploration of the lower Merrimack River ecosystem. Hands-on science and interactive props are on hand to make this learning experience a fun adventure as attendees search for waterfowl, seals and other marine life.
Bring your young naturalist to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary for a day of butterfly banding! The annual migration of eastern monarch butterflies to central Mexico and back is one of the most remarkable events in nature. Cindy Dunn has been tagging monarchs at Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton for many years. Join her for an afternoon of tagging monarchs on the sanctuary. Learn about the fascinating life history of these butterflies and find out how you can help monarchs in your own backyard.
Adults and children can spend quality family time in the great outdoors finding, observing, and admiring local wildlife. Excursions with Joppa Flats Education Center include a group game to burn off some steam, an on-the-water scavenger hunt, or a guided tour. We'll observe, investigate, and compare pond habitats and their inhabitants, both on-and offshore. Participants play out the roles of biologists, researchers, birders, and botanists. Thisadventure will leave your family excited to come back for more!
What lives in the mud, grass, and water of a salt marsh? How is the marsh like a sponge? We'll use nets and trowels to look for mussels, clams, oysters, hermit crabs, and other marsh critters. Watch egrets in flight and participate in a snail race as you explore the hidden wonders of the salt marsh. Prepare to get muddy!
The Essex Youth Triathlon is a chance for kids to explore their physical limits in a safe, monitored environment and have a great time! Join the Essex Board of Health in furthering their mission to encourage healthy habits that North Shore youth can carry into adulthood. The Essex Youth Triathlon is the perfect opportunity to encourage and to instill the joy of health, the excitement of physical activity and pride of participation. “Just Tri” this tri-sporting event!
Come to the The G.A.R. Memorial Library for a live animal presentation of animals that dig! These animals will be presented for up-close and personal visits with the audience by this family owned business specializing in environmental and animal education. Because they are so unique and good natured, many of The Creature Teachers’ animals have been on national television shows.
Enjoy a morning at the beach during low tide and discover the living wonders of the rocky shore and sandy coastline. We will look for crabs, starfish, shorebirds, and other seashore animals. Explore the wrack line and sandy beach to compare and sort the natural materials and seaweeds that have washed ashore. We will preserve our memories of the day by creating our own beach collages.
Maritime Gloucester wants kids in grades 6-8 to build their own submersible robot! Project Sea Perch is a course in ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) design and construction for middle school students. During the program students will have the opportunity to construct their own underwater robots, test them, and use them in scientific explorations of Gloucester Harbor. Students will keep their ROV’s at the close of the course.
