Adventure

CraneOutdoors: Kayak Historic Fox Creek

Kayak the twists and turns of Fox Creek in Ipswich with the Trustees of Reservations

The Great Marsh—the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England—is not only brimming with fascinating natural history, it is also home to a rich cultural history. Nowhere is this more evident than in the meandering waters of Fox Creek. Connecting the tidal estuaries of the Essex River basin and the Ipswich River, it contains the oldest saltwater canal in the United States and the remains of the historic Robinson’s Shipyard, where over 100 minesweepers used in WWII were once built.

When:

Sunday, June 8, 2025 9am

Saturday, June 14, 2025 1pm

Saturday, June 28, 2025 1pm

Location:

Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

Trustees of Reservations

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Beanstalk Adventure Indoor Ropes Course - Sunday

Beanstalk Adventure Indoor Ropes Course at Jordans Furniture

Channel your inner tightrope walker as you take on Beanstalk Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan's Furniture in Reading MA. Participants are safely harnessed before climbing the 3-story tall ropes course attraction and embarking through elements like cargo nets, angled rope ladders and more. The adventure continues on the Sky Rail zip line that stretches 69-feet over Beanstown.

When:

Mon-Thurs: 10am-9pm

Friday & Saturday: 10am-10pm

Sunday: 11am-7pm

Location:

Beanstalk Ropes Course at Jordan's Furniture

Reading

Adventure

Athletics

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Ropes Course for Kids

When:

Mon-Thurs: 10am-9pm

Friday & Saturday: 10am-10pm

Sunday: 11am-7pm

Location:

Beanstalk Ropes Course at Jordan's Furniture

Reading

Adventure

Athletics

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Early Spring Birds at IRWS

Come learn what birds are returning to the North Shore at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary! Image: Mass Audubon

Come learn what birds are returning after spending the winter months in the warm south. Equipped with binoculars, let's see how many different colors, sizes and sounds of birds we can find. We'll observe nests and attempt to build one of our own!

When:

Saturday, April 20, 2024 10-11:30am

Saturday, April 27, 2024 10-11:30am

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Tap a Sugar Maple Tree

Tap a Sugar Maple to harvest Maple Sap and convert it to Maple Syrup at IRWS!

Join IRWS sugaring staff for a 2 hour, small group, maple sugaring experience! You'll learn how to identify a sugar maple, tap it, and produce delicious maple syrup in the traditional New England way!

When:

Saturday, February 24, 2024 10am-Noon

Saturday, February 24, 2024 1-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Outdoor Adventures for Families: Winter Wildlife

Mass Audubons Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come learn about coyotes, beavers deer and other animals as they prepare for Winter!

Beavers, coyote, and deer, oh my! Mammals are storing food, putting on fat, thickening their fur, and winterizing their homes for winter. Let's see what evidence of these preparations we can find in the woods and wetlands as we use our science eyes for this hike around the remarkable rockery.

When:

Thursday, December 22, 2022 1-3pm

Saturday, December 31, 2022 10am-Noon

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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NEAQ's Aqua Kids Family Days

Activities, stories and live animal presentations await at NEAQ's Aqua Kids Days

Come to New England Aquarium on Friday mornings where you and your children can hear stories, create art projects, see Live Animal Presentations and have underwater adventures! Meet in the Curious George Discovery Corner on the first floor of the Aquarium. Family Days are open to all Aquarium visitors, and no registration is required.

When:

Fridays, 10am-noon

Location:

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IRWS School Vacation: Carnivores Dining Out

Kids ages 5-11 are invited to Ipswich river Wildlife Sanctuary during February Vacation to learn about carnivores

Winter is a great time to look for predators and the evidence they leave behind. Today, we'll look at animal bones, fur, scat, tracks, and chews. Then we'll hike the sanctuary in search of hawks, foxes, fishers, river otters, and more. We'll investigate how these animals are able to hunt prey in the cold winter weather.

When:

Thursday, February 20, 2020 8:30am-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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IRWS School Vacation: Maple Sugaring

Learn how to harvest Maple Sap and convert it to Maple Syrup at IRWS during February Vacation!

Today we'll learn about one of nature's tastiest treats: maple syrup. We'll discover how to distinguish a sugar maple from all the other trees in the forest and tap one to collect the sap. After a visit to the sugarhouse, we'll know how sap is converted into syrup and try some on our very own pancakes. We'll see who can tell the difference between store-bought syrup and the real stuff!

When:

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 8:30am-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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IRWS School Vacation: Winter Homes

Build igloos and learn how to find winter homes for animals at IRWS's workshop

Can you imagine living outside through the entire winter? We'll explore the woodlands, wetlands, and field edges for nests, cavities, burrows, dens, and lodges to discover how birds, mammals, and insects find homes in this challenging season. We'll build an igloo or shelter and see how warm it can be inside.

When:

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 8:30am - 3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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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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Saturday, April 11

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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Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Explore a variety of local ecosystems such as a salt marsh, a freshwater river, or a tide pool on the beach. Take part in wildlife data collection in tide pools and vernal pools and engage in conservation projects such as a macroinvertebrate study or a horseshoe crab count in this exciting science...

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Read to a Dog at SPL

Have a new or struggling reader who needs to build confidence and practice reading aloud? Come read to Hendrix, the trained therapy dog, a sweet a non-judgmental listener! Bring your own book to read, or choose one of ours.

Where: Salem Public Library

10:00 am to 11:00 am

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Discover Saturdays at Cape Ann Museum

Enjoy a FREE guided activity (ages 4+) in the gallery. Learn about Cape Ann’s Granite Industry, try a fun art making activity, and join in gallery tour designed for kids and their caregivers, led by a CAM Educator. Afterwards grab a scavenger hunt to explore the property and enjoy the lawn.

Where: Cape Ann Museum Green

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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2nd Saturday at Lynn Museum

Come to the Lynn Museum and Historical Society for FREE family fun. Join us on the second and fourth Saturday of each month for FREE admission to the Museum from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.! You can view our latest exhibitions, purchase Lynn-themed goods in our shop, check out books in our free library, and...

Where: Lynn Museum and Historical Society

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

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The Legacies of Long Hill: House & Garden Tour

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. Step inside the beauty and layered history of Long Hill with a guided tour of its breathtaking gardens and historic house. Once the...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

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Vernal Pool Party: Big Night Celebration at IRWS

Each spring, on the first warm, rainy night, frogs and salamanders emerge and begin an extraordinary journey to the vernal pools where they breed.

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Sunday, April 12

Todd Farm Market

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!

Where: Todd Farm Market

5:00 am to 3:00 pm

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