Trustees of Reservations

Monarch Migration Celebration

Kids will learn about monarch butterflies at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover!

You spent the summer watching them flit about your gardens, now it’s time to wish them well on their trip down to Mexico – it’s the Monarch Migration Celebration at Stevens-Coolidge Place! This celebration will kick off with a children’s pollinator parade around the property (costumes encouraged!) bringing all visitors to an afternoon of demos, crafts & stories, seed bomb making and gardening tips to bring these orange friends to your yard in the spring.
Butterfly release at 2:30pm

When: 
Saturday, October 5, 2019 10am-3pm

Choate Island Hike

Tour the Choate House on this guided exploration of Choate Island.

Choate Island is the crown jewel of the Crane Wildlife Refuge and is only accessible by boat. Enjoy one stunning view after the next on this rare chance to explore the cultural and natural history of the island. Walk a 1.5 mile network of carriageways and footpaths that lead past The Proctor Barn, White Cottage, and Choate House, all the way to the top of the island where the Crane Family burial ground looks out over Plum Island Sound. This tour includes a complimentary boat ride from the Crane Estate boat dock to Choate Island and back.

When: 
Saturday, June 8, 2019 1:30-4:30pm
Saturday, June 22, 2019 12:30-3:30pm
Saturday, July 6, 2019 12-3pm
Sunday, July 28, 2019 12:30-3:30pm
Sunday, September 15, 2019 1:30-4:30pm
Saturday, September 28, 2019 12-3pm

Fall Foliage Celebration at Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Come celebrate Fall at and the changing of colors at the Stevens Coolidge Place in North Andover!

Fall in New England is a magical time! Get outside with The Trustees of Reservations this year and enjoy the season. This year’s Fall Foliage Celebration will take place at three Trustees properties in the Andover area – guided hikes to scenic vistas and unusual habitats at Ward Reservation and Weir Hill; pumpkin hunt, flower maze and historic home & garden tours at The Stevens-Coolidge Place. Your ticket to today’s festivities include all three properties! Food and drink vendors at Stevens-Coolidge.

When: 
Saturday, October 19, 2019 10am-3pm

Free Family Day at The Stevens-Coolidge Place

Celebrate Indigenous People's Day with the Trustees of Reservations at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate

If you find yourself with some time off this Indigenous Peoples' Day, we invite you to pack a picnic and head to The Stevens-Coolidge Place for a day of free outdoor family fun! Play lawn games and go on a Fall nature-based scavenger hunt and explore the beautiful grounds. Relax by enjoying story times about the season on this special day.

When: 
Monday, October 14, 2019 11am-3pm

The Stevens-Coolidge Place Cutting Garden

Pick Your Own Bouquet at the Trustees of Reservations Stevens-Coolidge Place

In addition to pick-your-own favorites like zinnias, cosmos and rudbeckia, visitors will find new varieties to add pop and flair to their bouquets. The garden is fun for all ages and there is always something new to learn! Please note there is a fee to cut flowers and picking is only available at the Cutting Garden during PYO hours.

When: 
Saturdays & Sundays, July 20-October 6, 2019 10am-4pm

Crane Estate Picnic Concert - Help!

HELP! brings Beatles music to the Crane Estate in this Thursday evening concert

Part of the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is a great way to get together and have fun with the whole family in an exclusive setting. You can pack a picnic dinner, bring the kids, and get ready to dance the night away under the stars on the Grand Allée. Explore the landscaped grounds and the family "Eye Spy."

When: 
Thursday, August 22, 2019 7-9pm

Kids Night Out at Stevens Coolidge Estate

Kids Night out at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover Massachusetts

Get the family outside this summer and stay up until the streetlights come on.

In this family-friendly series participants are encouraged to pack a picnic and head to The Stevens-Coolidge gardens for some old-fashioned nighttime fun with the neighborhood. We’ll play lawn games and flashlight tag, offer story times about nature at night and of course no summer evening would be complete without a firepit and s’mores.

Pre-registration is encouraged to help us plan for the day but drop in and head home at your convenience.

When: 
Wednesday, August 14, 2019 5-8pm

Cat's Meow Sundays

Kids will have a blast exploring the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Mrs. Crane’s cat has gone missing and there’s a party tonight! Only you can help the household staff find the cat AND get ready for the party at the same time! This interactive tour program takes families through the house looking for where the cat might be hiding, while also learning about the house and family. Recommended for children ages 4-8. Unlike our in-season Cat's Meow tour, it is recommended that you pre-register for our vacation week dates.

When: 
Sundays through August 2019 10:30-11:15pm

Morning Bird Walk

Enjoy a biring excursion on the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts!

Join birding expert and former Crane Beach Ranger, Dave Williams, on a walk through the woodlands and fields of the Crane Estate to talk about birds. If you have never been birding before, Dave will teach you how to use binoculars to watch birds and pick out characteristics that will help you identify what species you see. If you’re a seasoned pro, bring your bird list and keep an eye out for spring migrants! If you’re not into birds (yet), come for a pleasant morning stroll. There’s something for everyone on this walk!

When: 
Saturday, May 25, 2019 9-11am

Composting for Kids at Stevens-Coolidge Estate

Kids will learn about composting at the Trustees of Reservations' Stevens-Coolidge Estate in North Andover

Spend your early release day building and playing at The Stevens-Coolidge Place. This drop-off program will introduce garden lifecycles, get your hands dirty building a composter to take home and finish outside with games in the gardens.

When: 
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 2-4PM

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Adirondack Leadership Program at Gordon College’s La Vida Center

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

Music Together - Wednesday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:30 am to 11:15 am

Fiddleheads | Preschool Drop-Off Series

The Fiddlehead program at Appleton Farms encourages kids 3-5 to explore their environment in Ipswich Massachusetts
Spring has sprung! It is an excellent time of year for exploring and learning on the farm. We will be planting and harvesting in our garden, taking care of our animals and finding all the signs of spring that nature divulges. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 12:30PM for a preschool drop...
9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

Home and Food Truck show at the Topfield Fairground in Massachusetts
April 20th & 21st. FREE admission and FREE parking. All INDOORS & Enjoy the Food Trucks outside. Speak to leading home industry professionals to plan your spring home projects.
10:00 am to 6:59 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 3:59 pm

We Walk the Woods!

Walk the trails in a group at Harold Parker State Forest Every Wednesday at 10am
Walk the trails with a group at Harold Parker State Forest every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. – Meeting location varies weekly. Email trek.reef@mass.gov for location.
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

Saturday, May 25

Befriend the Barnyard

Befriend the Barnyard is a hands-on barnyard experience at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Discover our special barnyard animals! Our Angora rabbits Violet, Mabel, Oiver and Charles; Nubian goats Maeve, Morgana, and Mordred; dairy cows Gray, Jasmine, their calves Gigi and Joanie and our friendly flock of heritage chickens will take center stage as we learn about what makes them so unique...
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon?  Circumnavigating an island is one of the great rewards of kayaking and reaching the summit of a hill that offers a great view is one of the payoffs of a good hike. This adventure in the Crane...
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

CraneOutdoors: Castle Neck Hike in the Dunes

Hiking the Dunes at the Crane Wildlife refuge with the Trustees of Reservations.
While just about everybody on the North Shore has probably been to Crane Beach, the dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. Offering one of the most accessible dune ecosystems north of Cape Cod, Castle Neck has over six miles of trails, traversing the dunes, maritime...
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Cow Connection at Appleton Farms

Join The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms for Cow Connection in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come and meet, cuddle, brush, scratch, talk, and sit with our hand-raised cows at Appleton Farms! The mild heart rate and warm body temperature of the cows induces a slowing of our own heart rate, as well as the release of Oxytocin, our social bonding hormone. Visit our scenic and historic dairy...
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Family Full Moon Beach Hike

Walk the beach under the full moon with naturalists from Joppa Flats Education Center
Have you ever gone tide pooling as the sun is setting or explored a a sandy beach under the light of a full moon? Engage in on-the-beach nocturnal experiments about night vision, bioluminescence and more. Attract live minnows with your flashlight and watch barnacles open up to feed. For kids ages 4...
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Sunday, May 26

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

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

When Spring Comes Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts!
When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes is the subject of this STORYWALK Series.  Watch the world transform when Spring comes!Enjoy this preschool storywalk at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time outside in nature!
7:00 am to 8:00 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

Newburyport Farmers' Market

Newburyport Farmers find organic locally grown produce, meat, dairy Newburyport
The Newburyport Farmers Summer Market celebrates local fresh produce every Sunday morning rain or shine!  Start your Sunday browsing fresh North Shore local produce, meats, cheeses, and seafood in an open air market atmosphere! Food and beverage vendors offer fresh hot coffee, breakfast treats and...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
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