Natural History

Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Dragonflies and Hummingbirds

Come learn about dragonflies and hummingbirds at the Joppa Flats Center!

Joppa Flats Education Center invites kids 3-6 for a fun-filled morning program that is perfect for you and your active preschooler! Our structured activities include hands-on science, music and movement, a thematic snack, and an outdoor adventure if the weather complies. Keep learning with coloring pages and follow-up activities to continue the fun at home. This particular program will focus on the dragonflies and hummingbirds.

When:

Friday, August 10, 2018 9:30-11am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Wild About Reptiles & Amphibians

Saturday morning science - Come learn about reptiles and amphibians at the Joppa Flats Center! Photo by Bill O'Connor

Saturday Morning Science at Joppa | Joppa Flats Education Center invites kids 7-11 for a series of fun-filled science programs with others who are interested in science and wildlife. Participants will get in touch with their "inner scientist"! Twice a month we'll offer a chance to meet live creatures, design something "green", or explore a new field in science. This particular program will focus on amphibians and reptiles.

When:

Saturday, September 8, 2018 10-11:30am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Iron Pour at Saugus Iron Works

Come to an iron casting demonstration at Saugus Iron Works as part of Trails and Sails

U. S. National Park Rangers will be running hands-on activities about how cast iron was made at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in the 17th century for Trails & Sails. Join us at the Saugus Iron Works for our annual iron pour and get a glimpse of what work was like here in the 1600's. Enjoy various family friendly activities and mold making demonstrations while waiting for things to heat up! Set-up begins at 10:30am and the pour will take place at about Noon. Part of Trails & Sails

When:

Saturday, September 22, 2018 10:30am-12pm

Location:

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

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February Vacation at Joppa Flats: Pole to Pole

Come learn about the animals of the polar habitats at the Joppa Flats Center! Photo: Kathy Crane, NOAA Arctic Research Program

Joppa Flats Education Center vacation programs offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break. Beat the winter blahs during school break! Drop in for an hour or stay all day, either one or both days, for a vacation destination that suits your schedule. Participate in half-hour presentations at 11:00 am or 1:00 pm. We'll use experiments, crafts, and games to show you how to blend science and art based on the day's theme. It's free-flow learning for the whole family. This session will be focused on arctic animals from polar bears to pengiuns!

When:

Monday, February 18, 2019 10am-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Arctic Animals

When:

Friday, March 15, 2019 10-11:30am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Raptor Rapture

Come learn about birds like Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Hawks and other birds of prey at Joppa Flats Center during February Vacation Week! Photo: Bill O'connor

Joppa Flats Education Center vacation programs offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break. Beat the winter blahs during school break! Drop in for an hour or stay all morning, either one or both days, for a vacation destination that suits your schedule. Drop in for family fun! You'll see winter bird banding demonstrations and try out science and art activities. "Miss Lisa" invites you to join her at 11:00 for an energetic educational presentation where everyone particpates in the fun of an interactive mult-media show. After the presentation, weather permitting, we'll go outside for a group game.

When:

Tuesday, February 18, 2020 10am-Noon

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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PEM February School Vacation Week

February School Vacation Week programs at Peabody Essex Museum in Salem Massachusetts

Peabody Essex Museum invites kids and families for days of fun and engaging events and activities during February vacation week! Come to the Museum Come join us for a week of exploration into our relationship with nature and discover new ways to become a steward of the earth. There will be drop in art activities, collaborative art projects, multisensory tours, artist demonstrations and more! The museum hosts a weeklong celebration (10am - 4pm daily) of Black History Month and the exhibition 'Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle' through family-friendly art making, music and storytelling. All programs are included with admission.

When:

Daily, February 17-21, 2020 10am - 4pm

Location:

Experiential Learning

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Nature Walks for Tots: Who Lives Under a Log?

kids will explore the woodlands of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and discover the creatures that make home under and in logs!

As temperatures cool and autumn arrives, Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family friendly nature walks. Let's explore the woods, a pond, and the beach to look for creatures like birds, fish, frogs, and more while we learn, play, and explore. We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and discover wildife together! It's the busy season at the Log Hotel! Let's visit this habitat to see if we can find insects, salamanders, and other creepy crawlies that are getting ready for a cold winter.

When:

Saturday, November 12, 2022 1:30-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Imagine, Sing, & Learn 1B: Animal Homes

Kids ages 3-6 will learn about animal homes and the animals that make them at th

This parent/child program is designed for the creative, curious, and active preschooler. Each 90-minute session offers a structured series of activities including original songs, movement, dramatic play, outdoor exploration, and a thematic snack. When it's time to go home, you'll receive coloring pages, song lyrics, vocabulary, a fun fact sheet, and a suggested reading list via e-mail. At this ISL, we'll learn about where animals make their homes.

When:

Thursday, Jan 16, 2013 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Friday Afternoon

When:

Thursday, Jan 16, 2013 10:00 am - 11:30 am

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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Ukrainian Egg Workshop at NTL

Back by popular demand! Kati Bourque will present a brief history on Ukrainian Easter Eggs and teach you how to create your own egg. All materials will be provided and you will go home with an egg that you made! This program is geared towards teens and adults, as you will be handling a raw egg, a...

Where: Newbury Town Library

6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

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Saturday, April 12

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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2nd & 4th 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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LEGO Club at Salem Public Library

Salem Public Library hosts a morning session of LEGO fun! We provide the LEGO, you provide the imagination. Stop by the library on Saturday mornings (every other Saturday) to play and build.

Where: Salem Public Library

10:30 am to 11:30 am

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Dads & Donuts Storytime at NTL

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.

Where: Newbury Town Library

10:30 am to 11:30 am

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Long Hill Garden Tours

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...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Big Night at IRWS

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!"

Where: Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

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CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

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...

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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Full Moon Hike at Ward Reservation

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...

Where: Ward Reservation

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

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Sunday, April 13

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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