April Vacation

Spring Quest at the Crane Estate

The ultimate summer adventure meets spring break at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

The ultimate summer adventure meets spring break! Join us during school break for a special half-day drop-off program for children ages 7-14, full of outdoor adventure, environmental science, team-building, and crafts! Campers should come with a water bottle, outdoor clothes, a packed lunch and a spirit of adventure!

When: 
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 9am-1pm

Something's Fishy at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn about fish at this Maritime Gloucester April Vacation drop-off program in Gloucester Massachusetts

What makes a fish a fish? Learn about all of the shapes and sizes of local fish and discover how form follows function. Create your own unique newly-discovered species and make a fish print to take home. Feel free to bring your own light-colored T-shirt to print on! For kids ages 6-10.

When: 
Monday, April 21, 2023 10am-12pm

Farmer for a Day | April Vacation Week

Appleton Farm's Kids in Farmer for a Day program during april Vacation in Ipswich Massachusetts

In the spring, the farmers at Appleton are busy planting vegetables and caring for the new life on the farm. There is no better place to spend spring farm days than in exploring in the fields & forests and learning to love the outdoors in all seasons! This program is for kids who are looking to make friends, explore the farm, and learn about life in New England in spring. Every day will include an outdoor adventure of hiking, a theme-based craft, a farm learning activity, and other farm explorations.

When: 
Monday-Friday, April 17-21, 2023 9am-3pm
Location: 

Notch Traveling Biergarten at Castle Hill

Come to the Notch Brewery Biergarten at the Trustees of Reservations' Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

The Notch Traveling Biergarten is stopping by Castle Hill. Enjoy a tasty session beer while taking in the magnificent views from the Grand Allee. Bring a picnic lunch or grab a bite from onsite vendor Empanada Dada. A limited number of picnic tables will be available. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. Interested? Simply make advance Castle Hill general admission reservations. No separate ticketing required.

When: 
Sunday, June 26, 2022 Noon-4pm

Free Community Day in the Gardens

Come to the free community day at the Trustees of Reservations'Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover

Join your friends and neighbors at the Stevens-Coolidge Place for a free day of outdoor enjoyment! This free mid-day event is the perfect low-key introduction to the Stevens-Coolidge gardens, including assorted lawn games, a variety of paths through the gardens to see what spring has sprung, and several tables set up for communal picnicking.

When: 
Monday, April 16, 2018 11am-2pm

Notch Traveling Biergarten at Stevens-Coolidge

Come to the Notch Brewery Biergarten at the Trustees of Reservations' Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover

The Trustees and Notch Brewing are partnering to bring a series of family-friendly, outdoor ‘biergarten’ experiences to some of our parks, farms, and cultural sites this year.

When: 
Thursday, September 12, 2018 4-9pm
Friday, September 13, 2018 4-9pm
Saturday, September 14, 2018 12-9pm
Sunday, September 15, 2018 12-6pm

April Vacation: Bread and Butter Making

Kids will learn to make farm fresh bread and butter at Appleton Farms in Ipswich, MA

Cooking together and having fun in the kitchen makes our farm family happy and we want to share that enthusiasm for cooking with you. We will make homemade rolls and top them with freshly made Jersey butter. We will learn about how our cows turn green grass to creamy, nutritious milk, then enjoy the sweet fruits of our labor together. This program is designed for families with children ages 4-7 (but younger kids are welcome if you can give a helping hand). 

When: 
Saturday, April 13, 2019 10-12pm
Location: 

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Landmark Summer Program 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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 am to 11:30 am

Gloucester's So Salty 2026

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester! This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
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…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Native Seed Sowing at Long Hill

Seed Sowing Workshop at The Trustess of Reservations' Long Hill Gardens in Beverly Massachusetts
Join Cole Campbell, production horticulturist at Native Plant Trust, for this native seed-sowing workshop at Long Hill Public Garden in Beverly, MA. Learn about our native plant seeds, and then get your hands in the soil to sow some seeds that you can take home with you.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Tuesday, January 27

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Wednesday, January 28

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

Thursday, January 29

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

Friday, January 30

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

Kidleidoscope at Breakheart Reservation

Kidleidoscope is a program designed for preschoolers at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Come join our park interpreter for a story time and nature walk! Complete a small craft and explore the woods! Walks are gently paced and approximately 1 mile, though not accessible for strollers. Appropriate for families with children 3-5 years old. Meet at the Visitor Center.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Unraveling Winters Wild Tales - Animal Tracking for Families

Kids will learn about tracks and signs and how they can tell a story at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Welcome to the wild world of animal tracking! Participants will learn how to identify animal tracks by focusing on key details such as number of toes, toenail impressions, and overall size of the print.
3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Saturday, January 31

Superbowl of Birding 2026

The Superbowl of Birding 2026 is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, Massachusetts
The Superbowl of Birding is a unique competition conducted in Rockingham County, NH, and Essex County, MA. During a 12-hour period, teams of birders of all ages and abilities seek to amass the greatest number of avian species, to earn the most points based on the rarity of the birds recorded. Teams...
5:00 am to 5:00 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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 am to 11:30 am

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
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…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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