Meet at Campground Nature Center - Let’s discover what lives in our tranquil New England ponds by exploring Frye Pond! Recommend bringing water, insect repellent, sun screen, binoculars and camera. Appropriate for kids aged 6 and older. Kids 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Ipswich River Sanctuary invites you to come explore! Looking to get off the beaten path and take "the one less traveled?" Haven't yet hiked alll 12 miles of our sanctuary's interconnected trails? Have a yearning to explore places like Hassocky Meadow or White Pine Loop? Come with us as we trek some of the sanctuary's less frequented trails to discover new sights and sounds in these spectacular habitats.
Join ECTA Trail Steward and Topsfield Rail Trail Committee Chairman Joe Geller as he leads us on a bike tour of the Topsfield Linear Common Rail Trail through Topsfield, Wenham, Danvers and Peabody. We will begin at the Town Hall parking lot in Topsfield at 9 a.m. and ride to Lowell Street in Peabody. We'll stop for a short break at Karl's Sausage Kitchen off Lowell Street in Peabody for rest rooms for about 20 minutes before returning to Topsfield. This is a great chance to discover a fantastic and safe multi-use path you never knew was there!!
Join the Salem Maritime National Historic Site and Dr. Calvin Mires, Co-Founder and Instructor of Seafaring Education and Maritime Archaeological Heritage Program (SEAMAHP) in bringing maritime heritage to life through hands-on activities. Although we won't actually be practicing archaeology, visitors young and old will have the opportunity to use the tools and methods of archaeological research, survey and documentation.
My Oh My Butterfly is an interactive program where your youngster can learn about butterfly habitat, food and migration. Learn about different kinds of butterflies found on the North Shore, how to spot them and what will attract them.
Rita Gallant, Lead Field Teacher at IRWS will read Festive Occasions - Special Event Rental Equipment by Joanne Ryder. Let's find out what butterflies live in our area. Using sweep nets and hand lenses, we'll observe butterflies in the gardens and fields of the sanctuary. Become a butterfly as we learn about the life cycles of these fluttering marvels.
Salamanders are often found in dark, wet places such as under a rock or log in the soil, while their eggs can be found in vernal pools. We will go for a walk, looking under rocks and logs for salamanders, and visit a vernal pool to discover where they lay their eggs each spring. Each participant will create a clay salamander to take home.
Rita Gallant, Lead Field Teacher at IRWS will read Crickets and Grasshoppers by Theresa Greenaway. Using nets and hand lenses, come explore with us as we examine a field and learn why crickets and grasshoppers sing and jump, how they eat, and what their similarities are.
Eco-art programs programs combine nature exploration and a craft project. Come learn how different birds build their nests and what natural materials they use. We will take a hike to look for nests and collect materials to make our own birds' nests.
This parent/child program is designed for the creative, curious, and active preschooler who loves animals. Each 90-minute session offers a structured series of activities including original songs, movement, dramatic play, hands-on science, and a thematic snack. You'll receive coloring pages, song lyrics, vocabulary, a fun fact sheet, and a suggested reading list in an electronic goody bag!
