Exploration

Celebrate the Sea Open House

Stop by at Joppa Flats Education Center to learn how we can all take responsibility for sustaining the natural beauty and resources of our oceans and coastline.

A fun-filled day for the whole family about everything from our ocean giants (whales, sharks, sea turtles) to deep sea creatures (octopuses, jellies)! For age 2-6, there are take-home crafts, an under the sea play zone, stuffies, coloring books and simple table-top science. For ages 7 and older, there are displays and interactives about overfishing, microplastics, sea level rise and climate change. Indoors and out. Rain or shine.

When: 
Sunday, March 22, 2020 10am-3pm

Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Whales on the Move

Kids can learn about whales at this Imagine Sing and Learn session at Joppa Flats in Newburyport!

Whales! Let's pretend to go on a whale watch and learn how to breach and belly roll like humpbacks and find out how whales feed and handle some real whale teeth and baleens and bones. We'll also listen to whale sounds underwater and learn how people are protecting whales in the ocean. Keep learning with take-home coloring pages and fun follow-up activities.

When: 
Friday, march 20, 2020 10-11:30 am

Imagine, Sing & Learn: Seals on the Shore

Seals live all over the coast of the North Shore. Kids will learn more at Joppa flats Education Center in Newburyport!

These 90-minute sessions are for both you and your active preschooler! Each week, our structured activities will include original songs, movement, dramatic play, hand-on science, and a thematic snack. We'll give you coloring pages to take home and lots of fun materials via an electronic goody bag after each class. This session is all about seals which are found along the coast of the north shore.

When: 
Friday, March 6, 2020 10-11:30am

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

Open House Mornings for Families: Backyard Birds in Winter

What birds come to your yard in the winter? Find out at Joppa Flats Education Center during February Vacation!

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: 
Thursday, February 20, 2020 10:00am-Noon

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

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

Kids in the Kitchen | February Vacation Week

Appleton Farm's Kids in the Kitchen program is geared to children aged 6-9

In the winter most people hunker down to stay warm, but at Appleton Farms, we make the most of the cold, quiet season. There is no better place to spend winter farm days than in the kitchen! These programs are for kids ages 6-10 who love to cook, explore, and be adventurous in the kitchen, and out on the trails. Each day kids will explore a different aspect of farm-to-table cooking, trying new foods, and learning about where our food comes from!

When: 
Monday-Friday, April 15-19, 2019 9am-Noon
Location: 

IRWS School Vacation: Awesome Owls

Look for Owls at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary during the day and learn about their habitat and feeding.

Have you ever walked through the woods looking for owls during the day? Owls are most active at night, of course, but if you know what to look for you can find their daytime roosts. Together we'll discover what our local owls look like, what they eat, and what they sound like. As a special activity, everyone will help to dissect an owl pellet.

When: 
Friday, February 21, 2020 8:30am-3pm

Pre-K Owl Prowl

Preschoolers will learn all about owls at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary during this owl prowl designed just for them!

The folks at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary have created an owling expedition just for kids aged 3-6! Winter is the perfect time of year to go out in search of owls. We'll learn about these fascinating birds through a story and hands-on activities before we head out on our adventure to look for them. Afterwards, we'll warm up by the woodstove with a cup of hot chocolate and cookies.

When: 
Friday, February 1, 2020 4-6 pm

Pages

Summerquest Camp for kids aed 5-14 at the Crane Estate in Ipswich 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

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

Friday, February 20

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

Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt

Kids will enjoy this treasure hunt at the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

StoryWalk at Halibut Point

StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming - a self guided reading tour at Halibut Point in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! StoryWalk®! Nest Robin Built, by Denise Fleming. Self-guided reading pages posted along a lovely Park trail near the visitor center. Connect with nature and each other while enjoying the...
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

February Vacation at MIT Museum

Kids will have a blast at the MIT Museum in Cambridge Massachusetts during February Vacation Week!
Come on your own, with friends, or bring the whole family to the museum for a special week of programming. The museum has a number of activities planned for the week of February 14-22, including extended Maker Hub and Learning Lab hours, tours, gallery cart demos and family workshops. With the...
Where: MIT Museum
10:00 am to 5:00 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
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