Pre-School

Monarch Magic

Come to Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about Monarch Butterflies!

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary invites families to join them at Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary to discover the amazing journey of the monarch butterfly to Mexico. Learn about the monarch life cycle and the challenges facing its habitat. Find out more about butterfly gardening and create a paper butterfly that will spend the winter with children who live near the monarch sanctuaries in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico. We will then work together as citizen scientists to tag and release several monarchs to start their journey south.

When:

Saturday, September 14, 2019 1:30-3pm

Location:

Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary

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Manchester Public Library Seaside Knitwits Need Support

knitting at Manchester by the Sea Library

Manchester Public Library Seaside Knitwits are knitting and crocheting hats for Boston children (sizes infant through 18 years old) in need finishing and packing on November 4^th, at 4 PM.

Seaside Knitwits is the recently, and loosely formed, Manchester Public Library group that is anyone interested in helping with this endeavor. All hats will be packed to be mailed at this November meeting, in plenty of time for the Caps for Beantown (a registered 501c3 group) to receive and distribute in time for cold weather.

When:

November 4, 2019 at 4 PM

Location:

Manchester Public Library

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Sense of Wonder Walks: Ponds

Ponds and puddles offer endless hours of exploration and discovery.

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary invites families for a great exploration of the pond habitat! Though they are small, ponds contain a rich variety of plant and animal life. Explore Waterfowl Pond for a close-up look at a place where hungry creatures are always on the hunt. Using nets and other collecting equipment, dip into the water, sweep through the weeds, and scoop up mud to discover the creatures that live there.

When:

Sunday, October 6, 2019 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Marblehead Pumpkin Decorating Workshops

Join a pumpkin decorating workshop in Marblehead at the Clifton Lutheran Church

Please join us for pumpkin decorating, face painting, music, cider donuts and more! Decorated pumpkins may be left to be submitted into the MFF's Pumpkin Illumination on 10/24 (for a chance to win prizes!). Admission include everything needed to decorate a pumpkin! Hosted by the Marblehead Family Fund and the Marblehead Recreation Department.

When:

Wednesday, October 20, 2019 1-4pm

Location:

Clifton Lutheran Church

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Holiday at Hogsmeade

Enjoy a Harry Potter themed Holiday celebration at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester!

Sawyer Free Library invites kids and families to celebrate the Holidays at a Harry Potter themed party during the Middle Street Walk 2023! Come for a jolly journey around the Wizarding World! It will be a Happy Holiday at Hogsmeade as we sample butterbeer, as well as many more activities such as wand-making, the sorting hat, a photo booth, family trivia, crafts, and more!

When:

Saturday, December 14, 2019 11am-2pm

Location:

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Holiday Stories & Craft at HWPL

Youngsters 2 and older are invited to the Hamilton Wenham Public Library for Holidya Stories and Crafts!

Celebrate the season with us! Listen to holiday stories, create a craft, and enjoy hot cocoa with assorted toppings. Designed for children 2 and up. No registration necessary.

When:

Saturday, Decmeber 21, 2019 11am-Noon

Location:

Hamilton-Wenham Public Library

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Kidleidoscope at Harold Parker State Forest

Kidleidoscope is a programs designed for preschoolers at Harold Parker State Forest Park

This preschool-aged program includes a story and nature exploration. Children will spend the duration of the program outside. The topic varies each week, so come every week! For children ages 3-5. Meet at Berry Pond Gazebo, 702 Middleton Road, North Andover.

When:

Thursday, August 19, 2021 10:30-11:30am

Location:

Harold Parker State Forest

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See, Think, & Wonder Walks: Animals in Winter

Come to IRWS to search for signs of woodland animals preparing for Winter!

Many forest mammals are busy storing food, building up their fat, and thickening their fur. Let's search for signs of activity as they prepare for winter.

When:

Thursday, December 2, 2021 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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See, Think & Wonder Walk: Hidden Habitats

See, Think, and Wonder Walks for Preschoolers: Hidden Habitats

Secret places in nature hide little creatures that are getting ready for winter now. We'll learn how to discover and observe these places with care and respect.

When:

Thursday, October 7, 2021 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

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Open Air Ecology for Families: The Sandy Beach Habitat

Kids and families are invited to come explore the sandy beach habitat naturalists from the Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport.

No need to face the long lines, parking challenges, and crowds at the beach for this great summertime activity. Join Mass Audubon at Joppa Flats in the riverside yard at Joppa Flats instead! Learn how to identify wild creatures, design small habitats, participate in small group challenges, and more. Sign up for one or all of these programs and see nature through the lens of a naturalist! In this outing we'll explore the habitat of the sandy beach.

When:

Thursday, August 12, 2021 1:30-3pm

Friday, August 13, 2021 10am-Noon

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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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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Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School hosts the 15th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, MA. Pingree . The exhibit will open in early September with more than 50 temporary works on display in addition to the 20 pieces in the permanent collection of Pingree School. The exhibit ...

Where: Pingree School

8:00 am to 6:00 pm

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Newburyport Farmers' Market

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...

Where: Tannery Marketplace

9:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Cat's Meow at the Crane Estate

Our imagination is one of our greatest assets. Imagine living in 1929 and visiting the Crane family at their summer home in Ipswich. The house is so big and Mrs. Crane’s kitty, Ptolemy, has gone missing just before the party! Can you help a family servant find our mischievous Siamese? Once he’s...

Where: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate

10:30 am to 11:30 am

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Amesbury Market Daze

Welcome to Amesbury Market Daze at BareWolf Brewing, a vendor market where local surrounding Amesbury talent and community spirit converge.

Where: Barewolf Brewing

12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

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Sunday, December 1

Newburyport Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

A Newburyport tradition! As the holiday season approaches, Santa & Mrs. Claus arrive in the most fitting way for this seaport town... by US Coast Guard boat! Welcome Santa on the Sunday after Thanksgiving as he and Mrs.

Where: Downtown Newburyport

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Gloucester's Santa Parade & Tree Lighting

Gloucester's Holiday Parade is a great tradition to kick off the holidays! Come enjoy the parade, Santa, and the tree lighting at Kent Circle! Volunteers will line up parade participants at the State Fish Pier on Parker Street at 2:00 PM and will guide them through downtown Gloucester and on to...

Where: Downtown Gloucester

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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STEM Club at MPL

Have some fun and learn a little science too at STEM Club! This group meets every third Thursday from 4-5 and is for grades 4-6.

Where: Manchester Public Library

4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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Monday, December 2

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

Where: Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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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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Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...

Where: Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham

10:00 am to 10:45 am

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Deck The Halls: Hammond Castle

Come to Hammond Castle for the 6th annual Deck The Halls holiday celebration. Hammond Castle Museum will be dressed for the holidays inside and out. Delight in the enchanting ambiance of Christmas and White Birch trees, meticulously arranged garlands, festive wreaths, and the warm embrace of...

Where: Hammond Castle Museum

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Lego Time at MPL

Drop-in, unstructured Lego building fun! Come with friends or come to make new ones, this program is for kids ages six and up.

Where: Manchester Public Library

3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

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Chess Night at Beverly Library

You do not have access to view this node and BevRec are teaming up to offer Chess Nights in the Barnett Gallery in the main Library at 32 Essex St, Beverly. The first Monday of each month through May, come and play the world’s greatest game (if you don’t count Pac Man) with your neighbors. This is...

5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

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