Live Animals

Bound for Butterflies

Joppa Flats Education Center will have Free indoor and outdoor activities for kids and families!

Join the park interpreter and special guest Russ Hopping on a walk to view and identify various butterfly species at Maudslay. Russ is an active member of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club and enjoys sharing his knowledge of butterflies with others. Russ is the Ecology Program Director for The Trustees of Reservations. He has worked for The Trustees since 1997, overseeing the stewardship of ecological resources at The Trustees’ more than 26,000 acres.

When:

Saturday, August 11, 2018 10am-Noon

Location:

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Butterflies & Bugs Free-for-All

Drop in at Joppa Flats and meet live caterpillars, moths, and butterflies! You’ll learn smart practices to attract birds and wildlife to your own yard as well as how to safely identify insects. Enjoy a "Backyard Bug Hunt' with our naturalists, join in a "Monarch Migration Relay Race," and take home a fun craft or two.

When:

Sunday, July 22, 2018 10am-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

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Seashore Adventures: Beach Exploration

Go on a low tide exploration at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich, Massachusetts!

Enjoy the morning at Pavilion Beach in Ipswich during low tide and discover the living wonders of the sandy coastline. We will walk across the shoreline of Little Neck, where we will search for tiny fish, hermit crabs, periwinkles, and other sea creatures living in this delicate habitat. We will preserve our memories by creating a beach collage.

When:

Thursday, June 21, 2018 Noon-1:30pm

Location:

Pavilion Beach - Ipswich

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ECTA Trail Jamboree

Essex County Trail Association Jamboree at Groton House Farm in Hamilton Massachusetts!

Come Walk, Run, Bike and Ride on guided trail adventures (for all levels) followed by a party featuring live music, live animals, games, great food trucks and local beer from the Tapmobiles of Ipswich Ale Brewery. Trail activities from 1-3pm and party from 3-6pm. Get outdoors and have fun while supporting ECTA and the 450 miles of trails that we maintain for your access to walk, run, cycle and ride!

When:

June 23, 2018 1-6pm

Location:

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Family Night-Hike: Equinox Evening Explore

Celebrate the equinox with your family at Joppa Flats at Rough Meadows with Mass Audubon

Joppa Flats Education Center Staff is invites you and your family for a night hike to celebrate the Spring equinox, the celestial event that marks the true beginning of spring. As the sun sets, we'll search for signs of spring in the forest and field and use some tricks for investigating nature at night. We'll end the evening around a toasty fire pit with blankets and treats while sharing legends about the seasons and constellations.

When:

Friday, March 16, 2018 6:30-8pm

Location:

Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary

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Owl Prowl at Stevens-Coolidge

Come to the owl Prowl at the Stevens Coolidge Estate in North Andover, meet an owl and learn to spot them

Enjoy an evening out with the owls. This guided hike will begin in the Stevens-Coolidge Place parking lot located across the street from the property. As the day falls deeper into the night and new animals emerge as others retire, we will walk together through the property in search of screech owls and great horned owls. Flashlights strongly encouraged. Owl Prowls will be held rain, snow or moonshine. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes.

When:

Sunday, January 14, 2018 7-9pm

Location:

Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens

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Feed the Birds Storytime

Children and their caregivers are invited to spend a morning at the Stevens-Coolidge Place to enjoy a story and craft time focused on birds. Bird watching is enjoyable any time of year, but can be particularly rewarding in the winter if you've hung a homemade snack for the birds in your yard. So, join us this Wednesday morning to explore the world of birds around you through stories and a hands-on activity.

When:

Wednesday, January 17, 2018 9:30-10:30am

Location:

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Smolak Farms Fall Family Fun

There's all kinds of fun going on at Smolak Farm Weekend Festival!

Take your first bite into a crisp and delicious New England apple this weekend at Smolak Farms located in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Hay wagon rides, playground, animals, duck races, wee wagons, pick your own fruit….it all happens at Smolak Farms! Apple picking, pumpkins, hayrides, festival, food court, cider donuts and more!

ALL NEW Fall Festival area with extended activities for children that include Wee Wagons, Duck Races, Games, Pop corn, Cotton Candy, Face Painting, Bouncy House, Batting Cage, HUGE slide, Hay Pyramid Animals and more!

When:

Weekends from now until October 30, 2017

Location:

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Cape Ann Family Fun Fair

Pathways for Children invites families to their Cape Ann Family Fun Fair! Come for a morning of fun activities, catch a live demonstration by Curious Creatures, and a puppet show by Adventures with Amy and Open Mic!

When:

Saturday, May 4, 2013 9:30am-12pm

Location:

Pathways for Children

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Kestrel Education Student Work Showcase

Kestrel Educational Adventures is hosting a Student Work Showcase! This is an afternoon for sharing favorite project work that was done in connection with the natural world. We usually have work by students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, and it includes sculptures, maps, field guides, nature videos, among other projects. You are invited to come and share your creations with others.

When:

Friday, June 9, 2017 4:30-6:40pm

Location:

Kestrel Educational Adventures

Gloucester

Art

Live Animals

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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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All Family Field Trip | Early Spring in the Salt Marsh

Come explore what nature has in store at some of our most amazing wild places on the north shore. Our engaging and experienced staff will introduce families to local beaches, forests, and wetlands to make observations in nature, identify wildlife, and enjoy hands on science activities outdoors....

Where: Joppa Flats Education Center

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

April 20th & 21st. FREE admission and FREE parking. All INDOORS & Enjoy the Food Trucks outside. Speak to leading home industry professionals to plan your spring home projects.

Where: Topsfield Fairgrounds

10:00 am to 6:59 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 3:59 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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Lego Club at MPL

Drop in from 3:45-4:45 to make your own Lego creation! This program is for kids in grades 2 and up.

Where: Manchester Public Library

3:45 pm to 4:45 pm

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Evening Stroll at Maudslay

Join the park interpreter for a moderately paced walk to view different areas of the park and experience the seasonal changes at Maudslay.

Where: Maudslay State Park

5:00 pm to 6:00 pm

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Sunday, May 26

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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Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Where: Boston Common and Boston Public Garden

10:00 am to 3:59 pm

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Home & Food Truck Show | Topsfield

April 20th & 21st. FREE admission and FREE parking. All INDOORS & Enjoy the Food Trucks outside. Speak to leading home industry professionals to plan your spring home projects.

Where: Topsfield Fairgrounds

10:00 am to 6:59 pm

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Interpretation Station at Maudslay

Join the park interpreter and discover more about the bloom cycle at Maudslay. View the beautiful varieties featrued throughout the park, and peak bloom locations through the growing season.Check the bulletin board in the parking lot for the Interpetation Station location each day.

Where: Maudslay State Park

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

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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 it’s most known for. In addition to learning about what plants are in bloom as well as the rare and unique species in our collection, you...

Where: Long Hill and Sedgwick Gardens

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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CraneOutdoors: Kayak Historic Fox Creek

The Great Marsh—the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England—is not only brimming with fascinating natural history, it is also home to a rich cultural history. Nowhere is this more evident than in the meandering waters of Fox Creek. Connecting the tidal estuaries of the Essex River basin and...

Where: Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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