As the sun begins to set, join us for a stroll into the woodland trails of Halibut Point State Park on this darkest day of the year. We will wonder about changes happening, what animals are doing for winter, and we will share tales centuries old cultural traditions. Celebrate the seasonal changes as we warm up by the fire with S’mores! For all ages. Heavy rain cancels.
Journey back in time with Mass Audubon and the Topsfield Historical Society on a child-friendly guided hike with hands-on games and activities to learn about the people and wildlife who have called these forests home. Try your hand at building a kid-sized log cabin, see and use real historical carpentry tools, and learn the names and stories of the towering trees and woodland wildlife all around us. Late fall is a wonderful time to take a hike with friends and family and give thanks for the resources and beauty that nature provides for us all. The hike is approximately 1 hour long, set at a leisurely pace with stops to explore. Fun forest activities, snacks, hot drinks, and a roaring fire in our cozy barn are ongoing throughout the program.
Find out why Native Americans call the November moon the Beaver Moon. Spend an evening walking in the crisp autumn air searching for fishers and racccoons and scanning the barren treetops for the silhouettes of owls. Smell the wood smoke and hear the crunch of leaves underfoot, reminding us that winter is just around the corner. We'll stop in the wetlands to observe beavers making their final winter preparations. What a perfect way to spend a quiet evening with your family before the rush of the holidays begins.
Did you know that nature plays its own game of hide-and-seek? In order to survive, animals and insects use many disguises. They can stay very still, blend in with their surroundings, and even change color. We'll take a hike to look for these secretive creatures that hide themselves from prying eyes.
Come enjoy an early evening excursion at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield! During the autumn months, thousands of migratory waterfowl fly directly over the sanctuary as they travel from their summer breeding grounds in the north to their winter homes in the south. Each night, hundreds of ducks drop into Bunker Meadows to rest and refuel for their journey. We will hike down to Bunker Meadows and climb the observation tower to observe the magnificent spectacle of ducks coming in to roost. Learn to identify different species, use counters to keep track of numbers, hear the sounds of ducks settling in for the night, and listen for the call of a great horned owl across the marsh. This is an evening not to be missed.
Join DCR’s Autumn Feature StoryWalk® at Maudslay State Park Walk a trail and read the story One Small Place in a Tree, written by Barbara Brenner and illustrated by Tom Leonard. Come and participate in this self Guided StoryWalk for Pre-K kids with adults! Autumn is a perfect time to enjoy the magic of reading together outdoors!
Come hike at Ward Reservation with The Trustees. Families with school-aged children are invited to join The Trustees in the great outdoors on this 2 mile hike at Ward Reservation. This guided hike on the property's Yellow and Blue Trails will offer scenic vistas of Boston and the unusual solstice stones arrangement at the top of Holt Hill, as well as a bog habitat and carnivorous plants!
Join the park interpreter for a hike thru the Artichoke Woods to see this resource rich location and special part of the park bordering on the Artichoke River.
Join the The Trustees of Reservations at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate, cut your own flowers at our Flower Fields Cutting Garden and then use them to create a beautiful flower crown. We will have all the supplies and instructions you need to learn how to make a beautiful floral crown of your own design. Participants of all ages and genders encouraged to attend! Leave feeling fabulous and with the skills to craft future headpieces from your own garden blooms.
North Shore Nature Programs is happy to be participating in our first ever Trails and Sails event! Join experienced naturalists Andrew and Dan on a guided hike through Camp Denison’s fields and forests. Your family can expect to see katydids, dragonfly’s, centipedes, millipedes, and sow bugs! Each family will have the opportunity to touch and hold as many invertebrates as they please! You will also learn about the amazing adaptations these creatures require to live in the wild.
