Ipswich

The Riverbend Open House hosted by the Ipswich River Watershed Association will include games and activities for children and family geared towards teaching them about water use, the watershed, and the river. Guest will be able to explore the trails and gardens on the Riverbend property and participate in short paddles departing from the Riverbend dock. While guest may choose to bring their own kayaks/canoes/paddleboards they are invited to use the organization’s canoes and kayaks. Attendees should dress for being out of doors, bringing sunblock, water bottles and hats.

Join longtime volunteers Katrina and Susan to delve into the history of this magnificent working landscape.  You'll learn how the Appleton family worked the farm from 1636 through 1998, while exploring Harvard's Gore Hall granite pinnacles on the property, each dedicated to a different Appleton family member.  

Join us to gather these sweet and tart beach plums at Crane Beach. We’ll then head up to the Great House kitchen to make beach plum jam. All materials will be provided and participants are welcome to take their hard work home! Adults only. Pre-registration required. 

Join us for a relaxed, fun, and family-friendly paddle from our headquarters at Riverbend, right on the river in Ipswich. It is perfect for all ages and levels of paddling experience. You will have the opportunity to learn basic paddling skills, from the proper way to hold a kayak paddle to different ways to steer your canoe. You will enjoy a leisurely evening paddle down the river and experience the beauty of the river’s wildness and maybe even see some of our resident wildlife, from beavers to turtles to the many birds who call the river home. We have a limited number of canoes and kayaks that you may use for free, but you may also bring your own. Please let us know if you need a boat and which type you prefer.

Canoeing and kayaking are a wonderful complement to a meditative practice. Our paddle will be led by Kent Harrop a graduate of the Shalem Institute in Contemplative Leadership and a life-long lover of rivers and paddling. Before entering the water we’ll be introduced to a few simple yet profound meditation mantras designed to quiet our minds.

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.

These sweet, juicy red berries are back in season and what better way to celebrate this favorite than in the farm kitchen? We''ll create a fantastic menu of sweet & savory recipes featuring sun-kissed field strawberries as the star ingredient. Strawberry, Basil, & Goat Cheese Flatbread, Grilled Pork & Field Berry Salad with Hazelnuts, and delicious country-style Summer Strawberry Cake are just some of the dishes that will appear on this very special strawberry crop menu! This hands-on workshop includes instruction by professional chef Carolyn Grieco, printed recipe booklet and a full meal. BYOB beer and wine is allowed.

Want to canoe or kayak on the Ipswich River? Would you like to help support the health and longevity of the river while you do? Join the Ipswich River Watershed Association for their second annual Paddle-a-thon. You can choose to it alone, or take a guided social paddle, and all participants invited to join the party after their paddle between noon and 3pm. This fun fundraising event is open to all, and the IRWA even has a limited supply of kayaks and canoes, so register today!

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend a summer afternoon? Paddle across Essex Bay from the Trustees of Reservations boat dock to Choate Island. We’ll beach our boats for a tour of the island, stopping in at the Proctor Barn, the White Cottage and the Choate House, then continuing to the highest point on the island where Cornelius and Miné Crane are buried. After the hike, we’ll kayak around the island to get the views from the water (tides permitting).

Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend a summer morning? Paddle across Essex Bay from the Trustees of Reservations boat dock to Choate Island. We’ll beach our boats for a tour of the island, stopping in at the Proctor Barn, the White Cottage and the Choate House, then continuing to the highest point on the island where Cornelius and Miné Crane are buried. After the hike, we’ll kayak around the island to get the views from the water (tides permitting).