Topsfield

We will take an up-close look at several owl mounts, and then we will walk to the Hemlock Forest to search for signs of owls and learn their calls. On our return, we will make an owl puppet.

What birds come to your yard in the winter? We will walk the trails looking, listening, and calling for birds. Then we will warm up back in the Nature Center and make a bird feeder to take home.

What animals do you see in winter? Where do they find their food? We will hike to the woods and look for clues of what they have been eating and where they have been sleeping. Discover tracks in the snow and try to guess what animals have been on the trails.

Come to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary to join in the reading of a children's nature story followed by an exploration in the woods, fields and wetlands of the sanctuary.

Predators such as the eastern coyote can't go to the market for groceries, so how do they get their food? We'll spend some time indoors learning about the different predators in Massachusetts, including how they hunt and how they stay warm to survive the cold winter months. Then we'll take a walk to look for fishers, river otters, foxes, hawks, and owls. Tracks, chews, scat, pellets, and bones will show us where predators have partied.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

What is happening underneath the layer of snow that covers the ground in winter? Find out about mice, voles, and shrews that may be busy and cozy right beneath your feet. We will make our own winter shelters out of snow and branches to see how warm we can make them.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

Not all birds have gone south. Join us during this peaceful season as we venture along the sanctuary trails in search of birds that overwinter in our area, including the ever-curious chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, and more. Using nuts, seedpods, and other natural foods, we will decorate a tree for them. Bring binoculars, or we will provide them if you do not have your own.

• Suitable for ages 4-12
• Meets in the Nature Center
• Registration is required - see website

Brighten up your yard this winter with a bird feeder handmade by you and your child. Each family will receive a kit containing all the necessary parts to build a feeder that will attract chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, cardinals, and many other birds to your yard. A short slide presentation will highlight the birds that commonly come to feeders. We'll also observe the sanctuary feeders to see what birds are looking for food. Instructors will circulate to provide assistance.

• Meets in the Barn.
• Please bring a hammer.
• The fee is per family and includes one kit
• extra kits can be purchased for $12 each; please order when you register.
• Registration is required - see website

Join watercolorist Brenda Sloane in a monthly program that combines nature and art. We will start with a walk on the sanctuary to observe the topic of the month. We will then return to the Nature Center to create a follow-up work of art.

December 11: Animals Preparing for Winter, followed by a watercolor paperweight based on our findings.

• Suitable for ages 6-12
• Registration is required - see website

Join watercolorist Brenda Sloane in a monthly program that combines nature and art. We will start with a walk on the sanctuary to observe the topic of the month. We will then return to the Nature Center to create a follow-up work of art.

October 30: Leaves, Berries, and Nuts, followed by a multimedia watercolor painting based on the shapes and results of our findings.

November 13: Late Fall Birds, followed by the creation of a watercolor bird puzzle.

December 11: Animals Preparing for Winter, followed by a watercolor paperweight based on our findings.

• Suitable for ages 6-12
• Registration is required.