Topsfield

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.

This five-session series runs on Wednesday or Thursday mornings for five weeks. It introduces toddlers, accompanied by a favorite adult, to the natural delights of late autumn as mammals, birds, and even plants, prepare for the coming winter. We'll go out for a hike to look and listen for signs of the seasons. This program is also offered on Thursday mornings.

Life Under a Log: October 27
What is hiding under the rocks and logs of the sanctuary? Is it a centipede? Is it a salamander? Come find the hidden treasures beneath the forest floor.

Chipmunks and Their Cousins: November 3
We will learn about chipmunks and squirrels and discover how they are similar and how they are different. We'll design our own chipmunk coats, play a game, and look for chipmunks and their cousins' homes.

Fairy Houses: November 10
What would happen if you built a house for the fairies? Chances are high that you would see nature's visitors first. We will read a story about fairy houses and then venture outside to create our own.

Beavers: November 17
We will take a walk to the wetlands to see a beaver lodge, dam, beaver chews, and scent mounds. As a group, we'll build our own beaver lodge.

Owls: December 1
We will take an up-close look at several owl mounts, and then we'll walk to the Hemlock Forest to search for signs of owls and learn their calls. On our return, we will make an owl puppet.

• suitable for children ages 2 - 3 yrs
• Registration is required - see website
• class size is limited to 9 adult/child pairs

Each walk will begin with a short introduction indoors, and then we'll go outside for a walk. General topics for each walk are listed below, but we'll stop and investigate anything that crosses our path. Join us for one or more of these fall walks!

This Walk: Walk with us through the forest to see how the changing season affects animals, trees, and plants. Examine tree holes and look for animals in the leaves. Whatever we find, we will explore, but we'll focus on what is eating and being eaten in the woods.

• Suitable for ages 3-16
• Registration Required - see website or call

Each walk will begin with a short introduction indoors, and then we'll go outside for a walk. General topics for each walk are listed below, but we'll stop and investigate anything that crosses our path. Join us for one or more of these fall walks!

This Walk: Running water is important to many plants and animals. We'll explore a stream from top to bottom and side to side, turning over rocks and netting water creatures. We'll also find out where this water comes from and where it's going. Wear boots if you have them.

• Suitable for ages 3-16
• Registration Required - see website or call

Each walk will begin with a short introduction indoors, and then we'll go outside for a walk. General topics for each walk are listed below, but we'll stop and investigate anything that crosses our path. Join us for one or more of these fall walks!

This Walk: Though they are small, ponds are known for their rich variety of plant and animal life. Come explore Waterfowl Pond for a close-up look at a place where hundreds of hungry creatures are always on the hunt. Using nets and other collecting equipment, we'll dip into the water, sweep through the weeds, and scoop up some mud to discover the creatures that live there. Wear boots if you have them.

• Suitable for ages 3-16
• Registration Required - see website or call

This evening's PowerPoint presentation will highlight some of the celestial events that occur in autumn. Topics for discussion will include a description of the major constellations visible in fall, how to spot a beautiful pairing of the planets Uranus and Jupiter through binoculars, details of an upcoming eclipse of the Moon, and when to look for a spectacular meteor shower in December. Afterward, view the Moon, Uranus, Jupiter, and the evening stars courtesy of the North Shore Amateur Astronomers, weather permitting.

Join us as we share a children's nature story before we explore the woods, fields, and wetlands of the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.Today: We'll read Squish!: A Wetland Walk by Nancy Luenn. Then, using buckets and strainers, we will explore a pond and a wetland habitat and search for critters that swim, soar, and crawl.

Saturday, May 1st, 2010 from 9am - 5pm.

Children's Activities include Spin-A-Gem, gold panning, mineral sifting, geode cracking.

Adults: Wholesale and Retail Dealers, Fossils, minerals, gemstones, precious and semi-precious stones, jewelry, beads, jewelry and lapidary supplies. Exhibits, hourly door prizes. Mineral and Fossil identification.