Topsfield

Using materials collected from nature, join us in our cozy Barn and create a variety of lovely nature crafts to give as gifts during the holiday season. Choose from a variety of natural crafts - possibilities include nature-print cards, milkweed pod ornaments, wreaths woven from vines, and more.

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.

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 Beaver at Long Pond by William T. George & Lindsay Barrett George, and then take a walk to Rockery Pond to see a beaver lodge, dam, beaver chews, and scent mounds. As a group, we will build our own lodge.

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. Then we'll design a camouflaged moth.

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.

This evening's program will focus on the northern lights, what causes them, and when and how to observe and photograph them. You will learn how to use the Internet to track their activity so that you can determine on your own when observing opportunities will arise. Do not expect to view them on the evening of the program.

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 A Log's Life by Wendy Pfeiffer, and discover that logs are their own little habitats. Using hand lenses and bug boxes, we will examine salamanders, fungi, and other log dwellers.

Nature journaling is a tool for making discoveries about nature. It involves drawing, but you don't have to be an artist. It involves writing, labeling, and making notes about what you notice and wonder. Above all, it involves taking a closer look. After a brief orientation and introductory exercises, the class will explore the journaling process along the trails of the sanctuary.

Wetlands are home to many fascinating creatures, none more so than some unique wetland mammals. While visiting the numerous wetlands on the sanctuary, we will explore active and abandoned beaver lodges, scan the marshes for signs of muskrats, and search for signs of otter activity. With a little luck, we may see some of these mammals making their final preparations for winter. We will also construct and test our own beaver dams and lodges!

During the cool, crisp, early-evening hours of autumn, many interesting creatures set out into the dark woodlands. Deer, owls, and flying squirrels are just a few of the animals we hope to encounter on our hike. Enjoy a walk that will spark your senses as we venture into the night in search of these and other nighttime forest dwellers.