Latest Stories, Events, Activities, Camps & Recipes

You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much less explored world unto themselves. They offer one of the most accessible dune landscapes in New England and trails that provide a firsthand look into the delicate and ever-changing dune habitat. This includes numerous lookouts offering stunning views of Choate Island and the varied ecosystems of Castle Neck, including Pitch Pine forests and naturally occurring cranberry bogs.

Bring your little ones to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh story hour. We will read books about animals and nature, maybe sing a song or two, then head up to the carriage barn to visit our Nubian goats, Angora rabbits and see what other animals are out and about on the farm. We will engage in hands on activities which may include pint-sized farm chores and getting up close to the animals that call the farm home. We will then head back to the farmhouse for one more story and to talk about which animals we enjoyed meeting.

Spring is an exciting time for outdoor discovery at the sanctuary. We have put together four full days of hands-on, engaging, and educational hikes and activities to explore the natural world this time of year. Grouped by ages: 5-6, 7-8, & 9-12.

Explore the sanctuary's vernal pools, ponds, and woodlands to search for amphibians active during this season. If we're fortunate, we might discover Wood Frog and Spotted Salamander eggs, and we may even catch a few adults to observe closely before releasing them.