Pre-School

Little Woods Walk: Forest Walk for Families

Join Mass Audubon naturalists on a hike at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield!

Join a Mass Audubon teacher on a child-friendly walk to learn about the people and wildlife who call these forests home. Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy a hike with family and give thanks for the resources and beauty that nature provides for wild animals and people, too. The hike is set at a leisurely pace with stops to explore for birds, mammals, insects, and other interesting creature we'll see along the way.

When:

Saturday, October 31, 2020 10am-11:30am

Saturday, October 31, 2020 1-2:30pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Read more about Little Woods Walk: Forest Walk for Families

Nature for Tots at Joppa: Backyard Birds

Meet some of the birds that you'll find in your yard at Joppa Flats Education Center!

The Joppa Flats riverside yard will be our outdoor classroom for families every week! Let's learn about different animals and their habitats, discover the mysteries of weather and where animals go in winter, and do lots of hands-on science with songs, role play, and imagination. This session will focus on birds that you'll find in your own backyard!

When:

Thursday, October 15, 2020 10-11am

Thursday, October 15, 2020 1-2pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Nature for Tots at Joppa: Backyard Birds

Tidepools for Tots

Hermit Crabs, Moon Snails, and Sea Urchins! Come meet these beach creatures in the riverside yard at Joppa Flats. Each family will create their own tide pool model with sand, rocks, seaweed, and salt water. Once each habitat is set up, we'll share our live marine critters with you for you to add to your model tide pool. Your curiosity and wonder will grow as you see how these animals move, hide, and react to each other. Questions and discussion are always welcome!

When:

Thursday, September 24, 2020 10-11am or 2-3pm

Friday, September 25, 2020 10-11am or 2-3pm

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Tidepools for Tots

Observing Artificial Satellites

Come learn how to spot satellites at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: NASA

The program will begin with an indoor presentation that will provide you with the information needed to be able to find and observe artificial satellites like the International Space Station and other human-made orbiting objects. Topics to be covered will include the nature of artificial satellite orbits, the best time of year for observing them, and how to identify them in the night sky. Weather permitting, we'll step outside afterwards to seek out artificial satellites and gaze into the night sky through the telescopes of local amateur astronomers. Along with the early springtime constellations, a young crescent moon and the planet Venus will be visible.

When:

Friday, March 28, 2020 7-9pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Read more about Observing Artificial Satellites

Dads & Donuts At Sawyer Free

Calling all dads! Bring your kids to Sawyer Free Library for a Saturday morning

This is a great opportunity for dads (uncles, grandfathers, cousins or other father figures) to spend time with their kids! Come to the Sawyer Free Library with the kids for a storytime filled with songs, stories,snacks and fun! Great for kids aged 2-6 (siblings are welcome). Moms and siblings welcome to attend.

When:

Saturday, March 14, 2020 10:00am

Location:

Read more about Dads & Donuts At Sawyer Free

Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Whales on the Move

Kids can learn about whales at this Imagine Sing and Learn session at Joppa Flats in Newburyport!

Whales! Let's pretend to go on a whale watch and learn how to breach and belly roll like humpbacks and find out how whales feed and handle some real whale teeth and baleens and bones. We'll also listen to whale sounds underwater and learn how people are protecting whales in the ocean. Keep learning with take-home coloring pages and fun follow-up activities.

When:

Friday, march 20, 2020 10-11:30 am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Whales on the Move

Imagine, Sing & Learn: Seals on the Shore

Seals live all over the coast of the North Shore. Kids will learn more at Joppa flats Education Center in Newburyport!

These 90-minute sessions are for both you and your active preschooler! Each week, our structured activities will include original songs, movement, dramatic play, hand-on science, and a thematic snack. We'll give you coloring pages to take home and lots of fun materials via an electronic goody bag after each class. This session is all about seals which are found along the coast of the north shore.

When:

Friday, March 6, 2020 10-11:30am

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Imagine, Sing & Learn: Seals on the Shore

Open House Mornings for Families: Backyard Birds in Winter

What birds come to your yard in the winter? Find out at Joppa Flats Education Center during February Vacation!

Joppa Flats Education Center vacation programs offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities while we keep minds active and hands busy during school break. Beat the winter blahs during school break! Drop in for an hour or stay all morning, either one or both days, for a vacation destination that suits your schedule. Drop in for family fun! You'll see winter bird banding demonstrations and try out science and art activities. "Miss Lisa" invites you to join her at 11:00 for an energetic educational presentation where everyone particpates in the fun of an interactive mult-media show. After the presentation, weather permitting, we'll go outside for a group game.

When:

Thursday, February 20, 2020 10:00am-Noon

Location:

Joppa Flats Education Center

Read more about Open House Mornings for Families: Backyard Birds in Winter

Sense of Wonder Walk: Backyard Birds

Learn about and help feed local birds that spend the winter in New England at Mass Audubon's Ipwich River Wildlife Sanctuary

There's a lot going on in the natural world in winter, so bundle up the family and join us for an outdoor exploration! This walk will begin with a short introduction indoors, and then we'll go outside to explore. What birds visit your house in winter? We'll walk the trails looking, listening, and calling for birds. After our hike, we'll return to the Nature Center to warm up and view birds from our observation window.

When:

Sunday, February 2, 2020 1:30-3pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Read more about Sense of Wonder Walk: Backyard Birds

Pre-K Owl Prowl

Preschoolers will learn all about owls at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary during this owl prowl designed just for them!

The folks at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary have created an owling expedition just for kids aged 3-6! Winter is the perfect time of year to go out in search of owls. We'll learn about these fascinating birds through a story and hands-on activities before we head out on our adventure to look for them. Afterwards, we'll warm up by the woodstove with a cup of hot chocolate and cookies.

When:

Friday, February 1, 2020 4-6 pm

Location:

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary