Discovery

Tolkien Walk in the Woods

"Around the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate..." -JRR Tolkien

"Around the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate..." -J.R.R. Tolkien. The Trustees invite You to A Walk in the Woods with J.R.R. Tolkien! More than a nature walk: experience through literature the adventures that await just outside your front door! Explore the sights, sounds, smells of the forest. Your guide will be prepared with material to be read aloud from Tolkien's trilogy using the roads and unique settings in Ravenswood Park as background.

When: 
Sunday, October 18, 2015 1-3pm
Location: 

Wee Ones Paddle

Teach the little ones the joy of canoeing at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary!

The Ipswich River is the perfect river to start your children canoeing. We'll pair up two adults and two children per canoe and take a leisurely paddle up the river. We'll stop off in one of the backwater areas and do some dipping in the river to observe up close the creatures under the surface. On our return, we'll enjoy a snack at the canoe landing and talk about what we discovered. Bring a blanket and we'll provide a sweet treat.

When: 
Sunday, October 11, 2015 1-3pm

Fungi and Lichens: A Closer Look

Find out everything about fungus and become a fungus detective at IRWS!

As fall descends, we will explore the sanctuary forests and wetlands for various fungi and lichens. We will learn what they are and how they are different, and what habitats are common to each. Their beautiful colors, textures, and patterns reveal a beautiful world in all seasons. This can become a wonderful family outdoor hobby, and you will always find new treasures awaiting you if you look closely.

When: 
Sunday October 11, 2015 1:30-3pm

Imagine, Sing, & Learn 8A: Tide Pool Pals

What lives in the tidal pools?  find out at Joppa Flats Education Center!

Tide Pool Pals is an active, fun, program where you and your child will learn all about the tide pool habitiat and the creatures that live there. Using fun props and lots of hands on science, we’ll look at everything there is to know about this habitat found along the coast!

When: 
Thursday, August 7, 2014 10-11:30 am

Parent/Child Walkabouts: Tide Pool Treasure Hunt

This parent/child walkabout focuses on tidal pool creatures and habitat.

We will be exploring the tide-pools of Sandy Point to learn about the relationships between the water, plants, and animals that live in this habitat. We will learn how to search and handle a wide variety of intertidal animals including  snails, mussels, crabs, and other small invertebrates. We plan to play a game that shows what life in a tide-pool is like, sing some songs and get a little wet too!

When: 
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 2-3:30pm
Location: 

Eco-Art: Pond Dipping

Discover the creatures of your local pond through art at IRWS

Have you ever seen a water boatman up close? How about a caddisfly larva or water scorpion? If not, then join us for a summer morning of pond dipping. Using hand lenses, microscopes, and strainers, we'll search for turtles and frogs and delight in the sights and smells of a morning on the pond. We will provide sketch pads, pastels, and watercolors so you can recreate your findings in detail.

When: 
Thursday, July 17, 2014 9-11:00 am

Stratigraphy at Halibut Point

Halibut Point State Park hosts a program on Stratigraphy, the branch of geology concerned with the order and relative position of strata and their relationship to the geological time scale. In Stratigraphy at Halibut Point visitors explore some of Halibut’s soil/bedrock contact points and explore the story of time that they tell.

When: 
Mondays, July 7-28, 2014 1-2pm

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Butterflying in the Backyard

Learn about butterflies at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport!

This week we learn about butterflies, how to catch them and what they eat! Adults and children can spend quality family time in the great outdoors finding, observing, and admiring local wildlife. Excursions might include a group game to burn off some steam, an on-the-water scavenger hunt, or a guided tour. We'll observe, investigate, and compare coastal environments and their inhabitants, both on- and offshore. Each adventure will leave your family excited to come back for more!

When: 
Sunday, June 29, 2014 1-3:30 pm

Summer Solstice Celebration

Celebrate the Summer Solstice with Mass Audubon at the Ipswich River Sanctuary

The summer solstice has been celebrated for centuries, with all sorts of traditions growing up around it. Join us on the longest day of the year and create your own traditions, by celebrating nature and being outside. After reading The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer, we will stroll along the sanctuary trails observing the delights of the season. Upon our return, we will create sun art and light the traditional bonfire. You are welcome to bring a picnic supper to enjoy after the celebration.

When: 
Saturday, June 21, 2014 4-6pm

Pages

Camp Whirlygig for kids ages 4-10 at the Wenham Museum in Massachusetts

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Gold Star Run for Honor

Start Your Memorial day with a run/walk to honor a local Saugus Massachusetts veteran, Scott Procopio
The Gold Star Run for Honor is a 5k, 10k, kids fun run or 1 Mile Walk to honor the memory of a local Saugus veteran. Scott J. Procopio was on his second deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having previously served in Fallujah in 2005. He was killed in action as a result of a roadside...
7:30 am to 12:00 pm

Teen Naturalist Club at IRWS: Spring/Summer Series

Join Mass Audubon for their Teen Naturalist Club at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield Massachusetts!
Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!
8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Family Day at the Bird Banding Station

Kids will learn about local and migrating birds at Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts
There's nothing like a visit to Parker River National Wildlife Refuge for wonderful family nature experiences, and seeing the bird banding station in operation is at the top of the list. See Mass Audubon scientists evaluate and release migrant songbirds while you learn about migration and habitat...
9:00 am to 11:30 am

Melody Miles

Melody Miles raises funds for kids to pursue their artistic interests in the Hamilton-Wenham School District
The Hamilton-Wenham Friends of the Arts is excited to host the Annual Melody Miles 5k fun run starting from Winthrop Elementary School. Our talented student performers look forward to serenading you as you walk, run, hop, skip, or dance your way along our scenic local race route.
9:00 am

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Newburyport Spring Festival 2025

Celebrate the onset of Spring in beatuiful downtown Newburyport Massachusetts
The Newburyport Chamber of Commerce invites you to welcome Spring's arrival to Newburyport at the 2025 Spring Fest!
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

LEGO Club at Salem Public Library

Come to the Salem Massachusetts Public Library for an afternoon of LEGO and fun!
Salem Public Library hosts a morning session of LEGO fun! We provide the LEGO, you provide the imagination.  Stop by the library on Saturday mornings (every other Saturday) to play and build.
10:30 am to 11:30 am

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

TitO presents Petrushka & the Caterpillar

Theater in the Open presents Petrushka and the Catapillar at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
What happens when your favorite stories need a new ending? Everyone's favorite clown upends iconic fables and fairytales in our signature storytelling style – with tons of imagination, humor, and heart. Join Petrushka and the gang as they retell old stories for our times!
2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Wednesday, June 11

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Sing & Dance with the Music Man

Sing & Dance with the Music Man Brian Doser in Hamilton visit Massachusetts
Come join the fun at Community House Of Hamilton & Wenham Monday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 10am for 30 - 45 minutes of great music with Brian Doser! Sing and dance with the Music Man during a family concert, featuring familiar and original tunes, performed by local dad and musician,...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Family Fishing at Breakheart Reservation

Come to Breakheart Reservation for a full day of family fishing fun!
Join the park interpreter for a drop-in fishing program! Learn how to fish, what fish live in our ponds, and how to catch and release responsibly. Bait and a handful of rods will be provided but feel free to bring your own gear and fish with us and share your tips!
10:00 am to 11:30 am

D&D (Ages 10-14) at Amesbury Library

Dungeons and Dragons for Tweens at the Public Library in Amesbury Massachusetts
Come play in a Dungeons and Dragons ongoing campaign! You'll create your own characters and build the story session to session. Come if you're a beginner or if you know the rules. All are welcome!  Registration is required and is for all 7 weeks.
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Stargazing at Mendel Observatory

Mendel Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night
The Observatory, with the support of volunteers from the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, hosts public stargazing every Wednesday night (weather permitting) starting at dusk or 7:30 pm, whichever is later.  When special astronomical events of interest occur (total lunar eclipses, etc.) the Obs
7:00 pm

Thursday, June 12

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

 Maudslay in Bloom self guided walk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts.
Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts, offers a delightful self-guided walk that is perfect for families with children. The park's 480-acre expanse, once the Moseley Estate, is rich with historical charm and natural beauty. Families can embark on a self-guided tour through lush...
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Swan Boat Rides in Boston Public Garden

Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
The Public Garden may be one of the most ideal picnicking locations in Boston. Well-groomed and overflowing with tulips, cherry-trees, with willows cascading over the duck pond, the Boston Public Garden is a great place to relax during Boston's most beautiful season.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Salem Farmers' Market

The Salem Farmer's Market bring the goodness of local farm to downtown Salem!
The Salem Farmers' Market brings fresh local produce and other foods from North Shore farms and other local resources to downtown Salem every Thursday at  Bentley Academy Charter School!
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Salisbury Farmers' Market

Salisbury Farmers Market is a great source of local produce.
The Salisbury Farmers' Market offers a vibrant community experience with a variety of fresh, locally sourced produce, unprocessed honey, farm-fresh eggs, and maple syrup. Enjoy music, local market creations, and engage with local farmers. The market also features monthly craft markets, cooking...
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Subscribe to Discovery