Live Animals

Family Flyby: Boats Afloat!

Make your own boat, then see if it floats at Joppa Flats Education Center!

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!  This week, kids are encouraged to be a pirate for the day, learn the skills a sailor needs at sea, and learn about ocean conservation!

When: 
Saturday, July 7, 2012 10am - 2pm

Family Flyby: Return of the Touch Tank

You can look at, AND touch the creatures in Joppa Flats touch tank!

Free-flow learning at Joppa Flats is fun for the whole family. There's simple science fun with coloring pages, crafts, and toys for ages 2 to 6; science experiments and group challenges for ages 7 and up; and outdoor exploration, seasonal live animals, and scheduled family presentations for everyone. Fly by for an hour or stay all day for family time that suits your schedule. There's something different to see and do with every visit!  This week we're thrilled to have our touch tank back for the season. Come look AND touch the creature that live in our tank!

When: 
Saturday, June 2, 2012 10am - 2pm

Beaver Fun in the Setting Sun

Join us as we look for elusive river mammals at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: American Beaver ©Scott Santino

Have you ever visited a beaver lodge or had an opportunity to see the resident beaver itself? Join in for an evening walk to a beaver lodge on the sanctuary and discover how busy beavers really are. You will learn to recognize some of their favorite trees, see how a lodge is constructed, and listen for the slap of a tail on the pond.

When: 
Fri, September 23, 2011 6 - 8 pm

Harvest Fest at Green Meadows Farm

Come celebrate the Harvest at Green Meadows Farm in Hamilton!

You do not have access to view this node celebrates the harvest season with their FREE annual Harvest Fest! Enjoy live music by Dixie Cookbooks, arts and crafts for kids, farm fresh food (for purchase), an obstacle course, lawn games, face painting, and wagon rides. The walking paths are open for you to walk about the property and enjoy the fields and animals.

When: 
Saturday, September 24, 2016 11am-3pm

Butter in the Barnyard

Butter in the Barnyard is for families and children 2-7 to meet our dairy herd at Appleton Farms.

Everyone loves rich and creamy butter, but have you ever discovered where butter begins?  Join us for a guided stroll around the farm learning all about our dairy, explore the milking parlor, enjoy a calf close encounter and end with butter making in the Carriage Barn. Recommended for ages 2-7.  Pre-registration is required as we can not accommodate a large group with drop-ins for this program. Registration is by the family- if you have 6 or more in your family, please register 2 families as we want to have enough butter ingredients for all. This program meets in our Carriage Barn. Parking is available at the Visitor Center. 

When: 
Saturdays, July 9 & 23, 2016 10:30-11:30am
Saturdays, August 6 & 20, 2016 10:30-11:30am
Location: 

Father's Day Special--Live Snake Show!

Albino Milk Snake being held by a child at Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team.

Grab Dad and come to a Live Animal Presentation of Snakes of Ravenswood, Massachusetts, and the World! As the sun warms the ground, you may come across a snake that slithers away before you have a chance to see it.  This is your chance to get up close to see and appreciate these creatures living in our yards and woodlands.  Rick Roth, local snake expert, and founder and Executive Director of Cape Ann Vernal Pond Team, will share some of his favorite snakes and discuss their lives, habits, and care.  Free for Dads today. Call or email to register.

When: 
Sunday, June 19, 2016 2-3pm
Location: 

Night of Reptiles

Rainforest Reptile Shows hosts “Night of Reptiles” Family night! Tickets include a live animal demonstration, dinner, children’s activities, door prizes,silent auction and hands on reptile encounters. Bring your camera! Limited tickets available!  Some of the animals in attendance may include Fred, a 6-foot-long alligator, Venus, a 20-foot-long snake, and even a bird of prey! You will be able to meet, touch, and take your picture with snakes, lizards, turtles, and alligators. This fundraiser is to kick off the premier of Rainforest Reptile Shows new nonprofit RRS OASIS a 501(c)(3).

When: 
Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 4-8PM

Fairy Shrimp, Salamanders, and Frogs--Alive!

Ramona Latham - Directory of the Discovery Center at Ravenswood park in Gloucester, holds a yellow spotted salamander for closer inspection.

Venture to vernal pools where survival of fairy shrimp, salamanders, and wood frogs are crucial.  We will explore pools, learn how to protect them, and meet these creatures that depend on these pools.  This program is instructive to participants, so you can take home the techniques, forms, and methods to certify pools in your neighborhood...or back yard.  This is a family-friendly opportunity, so exploration is an important--and fun!--element in the program.  Directions to pre-registrants.

When: 
Saturday, April 16, 2016 1-3PM
Location: 

Revere Spring Carnival & Fundraiser

Revere Spring Carnival & Fundraiser for North Shore Children and Families

The McCarthy-Trifone Recreation Committee is sponsoring a Spring Carnival Fundraiser from Thursday, March 23 through Sunday, April 17, 2016 at the Showcase cinemas route 60, 565 Squire Road Revere, MA 02151.

The carnival fundraiser will feature rides, games and food. ALL NEW EXPO WHEEL, Vertigo and the Freakout along with many more exciting carnival rides. In addition, there will be a petting zoo daily.

WHEN: The Spring Carnival at the Revere showcase cinemas will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:00pm, Tuesday & Thursday 5:00pm, Saturday & Sunday at 1pm.

When: 
March 23 through April 17, 2016
Location: 

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Smileland Pediatric Dental Care Waltham Malden Massachusetts

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

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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

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

Marblehead Farmers' Market

Find fresh local produce and other foods at the Marblehead Farmer's Market!
The Marblehead Farmer's Market boasts 15+ local farms, and booths with an educational spin nutrition, vendors and farms selling homemade prepared goods and craft vendors that are switched up in a rotation basis week to week. Additionally there are entertainers and exhibits by environmentally...
9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Salem Arts Festival 2025

The Salem Arts Festival is a joint project of Salem Main Streets and Creative Collective in Salem Massachusetts
For three days, this annual family friendly art festival transforms downtown Salem into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase their talents. The popular free event will feature many artists and performers, and includes a variety of art, music, dance, and theatre performances. The family...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

Take a guided kayak paddle adventure on the Castle Neck River with the Trustees of Reservations!
One of the best was to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a vast barrier...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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

Explore! North Shore – Trails Day Hike at Ravenswood

Giant boulders can be found all over Ravenswood Park. How'd they get there?
Join the Trustees to celebrate National Trails Day with a guided hike of Ravenswood Park in Gloucester. On this intermediate hike, you will enjoy a ~3 mile loop with moderate elevation gain, as you are guided up the rocky and narrow Ledge Trail up to a scenic overlook of the harbor and then descend...
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Music and Movement at North Shore Children's Museum

North Shore, North Shore Childrens Museum in Peabody MA
Music and Movement with Marybeth Maes is an engaging music and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Marybeth brings her guitar and instruments for the children to use while they sing, dance, and play.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Turtle Time at IRWS

Kids and families will explore IRWS wetland in search of painted and snapping turtles.
As late spring transitions to early summer, one thing is for sure: it's turtle time! Join us to explore our wetlands in search of these fascinating reptiles.
10:00 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

Long Hill Garden Tours

Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
The Trustees of Reservations invite you to join our expert guides for a tour around Long Hill’s stunning Sedgwick Gardens and learn more about the special plants. Visit Long Hill’s breathtaking gardens and stately historic house for a guided tour. Enjoy the rich history of this grand country estate...
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
Join National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a 30-minute tour of The Iron Works House.
11:00 am

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
Join The Trustees of Reservations for a paddle and a hike – what better way to spend an afternoon? Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the...
1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Saugus Iron Works Tours

Free Ranger guided tours at Saugus Iron Works Colonial Industrial Site in Massachusetts
Join the National Park staff at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site for a tour of the colonial industrial site. On select days, you may be able to stick around and witness pop-up molten iron pour, blacksmithing, waterwheel demonstrations, and take part in hands-on river stewardship activities.
2:00 pm

Monday, June 16

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

Beverly Farmers' Market

Get fresh local produce at the Beverly Farmers Market in downtown Beverly Massac
The Beverly Farmers’ Market supports local agriculture while making healthy food available to all members of the Beverly community at affordable prices; the market promotes sustainable living practices and fosters community connections through our vendors, free activities and events. The market...
Where: Odell Park
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tuesday, June 17

Saugus Iron Works Park Grounds & Estuary Walk

Take a hike along the Saugus River Estuary ande explore the Saugus Iron Works Park grounds in Massachusetts
Learn about the natural world in Saugus while ecploring the park ground ast the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

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

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

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® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
10:00 am to 10:45 am

Gloucester Gratis Days at Hammond Castle

Bring your kids to the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester Massachusetts during April Vacation
In keeping with John Hays Hammond, Jr's original vision for his seaside castle-home to serve as a museum offering the Gloucester community access to ancient works of architectural art, Hammond Castle Museum will offer Gloucester residents free, self-guided tours each Tuesday throughout the regular...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Barnyard Story Hour at Appleton Farms

Kids can meet the barnyard animals and hear a story at Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts.
Barnyard stories really come alive when you get to see the main characters in real life! Bring the kids down to Appleton Farms for our farm-fresh version of story time. Explore the farmstead, visit our learning garden, see our cows and rabbits, and find a spot to play under a shady tree in our...
10:30 am to 11:30 am
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