Mass Audubon

Open House Mornings for Families: Eagles, Owls, & Hawks

Come learn about birds like Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Hawks and other birds of prey at Joppa Flats Center during February Vacation Week! Photo: Bill O'connor

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: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2020 10am-Noon

Beginner Bird Walk at Appleton Farms

The fields at Appleton Farms provide safe habitiat for a diverse bird population in Ipswich Massachusetts

Have you ever felt intimidated by the idea of a birding walk or felt like you didn’t know enough or know how to get started? Then this program is for you. Join Appleton staff for a fun and no-pressure birding walk designed for beginners with little to no experience. We will walk the property together and look for our fine feathered friends who live all around us. Field guides will be provided and we’ll try to get a good look and see if we can identify the birds we discover. Please bring your own binoculars.

When: 
Sundays, April 16 & 30, 2023 9-10:30am
Sundays, May 7 & 14, 2023 9-10:30am
Location: 

Nature Walk Wednesdays | Spring on the River

Kids will learn returning birds and other marsh creatures at Joppa Flats Center in Newburyport

Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family-friendly seasonal nature walks in the area. Together we will explore the salt marsh, the woods, and more. We will look for birds, mammals, and of course, mushrooms! We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and learn, play, and discover together.

When: 
Wednesday, April 5, 2023 10-11:30am

Outdoor Adventures for Families: Winter Wildlife

Mass Audubons Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary invites you to come learn about coyotes, beavers deer and other animals as they prepare for Winter!

Beavers, coyote, and deer, oh my! Mammals are storing food, putting on fat, thickening their fur, and winterizing their homes for winter. Let's see what evidence of these preparations we can find in the woods and wetlands as we use our science eyes for this hike around the remarkable rockery.

When: 
Thursday, December 22, 2022 1-3pm
Saturday, December 31, 2022 10am-Noon

Youth Outdoor Winter Survival Skills Program

Kids and Tweens will learn outdoors survival skills at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary!

This new three-day drop-off program is for youths who want to learn what it takes to survive in the wild. Each day will have a different theme around an outdoor skill. We will explore the sanctuary, look to our local wildlife for inspiration, and complete an outdoor skill challenge each day. Our last day will end with a carefully made campfire and toasted marshmallows!

When: 
Daily, December 28-30, 2022 10am-Noon

Parent & Child Build a Birdfeeder

Build a Birdfeeder with your child that attracts birds to your yard this winter.

Brighten up your yard this winter with a bird feeder handmade by you and your child. Each family will receive a kit containing all the necessary parts and step-by-step instructions to build a feeder that will attract chickadees, nuthatches, cardinals, and many other birds to your yard. A short presentation will highlight the birds that commonly come to feeders, and we will also observe birds in the sanctuary's bird garden. Please bring a hammer!

When: 
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 1-3pm

Nature Walk Wednesdays | Forest and Salt Marsh Walk

Stroll through the coastal forest and discover what lives in the marsh with naturalists from Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport

Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family-friendly seasonal nature walks in the area. Together we will explore the salt marsh, the woods, and more. We will look for birds, mammals, and of course, mushrooms! We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and learn, play, and discover together. What changes will you find as we walk through the woods and into a salt marsh? We'll be looking for snails in the salt meadow hay, birds and mammals as they prepare for winter, fish in the marsh waters, and fungi and lichen on trees and logs.

When: 
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 10-11:30am

Nature Walks for Tots: Whose Tracks are in the Woods?

Kids will learn about tracks and signs and paint what they learn at IRWS

As temperatures cool and autumn arrives, Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family friendly nature walks. Let's explore the woods, a pond, and the beach to look for creatures like birds, fish, frogs, and more while we learn, play, and explore. We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and discover wildlife together!

When: 
Saturday, December 10, 2022 1:30-3pm

Outdoor Adventures for Families: Life at the Edge of the Lake

Explore the habitat at Lake Gardener in Amesbury Massachusetts with Mass Audubon Joppa Flats Educators!

Learn about fall and early winter wildlife with your family in the woods, around wetlands, and along the shore. Lisa Hutchings and her team will assist with the identification of creatures, provide small group challenges, and share their joy and knowledge about the natural world. Sign up for one or all of these educational outdoor excursions and see nature through the lens of a naturalist!

When: 
Saturday, November 19, 2022 10am-12pm
Location: 

Nature Walks for Tots: Who Lives Under a Log?

kids will explore the woodlands of Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and discover the creatures that make home under and in logs!

As temperatures cool and autumn arrives, Miss Lisa invites you to join her for some family friendly nature walks. Let's explore the woods, a pond, and the beach to look for creatures like birds, fish, frogs, and more while we learn, play, and explore. We'll use our "science eyes" and "nature ears" and discover wildife together!  It's the busy season at the Log Hotel! Let's visit this habitat to see if we can find insects, salamanders, and other creepy crawlies that are getting ready for a cold winter.

When: 
Saturday, November 12, 2022 1:30-3pm

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Landmark Skills+ Summer Course at Landmark School in Beverly 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

Boston Bruins Annual Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore of Massachusetts as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
The Boston Bruins will be hosting their 19th annual PJ Drive with the goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of pajamas from February 1st - March 15th, 2026. The drive will benefit Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two non-profits that ensure positive living conditions for children. Local businesses...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Maple Stroll at Appleton Farms

Appleton Farms has their own sugar maple syrup production facilities to service their abundant suplly from their many sugar maples
Visit the historic maple stand and sugar shack at Appleton Farms and learn all about maple sugaring, its history at the farm and in New England, and how you can try your hand at it at home!
11:00 am to 2:15 pm

Winter Family Field Trip: Raptor Road Trip

Families are invited to Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts to learn about eagles and their behaviors. Photo: Bill O'Connor
With radios in hand, we will carpool to Bald Eagle viewing spots along the Merrimack River and walk short distances to spot eagles with our binoculars and birding scopes. We will be watch for fishing, and courtship displays. Stay warm and active with small group activities that feature raptor sound...
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Sunday, March 22

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
Join in on Sundays at 2:30 for STEAM Club for ages 5-11. Each week participants will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math with our NSCM staff! Every STEAM club session will see your kids participating in hands-on activities while exploring a new topic. Space is limited, please...
2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Symphony by the Sea | Winter Dreams

Symphony by the Sea: Winter Dreams at the Cabot Theater in Beverly Massachusetts!
Symphony by the Sea performs a special Winter Concert inspired by Slavic fairytales and the beauty of the Russian landscape, our program explores the rich synthesis of Western musical tradition and Russian folk melodies. Tchaikovsky’s energetic and tuneful Serenade, Arensky’s touching tribute to...
Where: The Cabot
3:00 pm

Monday, March 23

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

Tuesday, March 24

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

Wednesday, March 25

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

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, March 26

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

Friday, March 27

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

Saturday, March 28

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

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike

CraneOutdoors: The Castle Hill Hike at the Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts
Come explore the lesser-visited corners of Castle Hill and its surroundings with us this season. This hike is a CraneOutdoors guide favorite because it’s got a little bit of all the things that make the Crane Estate such a special place…
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
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