Join us for a special evening hike to see Whoooo might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms! Before our hike, you’ll learn about winter-time nocturnal animals and how to call in the owls. Then we’ll embark on a 45 minute hike, as we follow some of Appleton Farms most beautiful trails to see if we can call any owls to us.
There is almost nothing more peaceful than a evening walk at the Crane Estate, and we would like to invite your family to join us for a unique hiking experience. With the full moon rising over the Atlantic, we’ll start with a sunset stroll along Crane Beach admiring this spectacle before heading into the dunes to explore it’s trails under the light of the full moon. This is a great opportunity to get the kids outside, share the joys of nature at twillight, and bond with your family.
Join The Trustees of Reservations to explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach, where we will learn how animals and plants survive our New England winters in this unforgiving habitat. Learn the basics of animal tracking, plant survival adaptations, and discover the human history of survival in our coastal habitats, with the rich history of The Crane Estate providing a glimpse into the evolving human uses of the land, from the indigenous Pawtucket through early European settlers and into the modern era. A sighting of a resident snowy owl is always a possible bonus!
Join this indoor workshop followed by dune hike to learn tracking basics and identification skills allowing you to experience the outdoors in a new way. Enjoy an indoor presentation on tracking at the Casino at Castle Hill, then reconvene at Crane Beach for a guided dune walk, investigating the trail for footprints, scat, burrows, and other signs left behind by dune dwellers. Via our observations, we will collect clues as to what animals are using this habitat. Bring your sharp senses and observation skills for this learning adventure.
In this workshop, participants will learn to make our Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. Appleton Farms Baker Kami Turgeon will lead a hands-on pie crust making demonstration using local flour. Learn the secrets to a perfectly flaky, sturdy crust, as well as how to make the filling and gravy. Participants will enjoy making pie dough by hand and will take home a prepped pie, ready for the oven! Class will end with a shared pie and sparkling water or tea.
Winter is in the air and the animals of the farm and woods have prepared themselves for winter. Can we find their signs, like homes, tracks, and caches of food? What happens in winter around the farm? We invite little farmers to experience life at the farm in winter. Through farm “chores,” age-appropriate hands-on activities, stories, and visits with our barnyard animals, little farmers will become fully immersed in what life is like for a farmer.
During your day of exploring the farm & hiking and skiing the trails, join us at the farmhouse for Appleton signature baked goods, farm vegetable soup, gourmet hot chocolate, tea and snacks. Our menu will change seasonally, and all items will be available to purchase a la carte.
Come discover our special barnyard animals! Our Angora rabbits Violet and Vanilla, Nubian goats Merlin, Maeve, Morgana, and Mordred, and our friendly flock of heritage chickens will take center stage as we learn about what makes them so unique. Befriend the Barnyard is a hands-on barnyard experience that lets you and your family approach our barnyard buddies under the guidance of a professional farm-based educator. Join us for a new activity every half hour. Activities might include:
Every day is full of a list of barnyard chores we need to get down to make sure our farmyard friends are happy and healthy! Let’s get to work.
Every day is full of a list of barnyard chores we need to get down to make sure our farmyard friends are happy and healthy! Let’s get to work.
