Kids will get their hands dirty and dig into the science of soil at this April vacation session. Meet the critters of the sanctuary that call dirt home. Worms, millipedes, sow bugs, weasels, and voles are a few soil creatures that we will hope to see. Find out what it takes to make a garden grow, before preparing and planting your own take-home garden.
Kids explore the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary during April Vacation Week! Spring is a time when many baby animals are born. Join IRWS to learn about the plant-eating mammals that make their home at the sanctuary. We hope to catch glimpses of them, and certainly we'll see signs that they are living here. Participate in a mammal obstacle course. Build a beaver and muskrat lodge as a group, and track deer and other mammals in the fields and forests of the sanctuary.
Wetlands are wonderful places full of fascinating animals and plants. Together we will discover the wetland habitats of the sanctuary. We'll hike to Hassocky Meadow and search for ducks, turtles, snakes, and more. We will continue our explorations at a real vernal pool and look for breeding salamanders, wood frogs, and their egg masses.
Join The Trustees of Reservations at the Stevens-Coolidge Estate for a nature playgroup designed just for the little ones! To encourage outdoor play and familiarity with the natural world, a nature-based toddler playgroup will be held at the Stevens-Coolidge Place on every-other Tuesday, April through June.
It’s time for a good ol’ bug hunt! Did you know that insects are the largest group of animals? It’s true! About 75 percent of all the world’s animals are insects. During this April Vacation bug scavenger hunt, we invite you to bring your buddies to the Stevens-Coolidge Place or team up with new friends met on the property. Each group of explorers will be given field note handouts on which to record their observations and a magnifying glass-topped bug jar for getting a better look at our tiny friends in the gardens. What will you find today?
There’s a lot to observe when the weather warms up. Spring is a time when migrating birds return from their wintering grounds and baby animals like deer and squirrels are born. During this April Vacation program, participants will put on their explorer hats and head out into nature to see what’s changing in the animal kingdom. Of course, you can’t head out without the proper gear, so we’ll be making binoculars together to help you better observe the world around you, and animal behavior handouts for sketching and/or writing about your findings.
The Vernal Equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, join a Trustees staff member on the trails at Ward Reservation to discover what signs of spring have already sprung.
Come hike at Ward Reservation with The Trustees. Start your Spring off on the right foot with this brisk morning hike at Ward Reservation. This guided hike on the reservation’s Blue Trail will offer scenic vistas of Boston and the unusual solstice stones arrangement at the top of Holt Hill, as well as panoramic skyline views from a large clearing at Elephant Rock at Boston Hill. Your knowledgeable guides can answer questions about the history of the property and its surrounding habitats.
Join The Trustees of Reservations at Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate in search of the Snowy Owl! Wide-open coastal sites are the location of choice for wintering Snowy Owls; common perches are dunes and salt hay staddles. In winters past, the owls have been frequent visitors to the Crane Wildlife Refuge. Join us as we hike the dunes in search of these magnificent birds. Unlike most owls, snowy owls are diurnal (they hunt and are active both day and night) so we have a good chance of sighting one even in the daylight hours!
Take a hike with Andover Village Improvement Society and enjoy cookies and hot chocolate around a campfire in the woods! All are welcome (except pets). Bring along a flashlight or headlamp, and park in front of the entrance at 491 South Main Street. If it rains, we'll cancel. Contact david@dargie.com with questions.
