Science

Eagle Festival Field Trips

Families are invited to take a field trip with Joppa Flats naturalists to search for Bald Eagles in the Newburyport area

Bald Eagles are our goal as we search the skies and trees near the mouth of the Merrimack River on Eagle Festival Saturday. Choose among eight opportunities to join us to observe the surprises among all our winter-visiting birds, including many species of raptors, ducks, and more. Families with children ages 8 and above are welcome. Prices for these hour-and-a-half programs are deeply discounted, thanks to the generosity of our Eagle Festival sponsors, Boston Partners Financial Group and Newburyport Bank.

When: 
Friday, February 18, 2023
4 Morning Sessions 9:30-11am
4 Afternoon Sessions 12:30-2pm

Exploring the Salt Marsh

Kids and families will learn about the marsh habitat with ECGA and North Shore Nature Programs in this this fun, easy tromp across the marsh

Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs present Exploring the Salt Marsh! On this fun, easy tromp across the marsh, we'll look at the different plants, invertebrates, and birds that live there! This event is for families--children and adults of all ages welcome. Wear muck boots or shoes that can get wet and muddy and bring some water to drink. We recommend long pants, tucked into your socks or boots to keep ticks and other bugs from biting. Bathrooms are available on site (provided the CDC, state, and town regulations allow for public visitation at this date). FREE!

When: 
Saturday, April 8, 2023 10-11:30am
Location: 

CraneExplorer: Beach Detectives

Explore the beach and discover treasures washed up by winter waves at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich Massachusetts

Explore the beach and discover treasures washed up by winter waves. Piece together clues to learn what is living under the sand and below the water line. We will use field guides to identify shells, egg cases, seaweed and more to tell the story of what creatures are using the winter beach. After a beach walk, we will bring some treasures back to The Casino at Castle Hill to learn more about our beach finds over hot chocolate.

When: 
Saturday, December 17, 2022 11am-1pm
Thursday, December 29, 2022 9-11am

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

Science Saturdays with Marisa

Science Saturdays at the Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester Massachusetts!

Sawyer Free Library invites kids to Spend Saturday morning at the Library with Miss Marisa!  We explore fun facts and science topics every other week through sensory play, stories, music and movement. It's a morning of Family Fun that is great for all ages!

When: 
Saturday, August 6, 2022 10:30-11:30am
Saturday, August 20, 2022 10:30-11:30am

Wildlife Encounters Junior Zookeeper

Join us in Children's Services at Sawyer Free Library for a Wildlife Encounter with a junior zookeeper!

Sawyer Free Library invites families to come for a morning of excitement as Wildlife Encounters Ecology Center brings a live animal educational presentation to us! A diverse selection of Ambassador Animals will be visiting including some large and exotic animal friends! Come learn, ask questions, and enjoy a great morning of family fun! Registration not required, but space is limited

When: 
Tuesday, July 12, 2022 10-11am

Summer Kick Off at Sawyer Free Library

Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester Massachusetts kicks off Summer reading with a dance party and live concert

Sawyer Free Library invites kids to kick of the Summer reading season with a live music concert and dance party in Gloucester Massachusetts! "Read Beyond the Beaten Path!"  Let's kick off Summer Reading with some outdoor musical fun! Join us for a morning of family fun in our outside amphitheater with Elijah T. Grasshopper & Friends as they bring their joy-filled interactive concert and musical storytelling!

When: 
Tuesday, June 27, 2022 11am

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Brookwood School Summer Program for kids Pre-K through 9 in Manchester 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

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
7:00 am to 8:00 pm

Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic

The Annual Hampton Beach, NH Master Sandsculpting Competition 2025
The fun starts when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 23rd. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. 
7:00 am to 11:00 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

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

LEGO-Palooza at North Shore Children's Museum

Kids are invited to a freestyle LEGO buiild session
Come and build Legos with us at NSCM! With TONS of Legos available, come and build your creations. This will be a casual club where all participants can follow whatever direction their engineering intuition takes them, we will not be teaching how to make specific models.
9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Music Together - Wednesday

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...
9:30 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

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

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

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

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

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

Evening Stroll at Maudslay

Enjoy and evening stroll with the park interpreter at Maudlsay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts
This popular hike is back again and has been going for over a decade! Join the park interpreter for a moderately paced walk each week to view different areas of the park and experience the seasonal changes at Maudslay. For Ages 6 & up
6:30 pm to 8:00 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

Wednesday, June 18

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

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

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

The Backyard Growcery

Join Backyard Growers at Burnham's Field in Gloucester Massachusetts for a weekly Farmer's Market
Stop by Gloucester’s new weekly farmers market, the Backyard Growcery, managed by Backyard Growers. The Backyard Growcery is located at Burnham's Field, an urban park near Gloucester’s thriving waterfront, and features small-scale North Shore farmers, bakers, a seafood vendor, an artisanal pizza...
2:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Evening Stroll at Maudslay

Enjoy and evening stroll with the park interpreter at Maudlsay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts
This popular hike is back again and has been going for over a decade! Join the park interpreter for a moderately paced walk each week to view different areas of the park and experience the seasonal changes at Maudslay. For Ages 6 & up
6:30 pm to 8:00 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 19

StoryWalk Series at Maudslay

“Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser Storywalk at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
Enjoy this pre-school StoryWalk® at your leisure with the younger set and combine reading and time in nature! “Magnificent Monarchs” by Linda Glaser is featured in this StoryWalk Series. Younger kids will love this gentle, richly illustrated children’s nonfiction book aimed at preschool–third grade...
7:00 am to 8:00 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

Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic

The Annual Hampton Beach, NH Master Sandsculpting Competition 2025
The fun starts when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 23rd. Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. 
7:00 am to 11:00 pm
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