Trustees of Reservations

Learn to Snowshoe

Learn  Snow Shoeing Basics at The Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich!

Discover the joy of winter and the freedom of snowshoeing! On this field outing, you'll learn snowshoeing techniques, ascending and descending hills, snow hazard awareness, and winter preparedness. Don't have snowshoes? We provide snowshoes, snowshoe poles and professional instruction on proper use of equipment, to make every trip a success.

When: 
Sunday, February 7, 2016 9am-Noon
Location: 

Valentine's Farm Dinner and Culinary Workshop

Chef-teacher Carolyn Grieco preparing the work stations for the hands-on workshop

Spend a cozy evening with your sweetheart on the farm cooking up a delicious meal. Professional chef-instructor Carolyn Grieco will lead the class through the making of an intimate multi-course dinner in the state-of-the-art farm kitchen. Culinary tips and techniques will be covered as we prepare our dinner followed by a relaxing meal in the farmhouse dining room. Printed recipe booklet and indulgent chocolate take-treats to savor later! BYOB wine, champagne and beer is allowed.

When: 
Saturday, February 13, 2016 6-9PM
Location: 

Polar Explorers After-school Club (ages 7-12)

Polar Esxplorers Club is for kids ages 7-12 at Ravenswood Park in Gloucester Massachusetts!

Join the Polar Explorers Club (after-school adventures for kids ages 7-12) for hardy adventurers ready to explore in the coldest weather. We'll learn how to read a compass and build a shelter, track animals and end our day around the wood stove hearing tales of high adventure. Dress for the outdoors!

When: 
Thursday, January 14, 2016 3-5pm
Thursday, January 28, 2016 3-5pm
Thursday, February 11, 2016 3-5pm
Location: 

Cranberry Workshop at the Crane Estate

Come to the Crane Estate for a cranberry workshop!

For more than one hundred years, wild cranberries have grown in the sand dunes behind Crane Beach. With our staff naturalist as your guide, join us for this cranberry workshop. You'll learn about the history and habits of this local fruit, and get a boots-on-the-ground feel for the matrix of trails that crisscross Castle Neck. When you finally arrive at the bog (our largest and most hidden) you'll have the opportunity to pick cranberries. Later, we'll head up to the Great House kitchen on Castle Hill to make something tasty. We'll even send you home with a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

When: 
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 2-6PM

The Long Way Around Hike

Exlplore the dunes of the Crane Wildlife Refuge with the Trustees of Reservations

Join The Trustees of Reservations on an exploration of the dunes at the Crane Wildlife Refuge in ipswich! This hike explores the wild wonders of the dune trails through the Crane Wildlife Refuge, from the Crane Beach parking area to Essex Point and back again! We'll launch our long walk at the dunes trailhead, and make our way along the backside of Crane Beach, then tuck into the dunes again to reach Essex Point. A bag lunch prepared by Ferreira Foods of Salem will be delivered to us at the approximate halfway point. Come prepared for a leisurely long-way-around walk of about 8 miles!

When: 
Saturday, November 7, 2015 10AM-2PM

Earth Day Coastal Clean Up

Earthday for shoreline cleanups at Halibut Point and Coolidge Point Reservation!

The Trustees of Reservations invites you and your kids to come out to one of their most spectacular coastal reservations to celebrate Earth Day 2014. Take this opportunity to teach your children the benefits of stewardship and to have a great time as a family.  At Halibut Point State Park and/or the Coolidge Point Reservation, your help is needed cleaning up the shoreline, building a bird box or a boardwalk, or simply drinking in the beauty of our special places. Call for details. Please register in advance!

When: 
Saturday, April 19, 2014 10am-12noon

Crane Estate Picnic Concert - Digney Fignus

Digney Fignus performs at a Thursday night picnic concert at Castle Hill

Part of the Thursday Night Picnic Concerts at Castle Hill at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is a great way to get together and have fun with the whole family in an exclusive setting. You can pack a picnic dinner, bring the kids, and get ready to dance the night away under the stars on the Grand Allée. Explore the landscaped grounds and the family "Eye Spy."

When: 
Thursday, July 17, 2014 7-9 pm

Scavenger Hunt at Hamlin Reservation

Join the Trustees of Reservations on a treasure hunt at Hamlin reservation in Ip

Looking for something fun to do with the kids during school vacation? Join The Trustees of Reservations at the Hamlin Reservation on a treasure hunt and hike.  Kids will search for natural treasure (and some man-made as well!) as they walk through the gently rolling fields of this former farmland, then over a dike path that leads to a loop trail around Eagle Island in the marshes of Ipswich. Bring your sharpest skills of observation and a bag to collect your treasures!

When: 
Thursday, April 24, 2014 1-2:30pm

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Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

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

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

Trails & Sails

Explore the North Shore with over 150 Free Events in Essex National Heritage Area's Trails & Sails celebration in Massachusetts.
Essex National Heritage Area sites will offer over 150 free family fun events from September 14-29, 2024 for the annual celebration of TRAILS & SAILS. Discover special places in your backyard and be guided through unique landscapes on land and sea, explore historic properties, and take in...
7:00 am to 10:00 pm

Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit at Pingree School

Pingree School in Hmailton Massachusetts hosts their annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture exhibit each Fall. Sculpture: Phoenix by Robin Tost.
Pingree School hosts the 16th annual Flying Horse Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit on their campus in South Hamilton, Massachusetts .
8:00 am to 6:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 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

Paddle Around Historic Rockport Harbor

Paddle around Rockport Massachusetts Harbor for FREE as part of Trails and Sails
Come join North Shore Adventures and Outdoor Center for some fun on the water! No experience necessary. Depart from our private beach in one of our safe, stable kayaks or paddle boards and paddle around the historic Rockport Harbor for 30 mins. See lobster boats, Motif #1, the Rockport Break water...
10:30 pm

Sunday, September 21

Salem Witch Hunt Walking Tour

Learn about the true reality of the Salem Massachusetts Witch Trials Salem Massachusetts on a self guided walking tour with Essex Heritage
This self-guided walking tour is designed to help explain the true history behind the Salem Witch Trials. After more than three centuries of storytelling through countless books, movies, and television shows, the line between historical fact and dramatic fiction has become increasingly blurred....
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Crescent Farm Corn Maze

Crescent Farm corn maze in Haverhill Massachusetts
Imagine the biggest puzzle you’ve ever seen. Now imagine a day in the sunshine with your friends or family. Now add an adventure that takes teamwork and memory skills. All these things and more can be found at Crescent Farms Corn Maze. Crescent Farm Corn Maze trails cut into 9 acres of corn. Inside...
9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Rowley Farmers Market

Rowley Farmers Market - a seasonal open-air market every Sunday July-September on Rowley Common
The Rowley Farmers Market is an open air market held on Sundays on the Rowley Town Common.  There's always a great selection of fresh local produce, food stuffs and locally hand-made goods. Come pick up some great locally grown food, freshly baked bread by Faith Anne's Unique bread, specialty teas...
9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Open Boarding on the Hannah (AKA the Fame)

Board Schooner Fame at the waterfront in Marblehead Massachusetts as part of trails and sails!
The Hannah, the first of several schooners commissioned by General George Washington, began her career as an armed cruiser in September 1775. To commemorate that important part of Marblehead’s history, the Fame – similar in size and appearance to the Hannah (aka Schooner Fame)– will be docked at...
9:00 am

Step Inside the Historic Custom House

Take in the views of this prominent building where Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked and the U.S. Custom Service operated. This Custom House was built in 1819 and housed offices for the officers of the U.S. Customs Service, as well as an attached warehouse, the Public Stores, used for the storage of...
9:30 am to 4:30 pm

Marini Farm Corn Maze

The 2025 Marini Farm Corn Maze in Ipswich Massachusetts is themed for The Wizard of Oz
Come to Marini Farm for a fun journey through our corn maze! The Maze Park, corn maze, farm stand, bakery and other attractions provide a great destination for kids birthday parties, school trips, corporate team building, scout outings, and family activities. Marini Farm is located in beautiful...
10:00 am to 10:00 pm

Fairy House Festival at Veasey Park

Fairy House Festival at Veasey Park Groveland Massachusetts Trails and Sails 2023
Walk the trails to see the handcrafted houses at this year’s enchanted Fairy House Festival. Cast your People’s Choice Award vote for your favorite Fairy House. Stay awhile for magical fun, arts and crafts, food, raffles, live music, and more. Rain or shine. Anyone is welcome to submit a house.
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

North Andover Farmers' Market

North Andover Farmers Market every Sunday Through October 2, 2022
The North Andover Farmers Market is the perfect destination for anyone living in the Merrimack Valley or the North Shore to shop and enjoy locally-sourced products. The market will take place in the center of town at the intersection of First Street and Main Street. The market has become known for...
10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Fair in the Square

Fair in the Square is a Salisbury Days event in the middle of Salisbury Massachusetts
Fair in the Square is a time- honored tradition celebrating each other and showcasing our charming  town. Come shop local vendors and makers offering a wide variety of goods from local honey and bee related products to jewelry to facepainting to artists and more!
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Marbleheaders in the American Revolution

Glovers Regiment in Marblehead Massachusetts is just one stop on this Trails & Sails tour.
Pick up a program book and experience Revolutionary War-era Marblehead at various sites in the Historic District. Meet the wife of war hero, James Mugford; explore Fort Sewall with Glover’s Regiment; meet diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary and experience an Anglican service at St....
11:00 am to 4:00 pm
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