February Vacation

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

Frozen Crystals at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn all about crystals at Maritime Gloucester.

Maritime Gloucester invites kids in grades 2-5 to a vacation week session about Wind Turbines and Sail Power - part of a week full of educational sessions during April vacation! Do you want to build a snowflake?  With salt and ice, we'll create a variety of ice sculptures using colorful frozen shapes!

When: 
Wednesday, April 23, 2014 1-3pm

Rube Goldberg Machines at Maritime Gloucester

Kids willl use their creativity to create a chain reaction machine at Maritime G

Maritime Gloucester invites kids to a vacation week session where they'll make a 'Rube Goldberg' machine - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! Cartoonist Rube Goldberg was known for drawing complex yet impractical machines, involving multiple steps to accomplish simple tasks.  After looking at Goldberg’s humorous comics for inspiration, students will engineer a Rube Goldberg machine.  Using marbles, Lego bricks, wooden blocks, dominoes, and much more, we’ll build and test intricate machines as we learn about energy, momentum, and engineering.

When: 
Friday, February 21, 2014 1-3pm

Scrimshaw and Whale Tails at Maritime Gloucester - Canceled

Kids will learn about scrimshaw, whaling and whale bones at this Maritime Glouce

Canceled due to weather. 2/17/2014

Maritime Gloucester invites kids to a vacation week session about scrimshaw and whale bones - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! Did you know that humpback whales are named after patterns on their tails?  We’ll look at whale bones and learn about whale and dolphin species found in New England and beyond.  Students will also learn about sperm whales and scrimshaw by handling real whale teeth and creating their own scrimshawed candles to take home.        

When: 
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 1-3pm

Build It Break It at Maritime Gloucester

Using toothpicks, kids wil learn about structures and their limits at Maritime G

Maritime Gloucester invites kids in grades 2-5 to a vacation week session about the structures and their limits - part of a week full of educational sessions during April vacation! What's the biggest structure you can build using toothpicks and styrofoam?  Can you construct a sturdy fort from newspaper?  What's the heaviest thing a bendy straw structure can support? 

When: 
Friday, April 25, 2014 1-3pm

Floating Boats at Maritime Gloucester

Kids preK-1st grade will learn about boats during this February Vacation program

Maritime Gloucester invites kids in pre-k through first grade to a vacation week session about boats that float - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! Foam floats, but does it make a good boat? How about a popsicle stick raft? We'll explore why boats float through building projects using a variety of household materials. We'll learn about the different types of boats in Gloucester Harbor and read some fun boat books as well.

When: 
Monday, February 17, 2014 10:30am - Noon

Costumed Crabs at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn about crabs and their ability to disguise themselves at this Glo

Maritime Gloucester invites kids to a vacation week session about crabs - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation!. Did you know that some crabs like to play dress up?  We’ll learn all about decorator crabs by making some fancy crab crafts decorated with shells and sea glass.  We’ll also explore the different types of crustaceans as we study tiny horseshoe crabs, gigantic lobster claws, and an unusual Caribbean spiny lobster. We’ll end the day with a story about our favorite costumed crustaceans!

When: 
Wednesday, February 19, 2014 1-3pm

Fish Facts and Shark Socks at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn about what makes a fish a fish at Maritime Gloucester!

Maritime Gloucester invites kids in pre-k through first grade to a vacation week session about fish and the similar traits all fish have in common - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! What makes a fish a fish?  You might be surprised by just how much a great white shark and a guppy have in common!  By hearing a story and looking at models and pictures, kids will learn all about the fishes that live in Cape Ann and beyond.  Using ordinary socks, children will craft their own toy sharks and colorful fishes to take home!

When: 
Friday, February 21, 2014 10:30am - Noon

Jellies and Coral at Maritime Gloucester

Kids will learn about coral and jellyfish, then make their own at Maritime Glouc

Maritime Gloucester invites kids in pre-k through first grade to a vacation week session about Jellyfish and Coral - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! Did you know that the biggest jelly is found right here in Massachusetts and can have tentacles longer than four school busses?  Found in every ocean, from the dark depths to the sunny surface, jellies are amazing animals!  We will learn about jellies and corals and make jelly crafts to take home. We’ll highlight our adventure with a story about Jenny Jellyfish and the challenges she faces in her ocean home.

When: 
Thursday, February 20, 2014 10:30am - Noon

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

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

Explore! North Shore: Winter Hike at Moraine Farm

The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at Moraine Farm in Beverly Massachusetts
The Explore! North Shore hiking series will get you outside and moving at some lesser explored Trustees properties across the Northeast Region, at the right time of year to see these special places shine. These beginner hikes will not be too strenuous, and will offer frequent stops for learning and...
10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Gloucester's So Salty 2026

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 5th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival sponsored by the Cape Ann Museum in partnership with Discover Gloucester! This annual event brings over 2,000 people to the downtown area each...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at IRWS

Raptor Roundup: Meet Live Birds of Prey at Mass Audubon's Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Get a close look at some live local birds of prey while keeping warm in our barn! Learn each bird's unique story, discover why raptors play such a vital role in our environment, and explore their amazing adaptations, like keen eyesight and powerful talons, that help them survive in the wild....
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Amesbury Winter Market

Amesbury Winter Market Daze at Barewolf Brewing January 11-February 8, 2026
Amesbury Market Daze is your friendly local community marketplace. We take pride in curating a marketplace that showcases local art and food from talented local artisans, chefs, farmers, creators and curators of surrounding Amesbury, Massachusetts. Join us throughout the year to curate and foster a...
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
1:00 pm to 3:30 pm

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

Friday, February 6

Family Owl Prowl

Join a Family Owl Prowl  at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo: Scott Santino
Experience the excitement of an owl prowl as we take a hike under the light of the moon to look and listen for Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Eastern Screech-Owls. Before we head out on our nocturnal adventure, we will learn fun owl facts in our cozy barn using real owl feathers, skulls, and...
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, February 7

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

Salem's So Sweet Festival

Salem Massachusetts' retailers have some sweet surprises in store during the Salem's So Sweet Weekend Festival
Salem Main Streets and the Salem Chamber of Commerce invite you to come enjoy the annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival – a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures, and Valentine’s Day shopping! Now in its 24th year, Salem’s So Sweet has become...
9:00 am to 10:00 pm

NSNP Saturday Srolls at Choate Farm

Come to Choate Farm in Danvers Massachusetts to learn some basic Winter Survival Skills with your family!
Do you and your family have what it takes to survive out in the wilderness?
10:00 am to 11:30 am

CraneExplorer: Valentine's Coastal Craft

Make Valentines crafts from materials that we find along the shore at the Trustees of Reservations Crane Estate in Ipswich, Massachusetts
The Trustees of Reservations invites ages 12 and up to a valentine craft making workshop! This Valentine’s Day, give a gift from the sea! From seaweed pressings to shell collages, beach treasures make beautiful greetings and keepsakes. Join this workshop to learn fun craft ideas and make marine art...
10:00 am to 12:30 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

Music and Movement at North Shore Children's Museum

North Shore, North Shore Childrens Museum in Peabody MA
Music and Movement with Marybeth Maes is an engaging music and movement class for young children at the North Shore Children's Museum. Marybeth brings her guitar and instruments for the children to use while they sing, dance, and play.
10:00 am to 11:00 am

Children's Maple in the Barnyard at Appleton Farms

Visit Appleton Farms' sugaring operation and learn about making maple sugar syrup!
Maple Season is here! This special program for ages 3-11 & their families will focus on the magic of maple from start to finish. We will discover this tradition by observing trees, tasting sap, learning the tools involved, and finally, tasting the sweet product. We will make sure to have time...
10:45 am to 3:00 pm

Bald Eagles in the Wild for Teens

Teens are invited to Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport Massachusetts to learn about eagles and their behaviors. Photo: Bill O'Connor
Head to the most popular spots to search for Bald Eagles. Learn how to spot an eagle in flight, observe their behaviors, and learn how to identify Bald Eagles at different stages of life. Use binoculars, field scopes, and bird guides. Stay active and warm with group challenges about wingspan and...
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Sunday, February 8

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
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