Annual Endangered Species Day Celebration

Piping Plover isjust one of the endangered species you'll learn about at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge invites people of all ages to celebrate Endangered Species Day on Sunday May 19th from 12pm-3pm at the Refuge Visitor Center. Endangered Species Day was designated to educate the American public on the importance of protecting endangered species and highlight the everyday actions that individuals can take to help protect our nation’s wildlife, fish, and plants.

During the Celebration, visitors can engage in different activities and crafts to learn about local endangered species, and species in decline. Several activities will take place outdoors - please, dress appropriately for the weather. The winners of the 2nd Annual Beach Sign Youth Art Contest will also be announced at 1pm! Please read below for a full list of Celebration activities:

Batty Bingo!

An all-time favorite game turned batty! Fill your Batty Bingo boards by following clues that will take you around the visitor center and teach you awesome facts about bats. All bingo winners will receive a sur-prize!

Beach Sand Discovery Kit

Dig around in our beach sand discovery kits to uncover what makes each beach unique. You will never look at sand the same way again!

Butterfly Bonanza

Visitors have the opportunity to play a role in butterfly migration via conservation and education. Seed bombs will be given out so visitors can launch the seeds of butterflies’ favorite wildflowers in their gardens. They can also color their own Monarch or Karner Blue butterfly to be displayed in an educational exhibit at the refuge’s visitor center!

Live Blanding’s Turtles!

Students from River Valley Charter School will be bringing in live Blanding’s Turtles, a species in decline that can be found in your own backyard! This class is part of the Blanding’s Turtles head-start program in which they raise and monitor the turtles in their classroom. Students will teach visitors all about the turtle’s biology, conservation, and how they take care of and study them in school!

Make Your Own Piping Plover

The appearance of piping plover chicks is commonly described as “cotton balls on toothpicks.” With this craft, we are taking this analogy literally! Using cotton balls, tooth picks, and markers, create your very own piping plover to take home or add to our exhibit!

Piping Plover Nest Search

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a plover biologist? In this activity, visitors will use binoculars and their smarts to find hidden piping plover nests! They may even come across signs of potential predators!

Saving the Saltmarsh Sparrow

The charismatic saltmarsh sparrow is adapted to surviving the constant flooding of their home, the saltmarsh, but face big challenges as a result of climate change. Come visit our new exhibit, featuring short videos of the saltmarsh sparrow’s ecology. Visitors will also be able to make-and-place their own saltmarsh sparrow nest to see how it would survive among the elements!

Silk Painting Mosaic

Artist Susan Quateman will be guiding visitors as they create a silk painting mosaic of endangered species. Each participant will be able to paint a featured endangered species on their own silk square. The collaborative mosaic is to be displayed in the Refuge Visitor Center! This activity will only take place from 12pm-2pm.

Tigers, Elephants, Crocodiles, Oh My!

Did you know that US Fish and Wildlife Service protects tigers, elephants, and all wildlife living in other countries? Come look at some items confiscated by USFWS’s Wildlife Inspectors and learn about the international laws protecting the world’s most iconic wildlife.

For any questions please contact the refuge via phone: (978) 465-5753 or email: parkerriver@fws.gov

When: 
Sunday, May 19, 2019 Noon – 3pm
Prices: 
FREE
Phone: 
978.465.5753

Todd Farm Market

Come to Todd Farm on Sunday - A classic New England Fleas Market in Rowley Massachusetts!
From early Spring to late Fall, Todd Farm is a great Sunday destination for families!  Head to the farm and explore the outdoor award-winning Market featuring up to 240 vendors from all over New England and New York!
5:00 am to 3:00 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

Maudslay in Bloom Self-Guided Walk

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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

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

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

Spring Birding Walk—Symphony of Bird Song!

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8:00 am to 10:00 am

Crane Outdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River

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9:00 am to 5:00 pm

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9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Interpretation Station at Maudslay

Learn about the bloom cycles at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Massachusetts
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9:00 am to 4:00 pm

North Andover Farmers' Market

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10:00 am to 1:00 pm

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Swan Boat Boston North Shore Parent, North Shore Parents Summer Activities Guide
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10:00 am to 4:00 pm

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Tour the Gardens at the Trustees of Reservations Long Hill Gardens in Beverly, Massachusetts!
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11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Saugus Iron Works House Tours

Free Ranger guided tours of the Saugus Iron Works House in Massachusetts
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11:00 am

Garden Tours at Stevens Coolidge Estate

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12:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure

Take a guided kayak paddle and hike to Choate Island with the Trustees of Reservations!
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1:00 pm to 4:30 pm

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

Nice n' Easy Hike at Maudslay State Park

Take a nice n' easy stroll at Muadslay State Park with your family in Newburyport Massachusetts!
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2:00 pm

Sunday STEAM Club at North Shore Children's Museum

Visit Peabody MA, NorthShore, North Shore Children's Museum
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2:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Monday, June 16

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

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

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

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Where: Odell Park
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Tuesday, June 17

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