Family Fun at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Ready for some outdoor adventure? We’ve got all kinds of fun programs and activities for you and your friends and family!
Nature Play Area
Nature play areas add more ways for people to connect with nature by encouraging self-directed, informal play. Unlike static, traditional playgrounds, nature play areas give children the chance to solve problems and construct their surroundings through natural elements and unstructured exploration.
At Ipswich River’s Nature Play Area located to the right of the Visitor Center entrance kids can:
- Build a log cabin
- Explore a woodland trail
- Scale a miniature observation tower
- Challenge themselves on our stump jump and fallen log balance beam
Vacation Week Programs
Spring is an exciting time for outdoor discovery at the sanctuary. We have put together four full days of hands-on, engaging, and educational hikes and activities to explore the natural world this time of year. During this week we will learn about and look for signs of beavers, birds, frogs and other nature friends who are returning to Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary this spring! See April vacation week programs
Nature Preschool
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is proud to offer a nature preschool for 3–5-year-olds located at Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary in Wenham. Learn more about the nature preschool
Upcoming Programs
Bird-a-thon Big Sit
-
Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport
-
Saturday, May 11
10:00am-12:00pm
Adults & Families - 0 & up
All Family Field Trip: Early Spring in the Salt Marsh
-
Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport
-
Thursday, May 16
10:00am-12:00pm
Families - children 4 - 11 years
Turtle Time
-
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
-
Saturday, May 25
10:00-11:30am
Families - children 4 & up
All Family Full Moon Beach Hike
-
Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport
-
Saturday, May 25
5:00-7:00pm
Families - children 4 - 11 years
All Family Field Trip: Spring in the Tide Pools
-
Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport
-
Thursday, May 30
10:00am-12:00pm
Families - children 4 - 11 years
Teen Birders: Birding by Canoe
-
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield
-
Sunday, June 2
8:00am-2:30pm
Age 13 & up