Full Moon Over Dunes

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

CraneExplorer events are designed to appeal to the little ones* while giving their parents a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Crane Estate. These hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our CraneOutdoors guides. Not just… Read More

Full Moon Over Dunes

CraneExplorer: Family Full Moon Hike in the Dunes

CraneExplorer events are designed to appeal to the little ones* while giving their parents a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Crane Estate. These hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our CraneOutdoors guides. Not just… Read More

Pine cone tree rw

Winter Ecology Snowshoe Walk at Notchview with Adventure East

Join Adventure East and expert naturalist, William Randolph, for a guided exploration of winter’s quiet brilliance. As we snowshoe through forested trails, we’ll investigate how nature survives in winter, how buds and bark reveal seasonal strategies, and how snowpack shapes the lives of plants and animals. Learn to identify winter… Read More

Night Owl

Owl Prowl Hike at Appleton Farms

Join us for a very special evening hike to hear the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn… Read More

Winter Tracking

Family Explorer: Winter Tracking in the Dunes at Crane Beach

An outdoor adventure for the whole family! We’ll take a dune walk, investigating the trail for footprints, scat, burrows, and other signs left behind by travelers that passed through before us, and piece together the evidence that will help us see who lives in this habitat. Bring your sharp senses… Read More

ward birch

Family Explorer: Winter on the Lake at Moraine Farm

Hike along the shores of beautiful Wenham Lake on a glacial moraine and learn how this ridge formed thousands of years ago, as glaciers melted, scattering about rocks and sand to form the landscape we see today. Learn also about the importance of Wenham Lake as a water source, both… Read More

Bobcat track

Family Wildlife Tracking at Notchview with Adventure East

Step into the mystery of the natural world and deepen your relationship with those who we share the land. This two-hour immersive experience introduces the foundational skills of wildlife tracking—learning to identify track and sign, interpret animal clues, and cultivate a mindful presence in nature. Through guided exploration and… Read More

Blue Jay

Family Explorer: Winter Birds and Wildlife at Appleton Farms

What birds and other wildlife frequent the Appleton Farms fields, woodlands, and wetlands in the winter? This hike will start with some interactive games and demonstrations to get learners familiar with our resident winter birds and wildlife, and to introduce techniques for bird observation and animal tracking. We will then… Read More

Ward cattail

Family Explorer: Winter Bog Walk at Ward

Travel through the woods and across the boardwalk at Ward Reservation to discover a curious quaking bog habitat. Learn about insect-eating plants and other odd species that form a floating island of plants above a kettle pond formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. What makes this swampy place a… Read More

Long Hill Winter

Family Explorer: Sleepy Garden Hike at Long Hill

What happens to the garden in winter? This hike will start with a story & discussion, and then we will head out on the trails and through the gardens at Long Hill to learn about plant life cycles and how gardens and forests go dormant in the winter to prepare… Read More

DEER

Family Explorer: Winter Wildlife Walk at Crane Beach

A CraneExplorer Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about some of 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… Read More

Full Moon

Full Moon Snowshoe Hike at Peaked Mountain with Adventure East

Join Adventure East for an enchanting Full Moon Snowshoe Hike at Peaked Mountain in Monson, MA, where the mystical energy of the full moon illuminates our path and fosters a sense of community. This approximately three-hour hike is of moderate difficulty. With panoramic views of the Connecticut River Valley, the… Read More