Winthrop Garden Re-Opening Ceremony
Come celebrate the re-opening of the Winthrop Community Garden! Enjoy a live drumming performance, free food, and tastes from the garden harvest. Learn more about The Black Panther Gate, a unique art installation in the garden that honors the legacy of the Black Panther Party in Boston. The project features… Read More
Stargazing at Fruitlands Museum with Aldrich Astronomical Society
Take in the stunning magic of the autumn skies at Fruitlands Museum! Join the Aldrich Astronomical Society on the Fruitlands hillside for a fun, and informative, night of stargazing. With a waxing moon illuminating the skies, as well as the chance to catch a glimpse of far-flung planets and star… Read More
Brush And Bloom at Windermere Community Garden
Paint with expert guidance in the tranquility of the garden! Join us in painting and exploring Windermere Community Garden, Dorchester. The garden hosts a central seating area, a large number of plots to explore, and views of historic brick buildings. This class is open to all skill levels. This… Read More
Deer Management at Ward Reservation
Join Leader Bob Dalton for an informative hike to one of the vegetation monitoring sites used to evaluate the effects of White-tailed Deer browsing on our forest ecosystem. The discussion will cover topics such as deer biology, impacts on vegetation, birds, and mammals due to high deer populations, and Trustees’… Read More
Fiddleheads: Preschool Drop-Off Series at Appleton Farms – FALL SESSION 26/27
Fiddleheads Fall Semester 2026 Fall is here and harvest is in full swing. It’s a great time for your preschooler to learn what our fields, barnyard, and forest have to offer. Join us on Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 12:30PM for a preschool drop-off series focused on farm animals, life… Read More
Homeschool Adventures: Session 1
Young explorers are invited to join us in September & October for a 4-part homeschool series that will get them active & moving with nature adventures, exercise, and outdoor skill building. While exploring Appleton Farms & the Crane Estate, participants complete active adventures & design challenges that will exercise both… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Kayak in the Crane Wildlife Refuge
There are few places on the North Shore that more reliably enjoy spectacular sunsets than the back side of Crane Beach, overlooking Essex Bay. On this outing into the… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Sunset Hike to Cedar Point
There’s no better excuse to explore Cedar Point—the western-most part of the Crane Estate—than a hike at sunset. This two-hour adventure in a lesser-known part of the property has it all… A stroll through the beautifully manicured gardens of the Great House A hike down the Woodland Trail leading to… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Kayak Adventure on the Castle Neck River
One of the best ways to enjoy the natural beauty of the Massachusetts North Shore is kayaking the placid waters of the Great Marsh—the largest continuous stretch of salt marsh in New England, extending from Cape Ann to New Hampshire. The Castle Neck peninsula on the Crane Estate is a… Read More
CraneOutdoors: Choate Island Kayak and Hiking Adventure
Kayaking the pristine, sheltered waters of the Essex River Basin offers one of the top on-the-water experiences to be had in Northeast. Add to that a hike on the area’s largest island and you have the makings of an epic adventure. This combined outdoor trip in the Crane Wildlife Refuge—home… Read More
Adult Cow Connection at Appleton Farms
Come meet, cuddle, brush, and sit with our hand-raised cows at Appleton Farms! The mild heart rate and warm body temperature of the cows induces a slowing of our own heart rate, as well as the release of Oxytocin, our social bonding hormone. Visit our scenic and historic farm and… Read More
Coffee with the Cows at Appleton Farms
Celebrate fall with this special hike to visit the Appleton cow and calf herd. Meet these mamas and their growing babies as they spend their morning grazing in our beautiful pastures. Coffee and pastries will be provided by our team so you can “graze” alongside the cattle and enjoy the… Read More