Spring Homeschool Class For Ages 6 To 10

Ipswich River's weekly homeschool classes promote an active engagement with nature through inquiry-based, hands-on environmental education. Join us as we explore the many different habitats provided by our 2000-acre sanctuary, and lay the foundation for a lifelong connection with nature.Amazing Amphibians: April 25Spring is the season when frogs, toads, and salamanders return to the wetlands to lay their eggs. We will learn about the life cycles of these amazing creatures and then search the sanctuary's… Show more wetlands and woodlands for amphibians on the move. If we're lucky, we might be able to catch a few of them! Invasives: May 2Nature has a delicate balance that can be easily upset. Occasionally, alien invaders infiltrate our ecosystems and begin to outcompete our native plants and animals for resources. When this happens, an ecosystem can be seriously damaged. During today's class, we will identify some of our invasive species, such as buckthorn and Asiatic bittersweet, and learn how they can be controlled.Skulls and Bones: May 9Have you ever wondered what an animal looks like underneath all that fur? On this day, we will be joined by Richard Wolniewicz, a bone expert, who will show us a wide variety of local bird and mammal bones and explain how different animals actually have similar skeletal structures. We will then participate in a bone hunt on the sanctuary.Spring Migrants: May 16During the month of May, our forests are adorned with the bright colors of migratory birds. However, they will only stay in our area for a few weeks before heading north to their breeding grounds. We will stroll the forests looking for these flashes of brilliance while learning more about how birds migrate and what they feed on while they are here.Exploring the Ipswich River: May 23Today we will board canoes and explore the Ipswich River. We will take a short, gentle paddle downstream looking for signs of birds and wetland mammals. We will also bring tools to find out what lurks beneath the surface of the water. Paddles, PFDs, and basic instruction will be provided.Turtle Time: May 30As late spring becomes early summer, it means one thing: turtle time! We'll visit areas where turtles like to nest in the hopes of finding some eggs and, with a little luck, get an up-close look at a painted turtle. We'll conclude with a trip to the Rockery to see if we can summon our resident snapping turtle, Godzilla.Instructions and Directions: Meets in the Barn. Please dress for the weather since we will be outside most of the time.Registration is required.Register by mail: program registration form. (PDF 66K)Register by phone: with a credit card by calling (978) 887-9264.For your own security, DO NOT send credit card information via email.

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