Programs & Activities at Joppa Flats
Family Fun at Joppa Flats
Ready for some adventure? We’ve got all kinds of fun programs and activities for you and your friends and family!
Nature Play at Joppa Flats
Come to Joppa Flats for an up-close experience with the coastal creatures that reside in the sandy and rocky shores of Plum Island.
Aquarium Viewing Tanks
At the Joppa Flats Education Center, you can observe sea stars, hermit crabs, and other tide pool creatures in our 110-gallon aquarium tank. Additionally, you can find a young lumpfish, young horseshoe crabs, large Jonah crabs, and minnows in the nearby cold marine tanks.
The Kid's Zone
Every month, you can explore new nature-themed activities, including a self-guided observation station equipped with natural items, hand lenses, and digital microscopes. We offer fun take-home craft, coloring pages, a variety of children's activities, and picture books available on our nature book rack. Additionally, a sandbox filled with seashells, skate egg cases, driftwood, and sand from Plum Island is available for hands-on exploration.
Birdwatching and Picnicking
On the second floor, the Bird Blind and observation deck offer great spots for visitors to use our birding scope or borrow binoculars from the front desk. In our small riverside backyard, guests can enjoy birdwatching, have a picnic on the lawn, or sit at our picnic tables.
Upcoming Programs
Touch Tank Time
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Joppa Flats Education Center, Newburyport
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Saturday, October 11
10:00am-12:00pm
Families - children 0 - 17
Wednesday Morning Birding
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Newburyport and vicinity
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Wednesday, October 15
9:30am-12:30pm
Adults
Nature Play Group
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Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, South Wellfleet
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Wednesday, October 15
10:00-11:00am
Adults & Families - 2 - 17