Colorful graphic with icons of birds and mammals, a bigger graphic of a wood thrush and words that say Let your adventures begin...Become a Mass Audubon member. Join today.
Colorful graphic with icons of birds and mammals, a bigger graphic of a wood thrush and words that say Let your adventures begin...Become a Mass Audubon member. Join today.
Snowy Egret standing on grassy island surrounded by water
Snowy Egret @ Clare Carvel
Family Fun at Joppa Flats

Family Drop-in Programs at Joppa Flats

Throughout the year, Joppa Flats Education Center in Newburyport offers family-friendly drop-in programs. These programs, which are geared to families with children ages 3-12, are free but donations are encouraged. 

Types of Programs

Meet Beach Creatures & More

Come meet our newly hatched horseshoe crabs. Observe a variety of caterpillars as they grow into moths and butterflies. Spend time watching shorebirds, egrets and herons in our salt marsh and enjoy the outdoors by the Merrimack River or our nature play area in our air-conditioned activity room. Visit our self-guided science stations and create a craft to take home. Rain or shine. Suggested donation of $2 per person.

yellow, while, and black striped caterpillar on a green leaf
© Linda Amsden

Family Open House: Butterflies & Other Bugs - Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 am–3:00 pm

Celebrate the importance of pollinators with live caterpillars, moths and butterflies. Observe tiny insects under handheld digital microscopes. Join our monarch life cycle relay race. Visit our self-guided science stations and create a craft to take home. Rain or shine. Suggested donation of $2 per person.
 

Upcoming Schedule

DateActivityTime
June 26Meet Beach Creatures & More: Beach Detectives!10:00 am-3:00 pm
June 27Meet Beach Creatures & More: Beach Detectives!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 3Meet Beach Creatures & More: Magnificent Marine Mammals!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 4Meet Beach Creatures & More: Magnificent Marine Mammals!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 10Meet Beach Creatures & More: Salt Marsh Superheroes!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 11Meet Beach Creatures & More: Salt Marsh Superheroes!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 17Meet Beach Creatures & More: Wetland Warriors!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 18Meet Beach Creatures & More: Wetland Warriors!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 24Meet Beach Creatures & More: Insect Investigators!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 25Family Open House: Butterflies & Other Bugs!10:00 am-3:00 pm
July 31Meet Beach Creatures & More: Coral Reef Rangers!10:00 am-3:00 pm
August 1Meet Beach Creatures & More: Coral Reef Rangers!10:00 am-3:00 pm
August 7Meet Beach Creatures & More: Fabulous Fungi & Forests!10:00 am-3:00 pm
August 8Meet Beach Creatures & More: Fabulous Fungi & Forests!10:00 am-3:00 pm
August 14Meet Beach Creatures & More: The Beauty of Birds!10:00 am-3:00 pm
August 15Meet Beach Creatures & More: The Beauty of Birds!10:00 am-3:00 pm

More Family Programs

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In addition to drop-in family programs, Joppa Flats hosts programs throughout the year for families and children.

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