Teen Naturalist Club Spring/Summer Session

Explore a variety of local ecosystems, learn more about a wide range of natural history topics, and do real wildlife data collection and conservation projects in this exciting club for teens!

This is your chance to get involved behind the scenes with Mass Audubon's science and conservation work. The club meets one or two Saturdays a month in a spring/summer session and fall/winter session. Meetings are at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Joppa Flats, or at other nearby sites around the North Shore.

Here are the topics and projects for this Spring:

March 9 (2:00pm to 4:30pm): Welcome and teambuilding followed by an in depth look at the science and history of maple sugaring in New England. We will learn about and look for signs of threats to our maple trees like climate change and over-browsing by deer and of course end with a taste test of our very own syrup. Meet at IRWS.

March 23 (3:00pm to 5:30pm): Search for coastal wildlife and signs of spring at Salisbury Beach State Reservation. Survey harbor seal activity as well as search for raptors, sea ducks, loons and grebes. Meet at Joppa Flats.

April 13 (2:00pm to 4:30pm): Learn about the frog and salamander seasonal migration known as Big Night and survey the vernal pool for amphibian eggs masses and coverboards for adult salamanders on the move. Meet at IRWS.

May 18 (LONG PROGRAM 1:00pm to 5:00pm): Visit the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland NH to visit a well-known horseshoe crab spawning site to observe these creatures and record their activity as part of a community science survey. We will also visit the exhibit area with marine tanks and meet a member of the education staff to learn how their tanks are cared for. Meet at Joppa Flats.

May 25 (EARLY PROGRAM 8:00am to 10:30am): Annual Pajama Birding Morning! Conduct a mini version of Bird-a-thon at Ipswich River in the comfort of your comfiest clothes while munching on donuts and other breakfast goodies. Meet at IRWS.

June 8 (EVENING PROGRAM 5:00pm to 8:00pm): Evening canoe paddle on the Ipswich River to conduct a spring sounds survey. We will use the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program protocol to learn and listen for calling amphibians as well as other wetland wildlife active this time of day. Meet at IRWS.

*Make-up day on Saturday June 22nd if needed