The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts is one of the biggest parks supported by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Located less than 30 miles (48.28 km) from Boston, it’s an easily accessible day trip from the city. It offers 12 miles (19.31 km) of walking trails covering 2,267 acres (917.42 hectares) that extend through a variety of landscapes including forests, meadows, and wetlands. If you prefer, you can explore the area by canoe. Either way, you will notice an incredible diversity of wildlife, especially birds. Besides its daily offerings, there are also a variety of special and seasonal events and plenty of activities for kids.
Stretch out your legs on the walking trails
After purchasing your entry (4.00 USD for adults and 3.00 USD for children and seniors over 65) you will be given a map and wildlife guide to help you get the most of your visit. Visitors are free to explore the trails at their leisure so you can decide which trails to explore based on your fitness level, time constraints, and interests. If you visit on Sundays between Labor Day and Memorial Day, you will have the opportunity to take a guided walk with a knowledgeable staff member; an experience that can deeply enrich your experience.
Participate in the special events
The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary features many special events throughout the course of the year. Some events are designed with the entire family in mind, while others are targeted towards adults. A great aspect of these programs is that each year there is a mix of perennial favorites and new offerings.
Winter means guided snowshoe excursions through the vast property. Early spring signals the arrival of maple sugaring tours that are designed to teach participants how to identify sugar maple trees and how to properly tap trees to obtain syrup. The tour ends with a delicious syrup tasting. As the weather warms up, there are themed guided tours of various animal habitats including salamanders, owls, and wood frogs. Throughout the year there are also bird watching programs, nature-themed painting classes, and basket-making workshops.
Keep the kids occupied for hours
Children’s programming is a huge part of the sanctuary’s operations. The programs have enticing names like “Sense of Wonder Walk: Where Have All the Insects Gone?” and “Salamander Meander” and are appropriate for children as young as three years old. In addition, they are led by professional field teachers who know how to keep all visitors interested and engaged, no matter how young.
During vacation times there are a number of programs offered. For school vacations in February and April, each day of the camp has a different theme, such as “Winged Wonders” where children explore and identify a variety of winged animals. During summer vacation, themes are given to each week, for example “Survive the Wild,” where pre-teens can learn outdoor survival techniques like shelter-building and knot-tying. With a variety of themes and reasonable prices, between 200 USD and 400 USD, for a week of camp, parents and children alike will rejoice in these programs.
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Plan your visit
The ticket office and gift store are open from 9.00 AM to 4.00 PM between November and April and until 5.00 PM May through October. Trails are open every day except Mondays from dawn to dusk. The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to spend the day for people of all ages, interests and activity levels, whether you’re visiting the Boston area, or are a native.
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