Free Self-Guided Spring Orchard Walk
2025-04-26 08:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Step out amongst 10,000 blossoming fruit trees at Cider Hill Farm. Enjoy the fresh air and views as you walk through the orchards. Open Saturdays and Sundays 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 4/19 – 5/31. Free. No registration required. Best blossom viewing is late April to mid-May. Along your walk, you’ll see apple, peach, pear, plum and cherry blossoms along with the farm’s hives with honeybees hard at work. Area closures possible. Closed 4/20 Easter Sunday, weekdays and afternoons.

Hike & Seek: Sprouts of Spring
2025-04-26 09:00 - 17:00 | Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, Chickering Road 153, North Andover, M, 01845, United States
As the snow starts to melt, hints of green begin to bud and sprout which can only mean Springtime has arrived. From acorn to tree, sprout to fern, and spore to mushroom; the woodland forest is a revolving world of new plant species as far as the eye can see. Join us this April school vacation in North Andover to discover what is sprouting around you this Spring!
Participants will be emailed an activity bundle to help them look for clues along the trail and work as a team to discover the tiny world beneath their feet and under their nose. This is a self-guided program. Pre-registration required to receive downloadable bundle of spring themed created activities, including maps, scavenger hunt, crafts, additional reading list and recipes.
The special trail will run from April 13-April 27. Please use your bundle on any day of your choosing. Please note: the Stevens-to-Stevens trail is less traveled than our major trails. Participants are welcome to park at 153 Chickering Road, North Andover Road to start the walk. The trail begins on the Stevens-to-Stevens Trail adjacent to the Town Common. Use map for reference.
Membership: To locate information about your Membership, including Member ID, expiration date, and more please visit: https://tickets.thetrustees.org/membership.
Tickets: To look up your tickets or re-send an email confirmation, please visit: https://tickets.thetrustees.org/orders

CraneExplorer: Arbor Day Forest Fun
2025-04-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, Argilla Road 290, Ipswich, M, 01938, United States
Celebrate Arbor Day with a frolic through the forest on this all-ages education program which explores the biological need for habitat & shelter in an educational and experiential setting. Participants will discuss examples of shelters and dwellings, why and how living things build shelters, and share gratitude with the earth for providing the materials for these shelters. After brainstorming some building strategies & designs, we will get active outside with a nature walk and then practice building shelters & fairy houses out of natural materials in the Pine Grove at Castle Hill. This program is a great way for young learners to spend time outdoors exploring creativity & gratitude for nature.
CraneExplorer events are family-friendly programs welcoming learners of all ages. Hikes cover less ground to accommodate smaller strides and have more frequent stops to look, listen, and learn from our CraneExplorer guides. Interactive education programs include hands-on activities to engage our curiosity. CraneExplorer Programs are best suited for ages 5+.
Please be aware that we may walk for up to two hours and cover approximately 1-2 miles. As such, adult discretion on your child’s ability to manage this activity is advised.

Free! Earth Month Walking Tour at Cider Hill Farm
2025-04-26 10:30 - 12:00 | Cider Hill Farm, 45 Fern Avenue, Amesbury, M, 01913, United States
Have questions about what happens on a New England farm in early Spring? Come explore behind the scenes sections of the 145 acre farm for a deeper understanding of the growing process, irrigation system and solar power solutions. Every day is Earth Day!
****Meeting Location & Departure***
Meeting spot: Look for the “Farm Tour Here” sign outside the Farm Store.
Departure: Please arrive 5-8 minutes early to be ready for an on time departure.
Attire: Proper shoes for uneven, muddy terrain.
Ages: All ages welcome and encouraged. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Pets: Strictly prohibited per the Board of Health.

Whale Watch with 7 Seas and the Peabody Essex Museum
2025-04-26 10:30 - 14:30 | 7 Seas Whale Watch, 63 Rogers Street #7, Gloucester, MA, 01930
Know before you go
In-person event
Location: Offsite: 7 Seas Whale Watch, Seas Wharf, 63 Rogers Street #7, Gloucester, MA 01930
Members:
Adults: $50; Children ages 4–16: $35
Nonmembers:
Adults: $65; Children ages 4–16: $45
Preregistration required. Tickets are limited and nonrefundable (except in the event of weather cancellation). Tickets available through Thursday, April 24 at midnight.
Suitable for children ages 4 and up.
This is an outdoor tour on a moving boat; please dress for the weather and bring sunscreen and water in a reusable bottle. More details will be included in your event confirmation email.
Please note that tickets are nonrefundable, unless 7 Seas Whale Watch cancels due to inclement weather.
Come along with us on a whale watch in celebration of PEM’s two exhibitions about whales: Draw Me Ishmael: The Book Arts of Moby Dick and Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend.
Join 7 Seas Whale Watch on their first boat trip of the season! April is a particularly active month for spotting whales, so bring your binoculars and your spirit of adventure as we journey out to sea with the expert crew and a seasoned naturalist. You’ll be joined by PEM’s Dan Lipcan, Curator of Draw Me Ishmael, Jane Winchell, Curator of Narwhal, and Jim McCoy, Essex County Ornithological Club president and seabird expert. We’ll bring along tales and fun props from both exhibitions and help you identify whales and seabirds!

Maple Strolls at Appleton Farms
2025-04-26 11:00 - 14:30 | Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich, MA, 01938, United States
Sessions start at: 11, 12:15 & 1:30 Trustees Members $12/Nonmembers $20
Visit the historic maple stand and sugar shack at Appleton Farms and learn all about maple sugaring, its history at the farm and in New England, and how you can try your hand at it at home!
Experience a leisurely stroll along our country farm roads and past several historic landscapes to our Appleton maple grove. You’ll learn some of the history of maple sugaring as well as the science behind what makes maple sap run in our trees. The stroll concludes with a visit to our sugar shack where you will see firsthand how we turn the collected sap into our delicious Appleton maple syrup!
Be sure to wear weather appropriate clothing and boots or shoes that are appropriate for hiking in potentially wet and muddy spots or over uneven hilly terrain. All Maple Strolls are weather permitting and will last approximately 1 hour, walking much of that time. We welcome all ages; however, information is geared towards those 10 and up. Have smaller kids? Check out our family geared maple programming, Maple in the Barnyard!
Space is limited for this event and pre-registration is strongly recommended.
We will have a food station open selling maple baked goods, snacks and treats from 12-3pm by the sugar shack. Make sure to stop by! No pizza service will be available. The Farm Store is open 10am-4pm where you can buy our very own syrup. Make sure to stop by!
