We had a fantastic month of sugaring – from new programs to schools and groups that came out to learn more and, of course, our special fundraising event – Sugaring Weekends! It really was a sweet season…and there is still syrup for sale in our Gift Shop.
And now April is upon us and we are ready for spring to come on in full force. We have heard the first of the spring peepers and a few wood frogs here and there – soon the chorus of sound on the Vernal Pool Trail will be loud and the vernal pools will have egg masses growing. The Red-winged blackbirds have returned to the feeders, the Goldfinches have popped into their bright yellows, and the Turkeys are strutting their stuff in full display. We’ve even seen a few pregnant raccoons waddling around. So, while the trails are muddy (and the red maple swamp boardwalk is still flooded) it is a great time to get outside and enjoy the warming sun and a hike on the trails and check out what’s happening this month at Moose Hill. Remember, most programs require registration so we can best prepare – find a friend or two and register early to ensure that programs you are interested in run!
Knee High Naturalists – want your 3-5 year old to have a little more nature in their day? Miss Patti and our youngest naturalists will explore Moose Hill – each week will have a new nature- or science-related theme. We still have spaces in either the Tuesday or Thursday morning sessions. Come once a week or come twice – the activities on each day will complement the other day and we pro-rate for sessions already started!
Fledgling Fridays – spend some great quality time with your child. Create art, participate in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art and Math) activities, listen to stories, and explore the outdoors every Friday afternoon. This hands-on, nature-based learning program is designed for children ages 3-5 with an adult. Each Friday we will have a different theme focusing on sensory development. Come for one, or come for all of them!
Moose Hill Walkers – it’s back; time to kick off the winter, get outside and take a hike with Ms. Patti every Monday morning. Come learn the trails at Moose Hill so that you can explore on your own!
Early Morning Bird Walks – bird migration will soon be here. Bring your binoculars and join Vin for six weeks as you head out in search of spring migrants – all birding levels are welcome from beginner to expert!
April 2: Ropes of Ecology talk – Shawn Moriarty, the Education Coordinator and Camp Director for Moose Hill had his first booked published last fall. Come learn about his unique team-building and experiential ecological literacy programs that are now a part of the offerings at Moose Hill.
April 5: Star Gazing Night – astronomers from the Astronomical Society of Southern New England take a look at the stars and other night objects through their big telescopes and share it all with you!
April 6: Saturday Morning Hike – Teacher Naturalist Julia will lead this hike focusing on the changing seasons, local geology, conservation at Moose Hill, and Mass Audubon Quests.
April 10: Nature Nerd Trivia Night – Shawn and Julia have been busy preparing the next round of trivia questions. Grab a friend or two, or sign up on your own and make some new friends on another Wednesday night at Moose Hill! This 21+ event is always full of laughter and learning.
April 14: Sunday Saunter – take a gentle saunter along the trails of Moose Hill with Teacher Naturalist Michael to experience nature through the seasons. This month there will be a special focus on vernal pool ecology.
April 14 and/or April 28: Forest Bathing Half Day Retreat – Tam Willey, a certified Forest Therapy guide, will lead you on this slow-paced therapeutic experience promoting wellness through a series of gentle sensory-opening invitations that welcome us to notice more of our natural surroundings
April 15-19: April Vacation Week – experience out-of-school time with us. The seasons are changing and we will go out and explore those changes and what Spring brings to Moose Hill – each day has a special focus. Sign up for one day or all five!
April 20: Salamanders and Citizen Science – act as a Citizen Scientist for the day in this fun, hands- on program with Julia! With your family and friends, learn about our different salamander Citizen Science research projects and practice the protocol yourself.
April 25: Frog Search – enjoy a short, leisurely evening stroll to look and listen for spring peepers and other calling frogs with Julia.
April 28: Family Nature Exploration Sundays – take time to explore the wonders of nature as a family with Miss Patti. Our destinations won’t be too far, which will leave us plenty of time to observe, explore, and discover what is living in a new location each month. This month we go in search of birds!
April 29: Moose Hill Mondays – not quite ready to commit to the series Knee High Naturalists, but still want an opportunity to add some outdoor time to your child’s day? This monthly 2-hour drop-off program for children ages 3-5 will feature a new seasonal nature theme each month with plenty of outdoor exploration/play complimented with indoor activities and crafts. April will feature signs of Spring; morning or afternoon programs available!
Is pre-scheduling your time hard to do? You can always come and enjoy a hike on our trails between 7 am and 7 pm (when our parking lot is unlocked) – make sure to wear the proper footwear and have your water! During this time of year the trails can be wet and muddy; the boardwalk in our red maple swamp on the Billings Trail is still flooded – please avoid that section!
When you come, be sure to stop in the Nature Center and check out our Discovery Room – there are a number of touch tables to explore and the focus this month will change from maple sugaring to vernal pools! I notice: what details do you notice about the items on the tables? I wonder: when you look at the items, what questions do you have? It reminds me of: do these items look like any other things you are familiar with?
Continue to the Blue Room where Mr. Turtle is just looking for visitors – this red eared slider has been a part of Moose Hill for 4 years now; read more about why we have him when you visit! On your way to the Blue Room, be sure to stop and take a selfie at the Moose Antlers – if you line yourself up just right, you can capture yourself with a great Moose rack (don’t forget to tag us if you get a great photo; we want to see how much fun you are having)!
And be sure to check out our updated Gift Shop – honey from our fields, rocks and minerals, local artisan products, water bottles, baseball caps, bird feeders, bird seed, and more. If you haven’t been to the Gift Shop lately, stop in and see the newest selection of items we have just waiting for you. And, save the date – we will feature our local artisans with a fair on June 8; come and meet the people and learn more about their craft.
Are you daydreaming about summer? The Farm at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary runs a summer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program with fresh, organic vegetables over 18 weeks. Registration for this program is now open! Pick-up options available Monday, Wednesday, or Friday evenings from 4-7 pm at our Farm Barn in Sharon or Thursday evening from 3:30-6:30 pm at our sister sanctuary, Boston Nature Center, in Mattapan.
Thinking about summer camp? Registration is open for our 70th summer of day camp fun. It will be another great summer with a few new programs!
No matter how you spend your time with us at Moose Hill – we look forward to seeing you here, exploring the nature of Massachusetts at our sanctuary!
Already looking ahead to what’s next? Check out all our upcoming programs starting in May and beyond – there’s always something happening. Wishing for a particular program? Tell us, we might be planning it for the future!
Want to be sure you know what’s happening at Moose Hill? Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/MassAudubonMooseHill or on Instagram: instagram.com/massaudubonmoosehill Learn about programs, see the beauty of Moose Hill and experience the fun we have!