UPDATE 3/23/20: As It brings us great sadness to inform you that, to support the stay-at-home advisory given by Governor Baker, we will be closing all of Mass Audubon’s wildlife sanctuaries and trails to any visitation as of noon on Tuesday, March 24, until further notice. Please visit massaudubon.org/covid19 for more details.

If ever there was a need for the benefits of being outside, it is now. Study after study has shown that being outdoors can do wonders for our health and well-being.  

And while our buildings have temporarily shut-down, our 38,000 acres of protected land is there for you to explore.  

Visit a favorite trail, or try a new one. While you’re there, take a deep breath, slow down, listen to the sounds around you, seek out signs of spring, and share what you see on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram. 

We may have to socially distance ourselves in person, but we can continue to be a strong community online. 

Need some inspiration on where to visit? 

• Search for a wildlife sanctuary by city or zip code or browse by region 
• Read an article on the Hidden Gems of Mass Audubon. 
• Find trail descriptions and maps online.  
• Bring along Nature Bingo for kids (and kids at heart).
• Please Note: Drumlin Farm and Blue Hills Trailside Museum are closed to all visitors.

A few important notes if you do plan on visiting: 

• If you see others there, remember to socially distance yourselves and do not gather in large groups. 
• If we feel a sanctuary is getting so much visitation that socially distancing becomes challenging, we may need to close the sanctuary. 
• To prevent the spread of COVID-19, there will be no bathrooms available. 
• For your safety, please do not play in the Nature Play Areas. 
• See additional guidelines for the safety of people and wildlife.

Mass Audubon relies on memberships and admission fees to maintain our property and provide education programs. During this difficult time, we have opted to open our trails free to everyone. If you would like make a donation, you can designate your gift to the sanctuary you visited.  

Be sure to keep visiting our blog, where we will be sharing more ways to engage with nature over the coming weeks. Until then, stay well and get outside. 

Look for Diamondback Terrapins, go on a boat tour, kayak at sunset, fly a kite, count butterflies, learn about coyotes, and more at a wildlife sanctuary this weekend.

Cape Cod and Islands

Go In Search of Diamondback Terrapins at Wellfleet Bay. Start off inside with an introduction to this fascinating species then head outside for a walk along sanctuary trails to look for hatchlings. (adults, registration required)

Enjoy a Cuttyhunk and Elizabeth Islands Boat Tour with Long Pasture. On a privately chartered vessel, the trip will leave from Falmouth Harbor for an hour-and-a-half cruise through Vineyard Sound, Buzzards Bay, and along the Elizabeth Islands. Shipboard commentary will focus on landmarks, geology, wildlife and the history of these quiet, protected islands. (adults and children, registration required)

Take in a Sunset Kayak Tour at Felix Neck in Edgartown. Relax, unwind, and appreciate the painted sky like never before while paddling the waters. (adults and children ages 14+, registration required)

More on Cape Cod and Islands

South of Boston

Head to Duxbury Beach for a Family Fun Day all about kites. Build simple kites as we explore the science of flight.

This program was cancelled Go on a Sunset Hike at Tidmarsh in Plymouth. Explore the trails while learning about the history of Tidmarsh, its restoration, and observe first hand how nature is returning to reclaim this special place. (adults and children, registration required)

Take part in a Butterfly Census at Allens Pond in South Dartmouth. Savor the last remnants of summer, enjoy some time outdoors, and learn about butterflies. (adults and children, registration required)

More in South of Boston

Greater Boston

Are you Curious about Coyotes? Head to Boston Nature Center to learn about coyotes and search the BNC trails for their signs and tracks. (families)

Be a Citizen Science and Survey Insects at Habitat in Belmont. The data collected will provide information about the diversity of urban wildlife including our important pollinators. (adults, registration required)

More in Greater Boston

North Shore

Go Saturday Morning Birding in the Newburyport/Plum Island are — one of the best year-round birding locations in the country. Beginners and birders of all levels are welcome. (adults)

More on the North Shore

Berkshires

Discover Fantastic Fungi at Canoe Meadows in Pittsfield as we examine mushrooms big and small, edible and poisonous. (adults, registration required)

Canoe the Housatonic River in Lenox. During this leisurely paddle watch for swallows, herons, kingfishers, muskrats, and signs of beavers and learn about why the waterway is the natural heart of the Berkshires. (adults and children ages 10+, registration required)

More in the Berkshires