Attend an owl festival, kick off the Halloween celebrations, practice yoga, look for fungi, visit a bog, start nature journaling, and more at a wildlife sanctuary this weekend.
Barn owl
Greater Boston
Give a hoot for owls at Trailside’s Owl Festival on Saturday and Sunday in Milton. There will be owls, crafts, food trucks, and fun for all ages.
During Yoga and Mindfulness at Habitat in Belmont, take part in a 45-minute slow and gentle yoga class indoors and then head outside to explore the trails. (adults, registration required)
Learn about the exciting ways in which monarch butterflies migrate as part of The Mighty Monarch at the Museum of American Bird Art in Canton, le. Start with a story, look through digital microscope to examine monarch butterflies up close, create a butterfly using air-dry clay, then go on a short nature hike. (families, registration required)
Go on a Fall Foliage Canoe down one of the most beautiful stretches of the Charles River with Broadmoor. Start from the Medfield marshes, enjoy the many colors along the bank and the smell of wild grapes. (adults and children ages 12+, registration required)
Take a short hike to observe Autumn Colors at Boston Nature Center. Find out how and why leaves change color, and make beautiful autumn leaf suncatchers to take home. (families, registration required)
Teens can spend an Saw-whet Owl Banding evening at Drumlin Farm as we track the migration of the Northeast’s smallest native owl. (teens, registration required)
North Shore
Witness the Great Duck Migration at Ipswich River. Hike down to Bunker Meadows and climb the observation tower to observe the magnificent spectacle of ducks coming in to roost. (adults and children ages 5+, registration required)
Visit the Banding Station in Newburyport to watch scientists capture, evaluate, and release migrant songbirds while you learn about migration and habitat use. (adults, registration required)
South of Boston
Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary comes alive at night for Spooktacular. While walking through pumpkin-lit trails “meet” forest inhabitants who will share the history of the sanctuary through fun skits and stories. (adults and children, registration required)
Head to Tidmarsh in Plymouth for Sunsets, Snacks, and Coyotes. Take a sunset stroll to our overlook to enjoy a lively presentation about some of the sanctuary’s wonderful wildlife.
Try Outdoor Baking with Native Fruits at North River in Marshfield. Create several treats using the ancient art of fire building, including the bow and drill method of starting a fire. (adults, registration required)
Cape Cod and Islands
During Bird Research in Action! at Wellfleet Bay, meet James and the rest of the bird banding team to learn about banding methods and the information gathered from this research. You will likely get to see live birds up-close and observe the banding process. (adults and children ages 8+, registration required)
Central Massachusetts
Head to Wachusett Meadow in Princeton to connect with your breath, body, mind, and nature during Yoga at the Sanctuary. This class is appropriate for all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, as several options/modifications will be given for each pose. (adults, registration required)
Investigate the hidden world of Fabulous Fall Fungi at Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester. Get tips on how to recognize fungi and learn about their role in ecosystems. (adults registration required)
Connecticut River Valley
Celebrate the wonders of nature with walks, stories, live animals, crafts, and games — all part of the Nature Festival at Laughing Brook in Hampden.
Experience an unusual ecosystem with Hawley Bog in the Fall. This pristine peatland contains all three types of carnivorous plants that are found in Massachusetts: sundew, pitcher plant, and bladderwort. (adult, registration required)
More in the Connecticut River Valley
Berkshires
Relax into the beauty of the woods, waters, and trails of Pleasant Valley in Lenox while Nature Journaling. Guided writing and sketching deepens observations and expands creativity. (adults, registration required)