The North/Andover area properties of The Trustees are excited to announce our children and family October programming at The Stevens-Coolidge Place, Weir Hill, and Ward Reservation. Fall is in the air and the Stevens-Coolidge Place has everything you will need to have a safe, healthy, and fun Fall season this October. From after school nature programs, to a self-guided Mini Beast Detective Bundle, and our annual Nocturnal Animal Pumpkin Trail; we are hosting a variety of programs for families of all ages and interests to get outside and connect with nature at our properties.
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Learning Pod Field Trips |
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Dates: 10/1, 10/6, 10/8, 10/13, 10/15, 10/20, 10/22
Time: 2:30 pm-3:30 pm
Is your educational pod or home school group looking for some outdoor learning time?
The Stevens-Coolidge Place offers interactive private group field trips in line with elementary curriculum standards for safe outdoor fall adventures.
This booking is for one private group field trip with up to 11 attendees from your group. This limit is to stay in line with current state mandates on group size limits. A minimum of one adult from your learning pod is required to be present during the field trip. Safety measures in place; masks required. This is not a drop-off program.
Book multiple field trips at the same time to build out your place-based curriculum!
Cost: $160 per field trip booking; $130 per field trip booking if two families are Trustee Members
Program Details:
10/1: Life Cycle of the Garden: From seed to sprout, unearth the life cycle of the garden with a hands-on approach in our gardens. Students will learn and identify the who, the where, the what, the why, and the how behind what makes a garden flourish and grow.
10/6 and 10/8: All About Pollinators: It’s a bird…it’s a bee…it’s a pollinator! Discover the life and role of a pollinators with our garden as your classroom. Take a deeper dive into pollination and the native pollinators that allow our gardens to grow.
10/13 and 10/15: Weather and Seasons: As the leaves start to change, so does the weather around us! Through a hands-on approach with nature, uncover the connection between the water cycle and weather to see not only how they work together but why we see these changes around us each season.
10/20 and 10/22: Trees and Leaves: From the mighty oak to the elm, to the maple, trees are all around us. Through a guided hike on the Stevens-to-Stevens Trail, uncover the life of trees by investigating the different parts of the tree to discover a world beyond its bark and leaves.
Hike and Seek: Mini Beast Detectives (Ward Reservation) |
Dates: Oct. 1 to Oct. 18
Time: 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Program Details: Have you ever had a moment in the woods that felt a little bit mystical? It could be a feeling of connectedness or a sighting of something unusual, like the mini beasts that make the forest their home. The Trustees wants to bring you closer to these fantastical elements of the forest with this self-guided outdoor trail at Ward Reservation in Andover.
Curious children and their caregivers are invited to discover their own magic in the woods with this family-friendly outdoor self-guided program. Participants will be sent an activity bundle to help them look for clues along the yellow 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 bundle of the day’s activities, including maps, scavenger hunt, crafts, additional reading list and recipes.
The special trail will run from Sept. 6 to Oct 18.
Trustee Member Family: $3
Nonmember Family $6
Outdoor Afternoon Adventures at Stevens-Coolidge Place |
Dates: 10/2
Time: 3:00 pm – 5 :30 pm
The Stevens-Coolidge Place wants to get you outside this fall! Join a Trustees staff member and a small group of other young explorers to hike, journal, play and explore in this afternoon drop off program.
Program Details:This program is best suited for students in 4th and 5th grade who want to enjoy a no-screens afternoon. Masks are required at all times and social distancing will be enforced. Please note, this program occurs entirely outside.
Pre-registration for the 4 week series required. Fridays, October 2-23.
Trustee Member Child: $155
Nonmember Child: $180
Wee Explorers |
Dates: 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27
Time: Mornings 9 :30 am – 10 :30 am
Program Details:
To encourage outdoor play and exploration of the great outdoors, this nature-based toddler playgroup will incorporate guided activities with clear objectives such as story time and music time. Along with these guided activities, opportunities for free time for children and their caregivers to peek under rocks, inspect tree bark for hiding bugs and jump in puddles. Held at the Stevens-Coolidge Place on every Tuesday, come to one or all of the sessions and explore the hidden worlds beneath our feet and above our heads.
Pre-registration required for all adults and children.
Recommended for ages 2-5.
Trustee Member Child: $5
Nonmember Child: $10
Adult: Free
Questions? Want to become a Trustees member and enjoy free or discounted programs? Contact jolivere@thetrustees.org
Free Fall Family Day |
Dates: 10/12
Time: 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Program Details:
If you find yourself with some time off this Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we invite you to pack a picnic and head to The Stevens-Coolidge Place for a day of free outdoor family fun! Enjoy a fall nature-based scavenger hunt and explore the beautiful grounds or relax and enjoy a story about the season on this special day.
No charge. Space is limited; Pre-registration required. Choose one of three one-hour time slots.
Don’t forget to purchase a pumpkin when pre-registering to pick up in the gardens when you arrive. Halloween is almost here!
Budding Photographers Workshop for Teens |
Dates:10/18
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Program Details:
Are you looking to grow your photography skills? Are you interested in nature photography, or simply photography in general? Join internationally recognized professional photographer, Heidi Ricker of HDR Photos and Imagery at the Stevens-Coolidge Place for an introductory course in photography geared toward ages 13 to 17. Whether you have a DSLR camera or a smartphone, this course is for you! Participants will leave the day’s workshop understanding the basics of capturing the perfect photo. Learn about light, composition, camera settings, and more, while using the beautiful gardens at the Stevens-Coolidge Place as your subject!”
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Trustee Member Child: $36
Nonmember Child: $42
Nocturnal Animal Pumpkin Trail |
Dates:10/28, 10/29, 10/30, 10/31, 11/1
Time: 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Program Details:
Unsure how to celebrate Halloween this year? Children and their caregivers are invited to visit the Stevens-Coolidge Place for a Pumpkin Trail magical treat!
This year’s Pumpkin Trail will display almost 400 pumpkins and lanterns, light installations, a story walk and a nocturnal animal scavenger hunt for the enjoyment of your little nighttime explorers along a safe and socially distant trail. Enjoy this self-guided, non-scary event for children of all ages that combines fun and education in a unique way. Costumes encouraged!
Goodie bags for kiddos! Evening ticket holders should bring a flashlight.
Timed tickets require pre-registration to adhere to state mandates on outdoor group sizes. For the safety of all, masks are required while visiting Trustees properties.
Space is limited; pre-registration required.
Trustee Member Adult: $4
Trustee Member Child: $5
Nonmember Adult: $8
Nonmember Child: $10
Refund policy: Refunds must be requested 7 days prior to your ticket date. Refunds requested after this date cannot be honored. A full refund will be issued if the Stevens-Coolidge Place cancels your event date.
Thank you to our Sponsors Enterprise Bank & ReVision Energy
Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit supported by members, friends and donors and our more than 115 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.
