Animals Winged and Wet

Birds of prey are pretty interesting to learn about and see up close as Museum visitors had the chance to do this Past Friday, August 2.  New England Reptile and Raptor was here showing different birds of prey like the Barn Owl and Turkey Vulture while sharing some really interesting facts.  

Did you know:

• The Great Horned Owl is called the tiger of the woodlands because of its strength.  
• The gut of a vulture is so vile that most bacteria and disease can’t survive!
• The ear openings on an owl aren't symmetrical.
• Owls have 7 more vertebrae in their necks allowing them to be able to turn their heads around further than us.
• Turkey vultures can smell something dead from 12 miles away and are the only American bird with a sense of smell.
• The Paragon Falcon is the fastest diving bird and can reach speeds over 200 miles an hour!

These were some of the many interesting facts that we learned Friday.

Touch Tanks was also at the Museum on Friday providing a chance for kids to interact with different types of water creatures.  There were snails, crabs, oysters and hermit crabs for them to touch and hold and have fun learning about.   

Some cool information that we learned:

• 1 oyster can filter 50 gallons of water a day (that’s a lot of water!)
• When a crab outgrows its shell is sheds its old shell which is called molting 
• Green crabs are actually an invasive species.   
• There is seaweed in toothpaste.
• Crabs are plankton in their larvae stage.
• Hermit crabs use their antennae to feel and also to smell a little.

Everything that the kids interacted with was gathered from the Cape and will be returned to the Cape.

Did you miss these events or maybe your kid enjoyed them so much that they wanted to learn more?  If so, take them to the library where they’ll be able find books to teach them more or you can take them outside for some hands on exploration.  You can take them to a local conservation for the chance to see some birds of prey or join a group such as the Junior Bird Club or participate in programs like Birding by Van.  To discover more about the ocean and its inhabitants you can take them to the beach to see what they can find. 

Animals Winged and Wet wasn't the Museums last summer drop-in!  There are still drop-in days every Thursday and Friday up to the end of August.  For more information on Museum drop-in days you can click here.

Things To Do This Summer Part 1: Places to Go

Summer is here which means that kids are out of school and looking for ways to be entertained. If you’re looking for different ways to keep your kids entertained then we’ve got you covered. We’re starting with a list of different places that you can take the kids for some summer fun but we also have lists to share with you for rainy days and sunny days that you can expect to see soon.

With the amount of time that summer offers, exploring new places and making memories is an easy thing to do as long as you know where to go. Here are some ideas to help you and the kids make some wonderful memories this summer.

1. Dino Tracks

    Daily from June 5, 2013 – December 31, 2013

    Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA

The hunt for dinosaurs begins here! Step into their footprints, hear and feel their footsteps, and come face-to-face with some of the dinosaurs who made them. Focusing on fossil discoveries, the exhibit engages visitors of all ages in trying out hands-on scientific study methods and getting down on the ground to put their new skills to work. For more information click here.

2. Look Listen Touch
    Daily from February 16, 2013 – December 16, 2013
    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA

The Museum will offer Look Listen Touch, a guide for young children to explore the Museum's New England Forests, in the Zofnass Family Gallery. Pick-up the exploration flyer at the front desk or in the gallery and learn how to help your child experience nature in a multi-sensory way. For more information click here.

3. The Wonders of Butterflies and Dragonflies

    July 27, 2013

    Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot Street, Natick, MA

Discover the amazing number of dragonflies and butterflies that make Broadmoor home! Just what is a damselfly? How do dragonflies survive the winter? Come find out this and more! For more information click here.

4. Preschool and Toddler Wednesdays
    June 5, 2013 – December 18, 2013
    Ecotarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA

Go every week for a special preschool and toddler program. Enjoy a story, meet a live animal, and get creative with a supervised craft activity -- all geared especially for little ones aged 3 and under. For more information click here.

5. Davis Farmland and Mega Maze
    145 Redstone Hill, Sterling, MA

Every season is different in New England, and at Davis Farmland, you'll find that every season is special and unique. Whatever the season, the day belongs to your family at Davis Farmland. It's hands on FUN for everyone! For more information click here.

6. Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton
    455 Oak Street, Brockton, MA 02301

Fuller Craft Museum is a dynamic environment where craft is experienced through exhibitions, education, outreach, and collaboration. Explore the materials, techniques, and artistic expression that challenge the perception of craft, while honoring the achievements of the past. If you’re a Children’s Museum in Easton member you have reciprocal membership with the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton.

Up Next: Rainy Day Activities

Budget Family Friendly Ideas for All Seasons!!

The South Coast of Massachusetts offers two tucked-away gems of places that can provide hours of fun for kids of all ages.


The first is the Lloyd Center for the Environment, in Westport MA. Their nature center is on a beautiful stretch of Westport Beach and provides 5 miles of hiking trails and a broad range of animal exhibits, programs and seminars.

Not to be missed is their observation deck, which was named one of 15 "special places" in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. From there you can see Cuttyhunk and other of the Elizabeth Islands, ospreys and migrating birds in flight, harbor seals basking in the sun (during the winter) and much more.

A salt water touch tank lets the kids touch crabs, sea stars and other local sea creatures. A variety of aquariums provide appropriate coastal environments and information on local fish, shellfish and other invertebrates.

While the Lloyd Center’s primary focus is on students and teachers in grades K-8, younger children will also enjoy a visit there. Best of all, there is no charge to enjoy the center or the wooded trails, but a donation is always welcome!


According to their website, the Demarest Lloyd State Park “is one of the best kept secrets in the Massachusetts forest and park system”. I would heartily agree, since on a recent sunny Sunday when the line to Horseneck Beach stretched for miles, this pristine park with saltwater beach was just moderately busy, with lots of available parking and no lines of traffic to get in.

Perfect for families with young children, the surf is calm, the waters shallow and because of this the water temperatures are delightfully warm and agreeable. Plan to picnic in the shady groves, nicely equipped for you with tables and barbecues. You could spend the entire day here, and the kids will busy themselves exploring in the tidal pools, building sand castles. Bring a nature guide and see if you can spot egrets, herons, ospreys, terns and hawks overhead. The beach is a real winner!

Contact info:

The Lloyd Center for the Environment, Westport Ma

430 Potomska Rd
Dartmouth, MA 02748

508-990-0505

www.lloydcenter.org

Demarest Lloyd State Park,
Barney’s Joy Road, Dartmouth, MA
508-636-3298 (summer)

www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/deml.htm