North Shore Wildlife Sanctuaries IPSWICH RIVER & JOPPA FLATS Programs & Events SEPTEMBER—DECEMBER 2018 Central Massachusetts / Broad Meadow Brook Your Guide to North Shore Wildlife Sanctuaries Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary 87 Perkins Row | Topsfield Joppa Flats Education Center 978-887-9264 Office One Plum Island Tpke | Newburyport 978-887-0875 Fax 978-462-9998 Office p ipswichriver@ p p 978-462-4143 Fax p p p p 1 massaudubon.org p [email protected] 2 pp p p p p p 3p 1 Joppa Flats, Newburyport pp p p 2 Rough Meadows, Rowley p p p 4p 3 Ipswich River, Topsfield 4 Endicott, Wenham 5 5 Eastern Point, Gloucester 6 Marblehead Neck, Marblehead 7 Nahant Thicket, Nahant Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary 6 346 Grapevine Road | Wenham 978-927-1122 Office These sites have accessible features. 978-922-8487 Fax p p p [email protected] p p p p These sites produce and purchase green electricity. p 7 Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary Joppa Flats Education Center Amy Weidensaul, Sanctuary Director, ext. 7701 David Moon, Sanctuary Director, ext. 6801 Sue Baeslack, Education & Volunteer Coordinator, ext. 7707 Jude Griffin, Administrative Assistant, ext. 6806 Julie Bouchard, Accounting/Payroll Assistant, ext. 7713 Lisa Hutchings, School & Youth Education Coordinator, ext. 6804 Cori Brauer, Education Coordinator, ext. 7704 David Larson, Science & Education Coordinator, ext. 6802 Jean Bruns, Development Assistant, ext. 7710 Kirsten Lindquist, Camp Director & Youth Education Laura Coulbourn, Administrative Assistant, ext. 7702 Coordinator, ext. 6805 Bob Demeule, Property Worker Melissa Vokey, Administrative Coordinator & Development Kim LoGrasso, Youth Education Manager, ext. 7706 Director, ext. 6803 Stina MacDougall, Office Manager/School Programs Meg de Give & Alison O’Hare, Weekend Staff Administrator, ext. 7705 Stephanie Majeau, Education Coordinator, ext. 7712 Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary Scott Santino, Teacher Naturalist/Camp Director, ext. 7709 Robert Buchsbaum, Regional Scientist, ext. 2703 Rebecca Spencer, Administrative Assistant, ext. 7711 Liz Duff, Education Coordinator, ext. 2701 Angela Walsh, Administrative Assistant, ext. 7703 Karen First, Preschool Director, 978-237-0108 Bill Whiting, Property Worker Chris Leahy, Betrand Chair Emeritus, ext. 2702 Richard Wolniewicz, Property Manager, ext. 7708 Inside IPSWICH RIVER Director’s Letter.............................2 Notes & Announcements. 3 Adults ........................................4 Children, Families, & All Ages. 10 Homeschool.................................16 JOPPA FLATS Director’s Letter.............................18 Notes & Announcements . 19 Adults . .....................................20 HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS Educators...................................25 at Ipswich River Children, Families, & All Ages. 26 Friday, October 19 & Saturday, October 20 Homeschool............................. 29 For families with children ages 4 and up TRIPS & TOURS..........................30 At sundown this Halloween season, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary will be transformed into a magical forest. Join us for a guided walk along our Halloween trail, home to some interesting characters that come out just for Halloween. CAN’T MISS CALENDAR...............35 See page 13 for details. GENERAL INFORMATION..............36 Put down your football and pick up your binoculars for the REGISTRATION INFORMATION...... 37 SUPERBOWL OF BIRDING XVI Titans of the Birding World Clash on Saturday, January 19 5:00 AM–7:00 PM Join us with your team of four to seven birders and compete to find bird species in Essex County, MA, and Rockingham County, NH. Cover Images: Ducks ©Eric Schultz, Canoeing ©Jared See page 25 for details. Leeds, White Birches ©Ken Conway, ToC ©Melissa Vokey Central Massachusetts / Broad Meadow Brook Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary 87 Perkins Row massaudubon.org/ipswichriver Topsfield, MA 01983 978-887-9264 Director’s Letter [email protected] We’re in a time of transition at Ipswich River; I am happy Amy is currently completing her Ph.D. at Antioch New to announce that Amy Weidensaul started in July as the England in Environmental Studies, focusing on the long- new sanctuary director at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. term impacts of youth environmental education on Amy is an experienced and passionate leader in nonprofit environmental identity and behaviors. She also holds management, conservation, and environmental education. a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She brings a lifetime love of Most recently, Amy has been the deputy director for nature to her new role as sanctuary director. Conservation and Engagement for the National Audubon Society in Pennsylvania, where she had oversight for all Amy grew up in Massachusetts, and was very inspired by conservation, outreach, and engagement activities. With a summer spent early in her career working as a coastal a staff of eight and a program budget of over $2 million, waterbird monitoring assistant for Mass Audubon on she coordinated strategic planning and development of Plymouth Beach. She is enthusiastic about returning to conservation programs across the state. Prior to that, Amy Massachusetts in the role of sanctuary director at Ipswich served as the director of several outdoor education centers River. in Pennsylvania and Maryland. We are so excited about Amy joining the team at Mass Amy has experience in building community partnerships, Audubon, and I hope you will join me in welcoming her to establishing new environmental education programs and Ipswich River! facilities, and is particularly passionate about engaging new audiences in building meaningful connections with nature. With best wishes, Andrea Lukens Regional Director, Greater Boston/North Shore Sanctuaries Homeschool exploring the water’s edge (homeschool details on page 16). ©Cori Brauer 24 Notes & AnnouncementsNorth Shore / Ipswich River / Notes & Announcements BIRD-A-THON REPORT MEMBERS-ONLY OPPORTUNITIES Thank you to all who supported and participated in our spring Please visit our website for details on the following rental Bird-a-thon. Team Ipswich River recorded 230 species in the opportunities at Ipswich River that are available to Mass 24-hour event, placing third in the statewide competition. Audubon members only. Contact our office for reservations Even more important for the sanctuary is the $18,000 that at [email protected] or 978-887-9264. was raised to support our conservation and education INNERMOST HOUSE Available year-round programs. This is critical funding for us, and a special thank Our small, rustic cabin on the sanctuary is available for $60 you goes out to our highest fundraisers: Jean Bruns, Fran per night. Perler, Ava Steenstrup, Ida Giriunas, Linda Pivacek, Scott Santino, Mike Baird, Susan Baeslack, Angela Walsh, Susan PERKINS ISLAND CAMPSITES May 1–October 31 Hedman, and Cori Brauer’s teen Bird-a-thon team. Our primitive camping area on Perkins Island, accessible only by canoe, is the perfect opportunity to escape from the day-to-day grind and connect with nature. FIELD TEACHER TRAINING Share your enthusiasm for the Earth with schoolchildren CANOE RENTALS May 1–October 31 by becoming a field teacher at Ipswich River. Conduct Members may rent canoes for $10 per hour (minimum environmental education programs at the sanctuary and at 2 hours). Canoes cannot be reserved, but feel free to call nearby schools and sites. Training will begin in September. ahead for information on availability, since canoes are Applicants must have experience teaching children, a basic sometimes in use for programs. natural history background and interest, and be available at least one morning a week, September–June. Please send a letter of interest and résumé to: Field Teacher Training, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA 01983, or email [email protected]. IPSWICH RIVER WILDLIFE SANCTUARY NATURE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES PRESCHOOL For details on the following volunteer opportunities, go to Now Enrolling for 2019–2020 massaudubon.org/volunteer or contact our volunteer coordinator, Located at Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary, Sue Baeslack, at 978-887-9264, ext. 7707, or Wenham [email protected]. Minimum age to volunteer is 14. • Highly qualified teachers with backgrounds in early- : Join our group of dedicated volunteers to NATURE GUIDES childhood and nature education share the natural and cultural history of the sanctuary with • Nature-based, emergent curriculum that promotes visitors on Sundays and Monday holidays, from Labor Day to language, math, and social development Memorial Day. Training will be held on Saturdays this fall. • Beautiful classrooms, outdoor play areas, and gardens HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS (OCTOBER 19 & 20): Carve • Two-, three-, and five-day enrollment options for 3- to pumpkins, set up decorations, guide groups, serve 5-year-olds, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm refreshments, supervise kids’ activities, or play the part of • Available options: an animal character. Please apply by October 1. o Early-morning drop-off at 8:00 am o Lunch bunch until 1:00 pm BIG WOODS & LITTLE WOODS HIKES (NOVEMBER 11): Bake desserts, make soup, serve food, park cars, or lead hikes that o Extended day until 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays highlight the natural and cultural history of the sanctuary. Join us at our Open House! Saturday, November 17 / 9:00 am–12:00 pm STAY IN TOUCH WITH IPSWICH RIVER Mass Audubon’s Endicott Wildlife Sanctuary Visit our website: Go