NATURE-THEMED FREE & LOW COST THINGS TO DO This Summer with Children Age 2-8 July 5 Curious Creatures Show at Boardinghouse Park, 40 French St, Free Lowell, for All Ages 10:00 Arts & Crafts & snacks, 11:00 show, 12:00 trolley rides, www.lowellsummermusic.org/kids July 5 The Caterpillar Lab visits Harvard Public Library, 1-4:00 p.m., for All Ages – Drop in Free See a huge variety of New England caterpillars munching on food right in front of you. Learn about metamorphosis and other incredible but true stories about these creatures such as camouflaged or big-as-a-hotdog caterpillars! www.harvardpubliclibrary.org. 4 Pond Road July 6, 13, 20 Open Farmyard Drop in Program for Ages 2 ½ to 7 at Land’s Sake Farm in Weston, 3-5:00 Free 27, Aug. 3, 10, Young children and their caregivers will hear stories, pick and plant crops, explore the chicken 17, 24, 31 coop and more at this working CSA farm. 90 Wellesley Street. Canceled if rain. Donation welcome. July 8 Learn About Honey Bees at The Discovery Museum Today from 11:00-2:00, for all ages *Free w/ Researcher Racel Bonoan from Tufts University will be at the museum to help you test your Admission bee vision, let you taste honey from different locations, and make a beeswax candle as you @ $6.50 ea. learn about honey bees’ importance. *Price is with a library pass from any town. Age 1 & up July 10 Goodnow Library Builds Bird Feeders for Ages 4 and Up, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Drop-in Free Construct a unique bird feeder for your back yard. 21 Concord Road, Sudbury July 11 Seed Bomb Craft for Children Entering Grades 1-2 at Gleason Library, Carlisle, 4:00 pm Free Register Make a flower seed bomb to spread wildflowers around your neighborhood. Register at: www.gleasonlibrary.org/special_programs.htm July 12 Jungle Encounters Wildcat Show at Maynard Public Library, 10:30, for Ages 6 and Over Free Wildcats, Bengal cats, bobcats and more! www.maynardpubliclibrary.org 77 Nason Street July 12 Family Firefly Walk at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, 7 p.m. www.towerhillbg.org $10 ad. Read a story and learn about these amazing insects, then hunt for them in the gardens. $8 child July 13 Meet Museum of Science Reptiles! At Chelmsford Library for Ages 6 & Up, 10:30-11:30 Free Drop in and learn about these incredible animals – are they slimy? Really cold blooded? What makes a reptile a reptile? 25 Boston Road, Chelmsford Center. www.chelmsfordlibrary.org July 14 Harvard Museums of Science & Culture in Cambridge are free today! Free https://hmnh.harvard.edu/exhibitions. Public transportation from Alewife is recommended as parking is not free or easy in the Harvard area of Cambridge. Your child will gain perspective on the animal world when able to stand eye-to-eye with a cheetah (and hundreds of other species) and see a whale skeleton suspended above them. Live honeybee hive, special marine exhibit. July 15 Make a Wooden Snap-Together Bird House at Bolton Library for Ages 3-10, 11-12:00 Free Register Construct, paint and take home! 978-779-2839 or [email protected] 738 Main Street July 18 Bunnies visit Goodnow Library in Sudbury for Ages 2 and Up, 10:30-11:15, 21 Concord Rd. Free Educators from Land’s Sake Farm in Weston will bring bunnies to the library for children to touch and interact with while they learn about rabbit behavior. There will also be stories and a simple rabbit-themed craft. https://goodnowlibrary.org Drop in, no pre-registration July 18-22 The Caterpillar Lab Visits the Discovery Museums in Acton from 10-4:00, 177 Main Street *Free w/ See and touch a huge variety of caterpillar species and learn from an educator about Admission metamorphosis, adaptation, camouflage, stinging spines and brightly colored baubles! @ $6.50 ea. Extended hours on Free Friday Night. *Price is with a library pass from any town. Under 1 free July 19 Visit Gaining Ground Farm, 317 Virginia Rd, Concord, Ages 5-14 with a Caregiver, 10-12:00 Free Register Learn about Gaining Ground’s mission to grow healthy food for area food banks. A small volunteer task will be given to the group. Register on calendar at: www.concordlibrary.org July 19 Creature Teachers Show for Ages 4 and Up at Boxborough Library, 427 Mass. Ave., 3:00 Free 45-minute show introduces wild animals and little-known facts about their habits and habitats. July 20 Baby Chicks are Hatching Today at Chelmsford Library, 25 Boston Rd., 10:30-11:30 Free A Drumlin Farm educator will talk about what’s happening during this hour. Or drop by anytime. July 20 Seed Bomb Craft for Children Entering Grades 1-2 at Gleason Library, Carlisle, 6:30 pm Free Register Make a flower seed bomb to spread wildflowers around your neighborhood. Register at: www.gleasonlibrary.org/special_programs.htm July 22 Refuge Fledgling Hour for 2-5 Year Olds at Assabet River Wildlife Refuge, Sudbury Free Drop in for “Dragonflies & Damselflies” crafts, stories and games from 9:30-10:30. Siblings welcome. Located at 680 Hudson Road. www.fws.gov/refuge/assabet_river 978-562-3527 July 22 Bugworks presents Bugology at Chelmsford Library for Ages 6 & Up, 10:30-11:30 Free Learn about bug habitats and meet cool insects such as a praying mantis, grasshoppers, millipedes and more. Located at 25 Boston Road, Chelmsford Center. www.chelmsfordlibrary.org July 25 Goodnow Library Explores: Water for ages 2 and Up, 10:30-11:15, 21 Concord Rd, Sudbury Free Splish away at this water story time with songs introducing kids to water cycles and oceans. Water art and experiments, sinking, floating, dissolving. Kids will get wet! Drop in, no registration. July 25 Zoo New England visits Lincoln Library for a Drop-in Show, 11:00-12:00, for All Ages Free Learn about habitats and see local critters up close. www.lincolnp.org July 25 Meet Toto the Tornado Cat and See Books Written About Him at Littleton Library, 2:00 Free Register Toto survived the 6/1/11 Massachusetts tornado and was found in a tree, taken to a fire station, then to the Animal Rescue League. He was adopted and is now famous in a book about his journey. Email librarian to say you’re coming: [email protected] July 27 Curious Creatures Live Animal Show at Goodnow Library, Sudbury for Ages 4 & Up Free 4-5:00 p.m. Children will be introduced to and learn about many different types of animals. July 27 “To Bee or Not to Bee” at the Ecotarium in Worcester, 11:00 a.m. www.ecotarium.org Free w/ The Piti Theatre Company’s interactive performance for kids about a farmer who’s lost his admission bees in the Nature Explore Outdoor Exhibit! Bubbles & dinosaur exhibits too! See museum * $9 adult & admission reduced-cost programs at end of this list – *½ price with a library pass. $7 2-18 yrs July 28 Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston is Free Today! Free http://www.towerhillbg.org/children-youth-families/ All kinds of flower and vegetable gardens, nature trails, a screened bird-watching house, and see lemons and oranges growing in the atrium. Free Fun Friday is usually a busy day, but everything here is so spread out it doesn’t feel crowded. August 1 Creature Teachers Takes a Trip Around the World with Animals, for All Ages, 3:00 p.m. Free Register* Learn about diverse habitats and meet the animals that live within them. *Everyone registers 7/25 at 978-456-2381. Non-Harvard residents can begin registering on July 25th. Harvard Library. August 1 Nature Nick’s Animal Adventures for Ages 4 and Up at Westford Library, 10:30-11:15 Free Ticket Req’d Exotic animal show. Reserve tickets at 978-692-5555 and pick up within 2 weeks. 50 Main St. August 3 Goodnow Gives: Buddy Dog Service Project at the Library for Ages 3 & Up, 4-5:00 p.m. Free https://goodnowlibrary.org Help the local human society as part of the summer reading program. August 3 “Little Pig Saves the Ship” Reading and Activity at Chelmsford Library, 10:30 am Free Author David Hyde Costello reads his book then demonstrates how you can make simple toy ships from found objects like sticks and leaves. Afterward, we’ll cross to Bartlett Park to try out our boats in the stream. 25 Boston Road, Chelmsford Center. www.chelmsfordlibrary.org August 8 Caterpillar Lab Drop-in Educational Program for All Ages at Groton Library, 1-4:00 p.m. Free 45 different native caterpillar species will be on display. No registration required. August 8 Deborah Costine’s Puppet Show: “Turtle’s Wetland Quest” at Littleton Library, 7-7:45 Free Register Sign up on the website calendar: www.littletonlibrary.org. Blanding the turtle tries to solve a dilemma by consulting his animal friends salamander and beaver, and human friends too! August 9 Themed Stroller Tour: “Animals in Ancient Art,” at Worcester Art Museum, 10:30-11:15 Free Museum teacher engages ages 0-3 (siblings welcome) with art and stories in the galleries. Stay for tea, coffee, juice & snacks. Use Tuckerman Street entrance. www.worcesterart.org August 10 Nature Nick Show for Children Entering K-5th Grade at Bedford Library, 7 Mudge Way Free 3:30-4:30. Kids will be introduced to and learn about some of the strangest animals on earth.