Parker River National Wildlife RefugeParker River National Wildlife Refuge July & August Programs
Posted on: July 10, 2023 - 7:19pm
Come explore with us! Connect with nature and other nature lovers. Programs are always free, but registration may be required. Visit us at fws.gov/refuge/parker-river. Sign up at bit.ly/parkerriversignup.
- Thursday July 6
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Saturday July 8
Raptor Discovery: 1:30pm – 3pm
Join the Tailwinds team to meet amazing owls and raptors up close. Come to the visitor center to learn about their habitat, behaviors, and adaptations!
Drop in any time – register for updates at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Wednesday July 12
Stories in the Garden: 11am – noon
Join our local children’s librarian for story time in the visitor center pollinator garden. Feel free to bring a chair, blanket, and snacks!
Drop in any time – no registration required - Thursday July 13
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Friday July 14
Behind the Scenes Bus Tour – Great Bay NWR: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bus tour of Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and watch for wildlife.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Friday July 14
Intro to Archery: 10am – 11:30am
Learn the basics of archery! Join our refuge rangers for guided instruction, and then enjoy time to practice your shot. All ages welcome, equipment provided.
Drop in any time – register for updates at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Saturday July 15
Behind the Scenes Bus Tour: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bus tour of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and watch for wildlife.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Sunday July 16
Behind the Scenes Bus Tour: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bus tour of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and watch for wildlife.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Monday July 17
Great Bay Bike Tour: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bike tour of Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and mission of the refuge.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Thursday July 20
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Friday July 21
Discover Stage Island: 10am – 11:30am
Walk the Stage Island Trail with a refuge ranger to learn about the unique geology, history, and ecology of southern end of Plum Island.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Saturday July 22
Behind the Scenes Bus Tour: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bus tour of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and watch for wildlife.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Saturday July 22
Butterflies & Bugs Family Open House: 10am – 3pm
Along with Joppa Flats Education Center, stop by the refuge visitor center and pollinator gardens to learn about crawly critters through crafts and activities.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Wednesday July 26
Stories in the Garden: 11am – noon
Join our local children’s librarian for story time in the visitor center pollinator garden. Feel free to bring a chair, blanket, and snacks!
Drop in any time – no registration required - Thursday August 3
Early Plum Island Aviation Talk: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Shortly after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Plum Island became the site of New England’s first flying field. Learn more with local historian Ted Russell.
Register for updates at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Thursday July 27
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Thursday August 3
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Friday August 4
Intro to Archery: 10am – 11:30am
Learn the basics of archery! Join our refuge rangers for guided instruction, and then enjoy time to practice your shot. All ages welcome, equipment provided.
Drop in any time – register for updates at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Saturday August 5
Visual Tour & History Talk: 1pm – 2pm
Join Author Dyke Hendrickson on a visual trip along the Merrimack River. Learn about the history, significance, and vulnerability of Plum Island.
Register for updates at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Monday August 7 – Friday August 11
Nature Kids Drop Off Program – Session 1: 10am – noon daily
Get curious about the world around us! Youth ages 7 – 11 are invited to join our drop off nature program with new themes each day. Must attend all week.
Registration required: e-mail ella_weber@fws.gov or call 978-572-5617 - Monday August 7
Great Bay Bike Tour: 9:30am – 11am
Join a refuge ranger for a behind-the-scenes bike tour of Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Learn about the history, ecology, and mission of the refuge.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Monday August 7
Salt Marsh Boat Tour: 3pm – 4:45pm
Join volunteer refuge naturalists for a unique tour of the salt marsh creeks and habitats. Learn about the importance of the salt marsh to wildlife and humans.
This is a ticketed tour via Yankee Clipper Harbor Tours - contact for info - Tuesday August 8
Tree Swallow Migration Madness: 7pm – 8:30pm
Join a refuge biologist as we seek out swarms of migrating tree swallows (sometimes in the tens of thousands) eating insects and roosting for the night.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Wednesday August 9
Stories in the Garden: 11am – noon
Join our local children’s librarian for story time in the visitor center pollinator garden. Feel free to bring a chair, blanket, and snacks!
Drop in any time – no registration required - Wednesday August 9 (rain date Wednesday August 16)
Wapack Blueberry Hike: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Join us at Wapack National Wildlife Refuge on a 3 mile out-and-back hike to take in the view and pick wild blueberries during the height of the season!
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Thursday August 10
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Saturday August 12
Hellcat Birding Tour: 8am – 10am
Join a ranger to walk Hellcat Trail. Learn about the bird species at Parker River and perhaps spot some along the way. Binoculars provided upon request.
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Monday August 14 – Friday August 18
Nature Kids Drop Off Program – Session 2: 10am – noon daily
Get curious about the world around us! Youth ages 7 – 11 are invited to join our drop off nature program with new themes each day. Must attend all week.
Registration required: e-mail ella_weber@fws.gov or call 978-572-5617 - Wednesday August 16
Salt Marsh Boat Tour: 11am – 12:45pm
Join volunteer refuge naturalists for a unique tour of the salt marsh creeks and habitats. Learn about the importance of the salt marsh to wildlife and humans.
This is a ticketed tour via Yankee Clipper Harbor Tours - contact for info - Thursday August 17
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Tuesday August 22 (rain date Thursday August 24)
Night Sky Program: 8:30pm – 10pm
Admire the beauty and mystery of the night sky with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club. Join us after hours to view Saturn, nebula, and more!
Registration required at: bit.ly/parkerriversignup - Wednesday August 23
Stories in the Garden: 11am – noon
Join our local children’s librarian for story time in the visitor center pollinator garden. Feel free to bring a chair, blanket, and snacks!
Drop in any time – no registration required - Thursday August 24
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required - Saturday August 26
Becoming an Outdoors Woman – Woodswoman Course: 9am – 3pm
Join partners from Mass Wildlife and Artemis to learn skills including trip prep, maps and navigation, reading the woods, field ID, and outdoor first aid.
Registration required: massfishhunt.events.licensing.app/em/events/4269
Questions? E-mail ella_weber@fws.gov or call 978-572-5617 - Wednesday August 29
Salt Marsh Boat Tour: 9am – 10:45pm
Join volunteer refuge naturalists for a unique tour of the salt marsh creeks and habitats. Learn about the importance of the salt marsh to wildlife and humans.
This is a ticketed tour via Yankee Clipper Harbor Tours - contact for info - Thursday August 31
Traveling Touch Tanks: 11am – 1pm
Get up close and personal with the critters who call the beach and tide pools home. Join Joppa Flats educators at Lot 1 to learn about these special species.
Drop in any time – no registration required