Nature Themed Birthday Party Locations for Kids in Massachusetts

Are you looking for unique places that host kids' birthday parties in Massachusetts? One interesting idea is to create your child's birthday party based around an outdoor or nature theme, hosted by one of the many wildlife sanctuaries of the Mass Audubon Society.

As the largest conservation organization in New England, Mass Audubon maintains wildlife sanctuaries in 90 communities throughout the state of Massachusetts, all of which provide amazing opportunities to experience nature and view a diverse range of wildlife species in their natural habitats.

Many of the Mass Audubon Wildlife Sanctuaries offer birthday party programs for kids. Specifics vary according to location but parties are typically led by a Teacher-Naturalist who will guide the children through nature walks and various other interactive activities which revolve around a predetermined theme.

Below is a list of some of the wildlife sanctuaries of the Mass Audubon Society that offer children's birthday parties, with details about their respective programs. Please note that while birthday programs differ greatly according to location, all sanctuaries utilize both indoor and outdoor facilities, so guests should dress appropriately. Parties also will take place rain or shine.

Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
The Stony Brook Sanctuary consists of 241 acres of forest, field and wetland habitats and offers 2 miles of trails, a scenic boardwalk over a pond and marsh and an educational visitors' center and gift shop.

Stony Brook hosts 2-hour birthday parties for kids turning age 4 and older. Parties take place both indoors and outdoors and include educational and age appropriate activities, such as nature walks, scavenger hunts, live insect searches, wildlife investigations in the forest, night creature spotting, and more.

Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 108 North Street, Norfolk, MA 02056. For more information on kids' birthday parties, contact Marla Cohen, Education Coordinator at 508-528-3140 ext. 122 or email stonybrook@massaudubon.org.

Drumlin Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary
Drumlin Farm is a real, operational farm and a wildlife sanctuary consisting of farmyard animals, a learning garden, hay wagon rides, wildlife exhibits, farm and nature programs, hiking and more activities suitable for the whole family.

Mass Audubon members can reserve the Pond House or Turkey House or birthday parties from September through Mid-June; weekends only. Parties are 2 hours long, beginning at either 10am or 2pm, and can accommodate up to 25 people, including adults and children. Hay rides are also an available activity for an extra fee; Mid-April through October only. Kids age 5 and older also have the option of an interactive party program, led by a Drumlin Farm Teacher-Naturalist, also for an extra fee. (This option can only accommodate 15 children.)

Drumlin Farm and Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773. For more information on kids' birthday parties, contact Martha Slone at 781-259-2275 or Drumlinbirthday@massaudubon.org and leave the following info in your message: child's age; birth day party option of interest; and 2 or 3 possible party dates.

Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary
Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary is a 47-acre stretch of serene woodlands near downtown Attleboro, where visitors can witness a diverse range of wildlife species throughout the year. Commonly spotted creatures in the Oak Knoll habitats include cotton tail rabbits, red-winged blackbirds, yellow-rumped warblers, downy woodpeckers, foxes, salamanders, and frogs.

The sanctuary offers birthday parties featuring hiking, games and activities revolving around a designated theme. Examples of interactive themes include: Native Explorers- animal tracking scavenger hunt; Ponding- where kids use tools to discover creatures in the marsh and vernal pool; a scavenger hunt to learn about animals who live in our soil; and Animal Olympics-featuring games and challenges such as hopping, jumping, flapping, etc. to mimic the movements of animals. You may also create your own theme.

The Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 1417 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703. To schedule a kid's birthday party, call 508-223-3060 or send an email to oakknoll@massaudubon.org.

North River Wildlife Sanctuary
The North River Wildlife Sanctuary consists of a red maple swamp, a small cattail marsh and a salt marsh, overlooking the North River on the South Shore. Visitors can walk along the half-mile boardwalk and observe Harbor Seals, as well as a variety of birds and wildlife who reside there.

The North River and the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuaries offer birthday party programs for kids turning 5 and older. They can accommodate 15 children. Activities, led by sanctuary Teacher-Naturalists can be custom designed or can otherwise revolve around one of the following themes: Signs of the Season- a scavenger hunt and hike on the sanctuary's trails; Nature Tales- Storytelling and hiking; Build a Bird Nest Box- all supplies included; and Hayrides- at Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary.

North River Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 2000 Main Street, Marshfield, MA 02050. For more info contact the Education Coordinator at aquist@massaudubon.org or 781-837-9400.

Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
Habitat is a 90-acre wildlife sanctuary on Belmont Hill consisting of evergreen forests, meadows, ponds, wetlands and vernal pool. There is also a formal garden, a Georgian-style mansion and education center on the property.

Habitat offers birthday party programs for kids turning 6 to 10 years old from September to June. Activities are led by Habitat staff and vary according to age and season. Examples of themes covered include insects, leaves and trees, animals in the winter, maple trees and maple syrup, pond exploration, birds, gardening, puppet shows, crafts, and live animal appearances.

Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 10 Juniper Road, Belmont, MA 02478. For more info about kids birthday parties, contact Fran Hutchinson at 617-489-5050 ext. 207 or fhutchinson@massaudubon.org.

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Mass Audubon's oldest Wildlife Sanctuary, Moose Hill, features a 25-mile trail system over its 2,000 acres of land, where visitors can witness a diverse range of animals in various habitats all year around. Moose Hill is also known for its bird feeding station and butterfly garden.

Moose Hill has birthday party programs available for kids turning 4 to 12 years old; both outdoor and indoor facilities can accommodate up to 20 children at most. Parties will be led by a Moose Hill Naturalist who will lead the kids in various nature educational activities such as crafts, games, storytelling or hiking.

Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 293 Moose Hill Street, Sharon, MA 02067. For more info about kids birthday parties, contact Patti Austin at 781-784-5691 ext. 8103 or paustin@massaudubon.org.

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary
Visitors to the Ipswich River Sanctuary have the option to experience and explore the nature and wildlife in a variety of ways. They can walk along the 10 miles of trails, canoe along the Ipswich River, camp on Perkins Island, or rock climb while walking the Rockery Trail. Common wildlife encounters include American Toads, Pickerel Frogs, River Otters, Painted Turtles and Great Blue Herons.

Ipswich River offers birthday party programs for a maximum of 20 children from September through June; summer months are closed to reservations. Themes to choose from include a Habitat Hike, Pond Dipping, Backyard Birds, Beavers, Nature and Art, Animal Tracking, Insects and Spiders, Life under Rocks and Logs, and Owls. Themes vary according to season.

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield, MA 01983. For more information on nature birthday parties for kids, contact Angela Walsh at 978-887-9264 ext. 7703 or awalsh@massaudubon.org.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary
The Broadmoor Sanctuary consists of nine miles of walking trails, through a variety of wildlife habitats including forests, marsh, fields and streams. The Indian Brook Boardwalk is a popular spot for bird watching, photography, sketching and cross country skiing during the winter. Beavers, otters and wood ducks are also commonly seen in this area, where Indian Brook flows into the Charles River.

Broadmoor is available to host your children's birthday party year round, on weekdays and weekends, with the exception of Mondays. Birthday program themes can be custom designed, with the help of the Education Coordinator, to fit your kids' ages and interests. Typically, a specific animal species or group of species is chosen to explore, such as Owls/Birds, Aquatic Insects, Reptiles and Amphibians, etc. Popular activities offered year round include searching for insects in the marsh (aka Ponding) and nature walks.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 280 Eliot Street, Natick, MA 01760. To schedule a birthday party for your child or to inquire for more info, contact the Education Coordinator at 508-655-2296 ext. 7303 or Broadmoorprograms@massaudubon.org with the following information, if known: Your name and contact info; b-day child's name and age; requested themes or activities, if any; preferred date and time; approximate number of children and adults; and any special requirements or accommodations needed.

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
Also serving as a visitor's resource mecca for the National Park Service's Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, the Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center is a great place for both adults and children to go for nature related information of all kinds in the form of 3-D Exhibits, educational pamphlets, gifts, and more. The 400+ acres of the sanctuary, which consist of woods, fields, streams and marsh, are also home to 78 species of butterflies as well as owls and other wildlife.

Broad Meadow Brook is available to host birthday parties for Mass Audubon members with children turning age 4 years or old. Themes to choose from are Bugs, Birds or Animals and activities include outdoor nature hunts and games led by a Broad Meadow Brook Naturalist. The facility can accommodate up to 12 children.

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604. For more information about kids nature birthday parties, contact Martha Gach at 508-753-6087 ext. 22. Please give at least three weeks advance notice for ease of scheduling.

To learn more about other wildlife sanctuaries in Massachusetts and nature themed birthday parties for kids, visit MassAudubon.com for a list of wildlife sanctuaries and contact the one nearest you, directly.

http://www.massaudubon.org