Maria Mitchell Association
- Discovery Program
- Wee Explorers: Ages 4-6
- Habitat Hoppers: Ages 7-9
- Eco-Investigators: Ages 10-12
- Naturalist Leadership Program (Ages 13-15)
- Medical Release Form
- Scholarships & Program Discounts
- Junior Historians: Ages 7-10
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- Frequently Asked Questions
Nantucket Family Adventure
Fourth Annual
Nantucket Family Adventure
2011 Activity Book
(It is formatted for printing so the pages appear out of order)
Kickoff on Saturday, September 17 from 12-2pm
At the UMass Field Station
The Kickoff was a great success- Thanks to everyone who dropped by!
2011 Guided Events
2011 Self-guided Events
2011 Teams
Hosted by: Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket Conservation Foundation, Mass Audubon, Nantucket Land Council, UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station, Linda Loring Nature Foundation and Strong Wings Adventure School, The Trustees of Reservations
What is it?
The Nantucket Family Adventure is a 6-week, self-propelled exploration of the unique habitats of Nantucket. Guided and self-guided activities, scavenger hunts, puzzles, and more all contribute to the family fun during this free, multi-week event. Use the free NFA guidebook to track your progress and enjoy the places you visit. Prizes are available for the families that participate in the most activities, and for all those who attend the end event!
Who can participate?
Everyone! Families register to participate in this entirely FREE program by filling out a short form. (A "family" is defined by at least one adult accompanying at least one child, related or not- so participation is open to all.) Registered families receive a booklet with participating sites and fun activities for various natural areas on Nantucket, as well as a schedule of activities. They can also sign up to receive reminders about the scheduled activities planned throughout the six weeks.
The spirit of the Nantucket Family Adventure is to get children and families outdoors together to enjoy the natural beauty of Nantucket and encourage participation in outdoor activities. There is no cost to participate. Inspired by the "No Child Left Inside" movement and initiated in 2008 by the Maria Mitchell Association, the NFA has been a successful collaborative program for the past three years. This year, the collaborating organizations hope to attract even more local and visiting families. It's easy to get involved: Families can pick up a registration form at the Maria Mitchell Association, and forms can be downloaded online. Don't miss the kickoff event at the UMass Field Station on September 17 from 12-2pm. You can register at the kickoff as well. Please email questions to amckennafoster@mmo.org.
2011 Guided Events Schedule:
September 17 Kick Off Event UMass Field Station 12 — 2 PM
September 21 Monarch Tagging Miacomet Golf Parking Lot 1 PM and 3 PM
September 24 Kayaking Polpis Harbor 10 and 11 AM
Sign up for this event– limited numbers, see below
September 25 Invasive Plant Walk ‘Sconset Market 9 — 11 AM
September 27 Wildflower Walk Miacomet Golf Parking Lot 3 — 4:30 PM
October 2 Marine Walk UMass Field Station 2 — 3 PM
October 3 Astronomy Night Loines Observatory 7:30 — 8:30 PM
October 8 Falcon Flyby Smith Pt. Gatehouse 9 — 10:30 AM
October 15 & 16 Coskata-Coatue Tour Wauwinet Gatehouse 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM
Sign up for this event– limited numbers, see below
Other tours TBA
October 22 Clean Team Surfside 8 — 9 AM
Nature Poetry UMass Field Station 3 — 4 PM
October 29 Wrap Up Party Strong Wings Adventure School 1 — 3 PM
2011 Self Guided Events:
Nantucket Wildland Exploration Conservation Properties Sunrise — Sunset
Animal Bone Challenge Maria Mitchell Natural Science Museum Saturdays 1 —3 PM
Cranberry Festival Milestone Cranberry Bog October 8, 11 — 4 PM
Geocaching UMass Field Station Anytime 7AM-7PM
Coskata Quest Coskata Woods Sunrise — Sunset
Participating Organizations:
Favorite Trees:
Event Descriptions
Kick Off Event
Pick up information packet and journals, play games, go through the migration obstacle course, get ready for adventure!!!
Monarch Tagging
Join Emily MacKinnon from the Nantucket Land Council on her annual quest to catch and mark monarch butterflies before their epic migration south.
Kayaking Sign up for this event– limited numbers. Call: 508-228-1769 or email Chris: cgetoor@yahoo.com
Join Chris Getoor from Strong Wings in an exploration of Polpis harbor. Kayaks are quiet and offer a great chance to see wildlife and enjoy this beautiful area. Reserve spots for a one hour trip either at 10 or at 11.
Invasive Plant Walk
Take a tour of ‘Sconset with experts from Mass. Audubon, Nantucket Conservation Foundation and the Nantucket Land Council to find invasive plant species.
Wildflower Walk
Did any flowers survive the salt spray driven by Hurricane Irene? Come find out and learn about fall wildflowers on Nantucket.
Marine Walk
Learn about the animals in Nantucket’s harbor with the Maria Mitchell Association and the UMass Field Station.
Astronomy Night
Find your way to the Maria Mitchell Loines Observatory to spend an enthralling evening with the constellations and planets. Call 508-228-9273 with questions.
Falcon Flyby
Join Vern Laux from the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to watch for falcons zooming over Madaket and learn about fall and winter birds on Nantucket.
Coskata Coatue Natural History Tour Sign up for this event– limited numbers (508-228-6799)
Join an experienced Trustees of Reservations guide on this 2.5-hour 4x4 over sand vehicle tour and learn about the fascinating flora and fauna that call Coskata-Coatue home. Climb the Great Point Lighthouse for a bird’s eye view! Please arrive 15 minutes before departure time to check in. Tour vehicles depart promptly. Bring water bottle, jacket, a camera and wear walking shoes to climb the lighthouse.
Clean Team
Get involved in this great Saturday morning activity. Each week the Clean Team cleans a beach around Nantucket. Join us to clean up Surfside!
Nature Poetry
Explore ways to express or convey your feelings and observations about nature and the island in poetry. Island poet and educator, Len Germinara will work with kids and families using a variety of fun and challenging exercises. Meet at the classroom at the UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station at 180 Polpis Road from 3-4 pm on the 22nd.
Wrap Up Event at Strong Wings
Share your journals and stories, climb the climbing wall, enter in several raffles to win fun prizes, show off your recycled art projects, and enjoy delicious snacks.
WELCOME 2011 TEAMS!
Blue Bandits
Charnes Family
Ella’s Team
Fairy Walkers
Ferguson
Hazel’s Keeper
Johnson Team
Kagan’s Corner
Killer Cats
Manning's Mysteries
Nantucket Falcons
Scarlett’s
Team Affeldt
Team Borneman
Team Dussault
Team Excalibur
Team Johnson
Team Levesque
Team Liddle
Team Max
Team Murphy
Team Parsons
Team Worgess
The A Team
The Beetle Club
The Dynamic Daily’s
The Five Flying Monkeys
The Flip Flops
The Hawks
The Liddle Family
The Nomads
West Family
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Nantucket Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
