When the 'Port is once again awash in white, why settle for a window view? Get out and play!
The curiously off-season temperatures of late combined with the distraction of jolly holidays might have lulled you into believing winter has forgotten us this year. But if you have small children at home, and if, like me, last year’s super-winter has left you with a permanent twitch in your left eye (that worsens at the sight of a snowflake or the angry blip-and-bleep jingle that accompanies a Severe Weather Alert), then I implore you to heed my warning: Winter is coming, and you’d be wise to begin your sanity-saving, boredom-busting strategy now.
With a steaming cup of tea in hand—drizzled in copious amounts of cough-suppressing honey to ease an early season cold—I drew up my plan. And it involves more than just indoor play lands, ski weekends, movies and bowling—it involves embracing the beast. Facing the fear. Learning to love that which brings such paralyzing parental panic. It involves going outside more, not less. Here are a few ideas on my list that I hope you will tuck into your coat pocket (along with your waterproof gloves, ChapStick and miniature package of Kleenex) to help you survive winter, too.
Gone away is the bluebird, here to stay is a new bird. Winter is an optimal time for bird-watching in the Merrimack Valley because the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves and birds from the far north have followed the food down to “warmer” places like Newburyport, Plum Island and Ipswich—birds like the Snowy Owl, the Horned Owl and the Bald Eagle. It’s a great excuse to bundle up, grab the camera and the binoculars and head out on a scouting expedition. What good fortune to have a number of dedicated local organizations to help us do just that.
Appleton Farms in Ipswich keeps its program schedule humming even in the winter months and it’s certainly worth the drive to experience the beauty of its near-700 acres. On January 10, Appleton Farms invites children ages 6 and up to participate in an outdoor owl call adventure, which begins with a reading of Jane Yolen’s “Owl Moon” and ends with hot cocoa in the Carriage Barn.
Ducks cozy together on the Merrimack River during the winter of 2011.
The Merrimack Valley Eagle Festival is an annual event happening Saturday, February 11, and it features guided bird-spotting, bus tours, wildlife demonstrations and children’s activities that will take place throughout greater Newburyport, all hosted by Mass Audubon at Joppa Flats and Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.
Speaking of the folks at Parker River, which is always a popular location for birding year-round, January marks the inaugural meeting of their photography club, led by photographer and Park Ranger Matt Poole. The club will meet monthly and Poole hopes it will become a friendly forum for those who love nature and photography to share their expertise and talents, and also to learn new things about their cameras and taking great photos outdoors. “With a little bit of training, anyone can take beautiful pictures of nature,” Poole says. All are welcome.
Walking in a winter wonderland.
Frolick and play the Eskimo way. The parks and open fields we love so much in warmer weather can be equally rewarding in the winter. If you haven’t already, give cross-country skiing or snowshoeing a try out at Maudslay State Park. Once the Frog Pond ices over, play dates can become adventures in sledding and ice skating (requiring significantly less hand sanitizer) at Bartlett Mall. But don’t hesitate to try some outdoor fun of your own, too.
Todd Christopher, co-founder of the National Wildlife Foundation’s “Green Hour” campaign, has great ideas to share about outdoor winter activities in his book “The Green Hour.” For instance, he suggests using snowfall as an opportunity to do some scientific investigating with your children. All you need is black construction paper and a magnifying glass and you can catch your own snowflakes as they drift down from the sky. Your kids will love to discover all the unique forms and designs in each flake. Be sure to catch some on your tongues while you’re at it, though.
In the meadow, you can build a snowman … but not just any snowman. Christopher recommends building an edible snowman. When you use natural materials like raw vegetables, popped corn, nuts and seeds to create your snowman, you will also provide a feast for backyard wildlife like squirrels and birds. Place your snowman outside your favorite window, and you get to watch the animals enjoy the bounty once you are back indoors.
The author's son, Henry, embracing last year's post-Christmas snowfall.
When it snows, ain’t it thrilling? It is when you aren’t afraid to brave the wild in the cold. Why not revisit your favorite trails for an animal hunt? After a fresh snowfall, you can have some fun “tracking” forest animals like deer and rabbits by following the foot prints they leave in the snow. You and your children can tell stories based on your findings—like whether an animal stopped to eat, climb a tree, or burrow into the ground (even take a bathroom break). Bring your camera and take pictures of unfamiliar prints then try and match them to the right animals when you get home using online resources. The great thing about outdoor adventures is that they have a way of guiding at-home adventures, too.
Finally, whatever you do outdoors, stay safe. Dress warmly in layers, bring snacks and a cell phone, heed warning signs about ice and snow, and remember to not travel too far into the woods in the afternoon since darkness falls earlier in the winter time.
With these suggestions, I hope you will face unafraid these plans that we’ve made, and venture out to the winter wonderlands that abound in greater Newburyport. Get some fresh air and some exercise, and create new memories and traditions that will boost your mood (maybe your immunity, too) and make winter … fun. Yes, I said it. By the way, a good cold weather adventure will make that hot cocoa, warm shower and cozy fire all the more enjoyable when you get home.
