A Nature Year at Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary: Winter (3 Months)

Immerse yourself in a winter of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary. Gain extensive natural history knowledge, form community with like-minded, curious adults, and receive the many benefits of spending time outdoors. Throughout the winter, we'll explore birding at Squantum Point Park, wildlife tracking and winter tree identification. We will meet the 2nd Saturday of each month, December 2025 through February 2026. Subject to change in timing or topic, depending on what nature provides.<ul><li>December 13, 8:00am-10:00am: Winter Birding (Squantum Point Park)</li><li>January 10, 10:00am-12:00pm: Wildlife Tracking</li><li>February 14, 10:00am-12:00pm: Winter Tree ID</li></ul>

Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center

Family Winter Birding

During the cold winter months, Boston becomes home to a remarkable variety of birds that either migrate here or brave the season alongside us. Explore the winter landscape and discover the diverse avian life that thrives here, from cheerful cardinals and dark-eyed juncos to sparrows, robins, and even majestic hawks and owls. Learn to identify these winter residents and understand their behaviors, habitats, and survival strategies in the colder season. Whether you're new to birdwatching or looking to sharpen your identification skills, you'll build confidence in spotting and recognizing the species that make Boston their winter home. We provide all equipment, including binoculars and field guides, so you can focus entirely on observing and connecting with the natural world around you. Registration is required. <a href="https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/boston-nature-center/101231-family-winter-birding#">Register!</a>

Art and Nature: Watercolors

Discover the quiet beauty of winter through art and outdoor exploration. The season's stark landscapes offer perfect inspiration for experimenting with color, line, and shadow—from the deep blues of afternoon light to the dramatic contrasts of bare branches against snow. We'll begin with a trail walk to observe the natural world around us, noticing textures, patterns, and the unique palette of winter. Afterward, you'll have dedicated time to paint your observations and impressions in a relaxed, creative atmosphere. This program welcomes all skill levels—whether you've been painting for years or have never picked up a brush. All materials are provided, so simply bring your curiosity and willingness to see the winter landscape with fresh eyes. This program is free if you are a member of Dot Rx. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register. Registration is required. <a href="https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/boston-nature-center/100750-art-and-nature-watercolors#">Register!</a>

Art and Nature: Solstice Style

Celebrate the magic of the solstice through art and nature! Budding artists will explore the trails and draw inspiration from the changing light, colors, and textures of the season. Hands-on projects will reflect the natural world's shifts during this special time of year, sparking creativity, observation, and a deeper connection to the rhythms of nature. This program is free for Dot Rx Members. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register

Winter Birds and Bird Feeders

Discover the remarkable birds that brave New England's winter right here at BNC! While others migrate south, these hardy survivors have fascinating strategies for thriving in the cold.As we explore the sanctuary trails together, you'll spot and identify the feathered residents who call this place home year-round. You'll learn which feeders work best, what foods different species prefer, and the ideal timing for setting out winter provisions. Want to make a real difference? We'll explore community science projects that help protect bird populations—and show you how your observations can contribute to conservation efforts. The adventure culminates with creating your own bird feeder using natural materials you can take home. Soon you'll be attracting chickadees, nuthatches, and woodpeckers to your own backyard! Bundle up and come see winter through a bird's eye view—you'll never look at the season the same way again. Registration is required. <a href="https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/boston-nature-center/100721-winter-birds-and-bird-feeders#">Register!</a>

Nature and Wellness: Making Candles with Local Plants

Winter offers the perfect opportunity to harvest evergreen boughs, berries, and bark from around the nature center. Head out on the trails to forage for local plants, then transform your gathered materials into fragrant candles that capture the essence of the season. Bring the crisp, piney scents of winter inside your home!

Nature Tales: Welcoming Winter

Celebrate the arrival of winter through stories and imagination. Discover how animals at the sanctuary prepare for colder days and longer nights, from finding food to creating safe shelters. Along the way, families connect with the changing season and the resilience of wildlife. This program is free for Dot Rx Members. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register

Step into a world where art and nature come alive! Budding artists will wander the trails, gathering inspiration from the colors, textures, and shapes of the natural world. Using watercolors, we'll create vibrant works of art that reflect the beauty of the outdoors. This hands-on experience encourages creativity, observation, and a deeper connection to the wild world around us. This program is free for Dot Rx Members. Please email <a href="mailto:bnc@massaudubon.org">bnc@massaudubon.org</a> to register

Nature and Wellness: Making Soap

Step into the holiday spirit while treading lightly on the planet by crafting handmade, plastic-free soaps for your loved ones. Discover the rich history of soap making as you learn which natural materials have been used for centuries. Gather botanicals on a peaceful trail walk, then transform your findings into beautiful, eco-friendly gifts. If you are a DotRX member and would like to register for free, please email <a href="mailto:bnc@massaudubon.org">bnc@massaudubon.org</a>

Step into the holiday spirit while treading lightly on the planet by crafting handmade, plastic-free soaps for your loved ones. Discover the rich history of soap making as you learn which natural materials have been used for centuries. Gather botanicals on a peaceful trail walk, then transform your findings into beautiful, eco-friendly gifts.

Early Explorers: Reptiles of the BNC

Get up close with live reptiles, including Sammy the snake and Charlie the turtle. Explore their fascinating lives, discover what they eat, and learn where they roam in the wild. Designed for young children with an accompanying adult, this program invites families to slow down, observe, and celebrate the natural world together. This program is free for Dot Rx Members. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register

Wildlife in the City: Coyotes

Embark on an educational trail walk with a Teacher Naturalist to uncover the fascinating behaviors and life history of coyotes while searching for their telltale signs and tracks. Discover practical strategies for coexisting safely and peacefully with these adaptable urban neighbors as you explore their habitat and learn to read the clues they leave behind. This program is free for Dot Rx members. Please email <a href="mailto:bnccamp@massaudubon.org">bnccamp@massaudubon.org</a> to register.

The Nature of Oaks

Celebrate the mighty oak on this dedicated autumn nature walk exploring the life and ecology of our most essential native trees. Discover the hidden value of these towering giants that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated, from their intricate ecological relationships to their vital role in supporting wildlife. This program is free if you are a member of Dot Rx. Please email&nbsp;bnccamp@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register.

Turkey Time

Wild turkeys are everywhere---and that's something to celebrate! These city neighbors help keep tick populations down and have some surprising skills (yes, they can fly and even sleep in trees!). We'll search for turkeys on the trails, examine their feathers up close, and follow their tracks across the sanctuary while discovering how they thrive in the middle of Boston. This program is free if you are a member of Dot Rx. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register.

Rabbits! Rabbits! Rabbits!

Hop into an interactive adventure all about rabbits! Children discover where rabbits live, what they eat, and how they stay safe in the wild. Through lively stories, playful games, hands-on crafts, and outdoor exploration, kids dive into the world of these fascinating animals while sparking empathy and curiosity for nature. Perfect for young children with an accompanying adult, this program encourages families to slow down, look closely, and celebrate the wonders of the natural world together. This program is free for Dot Rx Members. Please email&nbsp;bnc@massaudubon.org&nbsp;to register.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

hazen.emersonbnc

Experiences

A Nature Year at Boston Nature Center Wildlife Sanctuary: Winter (3 Months)

Family Winter Birding

Art and Nature: Watercolors

Art and Nature: Solstice Style

Winter Birds and Bird Feeders

Nature and Wellness: Making Candles with Local Plants

Nature Tales: Welcoming Winter

Art and Nature: Watercolors

Nature and Wellness: Making Soap

Nature and Wellness: Making Soap

Early Explorers: Reptiles of the BNC

Wildlife in the City: Coyotes

The Nature of Oaks

Turkey Time

Rabbits! Rabbits! Rabbits!