Family Activities

MLT Education Story Walks:

Come enjoy our Story Walks on the following properties this Spring:

Dunseith Gardens, home of Salty the Seahorse at the corner of Route 6 and North Street. Visit now to read “Carl and the Meaning of Life” by Deborah Freedman. Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman is a children’s picture book about an earthworm named Carl who questions his purpose after a field mouse asks him “Why?”. Carl’s quest to find his meaning leads him to other forest animals, who all seem to know their roles, but he finds no answer until he realizes his own work of tunneling and aerating the soil is vital for the ecosystem, allowing plants to grow and other animals to thrive. The book is praised for its gentle story, charming illustrations, and subtle lesson about the importance of every creature’s contribution to the world

(description from Amazon)

Grace Pond Meadow – Park at the end of Bowman Road and wander the meadow reading “Monarch and Milkweed” by Helen Frost. Every spring the monarch butterfly migrates thousands of miles in search of the ideal milkweed plant. When she finds it, she lays her eggs on the plant, so when each egg hatches, the baby caterpillar can feed on the milkweed leaves. The milkweed plant then provides the perfect protection as the caterpillar turns into one of nature’s wonders, a chrysalis, before transforming into an even greater wonder: a monarch butterfly. And once the newborn butterfly soars away, the milkweed seeds fly away on the wind and start this cycle over again.

The exacting prose and jewel-toned illustrations echo the harmony of monarch and milkweed in this carefully researched book, explaining one of nature’s most spectacular displays in a refreshingly simple manner. (description from Amazon)

Trail Passports

The new MLT Trail Passport program debuted during the summer of 2023. The Trail Passport is meant for children to complete with the help of a parent or guardian. Here’s how it works:

1. Pick up your free Trail Passport booklet from the Children’s Section desk at the Mattapoisett Free Public Library
2. Read through your booklet, review the instructions in the booklet, and look at all of the maps of MLT trails
3. Pick a trail to start with. Bring a pencil/crayon and your water and hike to the ‘stamp stations’ located along the trails. *The stamp stations are shown on the maps inside your booklet!
4. When you find a ‘stamp station’ use your pencil/crayon to make a rubbing of the stamp inside your Trail Passport
5. Collect all 11 stamps!
6. Once you’ve collected them all, tell us! When you show us your completed Trail Passport you will earn yourself a $10 giftcard to a local creamery!

Questions? Email manager@mattlandtrust.org

Podcasts

Listen to podcasts about our properties hosted by Liam Waldron.