An ewe tends to one of her newborn lambs. Photo courtesy Drumlin Farm
Spring is here at Drumlin Farm, which heard the patter of little (hoofed) feet yesterday and is getting ready for the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast and Woolapalooza, as well as new March vacation programs for kids in private schools.
All things sheep
Drumlin Farm welcomed the first lambs of the season on February 25. The twin black rams, born around noon, are both healthy and spending time with their mother in the Crossroads Barn, where visitors are welcome to come see them.
In a similarly woolly vein, Drumlin Farm will host its annual Woolapalooza celebration on Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Festival highlights include Drumlin Farm’s new spring babies, traditional hand shearing of our ewes, and opportunities to watch border collies herding sheep. Local fiber artisans will offer demonstrations and sell their handmade products. Follow the “Sheep-to-Sweater Interpretive Trail” to learn how fleece on a sheep becomes the warm woolen sweater you wear. Lunch made with all natural, locally grown Drumlin Farm food will be available for purchase.
Admission is $10 for Mass Audubon members and $12 for nonmembers. For more information and to register, visit this Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm webpage.
Davis Gruber (left) and Liam Childs at last year’s Drumlin Farm Sap-to-Syrup breakfast.
Sap-to-Syrup breakfast
As the maple sugaring season at Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary continues, you can enjoy the results of the hard work of our farmers at the annual Sap-to-Syrup Farmer’s Breakfast, a family-friendly fundraising event, on Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16. Tickets include a half-hour seating for a full breakfast, and access to special programming around the farm. Enjoy our ongoing educational maple sugar programming from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We welcome you to stay at the farm for as long as you like.
- Enjoy a hearty breakfast of pancakes with real Vermont maple syrup, Drumlin Farm roasted potatoes and our own sausage, too!
- See how sap is collected from our majestic maple trees
- Explore the natural history of trees as you learn about the distinctly northwoods product of maple syrup
- Learn about Native American sap-to-syrup techniques
- Purchase maple syrup made right here at Drumlin Farm to take home with you
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children over age 2. Breakfast seatings are at half-hour intervals starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. Seatings begin promptly at your reserved start time and last 30 minutes. Register early—this event sells out! Call 781-259-2206 or register online.
March vacation programs
For the first time, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln will be offering its school vacation programs during the last two weeks in March. This is a great opportunity for students at independent schools who aren’t able to participate in our February vacation week programs to explore the sanctuary guided by Drumlin Farm teacher-naturalists. Activities like wildlife tracking, farm chores, and New England crafting keep students engaged while reinforcing science concepts outside of a classroom setting. Designed for students age 4 through grade 6, these programs are sure to put fun and excitement into your spring break. To register, call 781-259-2206 or visit our website at www.massaudubon.org/drumlinprograms.
Farm Explorations — Tuesday, March 18
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon members/nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1- 6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon members/nonmembers: $60/$72
Our crops fields are resting, but there are still chores to be done! Help our farmer care for our cows, pony, and sheep as you feed them their winter snack and clean and fluff their winter beds. Explore our barns to see who else makes the barns their winter home. We’ll also take time to make a farm fresh snack to enjoy.
Drumlin Detectives — Wednesday, March 19
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon members/nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1- 6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon members/nonmembers: $60/$72
Explore forest, field, and wetlands looking for tracks and signs of plants and animals that live at Drumlin Farm year-round. Visit with native wildlife – and make a track book to take home with you.
New England Traditions — Thursday, March 20
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon members/nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1- 6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon members/nonmembers: $60/$72
It may feel like winter, but spring is just around the corner! Journey back in time to learn about growing up in New England through cooking, stories and games. Enjoy the New England tradition of making maple syrup by visiting our maple grove and evaporator and making a yummy maple snack!
Farmers’ Helpers — Tuesday, March 25
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon members/nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1-6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon members/nonmembers: $60/$72
Winter is a quiet time on the farm but there are still chores to be done! Help our farmer care for our chickens, pigs, and goats; what’s their favorite winter snack? Where do they like to curl up and snuggle during a winter storm? After the work is done, make a farm fresh snack to enjoy.
High Flyers — Wednesday, March 26
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon Members/Nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1-6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon Members/Nonmembers: $60/$72
Owls, hawks, and falcons, oh my! Discover the special adaptations that make these birds of prey such skilled hunters. Where do they hunt? What do they eat? Meet some native birds of prey, hike their habitats, and dissect owl pellets to find out whoooooo eats whom.
Woolly Crafts — Thursday, March 27
Ages 4-kindergarten: 9:30 a.m. to noon, Mass Audubon members/nonmembers $25/$30
Grade 1-6: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Mass Audubon members/nonmembers: $60/$72
Follow the path of wool from sheep to sweater. After caring for the sheep, try your hand at cleaning and carding wool. Make some wooly crafts by felting, spinning, finger knitting, and weaving.