Seacoast Science center and beach day

Today we visited the Seacoast Science Center with a homeschool group. Then for the latter part of the day we went to a nearby beach. It's not exactly summer yet but we can't go to the seacoast and not spend at least an hour or so at the beach! We got the the Seacoast Science center VERY early as there was no traffic to speak of en route and we didn't seem to need an excess of bathroom and stretch breaks. We were able to go through the museum and spend a lot of time at the touch tank before our scheduled programs. We have been to the seacoast science center a number of times but never to do one of the school group programs. Just the younger three attended this time, Trevor opted out as he is old enough to do so and he does not enjoy things like this with a large group as he knows it will be crowded at times and likely loud. He would have been right it was indeed very crowded and somewhat loud for the first program our group had scheduled. It was salt water tank maintenance. We watched a staff member clean an aquarium and then went behind the scenes to see all the filtration systems for the museums many tanks and also learned a little about how they make salt water and how the test the water. It was "ok" I don't think the kids enjoyed this one all that much, part of the problem was that our group was on the large side, the staff member mentioned a couple times that we had a big group and the behind the scenes area was not very big!

After the salt water tank program we breaked for lunch and most of the kids either played on the playground or took a walk on the rocks and out to the ocean. Then back to the museum for a program about salt marsh ecology. This program was in the field, in fact about a half mile's hike from the museum. It was a fun and educational program. We all learned quite a bit about salt marshes, what lives there, how they happen and why they're important. Tristan was chosen as a helper for the program and I suddenly saw my youngest child heading out onto the salt marsh with one of the staff members, yes onto the salt marsh in which people have fallen in up to their knees or even shoulders! And they went in a reeeeeaaaaallly long way. Yes I was nervous but it all went well. Tristan set our a live trap so some wildlife would be caught for our group to view later, and then the creatures would be released again. Thankfully Tristan made it back safely and later many from our group did venture out and all made it safely across the salt marshes. It was a very odd feeling to walk on what seemed to be moving ground though! Most of us got quite wet feet and one youngster did go in up to his ankles. Tristan joked about wanting to swim on one of the mucky marsh ponds and I said that is not something to joke about. I could only imagine him being drawn down as if in quicksand!

After the salt marsh program our group tour was done for the day. We visited the gift shop, yes there is always a gift shop it seems, and then spent an hour or so on the vast rocky shores looking for creatures and enjoying the seaside. Then we drove a mile or so down the road to a beach we frequent in the summer. We had thge beach to ourselves, well it's not exactly in season! Temps were not all that bad but there was a wicked sea breeze. We had a nice beach walk, it was warm enough to go barefoot, then the kids clambered around on the rocks looking for treasures of discarded shells, pretty rocks, ropes off ships (or so the boys imagined) and the like. Before long it seemed to get colder and we had all had enough of the beach. We waved goodbye until summer arrives properly and we will be there to swim and surf and sunbathe!

Are you sure you want to go out on that salt marsh Tristan?

Just how far are you going to take my baby!?

ah, safely on the way back!

Do NOT pretend to fall in Tristan!

A nice day indeed.

American Textile History Museum-scout trip

On April 23rd we headed south to Lowell MA and the American Textile History Museum to do the Boy Scout Textiles badge. My boys, along with 6 others from our troop joined three Scouts from Connecticut and worked together on the badge. We parents and the lone sibling in attendance Hayley, were also able to do all the steps for the badge too, how fun! We all learned a lot about textiles! The badge was set up very well, it sounded so long, 4 hours, I wondered how they would keep the boys attention. There was a good mix of lecture, hands on work, videos, things to get up and do and things to look at under a magnifier. The time passed nicely and all the scouts earned the textile merit badge. After the badge workshop most of us ate in the museum cafe. I have to say it was some of the best museum cafe food I have ever had and at great prices and HUGE servings! We spent all of $25 for our family and had food to bring home. That seems to me unheard of when eating at a museum, usually you expect to pay over the top prices. I was happily surprised. The boys and Bobby had pizza, Hayley had pasta which came with two side dishes, and I had a huge and tasty veggie sub sandwhich. It was better than Subway dare I say it. Some of nour friends got different types of salads and those looked huge and tasty. What a great cafe! After our meal we browede through the museum on our own for a couple hours. There were many interesting exhibits, some with hands on components. Finally we spent a half hour or so in the kids area where Hayley and Tristan enjoyed making several textile based crafts to bring home. In addition to scout workshops the Textile museum also offers workshops for school groups. I would highly recomend this day trip. The only downside was we came home to SNOW! Thankfully a few days later the last of the snow seemed to be finally gone. Even in New Hamshire we really shouldn't have to contend with snow when it is almost May! Assorted photos below.