South Shore YMCA Nature Center

South Shore YMCA Nature Center Address: 48 Jacobs Lane, Norwell, MA 02061 For more information please visit www.

🍂 FALL FUN IS WAITING AT THE NATURE CENTER! 🍂 Don’t let your little one miss out on a fall filled with creating, explori...
08/28/2026

🍂 FALL FUN IS WAITING AT THE NATURE CENTER! 🍂

Don’t let your little one miss out on a fall filled with creating, exploring, getting messy, and connecting with nature!

🎨 LITTLE SPROUTS ART
Mondays | Sept. 14–Dec. 21
9:30–10:15 AM | Ages 2–5, with a care giver
Hands-on, nature-inspired art, creative play, and plenty of opportunities to explore!

🌱 GARDEN EXPLORERS
Fridays | Sept. 11–Oct.
9:30–10:15 AM | Ages 2–5, with a care giver
Get hands-on in the garden with seasonal harvests, garden projects, and preparing the garden for winter!

🍁 Fall only comes around once a year—and you won’t want to miss the fun we have planned!

✨ REGISTER NOW to save your spot!
https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/

🌱🍂 Fall Program Spotlight: Garden Explorers! 🍂🌱What happens in a garden when summer ends? There’s still plenty of work t...
08/26/2026

🌱🍂 Fall Program Spotlight: Garden Explorers! 🍂🌱

What happens in a garden when summer ends? There’s still plenty of work to do—and Garden Explorers is ready to get growing! 🌻

This fall, young gardeners will get hands-on with the seasonal work that keeps our garden healthy and prepares it for the year ahead.

🌿 Harvesting the final crops
🌱 Preparing garden beds for winter
🌻 Collecting and saving seeds
🍂 Learning about compost and decomposition
🪱 Exploring healthy soil and the organisms that live in it
🐝 Discovering the important insects and wildlife that visit our garden
🌾 Learning how plants prepare for the changing seasons
🥕 Using garden-grown ingredients and natural materials for hands-on activities

Garden Explorers is more than just learning about gardening—it’s an opportunity for kids to actively care for and contribute to a living garden.

🍁 If your child loves being outside, getting their hands dirty, and discovering how things grow, Garden Explorers is the perfect fall adventure!

Come explore, grow, and help us get the garden ready for winter! Learn more & Register now: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/

🦋🌿 From Tiny Egg to Monarch: A Summer of Metamorphosis! 🌿🦋It has been an exciting summer at the South Shore YMCA Nature ...
08/26/2026

🦋🌿 From Tiny Egg to Monarch: A Summer of Metamorphosis! 🌿🦋

It has been an exciting summer at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center watching nature do what it does best—surprise us!

Back in early July, Environmental Educator Brittany spotted a thriving patch of milkweed in the garden. A closer look revealed a tiny hidden treasure: a monarch egg, barely larger than the tip of a pencil!

Alongside Animal Care staff member Derek, the team decided to raise monarchs this summer. They collected five eggs from a single milkweed plant and set up a temporary habitat in the greenhouse.

🌱 Monarchs lay their eggs only on milkweed because it is the only plant their caterpillars can eat! Monarch eggs typically hatch in 3–5 days, and those tiny caterpillars are immediately ready to eat—and eat, and eat!

Of the five eggs, three hatched into caterpillars. Keeping fresh milkweed available for these hungry caterpillars quickly became part of the daily routine. As they grew, they moved into a larger butterfly enclosure.

After several weeks of eating and growing, one caterpillar successfully formed a chrysalis. In the wild, only about 1 in 10 monarch caterpillars survive to become butterflies, so watching one of our five eggs make it this far was pretty exciting!

Inside the chrysalis, an incredible transformation was taking place. The caterpillar's body breaks down and reorganizes as it develops the wings, legs, antennae, and other structures of a butterfly. This process is called metamorphosis.

After a few weeks of waiting, the team arrived back at work after the weekend to discover the moment we'd been hoping for…

🦋 A female monarch had emerged!

We released her alongside our Homeschool Gardeners group, giving the children a chance to watch her begin the next chapter of her journey.

And her journey is just beginning! Late-summer monarchs begin their remarkable migration south toward their overwintering grounds in Mexico, stopping along the way to feed on nectar.

🌿 Come experience the magic of nature with us and discover what amazing transformations are happening right in our own backyard! 🦋

🍂 Fall is almost here, and registration is OPEN for Fall 2026 Programs at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center! 🍂This seas...
08/25/2026

🍂 Fall is almost here, and registration is OPEN for Fall 2026 Programs at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center! 🍂

This season, give your little nature lovers plenty of opportunities to create, explore, learn, and connect with the natural world through hands-on activities, storytime, garden adventures, and animal encounters.

🎨 Mondays | Little Sprout Art
September 14–December 21 | 9:30–10:15 AM
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver
Get creative with a new nature-inspired art project each week while exploring different materials, techniques, and seasonal themes!

🐢 Thursdays | Turtle Tales Storytime
Ages 0–5 with a caregiver
Visit our newly renovated EcoZone, meet our live turtles, explore seasonal exhibits, and enjoy a nature-themed storytime with an Environmental Educator. Weather permitting, we’ll even head outside to the amphitheater!

🌱 Fridays | Garden Explorers
September 11–October 30 | 9:30–10:15 AM
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver
Dig into fall in the José Carreiro Children’s Garden! Help with the final harvest, collect seeds, prepare garden beds for winter, create seasonal crafts, and enjoy storytime along the way.

🍂Whether your little one loves creating, discovering animals, digging in the garden, or exploring the outdoors, there’s something to enjoy this fall!🍂

View all program details and register today: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/

Calling all Scout Troops! 🗣📣Looking for a fun, hands-on way to work toward badges, explore the outdoors, or complete a s...
08/24/2026

Calling all Scout Troops! 🗣📣

Looking for a fun, hands-on way to work toward badges, explore the outdoors, or complete a service or award project? The South Shore YMCA Nature Center is ready to welcome your troop!

From nature and environmental merit badges to Girl Scout badge programs, we offer engaging, nature-based experiences that can be tailored to your troop’s interests and goals. Scouts can explore wildlife, discover the garden, learn about conservation, get hands-on with nature, and more!

🌎 Scouting opportunities include:
• Nature-related Merit Badge programs
• Girl Scout badge programs
• World Conservation Award opportunities
• Eagle Scout Projects
• Girl Scout Highest Award Projects
• Customized troop experiences

Visit our website or reach out by email today to start your next adventure with the South Shore YMCA Nature Center!

🌐: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/program/science-nature/scout-page/
📧: [email protected]

🍂 Fall is just around the corner, and registration is OPEN for Fall 2026 Programs at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center!...
08/21/2026

🍂 Fall is just around the corner, and registration is OPEN for Fall 2026 Programs at the South Shore YMCA Nature Center! 🍂

🎨 Mondays | Little Sprout Art
September 14–December 21 | 9:30–10:15 AM
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver

Get creative with a new nature-inspired art project each week! Children will explore different materials and techniques while creating, experimenting, and having fun.

🌱 Fridays | Garden Explorers
September 11–October 30 | 9:30–10:15 AM
Ages 2–5 with a caregiver

Dig into fall in the José Carreiro Children’s Garden! Help with the final harvest, collect seeds, prepare garden beds for winter, create seasonal crafts, and enjoy storytime.

Come create, explore, dig, and discover with us this fall! 🍂🌱🎨

View program details and register:
https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/

🎨🌿 Fall Program Spotlight: Little Sprout Art! 🌿🎨Calling all little artists! Little Sprout Art invites young children to ...
08/20/2026

🎨🌿 Fall Program Spotlight: Little Sprout Art! 🌿🎨

Calling all little artists! Little Sprout Art invites young children to explore nature through creativity and hands-on art. Each week, children will discover a new nature-themed project through painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, and more!

It’s the perfect opportunity to create, play, and connect with nature together in a fun and welcoming environment.

👧 Ages 2–5 years, with a care giver
📅 Mondays, September 14 - December 21
⏰ 9:30–10:15 AM

Learn more & register: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/little-sprout-art/

Fall Program Spotlight: Garden Explorers 🍂🌱The garden may be winding down for the season, but there’s still plenty to se...
08/19/2026

Fall Program Spotlight: Garden Explorers 🍂🌱

The garden may be winding down for the season, but there’s still plenty to see, do and discover! Join us this fall for Garden Explorers, a hands-on program where young gardeners and their caregivers can dig, explore, and enjoy the changing season together in our Children’s Garden.

What to expect:
🌱 Exploring plants, seeds, and soil
🐛 Searching for garden bugs and other critters
📖 Nature-themed storytime
🎨 Seasonal nature crafts
🍁 Plenty of outdoor garden fun!

📅 September 11 - October 30
⏰ 9:30 - 10:15 am
👧 Ages 2-5 with caregiver

Spaces are limited, register soon: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/garden-explorers/

🍂 Fall Program Spotlight: Forest Friends Nature Playgroup!🌲Calling all little explorers! Our Forest Friends Nature Playg...
08/18/2026

🍂 Fall Program Spotlight: Forest Friends Nature Playgroup!🌲

Calling all little explorers! Our Forest Friends Nature Playgroup is back this fall! Designed for children ages 1.5–5 with a caregiver, this program is a fun opportunity to explore, play, and connect with nature together.

📅 Tuesdays, September 8 –December 15
⏰ 9:30-10:30 AM

What to expect:

🌿 Outdoor exploration & storytime– Discover the wonders of nature through hands-on play, movement, and seasonal adventures.

🐢 Indoor adventures– Meet our animal ambassadors, enjoy nature-themed crafts, and participate in seasonal activities.

🍁 Each week brings a new opportunity to learn, play, and make nature-loving memories!

Register today: https://ssymcanaturecenter.org/events/

Planning for the new school year? Bring your students to the South Shore YMCA Nature Center for hands-on, engaging envir...
08/17/2026

Planning for the new school year? Bring your students to the South Shore YMCA Nature Center for hands-on, engaging environmental education!

We’re now booking Field Trips and In-School Enrichment Programs for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year 🍂🌱

From exploring local ecosystems and wildlife to discovering seasonal science, plants, soil, and more, our programs give students the opportunity to learn, explore, and connect with the natural world.

📚 Field Trips at the Nature Center
🏫 In-School Enrichment Programs
🔬 Hands-on, standards-aligned learning
🌿 Programs for a variety of grade levels and topics

For program information and scheduling, email [email protected].

Please SHARE with local teachers, schools, and educators who may be looking for engaging nature-based learning opportunities this school year! 🚌🍁

Address

48 Jacobs Lane
Norwell, MA
02061

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 12pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+17816592559

Website

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