New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
A week of fun activities are planned for spring vacation at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, April 16-20, in partnership with New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Monday, April 16 is Right Whale Day, when the museum offers free family activities focused on the highly endangered northern right whale starting at 10:00 a.m. under the massive right whale skeleton on display in the Jacobs Family Gallery. Walk inside a life-sized inflatable right whale and stand next to a life-sized inflatable right whale calf for a photo. Challenge yourself in the coastal obstacle course as you attempt to survive the dangers right whales face in their migrations. Test your observation skills by identifying individual whales based on their markings. Enjoy a slice of the huge “right whale cake” at 1:35 p.m.
Right Whale Day schedule of activities: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Go Inside the Inflatable Whale (presented by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society); 10:00 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Right Whale Obstacle Course (presented by the museum’s high school apprentices), museum plaza; 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Make Right Whale Magnets & Whale Origami (presented by the New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance); 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Right Whale Crafts & Learning Activities (presented by the museum docents & high school apprentices); 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Inflatable Right Whale Calf, Right Whale Info & Photo-Op with the Right Whale Calf (presented by the education staff of NOAA); 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary 20th Anniversary display & activities (presented by Stellwagen Sanctuary staff); 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Right Whale Identification Activities, (presented by the museum volunteers); 1:35 p.m.: Right Whale Day Cake; 2:00 p.m.: Free screening of “Ocean Frontiers – The Dawn of a New Era in Ocean Stewardship,” (Cook Memorial Theater). “Ocean Frontiers” is an engaging, inspirational film that features four very different, but equally important success stories of ocean stewardship, including one that is taking place in Massachusetts Bay.
Spring vacation week activities continue through Friday, April 20. Schedule of activities: Tuesday- Friday, April 17-20, 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.: “Highlights Tours: Go Below Decks on The Lagoda.” Join a docent for a 45-minute tour that focuses on highlights of the Museum’s collection. The tour leaves from the front desk. The first ten participants to sign up will go below decks on the Lagoda. Regular admission applies.
Tuesday, April 17, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: “Moby-Dick Highlights Tour” Docents bring the characters and action from Herman Melville’s great American novel to life through a tour of the Museum’s collection. Tour leaves from the front desk. Regular admission rates apply.
Wednesday morning, April 18, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: “Maritime Arts & Crafts.” Children make and take home their project. This program is free for children in the Jacobs Family Gallery. Regular admission rates apply to the Museum galleries.
Wednesday afternoon, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park offers a free fun-filled afternoon for the whole family, including scavenger hunt, carnival games, bean bag toss and Earth Day crafts. Try croquet on the lawn with Ruth & Abby – the 1850s ladies – and watch the Youth Ambassador Program (YAP!) videos, “Get Outside” and “My Backyard” series. Pick up a free “Burn While You Learn,” map of the park to explore history while getting some exercise. The National Park Visitor Center is located at 33 William Street, adjacent to the museum plaza.
Thursday, April 19, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: “Sailors’ Valentines.” Learn how to make sailors’ valentines, traditional gifts whalemen gave to their wives and loved ones upon returning from long voyages. Take your valentine home as a keepsake. This program is free for children in the Jacobs Family Gallery. Regular admission rates apply to the Museum galleries.
Friday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.: “All Aboard The Lagoda” allows children to dress as their favorite seafaring character and climb aboard the Lagoda, learning the ropes, interacting with different cultures, and scouring the seas in search of whales as they experience a global whaling voyage through role-play on the world’s largest model whaleship (regular admission rates apply).
Spring vacation week activities are free where noted for children to 14 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
In celebration of the Bicentennial of the Town of Fairhaven, Massachusetts (1812-2012), Fairhaven residents receive free admission to the museum, Sunday, April 15 through Saturday, April 21 (proof of residency required).
The New Bedford Whaling Museum is the world’s most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales, whaling and the cultural history of the region. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city’s historic downtown. For events: www.whalingmuseum.org.
