The Buzzards Bay Coalition will host "Winter Vacation Explorations," a series of three free outings in Mattapoisett and Acushnet, during winter vacation week. Through games and hands-on activities, participants will learn about animals, plants and habitats in the Buzzards Bay region.

• Nature Exploration and Poetry (Tuesday, Dec. 26): Follow a short hike through a forest and meadow to gather some inspiration from the beautiful scenery at The Sawmill reserve in Acushnet. Then, families can learn to write simple poetry inspired by the hike.
• Orienteering (Wednesday, Dec. 27): Learn how to properly use a compass—a tool that is almost 2,000 years old. Once kids have learned the basics, they can test our their skills to solve a riddle that that will take them through the trail at The Bogs.
• Wonders of Water (Thursday, Dec. 28): Join the Buzzards Bay Coalition at The Sawmill in Acushnet for some science experiments that are all done with water. With each experiment, kids will learn about some of the properties of water, and how it makes life possible.

Registration is required for all programs. To RSVP, visit www.savebuzzardsbay.org/events or contact the Buzzards Bay Coalition at 508-999-6363 ext. 219.