May
~ Environmental
& Outdoor Activities
Bio
Blitz! Canton, Formerly May 10, 9:00AM-1:00PM
- RESCHEDULED
for May 17
Because
of the wet weather expected this Sat., May 10, we have
rescheduled the Bio Blitz for next Saturday, May 17 - same
time and place.
Join us 9AM-1PM, next
Saturday, May 17th, as we team up with The Trustees of
Reservations to hold a Bio Blitz at the Signal Hill
reservation in Canton! We'll explore (and record) the plant
and animal species at this park. Experts will be on hand
to help us identify what we spot.
The Bio Blitz provides a fantastic opportunity to
get familiar with the natural world in our own backyards.
It's also a fun introduction to a new park at which you can
explore fields and woods and get on the Neponset River itself.
Location:
Signal Hill, University Road, Canton.
What to bring: Enthusiasm, bug repellent, sun block, a hat and
a camera (optional).
Directions: Take I-95/Rt. 128 Exit 13 onto University Ave.
Proceed through large industrial park to traffic light at
Canton St. Turf left on Canton St., cross Neponset River and
take immediate right onto University Rd. Proceed through
office park. Park on right just before the last building.
Learn more by contacting Paul Lauenstein at 781-784-2986 or lauenstein@comcast.net.
"Franklin
Park Weeds As Feed" Nature Walk! Dorchester, Sat., May 10,
4PM
Join
local naturalist Pamela Kristan on a spring walk in the park
to learn about the plants that can feed and heal us. Meet at
the Glen Road Entrance to Franklin Park. For more information,
directions and to RSVP: call 617-282-2881 or visit http://www.franklinparkcoalition.org.
Energy
Fair! Westwood, May 10, 10AM-2PM
Come
enjoy a fair for the whole family! Learn how to save energy
and reduce your carbon footprint, and enjoy music, kids'
events, hands-on-activities, demonstrations, exhibitor tables,
give-aways, renewable energy information and more. This event
is free and open to the public. Location: First Parish Church
Hall at the corner of Clapboardtree St. and Nahatan St.
Produced by the Westwood Environmental Action Committee.
Spring
Birding at the Estuary, Dorchester, Sat., May 10, 8:00AM
Join
local birding enthusiast Carl Johnson for an early morning
bird walk along the Greenway and into the Neponset Estuary.
Bring your binoculars or call to reserve a pair. Beginners
welcome. Meet at the Butler MBTA Red Line trolley station
parking lot, on Butler Ave. in Dorchester, off of Adams St.
near Lower Mills. This event is free and open to the public.
It is organized by the Boston Natural Areas Network.
Questions? Call 617-542-7696 or e-mail info@bostonnatural.org. For
updates, maps to locations, and further details, visit www.bostonnatural.org.
Take
a Walk in the Blue Hills! Milton, Sat., May 10, 1:00PM
Come
on a jaunt with the Blue Hills Adult Walking Club. This will
be a moderate walk over some hilly terrain, 2 miles. Loop
around the green dot trail at Little Blue Hill. Meet at the
Little Blue Hill lot on Rte. 138 Park and Ride in Canton. The
walk will be led by a park ranger or a Walking Club volunteer
leader. Please wear hiking boots and bring drinking water.
This event is free and open to the public. Hosted by the
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Questions? Call 617-698-1802. See you there!
Trailwork
Day with the Friends of the Blue Hills, Milton,
Sat., May 10, 9AM
Join
the Friends of the Blue Hills and lend a hand to help maintain
the trails of the Blue Hills Reservation. Tools will be
provided, but bring work gloves and sturdy boots. Meet at
Houghton's Pond main lot at 840 Hillside St. in Milton. Hosted
by the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation.
This event is free and open to the public. Please wear sturdy
footgear, bring drinking water, and dress in layers. Register
at 617-698-1802 x 213.
Global
Climate Change Summit, MIT,
Sat., May 10
Learn
more at www.blsyouthcan.org.
Walk
the Neponset, Butler T Station, Sat., May 10
Historic
bankside trails through newly-added parkland. Meet at Butler T
Station. Learn more at www.walkboston.org.
Free.
Moms
and Babies Stroller Stroll, Milton, Sun., May 11, 1:00PM
Celebrate
Mothers Day with a scenic walk around Houghton's Pond. Babies
and toddlers welcome. We'll enjoy a leisurely stroll, then end
at the playground for some juice and cookies! 1.5 hours. Meet
at the Houghton's Pond main parking lot at 840 Hillside Street
in Milton. Hosted by the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation
and Recreation. This event is free and open to the public.
Please wear sturdy footgear, bring drinking water, and dress
in layers. Learn more at 617-698-1802.
Bay
State Bike Week, May 12-18
Participate
in a variety of bike-related activities! Includes events such
as the May 13th Bikers Breakfast at the dot2dot cafe (learn
more at www.dotbike.org).
River
Management Symposium, Maine, May 12-15
For
its 9th biennial symposium, "Branching Out from the
Mainstream", the River Management Society (RMS) is
exploring new territory - the rivers and streams of New
England. This is their first national symposium in the
Northeast, and as the symposium title implies, they are also
branching out from the formats and topics of past gatherings.
This meeting of river experts will be more intimate and
interactive, offering new ideas and ways of learning. However,
many favorite elements from the past will remain, including
field trips to local rivers and estuaries for onsite examples
of management successes and challenges. Location: Portland,
ME. Cost: Approximately $350. Questions: Contact Caroline Tan
at rms@river-management.org
or call 406-549-0514. More information at http://www.rivermanagement.org/sympsium.asp.
PlanetWalker
Presentation! Cambridge, Wed., May 14, 7:30PM
Dr.
John Francis, the PlanetWalker, recounts his pilgrimage to
save our Earth one step at a time by walking across the USA in
silence. National Geographic has published Dr. Francis's book
about this experience, and now a movie is being planned. This
event is part of the Cambridge Forum. Location: 3 Church St.,
Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA. Contact: 617-495-2727 or www.cambridgeforum.org.
This program is free and open to the public, but a voluntary
donation is requested at the door. Co-sponsored by National
Geographic; Lesley University, Natural Science and
Mathematics; Green Decade; Green Streets; Eagle Eye Institute;
Mass Climate Action; Boston Climate Action; and Friends of
Alewife Reservation.
"Thin
Places" Presentation by Rev. Buechner, Boston,
Thurs., May 15, 7PM
The
Trust for Public Land presents a lecture by the Reverend
Frederic Buechner on the connection between people and place.
Rev. Buechner is an ordained Presbyterian minister and the
author of more than 30 works of fiction and nonfiction
including Wishful Thinking, The Alphabet of Grace,
and Telling the Truth. He has been a finalist for both
the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award Honored by the
American Academy of Arts and Letters, Rev. Buechner is among
our foremost storytellers. Location: Old south Meeting House,
Boston, MA. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to buechnerevent@tpl.org
or 617-371-0508.
Park
Serve Day, 2 Parks,
Sat., May 17
Park
Serve Day is a statewide celebration of our parks - and
opportunity to lend a hand! We'll supply the tools, you supply
the energy! (1) Stony Brook Reservation event, 9AM-1PM.
Join neighbors, friends and DCR staff of Stony Brook
Reservation to help beautify this historic landscape. We'll be
working on some of the trails throughout the reservation. Call
617-333-7404 to register. (2) Or, help at the Blue Hills
Reservation from 10AM-2PM! Join the Friends of the Blue Hills
to help maintain the trails in the Blue Hills Reservation and
learn about the new Adopt-a-Trail program - a chance to help
maintain the trails all year long! Call 617-698-1802 x 213 to
register. Both events are hosted by the Massachusetts Dept. of
Conservation and Recreation. These events are free and open to
the public. Please wear sturdy footgear, bring drinking water,
and dress in layers.
Spring
Planting Festival and Perennial Divide, Mattapan,
Sat., May 17, 10AM
Join
the Boston Natural Areas Network for this annual get-together!
Divide your crowded perennials and bring pre-divided plants to
the free plant swap. MUG volunteers will answer plant care
questions. Purchase vegetable seedlings and native plants.
Enjoy live music, a self-guided tour of the Learning Garden,
and children's activities. To volunteer, please contact joann@bostonnatural.org
or call 617-542-7696 x 15. Time: 10AM-2PM. Location: City Natives Nursery, 30
Edgewater Dr., Mattapan.
Beekeeping:
Setting Up the Hive, Mattapan, Sat., May 17, 1:00-2:00PM
Mike
Graney, beekeeper, will make a presentation concerning the
start of the beekeeper's season. Topics will include planning
for the season, beekeeping equipment, siting and construction
of the hive and installation of mail-ordered bees. A brief
discussion of bee biology will be included in this session.
Location: This event takes place at the Spring Festival and
Perennial Divide, explained above, at the City Natives
Nursery, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan.
Mattapan
Moving For Life: A Family Fitness Event, Mattapan,
Sat., May 17
The
Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition and Boston Natural Areas
Network invite you to this free walk, run and fitness event. A
non-competitive walk and run will be staged around Walker
Playground along with aerobics, yoga, a community information
fair, healthy snacks, music and fun activities for the whole
family. Time: 10:00AM-1:00PM. Location: Walker Playground -
next to Mildred Ave. Community Center, 5 Mildred Ave.,
Mattapan. Questions? Call BNAN at 617-542-7696.
Take
a Walk in the Great Outdoors! Dedham, Sun., May 18, 1:00PM
Come
on a jaunt with the Blue Hills Adult Walking Club. This will
be an easy walk, 2 miles. Follow the Green Dot Loop. Meet at
Wilson Mountain Reservation parking lot on Rte. 135. Take Exit
17 off Rte. 128 and head east on Rte. 135. Wilson Mountain is
0.5 miles down on the right just before the Northeastern
athletic fields in Dedham. The walk will be led by a park
ranger or a Walking Club volunteer leader. Please wear hiking
boots and bring drinking water. This event is free and open to
the public. Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation. Questions? Call 617-698-1802. See
you there!
Nonpoint
Source Pollution (NPS) Conference, Groton, CT, May 19-21
This
conference, "Progress through Partnerships: Collaborating
to Protect Our Watersheds," is hosted by the New England
Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and the CT Dept.
of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the NPS
Programs of the New England States, New York State, and EPA
Regions I and II. The conference brings together all those in
New England and NY State involved in nonpoint source pollution
management, including participants from state, federal, and
municipal governments, private sector, academia, and watershed
organizations. The conference will focus on building
partnerships and integrating programs to work towards the
common goal of reducing NPS pollution in our watersheds.
Registration fee ranges from $55 to $295, depending on the
number of days you attend, the sector in which you work, and
the role that you play at the conference. Learn
more.
Take
a Walk in the Blue Hills! Quincy, Sat., May 24, 1:00PM
Come
on a jaunt with the Blue Hills Adult Walking Club. This will
be a moderate walk, 3+ miles. Walk the St. Moritz Pond green
dot loop. Meet at the Shea Rink parking lot on 351 Willard St.
in Quincy. The walk will be led by a park ranger or a Walking
Club volunteer leader. Please wear hiking boots and bring
drinking water. This event is free and open to the public.
Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation. Questions? Call 617-698-1802. See you there!
Spring
Evening Paddle, Dorchester, Wed., May 28, 5:30PM
Join
the Boston Natural Areas Network and the Massachusetts
Department of Conservation and Recreation for a late spring
evening paddle starting from the newest Neponset River launch.
Going through the salt marsh up to Lower Mills, we will enjoy
this serene setting as twilight approaches. Canoeing
experience and registration required. To register, call
617-542-7696 or write to info@bostonnaturalorg.
Location: Neponset II Park, Hilltop St., Dorchester.
Participate
in an Ecological Restoration Project! Providence, RI, Sat., May
29-June 30
Help
Save The Bay (Narragansett Bay) of Rhode Island ecologically
restore an Eelgrass bed! Lunch, snacks and drinks will be
provided. Harvest events begin at 9AM. A full-day commitment
is necessary for transplants but not for harvests. Activity
descriptions: Harvest Divers: Remove eelgrass
from the sediment using garden trowels and fill catch bags. Kayakers:
Take bags of eelgrass from the divers and transport them to
shore. Sorters: Work on shore, separating sediment from
eelgrass, counting shoots and sorting eelgrass into bundles
for transplant. Transplant: All volunteers for
transplants must be willing to get in the water. Wet suits
will be provided. Save the Bay's M/V Alletta Morris will
transport volunteers to the transplant sites, leaving the dock
at the scheduled time. She is then used as a staging platform
for the transplant effort. A smaller vessel will shuttle
divers and staff to the shallow transplant site. Divers:
Insert shoots into the sediment, using bamboo skewers as
biodegradable staples to allow the shoots time to take root. Water
Diver Support: (wetsuits available) hands eelgrass and
bamboo skewers down to the divers and makes sure the entire
process runs smoothly on the surface. Kayaker:
Transports equipment from the Alletta Morris to the divers and
diver support. 2008 Spring Harvest/Transplant Schedule:
1) Thurs., May 29: Harvest @ King's Beach - Newport, 9AM, 2)
Fri., May 20 - Harvest @ King's Beach - Newport, 9AM; 3) Sat.,
May 31 - Transplant @ location TBD, No kayakers or water
support; 9 divers only Coggeshall Point; 4) Learn about the
other dates and activities by contacting Stephany Hessler
at shessler@savebay.org
or 401-272-3540, x130.
Take
a Walk in the Blue Hills! Milton, Sat., May 31, 1:00PM
Come
on a jaunt with the Blue Hills Adult Walking Club. This will
be an easy walk, 2 miles. Loop around Houghton's Pond and old
Rte. 128. Meet at the Houghton's Pond main parking lot on 840
Hillside St. in Milton. The walk will be led by a park ranger
or a Walking Club volunteer leader. Please wear hiking boots
and bring drinking water. This event is free and open to the
public. Hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation
and Recreation. Questions? Call 617-698-1802. See you there!
Perennial
Plant Propagation, Mattapan, Sat., May 31, 9:00-10:30AM
This
hands-on workshop will cover methods of producing perennial
plants through division, seedling transplant, and the taking
of cuttings. We will also discuss raising plants in containers
and how to succeed with garden divisions you receive from
friends and neighbors. Registration required. To register,
call 617-542-7696 or write to info@bostonnatural.org.
BNAN members: free. Non-BNAN-members: $20. Location: City
Natives Nursery, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan.
