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July 2012

07/31/2012

Weekly outdoor events: Enjoy the arts

Get outdoors and celebrate the arts this week with some great family events! From live music to dancing, sand sculptures and crafts, there’s something to spark your creativity while enjoying a State Park near you.

Lynn concert
Credit: SCI Lynn

This Thursday evening, check out live music at the Summer Concert Series hosted by Red Rock State Park in Lynn. Spend the evening by the shore with family and friends while enjoying free live music. Don’t miss this week’s featured band, Shuffle Mode!

Come learn how to turn your trash into treasure by reusing some common household items. Visit Melnea Cass Recreational Complex and Roxbury Heritage State Park Mondays,Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 1-3pm at Cass Complex for Cass Creates Recycled Crafts. Each day will explore a different craft that uses common items you might otherwise throw away. There will be projects available for all ages and abilities. Nature craft

Looking for a fun way to be more active? Check out Free ZUMBA Thursdays at DCR’s Martini Shell at Hyde Park at 6pm. Join Hyde Park YMCA instructors in the latest exercise phenomenon. This free 45 minute Latin dance workout is sure to leave you sweating and smiling.

If you have a passion for art, come showcase your talent at Hyde Park Art Association this Satuday afternoon for a free, fun family event. Local artists, age 16 and older, are invited to showcase their artistic talents in action for public viewing and voting! DCR Park Rangers will also offer free family arts and crafts activities, including chalk art, stamp printing,temporaty tattoos, group mural, and bead making. 

Sand sculpture
Credit: Dan King/The Chronicle

Also this Saturday, come check out Horseneck Beach for a fun, family-friendly Sand Sculpture Festival!  Bring along your buckets, shovels and creativity to make your own Sand Sculpture and enjoy a great family day at the beach. There will be many great prizes in a few different categories.

Wrap-up your weekend at Natural Bridge State Park in North Adams this Sunday afternoon with the Nature Crafts for Kids program. Families with children of all ages are encouraged to gain inspiration from nature and create a craft with natural objects at the Visitor Center this Sunday.

Check out our events calendar for more outdoor events near you this week! 

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07/23/2012

Weekly outdoors events: Free Family Flicks

Warm summer evenings are a great time to get the family outdoors! Enjoy the evening this week and pack a picnic, a blanket and your lawn chair for a relaxing movie under the stars. This week, check out some free outdoor movies showing at state parks and reservations across the state:

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Setting up for the evening's movie at the Hatch Shell ricktrip.com/boston

For more information about movies this week and to view the entire schedule of movies throughout the summer, check out DCR’s Free Family Flicks flyer. All movies start at sundown. 

Be sure to check out our events calendar for even more outdoor events happening near you this week. 

 

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07/18/2012

Save the date for agricultural fairs this August

 

An amazing number of agricultural fairs are held throughout Massachusetts each summer. Most of them have been happening for over 100 years and are deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Commonwealth. The gorgeous Berkshire Mountains will be the backdrop to the 157th Annual Middlefield Fair, an old time country fair that was first established in 1855 as a cattle show. Each year, prizes are given to people of all ages with various skills and products. Events include a horse and oxen pull and a chili cook off. Agricultural producers will compete for prizes awarded for the best agricultural products, including hen eggs, fruits and vegetables, flowers, honey and more. There’s even a children’s essay prize.

You won’t want to miss the local, fun, friendly flair of the Hardwick Community Fair, which takes place August 17-18. In addition to being the oldest fair in the United States (it originated in 1762), this fair hosts unique events such as a 5-mile road race, a lumberjack contest, a frog jumping contest and a children’s parade! And it wouldn’t be a true Massachusetts fair if it didn’t showcase the best in local agriculture, which it does through displays of baked goods, vegetables and flowers that will compete for the illusive blue ribbon.

Photo credit: ctomt on flickr.com

The 95th Annual Heath Fair from August 17-19 will offer fun activities and opportunities to learn about agriculture. Last years’ program included square dances, a ham and bean supper, and even talks on the art of composting and urban agriculture, along with traditional fair events like a tractor pull.

Photo credit: bendystraw on flickr.com

In Southeast Massachusetts from August 17-26, be sure to visit the 145th Annual Marshfield Fair. Competitions will be held in 4-H, arts and crafts, and agricultural and horticultural events. Fair organizers hope that everyone who comes will have fun and leave with a greater sense of the importance of agriculture and horticulture in our society.

A copy of the 2012 Fairs Brochure is yours if you contact Ellen Hart at 617-626-1742 or email Ellen.hart@state.ma.us. Be sure to also check out the MassGrown interactive Google map for a complete listing of agricultural fairs in the Commonwealth. There’s sure to be one near you!

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07/16/2012

Weekly outdoors events: Farmers market feature

Support your local farmers' market and enjoy some fresh, Massachusetts-grown food this week at some great farmers' market events happening across the state. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy farm fresh produce by visiting a farmers' market in your area. To discover the markets close to you, check out the MassGrown map.

Farmers Market 1 7-12-2012 1-47-56 PM
                           Davis Square farmers' market in Somerville

This Wednesday night from 5 to 8 p.m. come out to enjoy Jamaican Night Buffet hosted by Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth. The popular Jamaican grill night features authentic Jamaican cuisine like callaloo, a fresh vegetable soup, batata (sweet potato) pudding, jerk chicken and pork straight from the grill! There will also be live steel drum music, dancing and fun for families and friends.

Don’t miss this unique cultural experience at Coonamessett Farm this Wednesday. Check out the Coonamessett website for more information.

Also at Coonamessett Farm, come enjoy great local food and live music at the Friday Farm Dinner at 5 to 8 p.m. This and every Friday evening through August, Coonamessett farm hosts a family dinner made with delicious farm produce and local pulled pork from the grill. The dinner also features fresh soups, salads and vegetarian entrees. 

Looking for a new market to explore? Come to Somerville to enjoy a warm summer evening and take a leisurely stroll at the Union Square Main Street market this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Building on the vibrancy of the Saturday morning market, the Thursday evening Swirl and Slice market takes place every Thursday evening throughout the summer at Union Square on Main Street. Swirl and Slice features specialty foods like wines, cheeses, jams and other locally produced refineries by Massachusetts farms. Come to Somerville this Thursday to sample some great local food, enjoy live jazz and various educational demonstrations from vendors. View the Swirl and Slice for more information on vendors.

 

GrownImage
                                massfarmersmarkets.org

North of Boston this weekend, come enjoy the Blueberry Pancake Breakfast hosted by Verrill Farm in Concord. This Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. A family farm since 1922, Verrill Farm will be serving up pancakes made with farm fresh blueberries, Massachusetts-made maple syrup, fresh juice and coffee. Bring family and friends to the farm to enjoy a great breakfast and live music by The Yankee Stompers. Check out the Verrill Farm’s website for more information.

Also this weekend, check out the Bedford Farmer’s Market  one-day event. This Sunday in Bedford, check out returning local famers, vendors, artisans and special demonstrative events from Bedford and surrounding areas. Join the Bedford Farmers Market this Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. to enjoy great community fun for the whole family.

Be sure to check out our events calendar for outdoor events and Department of Agricultural Resources' MassGrown calendar for more farmers’ market events coming up in your area.

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07/10/2012

Saving the whales

While most people gazing at the ocean near Chatham have been looking for white sharks, two endangered humpback whales are fortunate that people on the water nearby were looking at them instead.

Two different humpback whales became entangled in heavy lines on July 5 and 6 near the Chatham coast.  Entanglement in fishing gear is a major cause of mortality for whales as lines interfere with feeding and breathing. Long-term entanglements can cause infections.

The highly trained Marine Animal Entanglement Response Team from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies responded to these entanglements and freed the whales. While only trained professionals can disentangle a whale, boaters are the first line of defense for an entangled whale. Reports to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response hotline assured that these severe entanglements did not result in the deaths of the whales.

Mariners should report any entanglement sightings of whales, sea-turtles and other marine animals to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response Hotline (1-800-900-3622) or the U.S. Coast Guard and stand by the animal at a safe distance until trained responders arrive.

The Massachusetts Environmental Trust provides financial support to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response Team. This support is possible because 40,000 Massachusetts drivers have chosen to purchase the right whale license plate from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The trust directs proceeds from the plate to programs that protect and restore our aquatic resources.

To learn more:

Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies      

Division of Marine Fisheries right whale program

And to order a whale tail license plate:

Go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles website. Select “plates” then “Order a Special Plate”. After the instruction pages, click through the slide show of plates until you reach the Right Whale. Plates are $40 every two years in addition to regular registration fees.

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07/09/2012

Weekly outdoor events: 7/9/12

Get outdoors this week to enjoy some great events happening across the state. At Revere Beach thisSandcastle Friday through Sunday, don’t miss the Revere Beach National Sand Sculpting Festival sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Come enjoy the largest sand sculpting festival on the East Coast! Bring the whole family to observe amazing sculptures and enjoy a great day at the beach.

For more events in Greater Boston, visit Maudslay State Park in Newburyport this Friday at 10:00 a.m. for the Let’s Explore Nature program. This free program allows kids to join the park interpreter and explore the natural resource aspects of Maudslay State Park using nets, critter tanks and hand lenses. Each week offers a different theme to explore the fascinating life at the Park. Also at Maudslay this Saturday, come join the History Tour of the Estate Core at 2:30 p.m. The Mosley Family purchased this lovely piece of property and turned it into a regal, landscaped estate, complete with formal gardens and greenhouses. Come learn the history of this family, the resources that they preserved and the changes in the land over time.

Down on the South Shore, bring the family to Horseneck Beach State Reservation in Westport this Thursday for the Creature Feature program. Come learn about some of the creatures that live here at Horseneck Beach! Each week will feature a new topic for kids to discover. Families should meet at table set up at the end of Horseneck Beach boardwalk. This Sunday at Horseneck, bring a sense of adventure to the Gooseberry Island Program- Exploring the Tide at 10 a.m. Gooseberry Island is home to many plants and animals that live between the tides. This program allows participants to discover the creatures that live along the island’s edge.

In the central region, come visit the Wachusett Mountain State Reservation for some great programs this week. Join the Park Interpreter this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. on the A View from the Top summit tour. Find out what’s on the horizon, discover how the mountain came to be, learn about the buildings and summit pool that are here now and imagine what it would have been like when there was a summit house on top of the mountain. The tour involves an easy walk around the summit, though some ground is uneven and rocky. Also at Wachusett this Sunday at 3:00 p.m., come to check out the Talk about Rocks! Discover what the rocks can tell us about the history of Wachusett Mountain, like what events helped to shape this mountain? Why are there so many boulders? Can mountains change? Join the Park Interpreter for a guided hike on one of the several trails that highlight the geology of Wachusett Mountain.

Greylock_homeIn the western region, visit Mount Greylock State Reservation for the Thoreau on Greylock hike and interpretive program. Participants will hike the historic route of American naturalist and writer, Henry David Thoreau to the summit of Mount Greylock. Local writer Lauren Stevens will guide the hike with visits to actual locations and interpretations to his experience, as recorded in Thoreau’s account of this journey in A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. The hike is strenuous, 11 miles round-trip with a one-way, 5.5 mile option will be available upon request.

Be sure to check out our events calendar for more upcoming events this and every week throughout the summer.

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07/03/2012

Blueberries, blueberries, blueberries

Sarah Jordan_blueberry pickingSarah Jordan loves to help out at her family’s farm located in Rutland, Massachusetts. Sarah recently joined her grandmother, uncle, aunt, and cousins to pick blueberries for delivery to farm stands and farmers’ markets throughout the area. The berries are picked fresh in the morning, cleaned and then delivered to markets.

This year’s local blueberry crop came a little bit earlier than usual due to a mild spring and are now ripe for the picking. For a fun family outing, there are 67 pick-your-own blueberry farms plus hundreds of farmers’ markets and roadside stands from which to choose.

Native to North America, blueberries, or Vaccinium corymbosum, are perennial flowering plants  in the same family as cranberries. Varieties of blueberries more commonly grown in Massachusetts are Berkley, Bluecrop, Coville and Earliblue. Massachusetts is number two in the U.S. for wild blueberry production and rank 17th for high bush (cultivated) blueberries.

Jordan local blueberriesBlueberries are a great source of antioxidants that may prevent diseases such as cancer. In addition, this small but mighty fruit is an excellent source of vitamin C, iron, manganese and fiber. An extremely versatile berry, these fruits can be used in many recipes such as pies, muffins, jams, jellies and smoothies. They are definitely worth the purple tongue you’ll get afterwards from eating them!

For more information and directions to Massachusetts' blueberry farms, farmers' markets, pick-your-own berry farms, and roadside produce stands, visit http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/map.htm.

Blueberry bush 2

 

 

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07/02/2012

Weekly outdoor events - 4th of July edition

This Fourth of July week, check out some fun outdoor events happening at state parks close to you. Take part in one of America’s largest patriotic celebrations! DCR’s Memorial Hatch Shell 2012 Season is heating up with the July 4th festival. Come join the fun at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston for the fireworks display and 4th celebration. A Boston tradition, this celebration is for the whole family to enjoy.

After the holiday hype, get the kids back on track with the Junior Rangers program going on at parks throughout the state. The Junior Rangers program is a fun and educational way to get your kids outdoors this summer. Children will have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while learning important recreational skills and fostering environmental stewardship. Junior Rangers work alongside of Park Rangers and receive a Junior Ranger Guide to learn skills and earn their Junior Ranger Patch and Certificate. Children will take part in educational activities such as map reading, science experiments and investigations. The programs also feature games, story times, arts and crafts and the opportunities for developing various outdoor leadership skills. All Junior Ranger Programs require pre-registration and are free and open to the public. The Parks hosting Junior Ranger programs starting this week include the Holyoke Range State Park in Amherst, the Wompatuck State Park in Hingham, the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Waquoit and the Myles Standish State Forest in South Carver. Please visit the Park websites for more information and how to register. Stay tuned for the Junior Ranger Programs at Walden Pond and the Great Falls Discovery Center coming up next week!

If you’re looking for some outdoor exercise this week, check out the Walking the Blackstone Canal program at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park in Uxbridge this Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Take a step back into time and learn about the historical, cultural and ecological importance of the canal on this interpreter led tour. This walk is great for families and individuals alike. At Nickerson State Park in Brewster, come to check out the Stroll by the Bay walk this Thursday at 5:00 p.m. This is a great walk to get your feet wet while learning about the tidal flats, salt marshes and beach habitats along Cape Cod Bay. The stroll is leisurely fun ideal for the whole family. At the Harold Parker State Forest  in North Andover, join the We Walk the Woods program this and every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. This guided walk is great for families and individuals looking to get some fresh air into their mornings.

Be sure to check out our events calendar for more events this and every week throughout the summer.

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