Accessibility

03/05/2013

Weekend Outdoor Events - March 8-10: Celebrate Maple Month!

March is Massachusetts Maple Month and all this month we’re having events throughout the state to celebrate!

This weekend celebrate Maple Sugar Festival at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton! Join us Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as we make maple syrup in the traditional way at beautiful DCR Brookwood Farm in Milton. There are activities for all ages. Ride the free shuttle ride aboard the Maple Express Trolley. Smell the wood smoke as you watch clouds of steam rise from the bubbling sap. Savor the taste of real maple syrup. Events include Kids games, warming fire and a snack bar too! It’s $6.00 for adults and children over the ages of 2.

The Maple Sugar Festival is run jointly by Department of Conservation and Recreation and Mass. Audubon Trailside Museum. Proceeds benefit the Trailside Museum. For more information, please call (617) 333-0690

Also on Sunday, March 10, 1:30-3:30 p.m., the Fitzpatrick Skating Rink in Holyoke is hosting Adaptive Skating – Games on Ice! Use your wheelchair, an ice sled, or conventional skates on the ice! Spin, slide, race, sla-lom, socialize and play gently competitive games with others! Ice sleds and conventional skate are available. For more info and to sign up, call 413-545-5758 email Marcy.Marchello@state.ma.us, or talk to Mike Mastrototaro, the rink manager.

And don’t forget to check out the Great Outdoors interactive Google calendar for a full calendar of Massachusetts outdoor events.

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12/10/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events December 10-December 16: A Variety of Events

This week offers a variety of outdoor events, ranging from education to straight up fun! Enjoy the following activities:

If you’re looking for some ice skating excitement, then the Adaptive Skating-Games on Ice program is for you! On Tuesday, December 11th, use your wheelchair, ice sled, or skates to participate in gently competitive games and have fun on the ice. The program takes place at the Cronin Skating Rink in Revere from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Want to know more about Webb State Park? Meet up with a DCR Ranger for the informative Webb Winter Walk on Saturday, December 15th. Learn all about the history of the park on a one hour walk beginning at 11:00 am.  Dress for the weather!

Attend the Northeastern Massachusetts Weekly Winter Hikes on Saturday, December 15th, and explore Harold Parker State Forest. From 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, hike from Berry Pond to Bay Circuit Trail to Soapstone Quarry Site and enjoy the fresh air.

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you.

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08/15/2012

Weekly outdoor events: The Harbor Islands!

Boston-harbor-islandsAre you looking for a getaway that's close to home but feels like an adventure? The natural, cultural and recreational resources available to the public make the Boston Harbor Islands a great getaway right here in Mass. Passenger Ferries to visit the islands are located at Long Wharf Boston, the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, and Hingham Shipyard in Hingham.

View a map of the islands before you go to check out the ferry course. 

 

Spectacle

  • This Thursday, join a ranger for a beginner kayak exploration off Spectacle’s shore! Take in the sun with a new perspective of Boston’s skyline and its waters. Space is limited!

Lovells

  • Get some fun exercise at the Let’s Move Outside program. Join us on a new fitness program each day at 11 AM. Programs could be walking, stretching, swimming or yoga. Kids who complete at least two Let’s Move programs get a sticker!

Bumpkin

  • This Thursday at 11am follow the clues as you hike the trails at Bumpkin Pursuit. You’ll collect letters along the way and that will lead you the final clue where you will complete the scavenger hunt. This ranger or self led program is geared towards families and children ages 9‐12. 
  • Also on Thursday at 2pm and 12:30pm, learn the many uses of plants and how to identify them during the Wild Edibles and Medicinal Plants walk. 

Peddocks

  • This Thursday at noon and Sunday at 1:30, bring the family to the Youth Fishing program. Learn the basics of saltwater fishing off the Spectacle pier with a ranger.  Learn about the fish species in the harbor and state fishing regulations. Bring your own equipment or use ours. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult and 16 and older requires MA saltwater fishing license. 

Georges

  • Come enjoy a Fort Tour everyday at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, & 4:30. Explore a National Historic Landmark and learn more about prisoners that lived within its granite walls. Join a Park Ranger for an hour long tour of the fort and experience history.
  • This weekend from noon-2pm, join a Civil War Soldier or Lady in the parade ground and let your kids play dress‐up Civil War style!  Kids will be able to put on clothes similar to those worn nearly 150 yrs ago and learn some history while doing it. 

Grape

  • This Thursday at 11am, 2 and 5pm come paddle the islands on a free ranger‐led Kayak Tour of Hingham Bay! 

For more great events happening this and every week, check out our outdoors calendar for events near you. 

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06/21/2012

Video of the week: Explore our community parks

Just in time for summer, Massachusetts EEA Secretary Richard Sullivan talks about Massachusetts' community parks and shares some recent images from across the state of recently built or upgraded parks. Over the past four years, the Patrick-Murray Administration has upgraded or built 153 parks in urban communities, which support an array of recreational activities to locals and bring one million visitors each year. These investments have been made through EEA's Gateway City Parks and Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant programs. The PARC program was established to provide assistance to cities and towns to acquire land for parks and recreational purposes. Secretary Sullivan encourages all of us to get outside and enjoy the recently renovated community parks across the state this summer.

 

 

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12/21/2011

Accessible Winter Activities

Marcy Marchello

Marcy Marchello

Universal Access Program Coordinator, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

View Marcy's Bio

SnowshoeThe Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is kicking off its Universal Access Program winter activities season!

Running through March, this program was created to make outdoor recreation in Massachusetts more accessible to everyone. Designed for people with disabilities, their families and friends, these free programs will sponsor a wide variety of adaptive cold-weather recreation opportunities at locations across the Commonwealth.

Come join in on the fun, and partake in these accessible activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling, and ice skating. Staff assistance and use of accessible equipment, such as sit skis and kick sleds, will be available for use at no additional cost. For additional information on the Universal Access Program, a schedule of activities, and to preregister, visit DCR's Universal Access page or call 617-626-1294 or 413-545-5353. 

If you would like to volunteer to assist in the adaptive winter programs, please call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840. There are two trainings scheduled for January – January 7 at Wendell State Forest and January 22 at the Weston Ski Track.

Snowmobile

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09/23/2011

Massachusetts Floodplains in the Aftermath of Hurricane Irene

Staff from the Department of Fish and Game’s Division of Ecological Restoration have been out in the field over the past several weeks documenting the effects of Tropical Storm Irene on floodplain corridors in Western Massachusetts. Breached dams, blown-out culverts, and eroded roads remind us of the power of rivers in full flood. Yet, floods are natural part of the river’s ecosystem, building and shifting habitat for aquatic species. Documenting geomorphic changes from floods helps us plan for storms and eliminate unsafe infrastructure. It also helps us build more ecologically beneficial infrastructure that allow rivers and streams to flex their muscles during extreme weather conditions without harming our safety and ecosystem health.Take a look…

 

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09/12/2011

Weekly outdoor events

Join biologists and foresters from MassWildlife this Thursday, September 15, for a Wildlife Habitat Site Walk at the Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Falmouth from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Site walks provide an opportunity for interested conservation-minded citizens and landowners to observe habitat management operations that benefit different kinds of wildlife in special need of conservation.

Do you know places along your daily drive where you can expect to see a turtle crossing? Or spot turkeys and deer at the roadside? The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has created a new innovative program, Linking Landscapes for Wildlife, to involve citizens in both protecting wildlife and making transportation safer for everyone. On September 15, join the Nashua River Watershed Program in Groton to learn about this program from MassWildlife's Dave Paulson and Mass Department of Transportation's Tim Dexter.

On Sunday, September 18, head down to the New England Bantam Club's Annual Fall Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sell from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fairgrounds at Lancaster, Rt. 117 in Lancaster. Everybody is welcome to buy or sell chickens, bantams, ducks, geese, pigeons, pheasants, rabbits, and other stuff they raise, plus hatching eggs, cages, supplies, whatever! No advance registration - just show up with your stock! Rain or shine the event costs $5 to set up for members and $8 for non-members.

On Saturday, September 17, the Department of Conservation and Recreation is teaming up with REI, the Access Fund, and the AMC's Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee for this year’s Adopt-A-Crag event on the South Shore. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. volunteers will gather at the Quincy Quarries to clean up quarries just in time for the fall rock climbing season.

If plants are your fancy and you’re looking for something T-accessible, DCR is hosting the program Plants of Belle Isle Marsh on Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon. Great for both teenagers and adults, this workshop will focus on identifying and learning fun facts about plants in the field.

Also taking place that Saturday afternoon, DCR Rangers will lead a tour of the Charles River Dam, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come and learn about the structure and pumping facility that keeps Boston and Cambridge above water. Groups will meet at Paul Revere Park flagpoles located below the Charlestown Bridge in Boston.

For more Massachusetts Outdoor Events, visit The Great Outdoors interactive Google Calendar.

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08/16/2011

Accessible summer activities

Marcy Marchello

Marcy Marchello

Universal Access Program Coordinator, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

View Marcy's Bio

Accessible cycling The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Universal Access Program provides information to people of all abilities with accessible outdoor activities, accessible parks and beaches, and locations of accessible recreation equipment. Committed to ensuring all people are able to get outside and enjoy recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, and swimming, DCR’s Universal Access Program hosts a variety of accessible activity events. These events include:

Cycling on the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Hadley

Join All Out Adventures (AOA) on Fridays from 11 to 4 p.m. through August 26 and explore the wide variety of adaptive cycles for adults and kids including hand cycles, tricycles, tandems and recumbent bikes. Ride occasionally or weekly. Cost is $3 per program or use an AOA seasonal pass, pre-registration required. Call AOA to register at (413) 527-8980. 

Traveling Accessible Hiking Program

Take a gentle hike with Stavros Outdoor Access. Explore accessible trails and rugged paths with a focus on fun and meeting new people. Assistive equipment and teamwork unite people of abilities using Terra Trek mountain wheelchairs and push joggers. Bring a lunch and enjoy activities such as scavenger hunts, nature talks and letterboxing. Collect DCR passport stamps at each park!  Sighted guides are available. Programs cost $2 per person, $4 for families, and $10 for groups.  Call Stavros Outdoor Access to register: (413) 259-0009.

Accessible hiking

Other activities included in the list of events include skating, boating, skiing and fishing. Visit the online Universal Access brochure to get further details on accessible hiking trails and picnic areas across the state, and which state beaches have beach wheelchairs.

DCR also recommends visiting these sites for further information on accessible activities:

Northeast Passage: Living Beyond Disability

All Out Adventures: Outdoor Recreation for People of all Abilities

Community Boating Inc. Boston

Windrush Farm

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07/29/2011

Local wood for good

CQP stamped wood You don’t have to live in the country to be a farmer - you can grow crops outside in the city too.

Launched in 2007, Build-a-Garden teaches city residents square-foot growing methods so that urban gardeners can maximize space, create ideal growing conditions, and have a simple and structured forum for learning the basics. The Food Project provides participants with everything they need to get started – including multiple raised garden beds, soil, seeds, transplants, a growing guide, on-site workshops, and assistance throughout the planning and implementation stages of the project. Through this volunteer-fueled initiative, the organization hopes to create a thoughtful and productive community of people from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system.

In this instance, two local businesses came together to support each other and the community, and the positive effects promise to be long-lasting. Heyes provided product made from a natural, renewable resource that will be used to help residents of Boston and Lynn grow a variety of wholesome, fresh produce at a fraction of the cost. Likewise, The Food Project’s patronage of Heyes helps sustain local forest-based businesses that maintain healthy, working forests to create products that are important to us in everyday life. The end result is a mutually beneficial collaboration involving local products that will have a positive impact on local business, our community and the environment.

Fred Heyes, owner of Heyes Forest Products in Orange and DAR  Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) ambassador, recently teamed up with Boston-based The Food Project to demonstrate how local wood products can be used to help build a stronger community.

In what has become an annual tradition, Heyes supplied  CQP-certified Massachusetts white pine lumber for The Food Project’s “Build-a-Garden” program, which provides Boston-area residents the opportunity to grow their own food successfully and safely in urban neighborhoods through raised bed and container gardening. The locally sourced and manufactured lumber will be used to construct garden beds for the community support program.

Heyes BAnsfield Botelho

The Food Project is currently accepting Build-a-Garden volunteer applications for the fall 2011 growing season. To learn more about this and other Food Project volunteer opportunities, please visit: http://thefoodproject.org/volunteer. 

Those interested in applying for Build-a-Garden support can contact the program coordinator, Kathleen Banfield, by calling (617) 442-1322 x12 or by sending an email to buildagarden@thefoodproject.org.

To learn more about DAR’s Commonwealth Quality Program, which promotes high-quality Massachusetts agricultural products that are responsibly produced, harvested and processed, or to locate a CQP business near you, please visit  http://www.mass.gov/cqp. 

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02/24/2011

Mmmm...local apple cider

Agriculture is a 24/7 365-days-a-year kind of business and farmers are reminding snow lovers this winter season that local products are available in the colder months. School vacation week is a good opportunity to explore winter agricultural tourism (agri-tourism).

Recently DAR’s Melissa Guerrero went to visit Al Rose, owner of the Red Apple Farm of Phillipston. He and staff have been serving hot and cold apple cider, hot cider donuts and an assortment of local specialty items at the recently-refurbished Bullock Lodge Cider House at Wachusett Mountain. Here, skiers, snowboarders, and hikers are treated to the delectable aroma and taste of tangy apple cider and spice-laced apple cider doughnuts.

The Bullock Lodge Re-opened in 2010, the Bullock Lodge was built in the 1930's as an economic stimulus project by the Civilian Conservation Corps and served as the original base lodge for the ski area. After 50 years of vacancy, this lodge was renovated and is now a showcase for the farm’s local products.

The Bullock Lodge is located on the lower mountain and is generally assessable by advanced and intermediate skiers stopping in during the middle of their runs. It is managed by the Rose Family, and is only accessible by foot, skis and snowboards.

For more information, or to find an Agri-tourism destination such as The Red Apple Farm near you, visit DAR's interactive agri-tourism Google map. 

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