Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Earth Day 2011

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Reginald's Bio

Tomorrow commemorates the 41^st anniversary of the first Earth Day and Massachusetts residents can take part in a myriad of activities that celebrate the environment! Join in a community-wide cleanup, party at a zoo, run a 5K race or just get outside and enjoy the outdoors with neighbors, friends and family. Events may differ in size and scope, but a common theme remains: environmental awareness and education.

Earth Day events start tomorrow and run through May. For more information go to http://www.mass.gov/dep/public/earthday.htm

Winter walk at the Charles River Reservation

Rachel Offerdahl

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Rachel's Bio

The Charles River Reservation has a little something for everyone. You can walk, run, or bike the Esplanade; look for wildlife; tour the Charles River Dam; go kayaking, canoeing, rowing, or sailing; or hear a concert at the Hatch Shell. There are also athletic fields and tennis courts, exercise stations, picnic areas, playgrounds, swimming pools, and a skating rink. The park starts in Boston and stretches 20 miles through Cambridge, Watertown, Waltham, Newton, Weston, Needham, Wellesley, and Dover. The reservation offers scenic views – both urban and natural. When you visit, be courteous – keep your dog on a leash and clean up your waste.

Click on the photo to see images from my visit.

Information on park event schedules and seasonal activities.

Autumn outdoor safety

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

Fall is a wonderful time to be outdoors with its dazzling colors, crisp air, and wildlife activity galore. Whether your passion is hiking, hunting, fishing, birding, or just taking in the scenery, a few common sense safety reminders will add to your enjoyment during a day in the field.

Know your limits. Don't take off on a long hike, hunt, or bike ride if you're not physically ready.

Always tell someone where you're going and when you expect to return.

Watch the weather. New England weather is notoriously unpredictable. Be ready with extra clothing.

Expect the unexpected. Carrying a pack with a few first aid items, matches, water, pocket knife, cell phone, map, compass, whistle, extra food, and flashlight can help prevent small problems from becoming big ones.

Wear blaze orange for visibility. Whether you're a hunter, hiker, birder or dog walker in rural areas, it's a good idea to wear a cap or vest of highly visible blaze orange clothing while you're enjoying the great outdoors.

Respect the water. Canoeists and kayakers are required to wear life jackets from September 15 to May 15, but all water enthusiasts, especially anglers who wade in larger rivers, would be wise to wear floatation devices now that water and air temperatures are cooling.

Respect other outdoor users. Mountain biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, hunting, and hiking need not be and are not mutually exclusive activities. Know the hunting seasons and who is likely to be sharing the woods and waters with you. Keep dogs under direct control and respect other outdoor users' rights to enjoy our open spaces.

Finally, licensed hunters are reminded to take the basics of hunter safety to heart. Treat every firearm as it were loaded, keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times. Positively identify your target and what lies beyond it.

More wildlife and outdoor safety information and tips.

Hunting Season information.

Family fun outdoors at the Big Moe

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

This past weekend about 5,000 outdoor enthusiasts gathered in Sturbridge at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club for the Facts About Wildlife and Nature Society’s (FAWNS) Massachusetts Outdoor Expo. At the expo, known as The Big MOE, participants learned about and tried kayaking, archery, rock climbing, fishing and target shooting. There were live birds of prey and native reptile exhibits and workshops to learn how to identify trees, build a bird box or safely use a tree stand for hunting or photography. MassWildlife’s Peter Mirick, who worked with MassWildlife’s Gary Zima and more than 200 volunteers to put on the event this year, said there was a superb group of reenactments of both eastern and western (tipi) pioneer encampments. There was also mountain biking, geocaching, taxidermy, ice fishing instruction, tomahawk throwing, wild game tasting, and wildlife arts and crafts.

The all-day family celebration of the outdoors and wildlife is in its 14th year and was free, thanks to co-sponsors like the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, Hamilton Rod and Gun Club, The Weatherby Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited and the Worcester County League of Sportsmen's Clubs. It was a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to connect with outdoor and wildlife education programs, sporting clubs, and other community pathways to learn more about outdoor activities.

The photos of the angler were taken last weekend by staff wildlife photographer Bill Byrne. Bill also made a photo of the family at the archery station at the 2008 Big MOE.

Bill Byrne’s photos

Join us next year on September 25, 2011 for outdoor and wildlife-related activities at the Big MOE.

Le Tour De Hub? Boston's annual bicycling event

Gary Briere

Recreation Bureau Chief, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

View Gary's Bio

Remember the sense of freedom and accomplishment you felt when you first learned to ride a bicycle? Bicycling is still as much fun as when you were a child, and it can also be a healthy transportation option for short trips. You may even see some of those extra pounds you’ve been vowing to lose disappear as the miles pass under your wheels.

A great way to find that out for yourself is to participate in Hub On Wheels. It’s an annual bicycling event sponsored by the city of Boston, DCR, and a host of partners, during which thousands of cyclists of all ages and abilities will ride through Boston neighborhoods in a citywide celebration of cycling.

This year’s Hub On Wheels is Sunday, Sept. 26. Cyclists will gather at City Hall Plaza in downtown Boston to begin their 10-, 20- or 50-mile tour of the city. The routes lead cyclists through the Arnold Arboretum, Boston Common, the Back Bay, DCR’s Stony Brook Reservation, Franklin Park, Forest Hills Cemetery, and DCR beaches in Dorchester and South Boston. A true highlight of the event is bicycling down a car-free Storrow Drive along the Charles River.

The routes highlight the diversity of Boston neighborhoods, and the riders reflect the diversity of cyclists in Massachusetts. No need to buy the latest bicycle technology or clothing. Your own “Sunday morning casual” and the bike that’s been gathering dust in the garage will do just fine - though you may want to check the tires, oil the chain, and give it a quick check-up before the ride.

So gather up the family and friends, dust off that Schwinn, and get ready to rediscover bicycling.

Event information and registration: www.hubonwheels.org.

Go wild camping in North Andover

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

For families who have little or no experience camping in the great outdoors, an opportunity to camp with some experienced guidance is available in early August! A friendly, knowledgeable and excited crew of staff (including myself) from MassWildlife and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are organizing an overnight family camping event at Harold Parker State Forest on August 7-8, 2010.

We’ve designed this program especially for families who may have never camped but want to try it out. We welcome families of all kinds—bring nieces and nephews, grandchildren, cousins or friends. Program participants will sign up sign up for some instructional skill sessions on archery, canoeing, fishing and hiking. A night hike, campfire and other optional activities will also be available for all to participate. It’s a terrific way to spend time in the great outdoors!

 
This event goes on rain or shine—‘cause that’s how it works outdoors! The registration fee covers all instructional sessions, materials, camping gear, and two meals (Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast). No campsite fee or fishing licenses are required. Space is limited so register early. Give this family experience a try. I look forward to seeing some of you around the campfire!

More information and registration details.

Disconnect from cyberspace, reconnect with open space

Commissioner Rick Sullivan

Commissioner, Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)

View Commissioner Sullivan's Bio

This summer marks the fourth year of DCR’s Great Park Pursuit, a series of free adventures in Massachusetts state parks that has proven increasingly popular.

During the first two years, we scheduled specific activities in certain parks across the Commonwealth and families and individuals came out on those days to participate. Last year, we changed the format to allow more flexibility and let participants schedule their own activities, and we’re doing that again this year. Each year, several hundred groups have participated. Any group of adults and children is welcome, as long as there’s at least one person over 18 and one person younger than 18. They learn how to fish, pitch a tent, roast s’mores, identify the stars at night, and much more.

We envision the Great Park Pursuit as a first step in building the next generation of environmental stewards. The program gives participants a sampling of what our more than 450,000 acres of state parks offer on a daily basis. Let’s not let television and the Internet replace wonderful, traditional, healthy activities like hiking, fishing, and bicycling.

The Great Park Pursuit is free, but participants should register.

Great Park Pursuit information.

As we like to say at DCR, the Great Park Pursuit helps everyone disconnect from cyberspace and reconnect with open space. Come out and join us!

Accessible outdoor activities event this weekend

Marcy Marchello

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

View Marcy's Bio

If you live in the greater Boston area, you won't want to miss DCR’s Accessible Recreation Fair this Saturday, June 5. It is the place to find out about summer recreation programs and opportunities for people with disabilities, as well as their families and friends, and try out a variety of land-based activities.

Come to Artesani Park in Brighton, 1234 Soldiers Field Road, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is a beautiful park to visit, with a spray pool, playground, lots of shade, and views of boats going by on the Charles River. Bring a picnic lunch and your sense of summer fun! We'll offer snacks and cool drinks, face painting, and assorted craft activities and treasure hunts along with the usual adaptive outdoor recreation options.

Meet new people from outdoor recreation organizations serving the Boston area and sign up for summer activities including boating programs! Community Boating, Community Rowing, and Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton will have booths and info on sailing, rowing and kayaking. Try out an adaptive bike and take a ride through the park along the river. A wide variety of bikes will be available to test ride, including handcycles, tandems, recumbent bikes, and kid's bikes. If you are shopping for an adaptive bike, Scott Pellet from Bike-on will be there to help you determine the best bike for you.

Check out a mountain wheelchair and learn about accessible hiking techniques. Sign up for outings at a variety of state and urban parks through October. Letterboxes will be hidden through the park, containing hand-carved stamps that you can collect once you follow the clues to the boxes. Take an educational stroll to do the "info-quest" and when the event is over you'll be an expert on the park! Complete both treasure hunts and collect a prize!

New this year: Power Chair Games! Join us in this new activity on pavement - we'll be slaloming around cones and knocking balls into goals and making up games as we go!

It is all free and open to individuals, families, and groups - serving all abilities! See you there!!!!