Sports

05/07/2012

Weekly Outdoor Events 5/7/12

Opportunities for family friendly fishing continue this week! This is your chance to enjoy the natural resources and beauty of our Commonwealth and to connect with other anglers. Weekend fishing festivities include a Kids Fishing Event on May 12 in Sunderland at the Cronin National Salmon Station, sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (email Bryan for more information) as well as the MassWildlife Fishing Derby at Coes Pond in Worcester (see picture below).

Photo credit: By Michaeldavid54 on Flickr

For those in the Boston area, this weekend is the perfect time to head over to Milton for some fun outdoor events! Give back to the community and join the Friends of the Blue Hills Trail Crew on Saturday morning to help spruce up the trails of the beautiful Blue Hills Reservation. If you’d rather just enjoy the gorgeous view of the Blue Hills, Department of Conservation and Recreation staff will host an Open House and Kite Festival at the Blue Hills Observatory (call 617-696-0562 for more information). Also in Milton this Saturday is Creepy Crawly Days at MassAudobon’s Trailside Museum, where kids of all ages can enjoy live animal exhibits, fun bug hunts, crafts and more!

Photo credit: Blue Hills Reservation http://www.flickr.com/photos/pmch/ 

Check out the Great Outdoors interactive calendar for a complete listing of outdoor events in Massachusetts. Bookmark the MassWildlife events page too, for wildlife related talks, events, hikes and more!

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03/29/2012

The spirit of spring

Although it has been a relatively mild winter, signs of spring still ignite positive energies and excitement within the Commonwealth.  Lunch breaks take a little longer and the walk to your T stop is a bit more relaxed.  To many people, springtime is about more than just an escape from the bonds of cold weather.  Springtime is the start of the birds’ mating season and the farmers’ planting season; the activities we do in our free time change and we can spend more of our day outside interacting with the nature around us.   

Today I spoke with members of the various environmental agencies to find out what they love about spring.  For Marion Larson with MassWildlife, the mating call of the American Woodcocks “peent….peent…peent,” is a clear sign of the new season.  Although SJ Port, who works with the Department of Conservation Resources (DCR), is reluctant to put her hockey gear away, she is excited to replace her skates with sneakers and take a walk along DCR's Charles River Reservation's Esplanade and hike through some of the DCR state parks.  Anna Waclawiczek, in the Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR), looks forward to the busy planting season at our local farms.  Now is the time, she says, whether you are a farmer or a green thumb hobbyist to visit a garden center or nursery and get your fingers dirty with fresh planting soil.  To find local nurseries, garden centers, farmers’ markets and much more go to the MassGrown & Fresher Agri-Google map.   

What do you love about the transition into spring?  What smell, sight, or sound is most indicative to you that springtime is here?  For me it is the smell of hyacinths when I am out on a jog or walking my dogs.  Use the comment space below to share with us your thoughts.     

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01/21/2012

A healthy 2012: practicing what we preach

 

Signing

On January 1st, 2012, the Departments of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Public Health (DPH), and Agricultural Resources (DAR) signed a joint resolution with the mutual goal of encouraging people to maintain a healthy lifestyle through year-round outdoor recreation and quiet enjoyment in our state parks and eating locally grown and produced agricultural products. The event was celebrated statewide at over nine locations from the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton to western Massachusetts' Mount Greylock State Reservation, where more than 1,700 visitors came out to enjoy nature and get some exercise on a beautiful winter day.

In 2012, our agencies will be promoting the physical, emotional, and nutritional health of our residents, visitors, and of course our own employees!  And one of those employees is DAR Commissioner Scott Soares. Commissioner Soares has committed to losing two pounds per month via a friendly inter-agency “Choose Two for You” challenge that will culminate with a celebration of our collective achievements at a 2K-thon challenge at a featured farm location and/or DCR state park in the fall of 2012. We look forward to seeing many of our colleagues -- including DPH Commissioner John Auerbach -- at the event!

In the meantime, we thought we’d share some of the great “Two for You” challenges we’ve sent out across the agencies:

  • Visit at least two Massachusetts state parks each season and engage in a recreational activity such as hiking, biking or walking.
  • Eat fruits and vegetables (preferably locally-grown) at least two times a day to reach the five or more daily recommended servings and include 2-3 servings of whole-grains (any food made from wheat, rice, barley, oats, or another cereal grain) each day. Go to www.choosemyplate.gov for more information.
    First Day Hike
  • For those who exceed their healthy weight (Body Mass Index [BMI] greater than 25), lose at least two pounds a month until your healthy ideal weight is reached (Please consult your physician first). Calculate your BMI at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator at least two times a week or check out other tips offered at www.mass.gov/massinmotion
  • Integrate movement into your workday at least twice every two hours e.g. a walk to the water cooler, take a lap around the office, do some stretches at your work area.  Take a longer walk in a park, along a greenway or a sidewalk during lunch.
  • Include muscle-strengthening activities two times per week.
  • Exercise for at least two days a week for 30 minutes (e.g. a brisk two-mile walk) towards achieving the recommended 2 hours and 20 minutes per week. Check out DCR’s Healthy Heart Trails in over 70 state parks across the state!
  • Add at least two new exercise routines to your current workout.
  • Try two new recreational activities this year such as canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountain biking or camping.

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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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12/09/2011

Cold weather safety tips

Soon, winter jackets and snow boots will begin to reappear and it’s important to remember that your clothing is not the only thing that needs to be adjusted with a change of season.  Here are a few cold weather safety tips to keep you safe, warm, and healthy heading into the New Year.

Whether you’re hiking, kayaking, ice fishing, or bird watching, always tell someone where you are going and what you are doing. Everyone needs a little alone time, but don’t forget to mention the details of your planned excursion  so that your friends and family know when to expect you back or where to look for you in the event of an accident.

As always, be prepared with plenty of water and first aid items to prevent any small incidents from becoming an emergency. Flashlights, maps, and snacks are also good additions to the safety pack. As with any activity outdoors, know what you are and are not capable of before heading out.

If operating recreational vehicles, such as snow mobiles or dirt bikes (Note: DCR trails are closed for the season to dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles, other than snow mobiles), remember to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Also, take caution during bad weather and at night, making sure to stay aware of your speed and surroundings. For ice fishers, check that ponds and rivers are completely frozen before venturing out onto the ice.  Exercise more caution when the temperatures are reaching 32 degrees F.

Be prepared for anything. Don’t let New England’s unpredictable weather patterns leave you cold and wet in the middle of the woods. Get updated weather information before you set off and plan accordingly. Be ready to respond to unexpected weather with extra clothing, gloves, and hats. If planning to be outside for a long period of time, bring extra layers to add as the temperature drops. It’s all about layers: rather than wearing one heavy coat, use thermal underwear and undershirts to layer light-weight, warm clothing, and always wear a waterproof outer layer.

For hunters and hikers and everyone in between, wear bright clothing to maintain visibility past 5 pm. The fall and winter seasons bring a lot of activity into the great outdoors, so always be aware and respectful of others. 

As always, officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police are prepared for the upcoming cold weather months. They'll be patrolling off-road areas, as well as coastal and inland waters, and doing everything they can to protect the state’s residents and visitors. Enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer with these cold weather safety tips and always use your best judgment.

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11/14/2011

Weekly outdoor events 11/13

Contrary to my previous post, this week is a busy one, boasting several fun events! 

On Wednesday, November 16 at 3 p.m., DCR Headquarters in Revere is hosting ‘Hovering hummingbirds’.  Join DCR Naturalist Matthew Nash for a lively learning adventure on the lives and the beauty of Hummingbirds.  This program is open to everyone, and is suitable for children ages 5 to 11. Pre- registration is required. For more information and to pre-register for this event, contact Matthew Nash at Matthew.Nash@st​ate.ma.us or (781) 485-2804 ext. 105. 

On Saturday, November 19 at 1 p.m., DCR's Houghton’s Pond will host the Dog Sled Fun Run.  The Yankee Siberian Husky Club and the Boston Snow Dogs will have an educational exhibit on dog sledding in New England.  This is your chance to meet a furry sled dog and learn more about this local sport. Demonstrations will use wheeled rigs, and unfortunately, there will be no rides given.  This event is weather permitting, so please call (617) 698-1802 on the day of the event to confirm. 

Also, on Saturday at 2 p.m., DCR will host a tour of the Charles River Dam, located at the Paul Revere Park in Boston.  This ranger-led tour will showcase the structures that keep the Charles at a consistent and fixed stage, the ladders that allow migration for anadromous fish, and the pumping facilities that keep the river from overflowing during large water events (such as flooding or large snow melts). 

On Sunday, November 20 at 9 a.m., DCR's Breakheart Reservation in Saugus will host the Breakheart Turkey Trot, a very hilly 5K on a paved Breakheart course. This event is free, and there will be refreshments and a turkey raffle. For more information, please call 781-233-0834.

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

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07/15/2011

Boating and Swimming Safety Tips

With the summer season in full swing, I want to take the time to refresh your memory on boating and water safety. While you’re out enjoying our coastal and inland waters, I want to encourage you to engage in activities such as boating and swimming in a safe and responsible way. 

Here are some boating safety reminders:

  • Always check local weather conditions before you leave on a boating trip.  While you’re out on the water, if you notice the clouds getting darker or a sudden drop in temperature, start heading back to land.
  • Operate the boat at safe speeds at all time, especially in crowded areas.  Remain alert and avoid large vessels and watercraft that have restricted ability to stop or turn. 
  • Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips.
  • Always be sure to have a float plan—letting someone know where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone for.
  • Make sure there are enough lifejackets onboard for each person accompanying you out on the water.  
  • Take a boating safety course to learn more about how to stay safe on the water!

Swim safety reminders:

  • Swim in areas with lifeguard supervision.
  • Always swim with a buddy.
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water.
  • Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth charges, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.
  • Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.

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07/05/2011

5th annual Great Park Pursuit

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Great Park Pursuit. As part of DCR’s No Child Left Inside initiative, The Great Park Pursuit 2011 encourages families to join together and travel across Massachusetts to visit state parks, forests, and reservations to discover how fun and exciting the outdoors can be.

The program starts on July 1and runs until September 10, ending with an afternoon celebration of outdoor fun and festivities, with chances to win prizes such as t-shirts and outdoor recreation packages.

During the ten-week program, families and teams will design their own “Personalized Park Pursuit.” To help teams determine where to go, and which state parks to visit, teams visit the DCR Calendar of Events homepage and select at least six Great Park Pursuit designated programs. These programs will be determined by an icon placed next to the description of the event or activity. At each event they attend, teams receive stickers for their Great Park Pursuit team game card, which organizes activities into categories (see below).

Activities include mountain biking through Cutler Park, which completes a “Nature Sport” category, or taking a wildlife safari through the Blue Hills Reservation, which completes a “Walk on the Wild Side” category. Other categories are “Wild about Water” and “Arts in the Parks.”

We encourage teams to chronicle their adventures on their own personalized homepage that they will receive after registering with the program. On this homepage, teams or families can upload photo albums from specific activities completed, write a blog entry on what they saw, experienced or felt on one of their adventures, and keep track of which categories of activities they have completed.

The Great Park Pursuit 2011 Registration

Sign up today. It’s the first step in getting outside to hike to magnificent views, learn to fish or canoe, discover the secrets of the coast, and view the wonders of the night sky!

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04/21/2011

Earth Day 2011

Tomorrow commemorates the 41st 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

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04/14/2011

Get outside during April Vacation Week

Beautiful spring weather has finally arrived. Now that it has, the Massachusetts state parks will be the place to be.  Fields and forests, lakes and streams - they are beautiful and interesting in any season, but spring is the time they, literally, come back to life.


To get you started, DCR has planned nearly two dozen activities for kids and their friends and families during April school vacation week, which is April 16-24 this year. Hike under the full moon at Halibut Point in Rockport. Learn to fish at Hopkinton State Park in Hopkinton. Study the little critters living in streams and ponds at Robinson State Park in Agawam. See, touch, and hear the stories of rocks at Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke. Tour the New Charles River Dam in Boston and see how it keeps the tides from reclaiming much of the Boston and Cambridge riverfront. This is great stuff!

Below is the list of DCR’s April vacation week activities by region. For a complete list of all spring activities in DCR parks, visit  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm

Hope to see you out there!

Northeast Region

Full Moon Hike
Halibut Point State Park
16 Gott Ave., Rockport
Sunday, April 17
7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Learn to Fish
Hopkinton State Park
268 Cedar St., Hopkinton
Wednesday, April 20
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Walk the Woods
Harold Parker State Forest
1951 Turnpike St., North Andover
Wednesday, April 20
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Signs of Spring
Harold Parker State Forest
1951 Turnpike St., North Andover
Thursday, April 21
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Thoreau and the Two Revolutions
Walden Pond Reservation
915 Walden St., Concord
Monday, April 18
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Grow Beans like Thoreau’s
Walden Pond Reservation
915 Walden St., Concord
Wednesday, April 20
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Movie Night
Breakheart Reservation
177 Forest St., Saugus
Friday, April 15
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Weekly Hike
Breakheart Reservation
177 Forest St., Saugus
Sunday, April 17
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Weekly Hike
Middlesex Fells Reservation
4 Woodland Rd., Stoneham
Saturday, April 23
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Junior Rangers
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Call 781-231-1203 for locations
Wednesday - Saturday, April 20-April 23
10 a.m. - noon each day

Charles River Dam Tour
Water Street, Charlestown
Saturday, April 23
2 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Southeast Region

Cast Away!
Myles Standish State Forest
Fearing Pond Day Use Area
Wednesday, April 20
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Full Moon Hike
F. Gilbert Hills State Forest
45 Mill St., Foxboro
Sunday, April 17,
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Ames Mansion Tours
Borderland State Park
259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton
Sunday, April 17
1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

Wind, Wind, Wind
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
149 Waquoit Highway, East Falmouth
Tuesday, April 19
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Wampanoag Culture: Connections to the Bay
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
149 Waquoit Highway, East Falmouth
Wednesday, April 20
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Earth Day Celebration
Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
149 Waquoit Highway, East Falmouth
Thursday, April 21
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Central Region

What’s in the Water?
Robinson State Park
428 North St., Agawam
Sunday, April 17
2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Listen and Look: Sounds and Sights of Spring
Chicopee State Park
570 Burnett Road, Chicopee
Monday, April 18
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

This Valley Rocks: Geology Hike
Mount Tom State Reservation
125 Reservation Road, Holyoke
Friday, April 22
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

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