Now comes the fall. Summer vacation is over, and it’s time to get back to work. If that thought does not fill you with glee, perhaps it’s time to consider a new career that will help preserve, protect, and promote our planet at the Massachusetts Green Careers Conference. If a wholesale career change isn’t in your future, you can still take some time to consider how to help people interact with the natural world in a way that helps both nature and humans—by building trails, using space wisely, or simply taking a mindful walk in the woods.
11th Massachusetts Green Careers Conference
Friday, September 20
MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough
Connect with stakeholders from government, nonprofits, business, education, green-career-ready candidates, and students, all in one place. Learn about current employment trends, best practices, opportunities, and take home ideas, connections, resources. Registration fee is $60 and includes breakfast, lunch, speaker sessions, plenary, coaching, networking. Register at www.MassGreenCareers.org or contact JenBoudrie@gmail.com, 508-481-0569.
2019 MassTrails Conference
Thursday, October 31–Saturday, November 2
Doubletree by Hilton, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster
The 2019 MassTrails Conference theme is “Trails As Connections.” This conference features workshops, field trips, and speakers on topics ranging from trail building to volunteer management to tourism. The MassTrails Conference is hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board with funding provided by the Recreational Trails Program. To register, visit www.masstrailsconference.com or call 413-387-4333.
Go West
Belmont hosts a portion of the Western Greenway, a set of connected trails spanning 1,200 acres of open space in Waltham, Lexington, and Belmont bounded roughly by Concord Avenue, Lexington Street in Waltham, and the nascent Mass Central Rail Trail to the south. For a Town of Homes, Belmont contains an astonishing amount of forest, flower-spangled meadows, wetlands, old stone walls, and vernal pools. If you’d prefer a solitary walk, you can find maps under Habitat Sanctuary information on www.massaudubon.org. If you’d prefer a guide, or a few hundred friends to come with you, you can choose whether to run, walk, or trek through our suburban wilderness this October.
Western Greenway Walk
Saturday, October 26, 8 AM–noon
Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont
Join Roger Wrubel, Habitat director, on a 6.5 mile trek along the Western Greenway Trail, through Belmont, Lexington, and Waltham, ending at the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham. Return transportation will be provided to Habitat. Bring water and a snack. $20 Mass Audubon members, $25 nonmembers. To register, see www.massaudubon.org or call 617-489-5050.
Western Greenway 5K Run/Walk 2019
Sunday, October 27, Noon–2 PM
The McLaughlin Building, Metropolitan Parkway, Waltham
The Waltham Land Trust’s annual 5K helps the community stay fit, enjoy the Western Greenway, and raise money to protect open space for everyone to enjoy. Registration is $25. Register at walthamlandtrust.org, 781-893-3355, info@walthamlandtrust.org.
Time with Trees
If the Western Greenway events aren’t coming soon enough, you can warm up by “plogging” in Waltham to pick up trash, or walking through trees in Winchester. The Winchester event is “forest bathing,” an approach to spending time in nature that does not involve any strenuous exercise or concentration, but simply walking and existing. You can’t quite become one with the trees, but you can stop thinking about them, and just breathe with them instead.
If you would rather spend time talking with humans about the trees you’re enjoying, you can also visit Mount Auburn Cemetery to observe how humans are good stewards to an urban arboretum. Exercise enthusiasts should consider the ACROSS Lexington hike, which covers four miles, exploring the entire Cambridge watershed by bike, or raising funds for the Waltham Fields community farm. Alternately, you could eschew bipedal transportation altogether to float along an urban river in the balmy early fall.
Forest Bathing
Tuesday, September 24, 8–10 AM
Wright-Locke Farm, 78 Ridge Street, Winchester
Join Winchester’s Wright-Locke Farm for a Japanese nature therapy called Shinrin-yoku, which translates to “forest bathing.” Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of natural environments by slow walking. Studies have proven the health benefits of guided slow walks where we take time to reconnect with the natural world and forget about the stress of a modern, high-tech life. This walk is not a hike or naturalist tour. It is an opportunity to strengthen your friendship with nature. Led by Lisa S. Mediano, certified forest therapy guide, the walk costs $25. Register at wlfarm.org.
“Plogging” Cleanup along the Charles
Saturday, September 28, 10AM–noon
Cafe on the Common, 677 Main Street, Waltham
Join the Waltham Land Trust for a trash pick up along the Charles River, in coordination with the Waltham Trail Runners, where we will take a crack at “plogging,” the Swedish fitness craze combining jogging and picking up litter. You can go at your own pace and cover up to two miles. Gloves and bags provided. Please dress to be outside and bring water if you need it. The event will last one to two hours depending on how much trash there is. Register at walthamlandtrust.org,781-893-3355, info@walthamlandtrust.org.
Cruise in a Canoe with Friends of the Malden River
Saturday, September 28, 10 AM–2 PM
High School Boat Tent, 365 Commercial Street, Malden
Get out on the water with Friends of the Malden River and Paddle Boston! No canoe experience is required and event is free. Children under 18 may participate with an accompanying parent or guardian. Sponsored by Paddle Boston and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust. Register at friendsofthemaldenriver@gmail.com, or mysticriver.org.
Cycle to the Source
Saturday, September 28, 8:30 AM–4 PM
Cambridge Water Treatment Plant, 250 Fresh Pond Parkway, Cambridge
Cycle to the Source is a 33-mile bike tour of the Cambridge Watershed. It is a chance to explore where Cambridge’s water comes from, how it is collected, and what steps are taken to ensure the city has clean drinking water. Led by Cambridge Water Department staff and guides from Urban Adventours, this free event is open to all adults over 18. It will include stops at the upper reservoirs, dams, gatehouses, and the CWD field office. The ride explores the Cambridge watershed, which includes the lands and reservoirs in Lincoln, Lexington, Weston, and Waltham. Bike rentals are available for $65. Register at www.tinyurl.com/cycletothesource or with aoconnell@Cambridgema.gov. Rain date is September 29.
Ride for Food
Sunday, October 6, 8 AM-3 PM
Rides begin and end at Noble & Greenough School, Dedham
Waltham Fields believes that everyone should have access to local, organic food. All of the proceeds from the Ride For Food will help Waltham Field’s many food access and assistance programs. Choose from a 10-, 25-, or 50-mile ride along beautiful roads made for bike riding. Riders aged 14+ are welcome. Registration is $75 and goes toward Ride expenses; riders are expected to raise funds for the farm as well. To register, contact communityfarms.org.
Mount Auburn Fall Tree Walk
Saturday, October 19, 10 AM–noon
Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mount Auburn Street, Cambridge
As the trees prepare for winter, join Mass Audubon to for a leisurely walk through Mount Auburn Cemetery. Enjoy the wide array of trees and plantings and discuss the history of the area and the different natural communities that are special to Mount Auburn. $16 Mass Audubon members, $20 nonmembers. To register, see www.massaudubon.org or call 617-489-5050.
ACROSS Lexington Route L Walk
Sunday, October 20, 1–4 PM
Bowman School, 9 Philip Road, Lexington
Explore Route L, the newest addition to the ACROSS Lexington system, with Citizens for Lexington Conservation. This route connects the Lexington Conservation properties of Dunback Meadow, Cotton Farm,
Upper Vine Brook, and Daisy Wilson Meadow along with Tower Park along its 4+ mile route. Heavy rain cancels. For more information, contact Keith Ohmart kohmart@verizon.net, or see www.clclex.org.
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