Friday Morning Walking Series

Photo: Sarah Kugel, WLT Community Outreach Coordinator, MassLIFT AmeriCorps volunteer,
posing at the Willow Brook and Fleetwood Farms Preserve kiosk

For those of you eager to hit the trails, we'll be hosting the first of our Friday Morning Walking Series this Friday, Feb. 4th!  The walk is FREE and will be held at the Willow Brook and Fleetwood Farms Preserve in Pembroke, MA.  Meet at the parking area off Rt. 14 at 9:15am.  We'll head into the woods for a 1.5 to 2 mile walk at 9:30am and will be back to the parking area by 11am.  With all this fresh snow, and more in the forecast we suggest you bring your snowshoes, cross country skis, or tall waterproof boots, gaitors and/or snowpants!

The event is intended to be family friendly, so all are encouraged to attend!  RSVP to skugel@wildlandstrust.org.  Check our Facebook Page or Twitter account to receive notice of a cancellation due to icy roads or trails. We'll reschedule if that's the case!

The new Friday Morning Walking Series will be ongoing, on various Fridays throughout the year, and will be held at different WLT properties throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.


by Sarah Kugel, Community Outreach Coordinator, email: skugel@wildlandstrust.org

BYOSnowshoes

Photo: Allison Gillum, WLT Regional Conservationist, MassLift AmeriCorps volunteer

Living in Southeastern Massachusetts, most of us have learned that we must embrace winter.  With that said, we are excited to announce our first ever organized snowshoeing event.  We have partnered with the Plymouth Eastern Mountain Sports for a 3 hour event on Feb. 19th from 10am to 1pm.  We will learn about winter travel from the EMS staff, covering important topics such as traction, hydration, trail snacking (with samples of course!!), what to pack in your day pack, and what to do in emergency situations.  Then we'll set off for a brisk 1.5 mile hike through the Great River Preserve at Conihasset, just off Auburn Street in Bridgewater, MA.  The hike will follow along the edge of a scenic field, the Taunton River, and through the snow covered woods.  View a Google map of the snowshoeing site here!  And watch this video about the Great River Preserve at Conihasset and the Snowshoeing event!

You can either BYOSnowshoes or enjoy a FREE rental provided by Eastern Mountain Sports.  Email skugel@wildlandstrust.org if you'd like to reserve a space.  Please include the following information: name, sex, weight class if you need rental snowshoes  (<140 lbs,  140 - 180 lbs,  or >180 lbs)*, and if you are a Wildlands Trust member**.

Lastly, don't forget to wear/pack the following items to make for an enjoyable experience:

Required- waterproof footwear, 3 or 4 clothing layers depending on the temperature, 1 liter of water or liquid for hydration, a snack.  Optional- trekking/hiking/or ski poles, waterproof pants or gaitors, a camera or binoculars, and a small day or fanny pack to carry you water, snacks, camera, etc.

*18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.  There are 3 pairs of childrens shoes available, so please specify if you're bringing a child who needs a pair!

**Wildlands Trust members will have priority registration for this event.

by Sarah Kugel, Community Outreach Coordinator, email: skugel@wildlandstrust.org