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Educational Programs
Poutwater Pond |
The Division of Watershed Management recognizes the
role of public education in the protection of public drinking water supplies
and associated resources. Educational programs are operated at the Quabbin
and Wachusett reservoirs where staff, exhibits and materials help to interpret
the DCR/MWRA water system, the history of the reservoirs, and the natural
and cultural features of the watershed. Formal and informal interpretive
programs are provided for the general public, school groups and special
interest groups. Staff also disseminates information about access policies
and recreational use on DCR lands. By raising awareness and appreciation
for these precious resources, the Division is helping to fulfill its mandate
to "protect, conserve and enhance the resources of the Commonwealth and
to assure the availability of pure water for future generations."
QUABBIN PROGRAMS
The Quabbin Interpretive Services program operates the Quabbin Visitor
Center, Education Programs, Teacher Workshops, and provides general information
about DCR resources. Three full time staff members are available to assist
with visitor information and services. An automated telephone system -
(413) 323-7221 - provides 24 hour access to current information on fishing,
hunting, programs, rules and regulations, and public access.
Quabbin Visitor Center 485 Ware Road (Route 9) Belchertown, MA
01007 (413) 323-7221.
The Quabbin Visitor Center is located on the first floor of the DCR Quabbin
Administration Building in Belchertown and is open seven days a week on
a year-round basis. With the exception of the Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and New Years holidays, and the weekend between Christmas and New Years
when the Center is closed, normal Visitor Center hours of operation are
9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The Center features exhibits, brochures, books, and
videos about Quabbin management and history. Maps, books, trail guides
and related materials are available for purchase through Visitor Center
staff. Vital Records for the disincorporated towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich
and Prescott are available on microfiche for genealogical research, please
call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Directions to Quabbin Visitor's Center
Quabbin School Programs
Educational programs are offered for school groups at the Quabbin
Visitor Center on a variety of topics from Quabbin history to the bald
eagle restoration program. Group size is limited to 60, and programs are
offered on a first come-first serve basis. Prior arrangements are required
for group programs, arrangements can be made through the Visitor Center
- (413) 323-7221. Groups interested in just visiting the Visitor Center
are encouraged to notify the Center prior to their visit. All groups larger
than 25 persons are required to secure a permit from the Center. There
is no charge for the permit, but the application should be submitted two
weeks before the visit date.
Classroom programs and field trips are also offered to schools and groups
in the watershed area and to communities which receive water from Quabbin.
Topics range from water quality, water awareness, watersheds, natural
history and Quabbin area history.
Public Programs
Groups visiting Quabbin Reservoir are welcome to stop at the Visitor Center
for an introduction to Quabbin by DCR staff. This includes a history of
the Quabbin area, a summary of reservoir construction, an overview of
the DCR/MWRA water system, DCR watershed management activities, and information
about the wildlife and other natural resources found at Quabbin. More
extensive programs on Quabbin history and the bald eagle restoration program
are also available. Group size is limited and program reservations must
be made well in advance of the anticipated date.
Teacher Workshops
The Quabbin Interpretive staff offers teacher workshops on Water Quality
Testing, Watersheds, Project WET, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree,
Quabbin History, and other topics.
Non-Staff Services
A variety of non-staffed educational opportunities exist for groups visiting
Quabbin including the Forest Stewardship Trail, eagle watching at Enfield
Lookout, and 22 miles of hiking trails with a descriptive trail guide
(available for purchase at the Visitor Center). Educational staff is also
available to consult with teachers planning Quabbin or water related programs
in their school, or for those interested in a group visit to Quabbin.
Contact the Interpretive Services staff at (413) 323-7221.
For further information and to schedule programs, please contact Clif
Read, Supervisor of Interpretive Services, at (413) 323-7221 or
e-mail clif.read@state.ma.us.
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WACHUSETT PROGRAMS
Wachusett/Sudbury School Programs
Classroom programs and field trips are offered to schools and groups
in or bordering the watershed areas, and to MWRA service communities.
Topics range from water's behavior and physical properties, watersheds,
cultural and natural history of the watershed areas.
Teacher Workshops
The Wachusett Ranger staff offers teacher workshops on Watersheds,
Project WET, water system history, and other topics.
Group Visits
Groups larger than 25 people wishing to visit DCR/DWM property must
first obtain a permit from the Wachusett/Sudbury section headquarters
at Group Permits, P.O. Box 206, Clinton, Ma. 01510 (978) 365-3272. Groups
of 10 or more people wishing to visit the Poutwater Pond Nature Preserve
must obtain a permit from the aforementioned address. You may also download
the permit
applications.
For further information and to schedule programs call Rick Matthews,
Wachusett/Sudbury Watershed Ranger Program at (978) 365-3800, or e-mail
rick.matthews@state.ma.us.
Stillwater Farm
The Stillwater Farm Interpretive Site in Sterling is an environmental
education facility jointly managed by the Division of Watershed Management
and the Friends of the Wachusett Watershed, Inc. This 55 acre site on
the Stillwater River hosts an 18th century farmhouse, 19th century dairy
barn, and a self-guided interpretive trail. These facilities provide individuals
and groups an opportunity to better understand the connections between
land use and community character, and between natural resource protection
and land management. Stillwater Farm, through scheduled programs and volunteer
events, demonstrates both past and present interactions between the working
landscape and resource stewardship. Particular emphasis is given to watershed
related issues and dynamics. For more information, contact Jim Lafley,
Education Director, at (508) 792-7423 x231, or e-mail jim.lafley@state.ma.us
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OTHER EDUCATION LINKS
Project
WET is a national water education program that features a highly
acclaimed curriculum and activity guide for teachers. Trained facilitators
offer WET workshops for educators, community leaders and natural resource
managers. The Massachusetts Environmental
Education Society is the state sponsor of this program.
Project WILD is an international
interdisciplinary environmental education program focusing on terrestrial
and aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. The program provides students in
K-12 with critical thinking skills through the use of hands-on interdisciplinary
lessons. MassWildlife is the the state sponsor of this program; please
contact Pam Landry at 508-792-7270
x 110.
Project Learning Tree
(PLT) is an award winning, broad-based environmental education
program for educators and students in PreK - grade 12. PLT helps students
learn HOW to think, not WHAT to think, about the environment. PLT, a program
of the American Forest Foundation, is one of the most widely used environmental
education programs in the United States and abroad. DCR's Kristen
Karl-Carnahan is the MA state coordinator; she can be reached at 617-626-1463.
The Massachusetts Drinking Water
Education Partnership (MADWEP) provides year-round educational
programs and information to increase public understanding of drinking
water issues. The Partnership is dedicated to protecting drinking water
supplies and public health through collaborative projects, culminating
in Drinking Water Week events each May.
Massachusetts Envirothon
is America's leading natural resource education program for high school
students. Teams comprised of five students represent their school or organization
in a statewide competition testing their knowledge of: aquatics, forestry,
soils, wildlife, and current environmental issues.
The Friends of Quabbin, Inc.,
was formed in 1984 as a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to
increasing public awareness and appreciation of the unique natural and
historical resources of the Quabbin Reservoir and Reservation.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
(MWRA) website contains many different sites of interest, including
its school program,
an on-line historical
timeline of the water supply system, and annual
water quality reports.
"A
History of the Development of the Metropolitan District Commission's Water
Supply System" (3.5 MB pdf file) is a 1984 study by Wallace,
Floyd Assoicates that contains a detailed history of the water supply
system.
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Quabbin Spring 2009 Interpretive Services Programs
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