April 19: Earth Day Celebration and Cleanup, Palmer
Join MassWildlife and others in the outdoor community for a day of service and fun at Forest Lake. Three events are planned for the same location; attend one, two, or all three. Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch. These events are rain or shine, please dress for the weather.
- 9 a.m. Forest Lake Wildlife Management Area Cleanup
Meet at the boat ramp parking lot to clean up the area around Forest Lake. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves if you have them. If you will attend, help us plan by registering in advance. Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!) - 11 a.m. Help Stock Trout in Forest Lake
MassWildlife’s trout stocking truck will be on site and the public is invited to help stock the lake. No registration required. - 12 noon Learn to Fish with MassWildlife
Learn to set up your rod, tie knots, cast, and identify fish. This class is free, family friendly, and open to all skill levels. No fishing license is required. Bring your own fishing equipment or borrow ours. Limited gear and bait will be provided. Click here to register for the free Learn to Fish Clinic.
May 7: Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve, Freetown/Fall River
Join MassWildlife and local volunteers for a day of service and fun. Please carpool if possible, parking is limited. Bring plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring work gloves if you have them.
- 9:45: Meet
Meet at the Watuppa Reservation Headquarters located at 2929 Blossom Road in Fall River (get directions). Parking is limited, please carpool if possible. Volunteers will be assigned specific cleanup locations within the greater Bioreserve area as follows:- Cook Pond Access
- South Watuppa Pond Access
- Copicut Road within the Copicut WMA and Freetown-Fall River State Forest
- Quanapoag Road
- Blossum Road, Indian Town Road, Yellow Hill Road
- Slab Bridge/Bullock Roads
- 10 a.m. – noon: Cleanup
The cleanup will take place at the designated locations. Accumulated trash can be left in bags at each cleanup sites designated parking area. - 12 noon: Picnic Lunch at Watuppa Reservation
Volunteers can return to the Watuppa Reservation Headquarters where a picnic lunch including hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, fruit, granola bars, and waters will be provided. - Optional outings after lunch:
- Tour of the DCR Fire Tower at Copicut Hill: Take advantage of this rare opportunity to climb into the fire tower for great views of the Bioreserve and hear from DCR staff on their important fire control work.
- Copicut Reservoir Wildlife Walk: Join Mike Labossiere from the Watuppa Reservation and members of local bird clubs for a hike around Copicut Reservoir and gain access to areas that are normally closed to the public. Walkers may see loons, bald eagles, and many other species of wildlife.
Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!)
May 20: George L. Darey Housatonic Valley WMA, Lenox
Join MassWildlife, Housatonic Valley Association, Berkshire Environmental Action Team, and others in the outdoor community for a day of service and fun. Wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves if you have them. The cleanup is rain or shine, please dress for the weather.
- 9:45: Meet
Meet at the main parking area at the George Darey Housatonic Valley Wildlife Management Area on New Lenox Road in Lenox. Volunteers will be assigned cleanup locations at the following locations:- Roaring Brook Road
- New Lenox Road
- Underhill Place, Pittsfield
- Housatonic River
- 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Cleanup
The cleanup will take place at the designated locations. Participants may bring canoes or kayaks for river cleanup. A limited number of boats may be available. - 12:30: Picnic Lunch Main Parking Area
Volunteers can gather at the main parking area for a casual lunch.
Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!)
May 21: Ashby WMA, Ashby
Join MassWildlife and local volunteers for a day of service and fun. Please carpool if possible, parking is limited. Bring plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring work gloves if you have them.
- 9:45: Meet
Meet at the parking lot at the top of Bennett Road (get directions). Parking is limited, please carpool if possible. Volunteers will need to walk 0.7 miles to the cleanup site, shuttles will be available. - 10 a.m. – noon: Cleanup
The cleanup will take place at the end of Watatic Mountain Road. - 12 p.m.: Picnic Lunch at Main Parking Area
Gather for a cookout—hamburgers, hotdogs, fruit, water, and other lunch items will be provided. - 12 – 1 p.m.: Archery Lesson and Demo
Learn how to shoot a bow under guidance of an archery instructor. - 1 – 2 p.m.: Tour Ashby WMA and Longview Conservation Area
Caravan over to 66 Hardy Road for a guided tour of the new Ashby WMA parcel and Longview Conservation Area led by Anna Wilkins of the North County Land Trust.
Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!)
June 4: Coy Hill WMA, West Brookfield
Join MassWildlife and local volunteers for a day of service and fun. Please carpool if possible, parking is limited. Bring plenty of water, wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring work gloves if you have them.
- 9:45: Meet
Meet on Coy Hill Road near the intersection with Day Road, about 1 mile west of Route 9 (get directions). Park along the road. Parking is limited, please carpool if possible. - 10 a.m. – noon: Cleanup
The main cleanup site will be the 0.8-mile stretch of Day Road between Coy Hill Road and Prendville Road. MassWildlife vehicles will retrieve collected trash staged along Day Road and can also shuttle volunteers as needed. Additional cleanup may take place along the WMA road frontage on Coy Hill Road if there are enough volunteers. - Noon: Picnic Lunch
A hamburger and hotdog cookout will follow the cleanup; chips, soft drinks, salads, and cookies will be provided.
Click here to register for the cleanup. (Those who pre-register and attend will receive a 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine!)