Learn about the Middlesex Canal, the greatest work of its kind in the United States until the Erie Canal. Kayakers can take out above the Billerica Falls Dam at the canal entrance/parking lot at 2 Old Elm St. and walk part of the canal that Henry Thoreau traveled between the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. For children, a Lego® canal playground, a watered model lock and a scavenger hunt. Find the pigeon, squeezable beaver, muskrat and three mice. Free, Middlesex Canal Museum, 71 Faulkner St.

Possibly the oldest inland monument in Massachusetts, the Two Brothers Rock are well known but difficult to find. Former Bedford Historical Society president Alethea Yates will lead a 15-minute walk to these two large boulders on the shore of the Concord River and then tell the story of the 1638 trip of the original “two brothers” — to this historic site. Mosquito repellent recommended. Meet at the trailhead on Dudley Rd, Bedford, near the intersection of Emery Rd.

A sunrise paddle along the Concord River through the Carlisle, Bedford and Billerica sections of Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, with a stop for a hearty breakfast at a casual riverside restaurant. Bring your own canoe or kayak and life jacket (required), appropriate clothing for a 2–3 hour paddle, binoculars if you have them, and drinking water. Meet at 5:15 AM at the Bedford Boat Landing (Rt. 225).

Naturalist Peter Alden, author of the Audubon Field Guide to New England, will lead an easy 2.5-hour walk focusing on birds and plants on the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail from West Concord toward White Pond. Meet at the beginning of the Rail Trail in West Concord (Rt. 62).

Stories that celebrate our rivers! SuAsCo friends will show how you can care for our water. A river-themed craft will follow! For children 5 and under. Fowler Library, 1322 Main St.

Enjoy a leisurely scenic 2–3 hour paddle with OARS 3 Rivers and get a taste of our 3 Wild & Scenic designated rivers. Come alone, or bring your whole family. Take photos at many scenic spots, such as the North Bridge, several old stone bridges dating to the 1800’s, Dove Rock, Egg Rock, and more. Meet some of OARS 3 Rivers staff and board members. Bring your own paddle craft and life jacket (required), or rent from South Bridge Boathouse ($5 discount/boat). This paddle is for a wide range of paddlers — go at your own pace up to 5 miles. Details will be sent to registered participants. For more information: office@oars3rivers.org. Pre-registration is required.

The New Bridge, as it was known for more than a century, was built over the Sudbury River at the south end of town in 1674. It went on to help drive the British out of Boston, help found Framingham, and play host to Henry David Thoreau. In 1955 it died as a bridge, but was reborn as a monument and one of the most photographed sites in Wayland or Framingham. Tom Sciacca, Wayland’s Representative to the River Stewardship Council, tells the story. Attend in person or via Zoom. Register: https://bit.ly/stonesbridge. Wayland Library, 5 Concord Rd.

Join Wayland photographer Hendrik Broekman for a stroll around the 86 acre Heard Farm Conservation Area. Woods, open fields, wetlands, over 200 species of birds, and the Sudbury River shoreline make Heard Farm a remarkable place with over three miles of trails, many of them old cart paths. Hendrik will provide tips for successful photography with your camera/phone. All ages and abilities are welcome. Meet at the parking lot at the end of Heard Rd. off Pelham Island Rd. Questions: (508)-358-2980.

Enjoy the wonderful vistas of the meandering Sudbury River at Weir Hill, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge with Neela de Zoyso, botanist and instructor at the Native Plant Trust. Be introduced to the glacial sculpting of Weir Hill and the Native American history of the location. Learn about the floodplain trees, swamps of buttonbush and red maple, ferns, graminoids and other herbaceous species. The location has great observation platforms, and boardwalks for examining plants. Bring a packed lunch to enjoy after the the 2-hour walk. Meet in the refuge at 73 Weir Hill Rd.

Join Lowell Parks and Conservation Trust on a journey of discovery of the floria and fuana that call the Concord River Greenway home. Explore the diverse array of wildflowers that grace our riverbanks, learning about their unique characteristics and ecological significance. Become a citizen scientist as we teach you how to use the free iNaturalist app to identify plants and animals. This leisurely 1.5-mile round-trip walk (1.5 hours) is suitable for all ages. Take your time to soak in the sights and sounds of nature, with plenty of opportunities to rest and recharge along the way.
Pre-registration at https://lowelllandtrust.org/wi… required.

Learn about the Middlesex Canal, the greatest work of its kind in the United States until the Erie Canal. Kayakers can take out above the Billerica Falls Dam at the canal entrance/parking lot at 2 Old Elm St. and walk part of the canal that Henry Thoreau traveled between the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. For children, a Lego® canal playground, a watered model lock and a scavenger hunt. Find the pigeon, squeezable beaver, muskrat and three mice. Free, Middlesex Canal Museum,
71 Faulkner St.

Join the Framingham History Center for an immersive 75-minute walking tour of Saxonville as we explore the rich tapestry of its history, land, and waterways. This tour will shed light on the business, social, and civic life of this vibrant neighborhood while also delving into the natural features and waterways that helped shape this historic community and that of Framingham. Meet on the Central St. Bridge over the Saxonvile Falls and Dam (across from the Saxonville Mills).

A colorful talk on what birds Henry saw versus today, presented by Peter Alden, author of the forward and scientific editor of the newly published “A Year of Birds”. Our grassland birds have become rare. A number of forest and marsh birds that used to nest here have vanished as breeders. Many southern species have come north due to a changing climate, bird feeders and a plethora of invasive plant fruits. Birds that were overhunted have come back big time. Henry never saw ravens, turkeys or turkey vultures let alone deer. What is the one bird Henry recorded often and is now extinct? Concord Public Library, 129 Main St.

Join Lincoln Conservation Director, Michele Grzenda, on a 2-hour birding stroll around Codman Estates, Farm Meadow and North Codman Conservation Area. Meet 25 bird species commonly found in our neighborhoods, wetlands, and forests, and learn various field identification techniques by sight and sound. Bring binoculars if you have them; long sleeve shirt and pants (for mosquitoes). bug spray, and water.  Pre-registration required.

Stories that celebrate our rivers! SuAsCo friends will show how you can care for our water. A river-themed craft will follow!
For children 5 and under. Fowler Library, 1322 Main St.

Join experienced guide Marlies Henderson for a 3-hour exploration of extant portions of the Middlesex Canal, from the Billerica Falls to River Neck Rd, Chemlsford, and back, reading passages from Henry David Thoreau’s Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. High boots recommended. Pre-registration required.

Come to the riverbank by foot, or paddle, bring a picnic, and enjoy a day of entertainment at the historic Old Manse at 269 Monument St. Rain (some activities) or shine.

Enjoy this 3-hour easy flatwater paddle, with leader Marlies Henderson, from just below the Billerica Falls toward the Lowell Centenial dam, and back. Bring your own canoe/kayak and life jacket (required). Pre-registration required.

Join Lincoln Conservation Department Ranger Will Leona on a leisurely 2-hour sunset paddle along the scenic Sudbury River. See the river’s beautiful surroundings of nature and wildlife as the bustling daytime activity shifts to a quieter twilight setting. Learn about some of these animals and their differences in behavior such as diurnal, crepuscular, or nocturnal periods of activity. Sightings may include great blue herons, bald eagles, barred owls and racoons. Bring your own kayaks or canoes and life jacket (required), sunscreen and clothing/footwear that can get wet, bug spray and a snack and water. Pre-registration required.

Join the Framingham Conservation Commission for a 1.5-hour walk in grassy and wooded areas in the Cochituate Brook Reservation and along th Cochitual Rail Trail between Lake Cochituate and the Sudbury River. Meet at Reardon Park, across from 4 Maymont Dr. For more info, email ConservationCommission@framinghamma.gov.

Enjoy a 3.5 mile walk (~3 hours) through meadows and forests on trails paralleling the Concord River, starting at the Foss Farm conservation land and passing through Great Meadows Wildlife Refuge and the O’Rourke farm on the way to scenic Greenough Pond in the Greenough Conservation Land. Be prepared for wet conditions underfoot, bring drinking water and insect repellent. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the walk. Dogs are not permitted in the Refuge. Meet at the Foss Farm parking lot, 0.3 mi west of the Concord River bridge on Rte. 225. For information, email Alan Ankers at carlisletrails@comcast.net.

Join the Framingham Conservation Commission for a 2-hour paddle up the Sudbury River through central Framingham to the Stearns Reservoir. Bring your own boat and life jacket (required) to the canoe launch at 5 Kellogg St. For more info, email ConservationCommission@framinghamma.gov.

Join the walking book club, Fowler Afoot, to read The Boatman: Henry David Thoreau’s River Years by Robert Thorson. Enjoy a discussion of the book while strolling along the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. Meet at Fowler Library and walk to the trail together. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will meet inside. 1322 Main St.

Let’s learn about our rivers! Join us for hands-on experimentation during this 2-hour drop-in. Pick up your own copy of the River Ranger book and start earning your Junior River Ranger badge and certificate. Designed for kids 12 and under. Fowler Library, 1322 Main St

This slide presentation will feature wildlife from Well Meadow, the pristine wetland off Fairhaven Bay on the Sudbury River. Well Meadow was a frequent destination for Henry David Thoreau. Ron McAdow’s trail camera monitors traffic on a beaver dam that crosses the swamp. We’ll see images and videos of the wide variety of animals that use this bridge: mink, otter, bobcat, and many other species. Thoreau kept an appreciative eye on Well Meadow vegetation—we’ll hear his observations about some of the plants that anchor this rich natural community. Sudbury Valley Trustees, 18 Wolbach Rd. Sudbury.

About the presenter: Ron McAdow is the author of The Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet Rivers and other books. He served for a decade as Executive Director of Sudbury Valley Trustees.

Join Renata Pomponi, Senior Director of Mass Audubon, for a guided walk of their newest sanctuary, Brewster’s Woods. This historic property along the Concord River was once the home of William Brewster, a noted ornithologist and Mass Audubon’s first president. Learn about the history of the property as a place of inspiration and connection to nature during a 1.2-mile roundtrip journey along the Fisher Trail, an all persons accessible trail, looking for wildlife and passing through a diversity of field, forest, and wetland habitats. Pre-registration required.

Join Rachel Wheeler and John Myers for a guided loop walk in the Concord Land Conservation Trust’s Wright Woods beginning at the Fairhaven Bay Overlook and exploring the trails along Well Meadow and the Sudbury River. This 300 acre woodland is located between Fairhaven Bay and Walden Pond. In addition to appreciating local flora and beaver activity, you will learn about the history of the property, the stone terraces and boathouse, and the family that loved and preserved these woods. The 2-hour walk will cover approximately 2 miles of moderate terrain. Pre-registration required.

Family Fishing & Festivities at Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Join us for a fun-filled day of hands-on activities. Bring a picnic to enjoy overlooking the beautiful Sudbury River. Rain (some activities only) or shine at the Refuge Headquarters. 73 Weir Hill Rd. For Information call 978-444-4661.

Learn about the Middlesex Canal, the greatest work of its kind in the United States until the Erie Canal. Kayakers can take out above the Billerica Falls Dam at the canal entrance/parking lot at 2 Old Elm St. and walk part of the canal that Henry Thoreau traveled between the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. For children, a Lego® canal playground, a watered model lock and a scavenger hunt. Find the pigeon, squeezable beaver, muskrat and three mice. Free, Middlesex Canal Museum, 71 Faulkner St.

Brian Harris, Wayland’s Conservation Department Land Manager, will lead a morning bird and butterfly walk at Wayland’s riverside Sedge Meadow Conservation Land. Meet at the Black Cat parking lot, located down a gravel road between 42 & 48 Glezen Ln. For more information, email bharris@wayland.ma.us.

Travel back in time as you paddle with Brian Donahue, Brandeis University history professor and expert on the Sudbury River. Paddle to Sherman’s Bridge through the wide meadows that prompted the founding of Wayland and Sudbury and hear stories of a fascinating and often contentious past. Meet at the Rte. 20 boat launch in Wayland. Bring your canoe or kayak and life jacket (required). Cars will be available at Sherman’s Bridge Rd. to shuttle you back. For more information: (508)-358-2980.