The Cambridge Life - Spring 2025
Living in Cambridge comes with more than just access to top-tier education, diverse neighborhoods, and vibrant culture. The City of Cambridge offers a robust selection of free and discounted programs designed to support residents’ financial, educational, environmental, and recreational needs. Whether you're a student, older adult, renter, or homeowner, there's likely a program available to help improve your well-being and quality of life. This latest issue of The Cambridge Life provides an overview of some valuable offerings residents new to the City to lifelong Cantabrigians should know about.
Evening Story Time
We invite children and their grown-ups to join us for our monthly evening story time event. This program will run for 20-25 minutes, with songs, stories and rhymes. No registration is required.
Due to Early Voting at Valente, this program will be held in the Children's Area. Please call 617-349-4015 for more information.
Safety Net Collaborative
The mission of Safety Net is to foster positive youth development, promote mental health, support safe school and community environments, and limit youth involvement in the juvenile justice system through coordinated prevention, intervention, and diversion services for Cambridge youth and families.
Summer Reading: Fresh Pond Wild Edibles Walk with Russ Cohen (Main)
Cambridge is home to over 80 species of edible wild plants, some of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. These include native species like Fox Grape and Shagbark Hickory; non-native weeds like Chicory and Burdock; and invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and Autumn Olive. Join expert forager Russ Cohen on a 2.5 hour ramble around Fresh Pond to learn about over two dozen species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, ethical and environmentally-responsible foraging.
NOTE that this is an educational walk only: no actual foraging will take place, as that activity is prohibited with in the Fresh Pond Reservation.
We will meet at Fresh Pond, in the main parking lot by the ranger station and water department.
Russ Cohen is a naturalist and wild foods enthusiast from Weston, Mass., currently in his 52nd year of leading walks and talks about wild edibles. He has led talks for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the New England Forestry Foundation, and The Trustees of Reservations. Russ' foraging book, Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, is now in its ninth printing. Russ has taken on the role of Johnny Appleseed for edible native species, collaborating with land trusts, cities and towns, and other groups (including one in Cambridge) to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties.
Fresh Pond Wild Edibles Walk with Russ Cohen (Main)
Cambridge is home to over 80 species of edible wild plants, some of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. These include native species like Fox Grape and Shagbark Hickory; non-native weeds like Chicory and Burdock; and invasive species like Japanese Knotweed and Autumn Olive. Join expert forager Russ Cohen on a 2.5 hour ramble around Fresh Pond to learn about over two dozen species of edible wild plants. Keys to the identification of each species will be provided, along with info on edible portion(s), season(s) of availability and preparation methods, as well as guidelines for safe, ethical and environmentally-responsible foraging.
NOTE that this is an educational walk only: no actual foraging will take place, as that activity is prohibited with in the Fresh Pond Reservation.
We will meet at Fresh Pond, in the main parking lot by the ranger station and water department.
Russ Cohen is a naturalist and wild foods enthusiast from Weston, Mass., currently in his 52nd year of leading walks and talks about wild edibles. He has led talks for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the New England Forestry Foundation, and The Trustees of Reservations. Russ' foraging book, Wild Plants I Have Known...and Eaten, is now in its ninth printing. Russ has taken on the role of Johnny Appleseed for edible native species, collaborating with land trusts, cities and towns, and other groups (including one in Cambridge) to plant plants from his nursery in appropriate places on their properties.
Summer Fitness: Tai Chi under the tree
Join instructor Ellen DeGenova, at the main branch park, to explore Tai Chi elements (without the complicated choreography). Tai Chi offers highly adaptable and accessible ways of moving for everyone. Being outdoors and learning together inspires a sense of well-being and community. A seated option is available. No experience necessary. In case of inclement weather, class will be held in the library’s Community Room.
Youth Employment Center
The Youth Employment Center, located in Room 2101 in the Rindge building at CRLS Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, helps teens prepare their resume, practice interview skills, and find afterschool and summer jobs.
STEAM Academy: iFp Studio (Main)
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Studio is a youth-powered design and innovation program where teens channel their energy and creative vision to imagine and build a better world. Blending art, design, science, technology, and storytelling within a social justice framework, teens engage in real-world client-sponsored projects. Teens are invited to learn more on the iFp website.
STEAM Academy: iFp Studio (Main)
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Studio is a youth-powered design and innovation program where teens channel their energy and creative vision to imagine and build a better world. Blending art, design, science, technology, and storytelling within a social justice framework, teens engage in real-world client-sponsored projects. Teens are invited to learn more on the iFp website.
STEAM Academy: iFp Studio (Main)
Innovators for Purpose (iFp) Studio is a youth-powered design and innovation program where teens channel their energy and creative vision to imagine and build a better world. Blending art, design, science, technology, and storytelling within a social justice framework, teens engage in real-world client-sponsored projects. Teens are invited to learn more on the iFp website.