Public Programming

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Our monthly E-mail newsletter includes information about upcoming events, news, and what's going on in nature right now, brought to you by the Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation and the Cambridge Water Department.

Special Events:

Black Swallowwort Pulling Event
Sunday, August 2nd
3:00-4:300pm
Ranger Station

Join the Fresh Pond Rangers for this community invasive pulling event on Sunday, August 2nd from 3:00-4:30pm at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway in Cambridge, MA.
Help us pull invasive Black Swallowwort to protect endangered Monarchs and get ready for the annual Monarch release event at Fresh Pond Reservation!

This vining plant is a close relative of Milkweed - the sole host plant of the Monarch Butterfly. Adults get confused into laying an egg on Black Swallowwort, which is then doomed to starve and die, because caterpillars can only eat Milkweed. Wear closed toed shoes and dress for the weather. We will have gloves and bags available as well as tools for digging up the plant! This program meets at the ranger station under the clock tower.

Monarch Release
Sunday, August 23rd
1:00-2:00pm
Water Treatment Plant & Kingsley Park Bowl

See the butterflies up close, learn about their migration, complete an activity booklet for a Jr. Ranger badge, get your face painted, see storyteller Yumi Izuyama, do some caterpillar and butterfly related crafts outside the Water Treatment Plant along the perimeter road. At 1:45pm, we will walk over to the Kingsley Bowl Meadow to witness the release! See what the flutter’s been about since this program began in 2014.

Migratory monarchs have faced significant threats since the 1990's. The chief factors of their decline are loss of milkweed, logging activity in Mexico, extensive pesticide use in the US, and extreme weather events. Because Monarchs migrate, we need a national effort. As an official “waystation” Fresh Pond is a wonderful place for adult monarchs and their young to grow up!

Recurring Events:

Fresh Pond Nature Walk
Collins Branch Library
Monthly
10:15 to 11:30 am
Meets at the Ranger Station
250 Fresh Pond Pkwy

Join us for a short walk of Fresh Pond Reservation with Ranger Amanda Garms and Library Associate Michael Roberson. We will observe seasonal changes in our environment, enjoy the fresh air, and get some exercise in nature. This walk is not on a paved path. We will walk on uneven terrain, down hills, and over roots. The meeting location for this walk will be at the Fresh Pond Ranger Station at 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. Registration is required for this event. Register here: https://cambridgepl.libcal.com/calendar/publicevents

Mindful Mosey
Monthly on Wednesdays
10:30 AM 12:00 PM
Meets at the Ranger Station
250 Fresh Pond Pkwy

Join us for our next monthly "Mindful Mosey" series at the beautiful Fresh Pond Reservation. Guided by Stefanie Haug, mindful nature guide, and Ranger Amanda, this event is a perfect chance to explore nature, soak in the spring vibes, and connect with other earth lovers.

Together we’ll breathe deeply, slow down, and notice the world around us, with quiet walking and moments of shared reflection. Suitable for everyone with accommodations always possible. This is a monthly walking series. Register here: Fresh Pond Event Registration

Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity: Garden Work Date
250 Fresh Pond Pkwy
Tuesdays through Fall
10:00am-1:00pm
The Habitat Restoration Area off the perimeter road between the community gardens and Lusitania.

Come learn from expert naturalists how to restore our native communities by doing hands on work! Help transplant plants, weed invasives, mulch restoration areas, and learn about how a once invasive buckthorn forest has transformed into a native wildlife refuge in just over a decade. Started by the Friends of Fresh Pond in the late 2000's, the area has been transformed to a special hidden refuge and has been carefully curated ever since. Wear closed toed shoes & clothes ready to work in the garden! Drop by and stay for a bit or the whole time.

Fresh Pond Stewards (Volunteer Opportunity)

Every Thursday

10:00am to 12:00 noon

Meets at the Volunteer Tool Trailer (between the first parking lot and the reservoir)

April through October, give back to the place you love by becoming one of our volunteer weed warriors! This is a weekly, open opportunity to volunteer. We have the tools, we have the training, we just need the hands! Every week is a different target area and a different task depending on the natural calendar’s seasonal needs. Help us remove invasive plants, restore trails, or plant some trees. Come once, or come every week! For more information contact Ranger Omar at omejia@cambridgeMA.gov

Day of Service (Volunteer Opportunity)

Do you have a dedicated group of 10-25 people with at least 1.5-3 hours to give? Reach out to Ranger Amanda at agarms@cambridgeMA.gov to schedule a “Day of Service” group volunteer opportunity. Groom trails, manage invasive plants, and more!

Pollinator Biodiversity and Climate Citizen Science (Volunteer Opportunity)

Every Monday

10:00am to 11:30am

Meets on-site at the Lusitania Meadow (trail map here:https://bit.ly/2G1b3DE)

Calling all humans! You can make a difference in our collective understanding of biodiversity and conservation. We visit the Fresh Pond sites and monitor biodiversity (especially 🐛 insects and 🦅birds, but also🐸amphibians, 🌿 plants, 🍄 fungi), and phenology (both flora and fauna) on a weekly basis throughout the seasons. Don't hesitate to join, but do tell us, so that we can communicate what to bring, or last-minute schedule changes (contact us: citizenscience@earthwiseaware.org).

Come and shadow this work, and if you want to collect real data used by climate scientists attend a free training session! (Check out the Earthwise Aware calendar for training sessions and more!)

Walter J Sullivan Water Purification Facility Tour

First Monday of the Month

6:00pm to 7:30pm

Meets at the Water Treatment Plant (front door), 250 Fresh Pond Parkway

Come learn how the Cambridge Water Department purifies drinking water for your tap after it’s conveyed from nearby Fresh Pond into our facility. You’ll have the chance to speak with water treatment staff, see the equipment in action and check out our water quality lab! For more information, visit the Tour Information Page. Please call/email ahead if coming with a large or organized group.

2024

Water Treatment Plant Tours 2024 Flyer

July Events (Text Only Version)

Total Eclipse of the Park Flyer

2024 Monarch Butterfly Release Celebration

All programs are free and open to the public!

Contact: agarms@cambridgema.gov with any questions

Past Events (Archived):

2023

September 2023 Event Flyer

August 2023 Event Flyer

Monarch Release Flyer