Drop by the Thoreau house replica near the Walden Pond State Reservation main parking lot to discover from a Park Interpreter how and why Henry David Thoreau lived “a deliberate life” in Walden for two years, two months, and two days. We will have the woodstove going to keep us warm as we regale you with tales about Henry’s life and the importance of social and environmental legacies he left behind. All ages are welcome.
Thoreau’s Stay at Walden, February 10, 2018, 12:30-2:00pm
February 9, 2018Henry’s Footsteps: Winter Animal Tracking, February 10, 2018, 10:30am-11:30am
February 9, 2018Join renowned tracking specialist Nick Wisniewski, founder of Walnut Hill Tracking and Nature Center, at the Walden Pond Visitor Center. Wear warm winter clothing, hats, gloves or mittens, thick warm socks, and winter boots. The program is best suited for adults and older children. In the event of extreme inclement weather suck as bitter cold wind or rain or sleet, the program will be held in the Visitor Center. For questions, call 978-405-2082.
Animal Tracking Presentation, Saturday, February 24, 2018, 1:00pm-2:30pm
February 9, 2018Do porcupines shoot their quills? Do fishers scream? Are cougars living in Massachusetts? Learn the answer to these and other questions. Join renowned tracking specialist Nick Wisniewski, founder of Walnut Hill Tracking & Nature Center, in our New Visitor Center for a free audio-visual presentation and talk about animal tracks and sign. Don’t miss this chance to learn about New England indigenous mammals and their ecological relationships from a tracker with over thirty years of experience in the field.
Junior Rangers Return in August 2017
August 3, 2017Let’s Travel Back in Time at Walden Pond!
Register for one or more sessions in the series! Call 978-369-3254 or email us at walden.pond@state.ma.us. Children ages 7-12 can become naturalists as they travel back in time. They will join park interpretive staff as we conduct hands-on experiments and activities to learn about plants and animals as Henry David Thoreau did. All Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Session #1–Monday, August 7, 9am-10:30am– Who was Henry David Thoreau? Meet Henry (as portrayed by Richard Smith) and become a nature detective while roaming Walden Woods.
Session #2–Tuesday, August 8, 9am-10:30am-Pieces of the Past! Learn to use 1800 era tools. Meet and greet a Mounted State Trooper horse patrol protecting Walden Pond.
Session#3–Wednesday, August 9, 9am-10:30am–What Lies Beneath: Walden “Ponding” Adventure-activities examining past and present pond inhabitantss with aquatic biologists
Session#4–Thursday, August 10, 9am-10:30am–Ice in August-hands-on experiments explaining glacial formation of Walden Pond and the 19th Century ice trade.
Registrants earn the Junior Ranger Activity Guide. Attend two sessions to earn a Junior Ranger Certificate. Attend three sessions to earn a Junior Ranger badge. 4 sessions, earn a chevron.
Regular parking fees apply.
About Walden Pond
August 1, 2017Snowflake Beauties Craft, Monday, Dec. 26 & Wednesday, Dec.28, 2016, 11am-12pm
December 18, 2016Did you know that no two snowflakes are alike? Both Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) and Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) loved to observe snowflakes! “Snowflake Bentley,” as Wilson was called, was even the first person to photograph them! Come celebrate these “six-rayed snowy stars” by joining park staff in some snowflake making. This activity will be held inside the new Walden Pond Visitor Center. The program is good for all ages.
This
is a free program, but there is an $8 parking fee for MA plates, $10 out-of-state. All children must be accompanied by and adult. No pets, only working guides. For more information at (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.
Winter Solstice Walks: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday, December 20-22, 2017, 11:30am to 12:30pm
December 18, 2016Beat the winter blues with our annual Solstice celebration! Join us at the new visitor center for an inspirational walk at Walden Pond during solar noon. If you have a drum, please bring it along. Please wear good walking shoes and dress for the weather. This is a program for v
isitors of all ages.
This is a free program but there is a $8 parking fee for vehicles with Massachusetts plates, $10 for vehicles with non-Massachusetts plates. All children must be accompanied by an adult. No dogs permitted unless they are working guides. Park programs are sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. For more information call park staff at (978) 369-3254. Reasonable accommodations upon request.
Civil Disobedience: Sunday, January 15, 2017, 12:30-2:30pm
December 17, 2016
Join local historians and Walden park staff for the 23rd annual program to commemorate Martin Luther King Day, and the legacy of Thoreau’s essay, Civil Disobedience, at Walden Pond.
12:30pm-2:30pm Visit with Henry David Thoreau, portrayed by historian Richard Smith, at the Thoreau house replica near the main parking lot. Ask Mr. Thoreau about the night he spent in jail in 1846 for not paying his poll tax, an act which inspired his influential essay.
1:00pm Thoreau Scholar, Tom Blanding, will lead an engaging discussion on the writing of Thoreau’s essay, Civil Disobedience, at the new solar-powered Walden Pond Visitor Center. Learn how Martin Luther King Jr., having read Thoreau’s essay, used the concept of civil disobedience during the Civil Rights movement. Additional examples of civil disobedience, both historic and current, will be brought out during the discussion.
This is a free program but there is $8.00 daily parking fee for MA plates, $10 out-of-state. No preregistration required. No pets permitted. Visit http://www.mass.gov/dcr for more information. In case of inclement weather, please call (978)369-3254 for cancellation.
Co-sponsored by the Walden Woods Project http://www.walden.org, the Friends of Walden Pond State Reservation.
Walden Pond First Day Hike; Sunday, January 1, 2017, 12:00-2:00pm
December 12, 2016Start off the New Year with good company, a sprinkling of seasonal literary readings and a cup of h
ot chocolate!
Meet at the new Walden Pond Visitor Center at 12:00pm. Join us for an introduction to the new net-zero visitor center and a hike to the original house site of Henry David Thoreau. The hike includes a stop at the Thoreau house replica, where historian Richard Smith portrays Thoreau in his house on New Year’s Day! Sit by the wood stove and enjoy his tales of 1847. Don’t forget to dress for the winter weather. No pets are allowed at Walden Pond State Reservation. Co-sponsored by the Walden Woods Project, the 
Friends Group of Walden Pond State Reservation. Walden Pond State Reservation is located at 915 Walden Street/Route 126 Concord, MA 01742
Visit http://www.mass.gov/dcr for more information. In case of inclement weather, please call (978)369-3254 for cancellation updates.
Special Program: Emerson-Thoreau Amble! 11:00am-1:00pm, Saturday, October 22, 2016, meet outside the Concord Museum!
September 23, 2016Come join park interpretive staff for a historic guided walk from the Emerson House to Brister’s Hill and the pond called “Fairyland” in Concord’s Hapgood Wright Town Forest! Meet outside the Concord Museum main entrance. This hike will cover half of the Emerson-Thoreau Amble. Please wear good walking shoes; bring water and insect repellent.
Walden Pond State Reservation 