Thoreau’s Stay at Walden, February 10, 2018, 12:30-2:00pm

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.

Autumnal Tints, Sundays, October 9, 23, &30, 2016; 1:00pm-2:00pm

“October is the month for painted leaves,” Henry David Thoreau wrote in his classic treatise on fall, Autumnal Tints. Join a park interpreter to celebrate and learn the reasons behind New England’s autumn leaf colors during the one-hour walk. We will meet at the Thoreau house replica. Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Year of Low Water: Plant Ecology of Walden Pond’s Shore, Saturday, September 10, 2016, 1:00pm-3:00pm

Join world-renowned biologist Richard Primack for a walk from the Thoreau House Replica to Thoreau’s cove. Henry David Thoreau kept extensive records of plant flowering and leaf-out times. Dr. Primack uses Walden Pond as a living laboratory, comparing current conditions with Thoreau’s records and documenting that the climate around Walden Pond is changing. Dr. Primack will discuss the ecological consequences of these changes, as well as the plant successions taking place during the current low-water levels at Walden.

 

Please make a reservation by phone (978)369-3254 (press option #3 to leave us a message) or email at walden.pond@state.ma.us with the number of attendants in your party. Thank you!

What’s in Walden Pond? Friday, July 22, 10:00am-12:00pm, at the Main Beach

Now is your chance to learn some of the local pond fauna by examining specimens just like Thoreau. Meet us down by the beach picnic table to practice your naturalist skills. This program is for all ages. Children should be supervised by and adult. Stop by any time in this 2-hour window.

Who lives in the Forest? Fridays, August 14 & 28, 2015

Now is your chance to hear about some of the animals that live in our forest and how to find them. Please meet us at the table near the bike racks at the Main Beach to practice your naturalist skills like Henry David Thoreau. This program is for all ages. Children should be supervised by an adult. Stop by any time during this two hour window.

Universal Accessible Hiking Program at Walden Pond State Reservation, Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Go take a hike! With Stavros Outdoor Access, that is! Explore accessible trails and rugged paths with a focus on fun and meeting new people. Assistive equipment and teamwork unite people of all abilities using Terra Trek mountain wheelchairs, other assistive devices and lots of stops to rest. Bring a lunch and enjoy activities such as scavenger hunts, nature talks, and letterboxing. Collect the Walden Pond State Reservation stamp! Sighted guides available.

$3 per person, $10 for families, $25 for groups

To register call (413)-259-0009

Observing pond-life like Thoreau, Fridays, August 7 & 22, 10am-12pm

Now is your chance to learn some of the local fauna by watching pond animals just like Thoreau. Meet us at the Main Beach bike rack area, and from there we’ll walk to Heywood Meadow to look for pond animals. This program is for all ages. However, we will take a 20 minute hike to Heywood Meadow and back. Children should be supervised by an adult. Please wear proper hiking shoes and apply insect repellant beforehand.

 

 

Water Conservation Today, Mondays, August 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31, 2-3pm

While you’re cooling off at the Pond, join us down by the Main Beach for informative discussion of the importance of conserving our vital water resources. We will also demonstrate how non-point source pollution can enter our watershed and discuss ways of preventing it, so we can keep enjoying fresh water. Suitable for all ages.

Reading Walden’s Landscape, Tuesdays, August 4, 11, & 18, 11am-12pm

Join us for an interpretive walk on the Pond Path. Thoreau was a keen observer and meticulous documenter of nature. We will identify wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, and trees and interpret the forested landscape as Thoreau would have done. We will discuss forest succession and will also share some descriptive passages from Thoreau’s book, “Walden.” Meet in front of the Thoreau house replica. Please wear proper walking shoes and bring your water and sunscreen. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Story Time at the Main Beach, Wednesdays, August 5, 12, 19, & 26, 12:30pm-1:30pm

Summer is a great time to jump into a good book! Come listen as story books about the natural world and Henry David Thoreau are read aloud by park interpreters to young children accompanied by an adult. Meet at the main beach area.