Williamstown Rural Lands
Guided Hike Series: Three Hills in the West (of Williamstown)
Taconic State Park 253 State Route 344, Copake Falls, NY, NYJoin Williamstown Rural Lands for a moderate, 4.5-mile hike to cross viewpoints on top of three hills near Route 2 on the western edge of Williamstown and explore the 18th and early 19th-century history of the area. Families are welcome. Click…
Fall Clean-up Volunteer Day
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MACome help Sheep Hill get ready for the snow during our seasonal Volunteer Day! Drop by any time, for any amount of time, to help Williamstown Rural Lands accomplish our List of Things to Do. We have tasks for any…
Making Paper from Invasive Plants
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAIn this workshop, you will be introduced to making paper with invasive plants, specifically Japanese Knotweed, Garlic Mustard, and Honeysuckle. We will review plant identification, safe collection methods, and how to process fibers for paper-making. Then, you will be able…
Fall Hike at Pine Cobble
Pine Cobble 516 N Hoosac Rd, Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands to learn about the unique ecology of Pine Cobble and the changes that prepare animals and plants for winter. Enjoy a moderate/strenuous 3.2 out-and-back hike to expansive views of Williamstown, North Adams, and the Hoosac and…
Beaver Moon Family Hike
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands at Sheep Hill to celebrate the Beaver Moon! Listen to facts and tales about beavers in winter, hike to the top of the hill (1.5 miles, moderate) to view the full moon, then head back down…
Winter Tree & Shrub ID at Sheep Hill
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands' Dr. Robin Sears at Sheep Hill to learn and practice identifying woody plant species of the Berkshires using characteristics of stems, buds and plant architecture. Participants will learn key terminology and practice hands-on identification. No prior botanical…
Hemlocks & History Guided Hike
Margaret Lindley Park 1201 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands naturalist, Dana Williams, at Margaret Lindley Park to learn about our hemlock forests, their human and natural history, and threats to their future on this easy, slow-paced 1.5 mile loop walk. We will keep an eye out for…
Family Sensory Nature Walk
Margaret Lindley Park 1201 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands naturalist Dana Williams to celebrate New Year’s Eve and explore Hemlock Brook through touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell on this easy, slow-paced, 1-mile walk. All ages welcome – content geared towards families. For more information,…
Bee Hill Hike/Snowshoe
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands naturalist Dana Williams to explore the natural and cultural history of Bee Hill from the age of ancient oceans to modern day. This hike will be approximately 2.5 miles, intermediate through open fields and sugar maple…
What Mammal is That? Identification & Sign
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAWhy do ermine turn white in the winter? How can you tell if a porcupine is nearby? Join mammal enthusiasts Doug Lister & Dana Williams from Williamstown Rural Lands to answer these questions through a hands-on exploration of all things…
Family Winter Exploration Walk
Mount Berlin Trailhead Berlin Road, Williamstown, MA, United StatesWhat do animals do when it snows? Where do insects go in the winter? How do animals find food? Join Williamstown Rural Lands naturalist Dana Williams to explore winter animal adaptations at Berlin Mountain on this easy, slow-paced, 1-mile walk.…
Winter Botany Workshop
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAWhat are those dried stalks in your yard, along the trail, in the meadow? Join Dr. Robin Sears and peers to explore and identify some of these vestiges of spring and summer wildflowers. Fear not! There will be no dichotomous…
Hemlock Monitoring Group Meet-up
Margaret Lindley Park 1201 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, MA, United StatesFirst meeting! Eastern hemlocks are a vital part of our landscape but are under threat from pests like hemlock woolly adelgid. Join Williamstown Rural Lands on as they begin a community science survey of hemlock health on local public properties.…
Hemlock Monitoring Group Meet-up & Training
Margaret Lindley Park 1201 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands to survey Eastern Hemlock health and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid populations on local public properties in Williamstown. Survey will be along the Harmon Pond Trail. The whole walk will be slow paced and ~1.5 miles. No experience…
Full Moon Owl Prowl
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MACelebrate your local nocturnal feathered friends during Williamstown Rural Lands’ Owl Prowl! Meet live owls and learn about the adaptations that make them such superb hunters of the night with Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, enjoy owl themed crafts and…
Talks on the Hill: Stories of Invasion: When Non-native Plants Invade
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MA +1 moreFrom the plants we bring in on purpose to the plants that are accidentally introduced and then become pests, invasive plants have numerous stories of how they got here and spread, their impact and what we might do about them.…
Spring Wildflower Walk
Mount Berlin Trailhead Berlin Road, Williamstown, MA, United StatesCome enjoy a spring stroll through the northern hardwood forest at Berlin Mountain with botanist Robin Sears and naturalist Dana Williams of Williamstown Rural Lands to see what spring ephemerals are out and learn about these hardy early flowers. This…
Field & Forest Tai Chi: Spring Wildflowers
Margaret Lindley Park 1201 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands and certified Tai Chi instructor Mary Hannah Parkman to learn the art of mindful movement through Tai Chi. Mary Hannah will guide participants in slow-paced movements that encourage mindfulness and thereby deepen capacity for connection with…
Invasive Species Workdays: Garlic Mustard Challenge at Lehovec Natural Area
Feeling helpless in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss? Roll up your sleeves and join Williamstown Rural Lands in their effort to restore the local landscape! Join at Lehovec Natural Area to pull garlic mustard for New England's…
Repair Cafe at Sheep Hill
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAWobbly table? Lamp that won't light? A hole in that elbow? Mosquitos getting through your screen? Drop by Sheep Hill (671 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown) with your old, tired items for the Spring Repair Café, a bi-annual fix-it event organized…