Williamstown Rural Lands
Sketching Birds
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands and local artist Julia Morgan at Sheep Hill for an introduction to sketching birds. Explore the underlying structure, wing anatomy, and markings of birds through drawing. Suggested: bring a sketchbook that is 8” x 10” or…
Butterflies of Sheep Hill
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands and local butterfly enthusiast Doug Lister at Sheep Hill for a casual walk through the meadow in search of our late summer Lepidopteran visitors looking for up to 20 species of butterflies ranging from the big…
Community Cookout and Ice Cream Social
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands for a late-summer grill-and-chill community cookout at Sheep Hill! Bring your own grillables, utensils (including a bowl), and social moxie. WRL will provide entertainment, drinks, ice cream, sides, grills, and scenery. Open & free for all!…
Migratory Bird Outing
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAJoin Williamstown Rural Lands and former Audubon chapter president and Williamstown local Tommy Richeyin to say goodbye to our summer feathered neighbors with a birder outing at Sheep Hill! Discover birds by sound and sight on this easy bird walk…
History of Sheep Hill
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAFrom the waters of Lake Bascom to the Rosenburgs of Sunny Brook Farm, join Williamstown Rural Lands to learn about the geologic and human history of Sheep Hill. Explore the old barns and the cultural meadow and share your stories…
Guided Walk: Stone Hill Geology
The Lunder Center 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands for a gentle, 1.5-mile walk to the Stone Hill lookout. How old is the quartzite of Stone Hill? How has this rock helped shape our current landscape? Whatever happened to Lake Bascom? A geologist will accompany us to…
Repair Café
Sheep Hill 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MAWobbly table? Lamp that won’t light? A hole in that elbow? Bring your tired, your broken, the cast-aways huddled in the corner to the Autumn Repair Café, a bi-annual fix-it event organized by the amazing South Williamstown Community Association (SWCA)…
Backcountry Skiing at Berlin Mountain: Pre-season Rundown
Mount Berlin Trailhead Berlin Road, Williamstown, MA, United StatesJoin Williamstown Rural Lands to learn the best skinning and climbing routes needed to ski Berlin Mountain, a backcountry skiing gem. This 1-2 mile strenuous hike will explore ways to get to the top of the former slalom racing pitch and…
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…