JULY 2025 PROGRAMS
at Fresh Pond Reservation
Offered by the Cambridge Water Department
Events at Fresh Pond Reservation are FREE and open to the public. Children are welcome in the company of an adult.
If registration is required, you will receive information on parking when you register. Registration information is in program announcements.
Fresh Pond Stewards (Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity)
Every Thursday
10:00am to 12:00 noon
Meets at the Volunteer Tool Trailer (between the first parking lot and the Reservior)
250 Fresh Pond Parkway
Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge
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
Do you have a dedicated group of 10-25 people with at least 1.5-3 hours to give? Reach out to Ranger Tim at tpuopolo@cambridgeMA.gov to schedule a “Day of Service” group volunteer opportunity.
Pollinator Biodiversity and Climate Citizen Science
(Volunteer Opportunity)
Every Monday
2:00 to 3:30 pm
Meets on-site at the Lusitania Meadow (trail map here: https://bit.ly/2G1b3DE)
250 Fresh Pond Parkway
Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge
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! ( 6/11 here at Fresh Pond, but check out the Earthwise Aware calendar for more!)
Walter J. Sullivan Water Purification Facility Tour
Monday, July 7
6:00 to 7:30 pm
Meets at Front Door of the Water Treatment Plant
250 Fresh Pond Parkway
Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge
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, contact Ranger Tim at (617) 349-6489 or tpuopolo@cambridgeMA.gov. Please call ahead if coming with a large group (10+)
Future CWD tour dates in 2025: August 4, September 8, October 6, November 3
Fresh Pond Nature Walk
(Collins Branch Library)
Wednesday, July 9
10:15 to 11:30 am
Meets: at the Collins Branch Library
64 Aberdeen Avenue
Cambridge
Join us for a relaxing walk of Fresh Pond with Ranger Tim! No two weeks are the same in nature, and Tim will share his insights about what's growing, changing, and blooming in the neighborhood. This walk will meet in the courtyard of the Collins Branch (64 Aberdeen Ave. [Now reopened!]), and we leave together towards the Pond at 10:15am. This is a summer weather walk so clothing for the weather at hand is suggested. For more information or with any questions, please contact Michael at mroberson@cambridgeMA.gov.
You can find a link to register for the walk here. Registration is required for this event.
Summer Reading: Fresh Pond Bug Walks
TWO DATES!
Wednesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 30
12:00 noon to 1:30 pm
(Boudreau Branch Library Collaboration)
Register for Meeting Information
Have you ever wanted to know more about the little insect critters that live in our local ecosystems? Join us at Fresh Pond's Lusitania Meadow for a short walk in which we observe and learn about this dazzlingly diverse class of animals. This program is open to all ages, from adults to children and their caregivers. Free registration is required [here]. Please register all attendees, including caregivers.
The (Second Annual) "Cambridge Moth Ball"
Wednesday, July 23
7:00 to 10:00 pm
Meets: on site at the Kingsley Park
250 Fresh Pond Parkway
Fresh Pond Reservation, Cambridge
Come and be dazzled by the extraordinary nighttime creatures known as Moths. Marvel at their mysterious habits, coloration, and special place in our ecology as you learn how to attract and ID moths. As part of National Moth Week, we will be exploring these fascinating woodland insects up close and share the data and photos we collect with researchers. If you are interested in insects, butterflies, moths, or the wildlife of Cambridge, if you like nature or nighttime, this event is for you. Photographers interested in creative moth portraits are especially encouraged to attend. Festivities include a talk by a local moth expert, moth lures, live moths, and more resources!
This is a collaboration with The Boston Birding Festival, Earthwise Aware, Native Plant Community Gardeners, Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group, Biodiversity Builders, and Green Cambridge. More info on the event webpage.
Mythical/Mothical attire recommended!
Fresh Pond’s 11th Annual Monarch Butterfly Release Celebration
Save the Date: Sunday, August 24
The Monarch migration generally makes its way to the Bay State around July 4th each year, which means that our captive raise-and-release program will begin in July. We hope that you will be able to join us for our biggest-ever 11th annual celebration on Sunday, August 24th! Save the date!
*******************************************
To receive a monthly email newsletter about programs for the public
and other information about Fresh Pond Reservation
*******************************************
***THE RESERVATION IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM DAWN TO DUSK!***
The Ranger Station and public restrooms are now open from 7 am to 7 pm. In addition, portable restrooms are available in the parking lots.
For questions about Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation, send an email to friendsoffreshpond@yahoo.com
|
MEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS
Although Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation is an all-volunteer organization, we do rely on contributions for some of our activities. These include paying professionals to lead special programs, maintaining this website, and buying supplies for our conservation work on the Reservation.
Membership fees are $10 per year, retroactive to January 1. If you would like to join us, please mail a check made out to Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation to the address below. If you care to make an additional donation, we thank you, and promise to put it to good use.
Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation
31 Mount Pleasant Street
Cambridge MA 02140-2613
|
|
You can sign up for the
City of Cambridge's user-friendly and informative
Recycling and Composting Newsletter
by emailing recycle@cambridgema.gov
Also, check out the Recycling Division's Website
|