Calendar

Apr
7
Sun
2024
Boots N’ Brews with the Widow Walkers! @ Widowmaker Brewing
Apr 7 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Boots N' Brews with the Widow Walkers! @ Widowmaker Brewing | Braintree | Massachusetts | United States

EVEL OF DIFFICULTY: EASY/MODERATE

3-mile hike with moderate hills, rocky terrain and some larger obstacles. 325ft elevation gain in total. 

This hike will be meeting at Widowmaker Brewing on 220 Wood Rd. in Braintree.

Join the Friends of the Blue Hills and the Widow Walkers for the kickoff of our monthly hikes!

  • Sturdy walking shoes required. No open toed shoes. 
  • Bring at least 1 liter of water and a snack.
  • Bring bug spray and sunscreen or apply beforehand.
  • Inclement weather will cancel.

If you would like to explore the Blue Hills Reservation, meet new people, and sample some delicious beers, please join us! The hike will be about two hours, moderately paced, covering about 3 miles. Participants who are 21 years and older will have the opportunity to visit Widowmaker Brewing to enjoy some cold ones after the hike. Beer may be purchased at the brewery.

This event will be part of an ongoing series in collaboration with Widowmaker Brewing in Braintree! 

Sign up below!

If the event is full, please comment to be added to a waitlist that will be contacted in the case of cancellations. 

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Apr
17
Wed
2024
Charles Eliot: Founder of the Blue Hills Reservation with DCR Ranger Dan Byrnes @ Thomas Crane Public Library
Apr 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Charles Eliot: Founder of the Blue Hills Reservation with DCR Ranger Dan Byrnes @ Thomas Crane Public Library | Quincy | Massachusetts | United States

Charles Eliot, a visionary landscape architect born in 1859, stands as the founding force behind the Blue Hills Reservation. Instrumental in the late 19th century, Eliot played a pivotal role in shaping America’s approach to public spaces. As the landscape architect for the Metropolitan Park Commission, he advocated for the creation of the Blue Hills Reservation. Eliot’s commitment to preserving and accessible natural beauty endures in the legacy of the Blue Hills, a testament to his enduring influence on landscape conservation.

Embark on a captivating journey through his history at Thomas Crane Library in Quincy on April 17th! Discover the fascinating tales behind this natural gem, spanning over 7,000 acres across Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, and Dedham.

Join us at 7pm from 7pm to 8pm on April 17th at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy. This program will be taking place in the Community Room in the Main Library. No sign up prior to the event is required. This program is free and open to all ages. Thank you to DCR Park Ranger Dan Byrnes for speaking. We hope to see you there!

Photo by: Scott Hughes

Apr
20
Sat
2024
Parkserve with Friends of the Blue Hills
Apr 20 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Parkserve with Friends of the Blue Hills

The Friends of the Blue Hills is happy to be partnering with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to keep the park clean! Be sure to join us!

Get some fresh air and exercise… and give back to an amazing park that serves tens of thousands of visitors each year. You will be helping to care for the trails by improving erosion structures, raking and digging out the ditches next to trails or cutting brush. Your work will keep the trails from eroding and make sure people can explore the park. Please wear sturdy shoes (no sandals) and long pants. If you have a favorite pair of gardening gloves, please bring them. Please bring at least a liter of water as well. We will provide all the tools and training you’ll need. No experience necessary.

If this event is full, please leave a comment to be added to the waitlist.

Sign up here.

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Apr
21
Sun
2024
Green Up the Blue Hills 2024
Apr 21 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Green Up the Blue Hills 2024 @ Canton | Massachusetts | United States

Do you want to help care for the Blue Hills and have a great time? Then join us for Green Up the Blue Hills, our annual stewardship event that celebrates Spring! This family-friendly event is a great chance to help get a handle (literally!) on one of the most prolific invasive plants in the park — garlic mustard.

This plant is very damaging to other plants in the forest because it releases a poison into the soil so native plants do not survive. Thankfully, it is easy to remove by hand. By pulling as much garlic mustard as possible, you and other volunteers will help keep the forest healthy for the endangered species that live at Ponkapoag Pond — and all the plants and wildlife.

It won’t be all work and no play, though! You’ll also enjoy complimentary refreshments, crafts, face-painting, and a scavenger hunt — not to mention the camaraderie that comes from working together outside in the fresh air.

Here’s how to prep for the event:

  • Park at the Fisherman’s Cove parking area.
  • We’ll be working (and playing!) at the AMC Cabins, which is about a 3/4 mile walk.
  • We’ll provide all the tools and training you’ll need.
  • Bring your gardening gloves if you have them.
  • Wear close-toed shoes.

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May
4
Sat
2024
Kristin Kubera Memorial Hike @ Blue Hills Trailside Museum
May 4 @ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Please join the Friends of the Blue Hills on Saturday, May 4th to celebrate the life of Kristin Kubera with a hike in her memory.

Friends, family, and community members are invited to embark on a self-guided hike to the top of Great Blue Hill. It is our hope the experience will bring Kristin’s loved ones together in a positive way to support a great cause, and to celebrate her life by doing something she loved to do.

Kristin was adventurous and lived life to the fullest. She was well on her way to hiking every 4,000 ft mountain in New Hampshire. She completed tasks from her bucket list early and often, such as catching a wave on her very first try while surfing in Hawaii, and skydiving without telling her mom until after she landed. But Kristin’s true passion was her value and love for her family.

Kristin grew up in Milton in a loving home with warm-hearted neighbors. She graduated from Fontbonne Academy (class of ’18) and went on to graduate from UMass Amherst (class of ’22), both with honors. She was a genuine and caring friend who was beloved by many classmates from high school and college.

In Kristin’s honor, we are raising funds for the Friends of the Blue Hills and an organization close to her heart, Comfort Zone Camp (CZC). CZC is a non-profit bereavement camp for children experiencing the loss of a primary caregiver or sibling. Kristin attended CZC as a child and later volunteered to support other grieving youth. Suggested donation day of the hike is $10.

Rain date May 5th. Hiking time is 20 to 60 minutes depending on hiking speed. Length is about two miles with an elevation gain of around 400ft.

Join us to celebrate the life of this young hiker and nature lover. Sign up on the page below, and scan the QR code to donate.

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