Our Blog
Three Eagles Seen Soaring
By Lawrence Meyer September 2022 The last two summers the nesting pair of eagles that have been there since 2015 were not often seen in their familiar perches in the Hutchison Field trees along the river. Did this mean the nest was abandoned? Apparently not. A good...
Three Best Summer Destinations for Your Family
By Brittany Dixon Looking for great outdoor activities you can enjoy with your family? Look no further than the Blue Hills for the best summer fun in the South Shore! Here are three great spots that are sure to please everyone in your family. Ponkapoag Pond, just...
Stroller-friendly Hikes
The Best Stroller-friendly hikes in the Blue Hills Hiking is a great way to give your kids the benefit of exercise and the outdoors. But when you have kids of different ages or you’re worried you’ll have to carry them home (or deal with tantrums), you might find it...
Ponkapoag Pond Master Plan & Fisherman’s Cove Improvements
Department of Conservation and Recreation is creating a Master Plan for Ponkapoag Pond, which includes improving the parking at Fisherman's Cove and building a new bog board walk. The plan also calls for signage at entrances to the park in Randolph. The Department of...
July is Membership Month !
Every July we celebrate our Members with special members-only events. Not a Friends of the Blue Hills member? Join today... and then join us at any or all of these terrific Membership Month events! You'll meet other people like you who love the Blue Hills. Members...
Member Profile: Erik Barrios
Erik Barrios grew up hiking the Blue Hills. He still loves exploring the park. That's why he's a member of the Friends of the Blue Hills. You can join Erik and over 1,400 others to help care for the Reservation by becoming a member! Q: What do you love about...
Member Highlight: Farley Sullivan
Friends of the Blue Hills Members like Farley Sullivan are key to helping to care for the Blue Hills Reservation. When you join the Friends of the Blue Hills as a member, you help care for the trails and forests that you love! Why not join Farley, and over 1,400...
Member Highlight: Gwen Williams
Gwen Williams is a member of the Friends of the Blue Hills. Like all members, Gwen's support is critical to helping to care for the park. This July, we're celebrating our members for all they do to maintain the trails and care for the forest. Our members are warmly...
See Your Impact: 2021 Annual Report
A huge thank you to all our members, supports, volunteers and leaders for helping to care for the Blue Hills. Please click below to see the 2021 Annual Report today to learn how you have made a positive impact on the park we all love.
Donate to the Blue Hills (The Park Will Thank You!)
Your commitment to the Blue Hills can protect the forest and all the woodsy creatures too! Spring is the season of renewal... and it’s a good time to remember that we rely on individual supporters like you to be able to “renew the park” – to keep it healthy and ensure...
Fires in the Blue Hills this Spring
A number of wildfires have burned in the Blue Hills recently, disrupting some visitors' plans and requiring state and local fire resources. The fires, however, may have delivered some benefits to the Blue Hills fire-dependent ecosystems. In the last month, three...
Sign Up to Hike with Friends!
Meet friends and hike in the Blue Hills! No matter the hike you choose, you'll meet people like you who love the Blue Hills and want to explore it! If you'd like to challenge yourself to explore ALL trails in the park, sign up for the 125-Mile Club! If there isn't...
Donating Stock May Offer You Tax Benefits… and Help the Blue Hills
When you donate stock to the Friends of the Blue Hills, you give an amazing gift to the Blue Hills Reservation… and you may receive tax benefits as well. Your donation of stock will care for the Blue Hills’ wildlife by keeping habitat healthy… and make sure visitors...
Planning your IRA withdrawals?
Planning your IRA withdrawals? Consider donating to the Friends of the Blue Hills through a Qualified Charitable Distribution! Donations from people like you are vital to caring for the Blue Hills. Thanks to recent tax changes, donating to the Friends of the Blue...
Celebrate Earth Day with a Free Tree!
The Blue Hills Climate Action Coalition is giving away trees again this year to celebrate Earth Day! Fellow members of the Coalition are distributing trees at their events throughout the Blue Hills region. See event details and event sign ups below. Thanks to REI...
A Forgotten Carnival in the Blue Hills: St Moritz
By Karen Murphy Bowes Hiking through the East side of The Blue Hills, it’s easy to miss. The history is quite rich. St. Moritz pond is man-made, but why? Shea Rink is a staple of the community in Quincy but the selection of this location at the edge of the Blue Hills...
Action Alert: Invest in Our Parks
Please urge your state representative to increase investment in our state parks through the FY23 state budget. The need for investment in our parks system has been apparent for years, but has become more urgent as the Commonwealth struggles to respond to accelerating...
Meet Blue Hills Champion: Pete Jackson
Interview by Julia Lynne Milot, Friends of the Blue Hills intern Pete Jackson is a Blue Hills Champion, someone who has signed up for monthly giving to the Friends of the Blue Hills. Pete has been a Friends of the Blue Hills member and volunteer for over 35 years. He...
Meet Blue Hills Hiker: Michelle DeVivo
Interview with Blue Hills’ hiker, Michelle DeVivo By Julia Lynne Milot, Friends of the Blue Hills Intern Michelle Devivo is new to the Boston area, and has always had a passion for hiking and the outdoors. She hopes to hike all 125-miles of trail in the Blue Hills...
Where is our state rock?
One of the questions on a recent Jeopardy TV show was of local interest and even made news on a local TV station. The category was "The 50 States" and the question was: "Rhodonite is its state gem and Roxbury puddingstone its state rock." The answer (in the form of...
Video: The Essential Role of Moths in the Blue Hills
As a part of her PhD work at UMass Boston, Teá Kesting-Handly has undertaken a 5-year study of hawk moths in 14 Massachusetts state parks, forests, and conservation lands including the Blue Hills. She is documenting how their populations and distribution are different...
Invasive Species Bill Moves Out of Committee
Thanks to our members and partners... the Invasive Species Bill is moving out of Committee! The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture passed the Invasive Species bill out of committee. Thank you to everyone who responded to the action...
How Can Research Protect Turtles in the Blue Hills — Video
The Blue Hills is home to wildlife not often found in Massachusetts, including Spotted turtles. Once state-listed as a Species of Special Concern, Spotted turtles still need healthy habitats and large enough local populations to make sure they survive long-term....
Action Alert: Invasive Species Bill
Today you have a chance to better protect native habitats in the Blue Hills -- and throughout the state. There is currently a bill that is before the the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Environment that would could help better control invasives...