Our Blog

Volunteer Spotlight: Erica Quigley

Volunteer Spotlight: Erica Quigley

Name: Erica Quigley Town: Jamaica Plain Volunteer activities: I help out on the programming committee with event planning, particularly children's activities. We try to go beyond standard crafts so that kids are engaging with the natural world and using their...

read more

Looking for Gift Ideas?

What better way to show appreciation for your loved ones than a Gift Membership to the Friends of the Blue Hills! Give the Gift of the Blue Hills

read more

Award Money Donated to the Blue Hills

Friends of the Blue Hills member and volunteer Jim Lafond-Lewis was honored recently by Blue Hills Bank for being a "Hometown Hero."  He received a $1,000 check for charity, and he selected Friends of the Blue Hills to receive the donation.  Jim  was one of 11...

read more

Volunteer Caleb Blankenship & DCR Blue Hills Rangers Recognized

Friends of the Blue Hills volunteer Caleb Blankenship (center) and DCR rangers Tom Bender (left) and Ray McKinnon received awards for  their commitment to the Blue Hills at this year’s Massachusetts Forest and Park Friends Network Conference. Caleb earned this year’s...

read more

Why You Might Want to Get a New Map…

Lost and Found on Blue Hill By Judith Wurtman (FBH member living in Boston) [Photo: Judy with her dog, Simon] We were lost. Again.  The trail from the top of Blue Hill should have ended at  Ponkapoag Pond and the parking lot. Instead it ended in a dense mass of thorny...

read more

Help name the Blue Hills’ own ‘Amazing Race’!

To celebrate our 35th year anniversary, we’re organizing a 35-place challenge, where people are encouraged to visit 35 places on a list to be entered into a raffle for a prize.  Because we’ve been told “Amazing Race’ is already taken, we need your help with a name!...

read more

Action Alert: Fowl Meadow

Take Action:  Please write to Natural Resource Co-chairs Anne Gobi and Marc Pacheco to urge them to support Bills H.818 and H.819 which would protect Fowl Meadow wetlands. (See sample letter below.) Background:  A private company has proposed building 276 housing...

read more

Action Alert: Protect Endangered Species

Two bills would repeal the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.  The Committee on Natural Resources is holding a hearing on these bills on Monday.   The chairs of that Committee need to know that we oppose the bills that would destroy protections for endangered...

read more

What’s Your Top 35 places in the Blue Hills?

For the Friends of the Blue Hills 35th Anniversary, we’re creating a Top 35 list of places to visit in the Blue Hills.  (People who visit all 35 places will be entered into a raffle for a great prize!) Please help us create the Top 35 Things to Do and See in the Blue...

read more

Preliminary Approval Given to Development near Fowl Meadow

A Texas-based company was given preliminary approval this month to move forward on a 276-unit housing development near the part of the Blue Hills called Fowl Meadow.  Despite letters submitted by the Friends of the Blue Hills and others opposing the project, the...

read more

Boot Camp at the Blue Hills

The DCR and YMCA Boot Camp Mondays and Fridays, September 30 – November 22 Every Monday and Friday – 8 week program 9:00am, approximately 1 hour DCR MassParks and YMCA/Hyde Park co-sponsor the first Boot Camp Exercise Program at the Blue Hills Reservation.  A...

read more

Volunteer Spotlight: Owen Hartford

Name: Owen Hartford Town: Milton, MA Volunteer Activities:  While occasionally I attend the trail maintenance events, I devote most of my volunteer efforts with FBH to graphic design. I've been doing the layout for the newsletter since 2008, and also have worked on...

read more

Help or Run at the Houghton’s Pond Trail Race

The 10th annual Houghton’s Pond Trail Race will take place on Sunday, October 6th, beginning at 9 AM near the Houghton’s Pond main parking lot on Hillside Street in Milton  The net proceeds from the race are divided between Colonial Road Runners and Friends of the...

read more

Volunteer Spotlight: Casey Ajalat

Name: Casey Ajalat Town: Billerica, MA Volunteer activities: Trail Maintenance in the Blue Hills, Organizer of the Blue Hills Hiking Club (Meetup), Assistant Organizer for the Random Group of Hikers (Meetup), AMC 3 season Hike Leader, AMC Spring Hiking Program...

read more

Tribute to Judi Houghton

We're so saddened by the death of Judi Houghton, FBH member and mother of FBH Board Member, Denny Swenson.  Denny wrote the following tribute to her mother after her mother's passing last month.  We remember Judi with much love and our hearts go out to Denny and her...

read more

Change that Supports FBH

Turn your coins into CASH with the new coin counting machine located at Bank of Canton’s 557 Washington Street branch! The coin counting service is free for Bank of Canton customers. Non-customers are subject to a 6% fee of all coins counted.  But for the month of...

read more

Volunteers Tackle a Thorny Problem

This month, Friends of the Blue Hills organized volunteers to remove the invasive plant called mile-a-minute from Fowl Meadow, the northwestern portion of the Blue Hills in Dedham and Milton.  As implied by its name, this prickly vine quickly outgrows native plants. ...

read more

This Sunday Morning (July 21) – Help Remove Mile-a-minute

We're in Fowl Meadow again this Sunday morning, July 21.  Join us to remove the mile-a-minute vine in Fowl Meadow.  You'll help keep this fast-growing invasive weed in check so Fowl Meadow's sensitive wetland habitat can thrive.  Wear long pants, bring heavy gloves,...

read more

Houghton’s Pond Cool Summer Fest

Enjoy wet and wild fun for the whole family! The heat is on at Houghton’s Pond this summer but we will stay cool with wacky water games, make and take kid crafts, music, dance, live wildlife, pond exploration, free fishing fun and more! (Free equipment loans for...

read more

Volunteer Spotlight: Daniel Byrnes

Volunteer Spotlight: name: Daniel Byrnes Town: Braintree Volunteer activities: Writing for the Friends of the Blue Hills Newsletter and Twitter account FBH member since: 2013 Favorite Hike: Skyline trail Favorite thing to do in the Blue Hills: Hiking, wondering...

read more