The Mattapoisett Land Trust has announced its schedule of Staycation Family Activities for the upcoming school break during the week of April 19 to April 25. All activities are free of charge and offer local families an opportunity to explore MLT properties and connect with nature. To find Staycation Family Activities, visit the MLT website mattlandtrust.org and explore the Family Activities link on the left side of the page.
Starry Night is an opportunity for people of all ages to gaze at the night sky on the evening of Sunday, April 19, 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm at Grace Meadow-Santos Farm Preserve located off Aucoot Road at the end of Bowman Road in the eastern part of Mattapoisett. This evening will provide opportunities to observe a crescent Moon, Jupiter, Venus, and possibly a comet. The event will feature speakers and telescopes provided by guest astronomers from Skyscrapers, Inc. Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island. There will be cocoa and crafts for children. Plenty of parking will be available near 15 Bowman Road. Arrive as early as 7:30 pm for parking, crafts, and to watch setup. In the event of cancelation, a weather notice will be posted on the MLT website by 5:00 pm.
Throughout the week families can enjoy nature-themed Scavenger Hunts at three MLT properties: Munn Preserve on Mattapoisett Neck Road near the stone pillars demarking the Antassawamock private community, Dexter (Tub) Mill Park, and Dunseith Gardens. Our new Scavenger Hunts have a list of items to find, and individual finds can be documented with photos. Scavenger Hunt Guides may be downloaded for:
Dunseith Gardens at bit.ly/Dunseith_spring.
Dexter (Tub) Mill at bit.ly/DexterMill_spring.
Munn Preserve at bit.ly/munn_spring.
Participants are encouraged to take a picture of those items they find interesting and send photos to photos@landtrust.org.
Storywalks are are available throughout the week at Grace Meadow and Dunseith Gardens. Nature Bingo Cards are available for Betsey’s Meadow bit.ly/bingo_betseysmeadow and Munro Preserve.
On Tuesday, April 21, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, young children are invited to Wiggle Worm Story Time. at Dunseith Gardens to hear “Carl and the Meaning of Life” and other stories. Readings by MLT members Jocelyn Mitchell Chin and Bethany Couto will be followed by a walk to observe signs of spring, find some worms, and plant a marigold to bring home.
On Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 pm, Gary Johnson will conduct a Vernal Pool Walk at the Woodcock Preserve. This mature forest, located near 32 Long Plain Road, is home to one of the largest vernal pools in the area. Off-street parking is available in the area marked with a Buzzards Bay Coalition/Mattapoisett Land Trust sign. For a map of this location, please go to: bit.ly/woodcockmap_MLT.
The MLT is pleased to be partnering with the Mattapoisett Free Public Library on these projects. Themed MOBY backpacks, designed for many different nature adventures, are available in the library’s Children’s Department. Brochures, Scavenger Hunts, maps, and MLT Trail Passports can be picked up at the library also. Books about trails, trees, animals, and birds as well as trekking poles, binoculars, telescopes, gardening supplies, GoPro Hero 7 camera kit, and more items are available at the library to check out. For more information, see: mattapoisettlibrary.org/explore-the-outdoors.