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PRODID:-//Freedom's Way National Heritage Area - ECPv6.18.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
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X-WR-CALNAME:Freedom's Way National Heritage Area
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://freedomsway.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Freedom's Way National Heritage Area
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DTSTART:20210101T000000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20260531T130000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20260531T160000
DTSTAMP:20260407T202008Z
CREATED:20260407T202008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260407T202008Z
UID:36296-1780232400-1780243200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Groton's Glacial Sculpting
DESCRIPTION:A glacier 2-miles thick covered Massachusetts 100\,000 years ago. It slowly melted and receded back north\, ending about 12\,000 years ago. But the “footprints” of that glacier remain in the land’s sculpted geography. \nIn Groton\, for unknown reasons\, there is an unusual abundance of those footprints. There are 40+ hills of dirt and stones (drumlins)\, dozens of meandering elevated ribbons of dirt and stones (eskers)\, a score of big round pits/ponds in the ground (kettle holes)\, and scraped granite bedrock (outcrops and wetlands). In this tour\, you’ll visit three conservation areas in three hours to see examples of these glacial remnants via the Groton Trails Network\, a system of roughly 130 miles of public trails within the town’s borders. \nThe trails are rugged and there are numerous steep hills totaling 500 feet. Total hiking distance will be 5.7 miles. Participants must be physically fit. No pets allowed. Activity will only be cancelled if there is severe weather predicted. \nDATE: Sunday\, May 31 \nTIME: 1 – 4 PM \nLOCATION: Participants should park at the Nashua River Rail Trail parking lot on Sand Hill Road\, Groton\, MA. This is adjacent to the Shepley Hill conservation land. The second conservation area that will be visited is the Casella Preserve. We will park at the upper athletic fields of the Groton-Dunstable Regional High School on Chicopee Row. The third will be the Groton Memorial Town Forest and we will park at the end of Town Forest Rd (follow Wharton Row off Rte. 225). \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/grotons-glacial-sculpting/
LOCATION:Groton\, MA\, Groton\, MA\, 01451\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Skinner-Forest-scaled-1.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250510T090000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250510T120000
DTSTAMP:20250423T141116Z
CREATED:20250408T202849Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250423T141116Z
UID:27813-1746867600-1746878400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Hiking Through Time Along Groton's Nashua River
DESCRIPTION:This last glaciation\, 12\,000 years ago\, created a 30-mile long Lake Nashua\, river deltas of tributaries\, and drumlins\, kettle holes\, and eskers along the shore. Indigenous peoples began to move in when the ice retreated. The rich soil and sculpted landscape created many relatively isolated environments that fostered a profusion of plant and wildlife. The area called Petapawag (“swampy place”) became their hunting and fishing grounds. \nFour hundred years ago\, early colonists of America claimed the land\, founded Groton\, set up trading posts\, mined\, farmed\, and built roads\, homes\, and mills. One hundred and fifty years ago\, industries were built along the upstream river along with railroads to supply them with materials. The Nashua River wildlife was decimated by the resulting pollution until resident Marion Stoddart decided to organize a movement to clean it up. Now\, 60 years later\, the Nashua River is clean and getting cleaner and what we see now is probably much as it looked before the colonists arrived. \nWe will hike along the river and adjoining conservation parcels and will see drumlins\, a sand dune\, a soapstone quarry\, and a former U.S. Olympic Trials equestrian venue\, while enjoying the peace and beauty of the surrounding forests. \nThis hike will pass through the Shepley Hills Conseration Area\, J. Harry Rich State Forest\, the Longley Estates Conservation Areas\, and the Cronin Conservation Area. This hike of about 6 miles will take about three hours and includes some moderate hills. Children are welcome. Dogs must be on a leash and under control at all times. \nDATE: Saturday\, May 10th\nRain Date: Sunday\, May 11th (If more than one or two-tenths of an inch are predicted during the hike on Saturday). \nTIME: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM \nLOCATION: Multiple Groton Conservation Properties\, Sand Hill Road\, Groton\, MA 01450 \nPARKING: Public parking lot where Sand Hill Road crosses the Nashua River Rail Trail east of Common Street. \nACCESSIBILITY: This hike is not recommended for people with mobility limitations. \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/hiking-through-time-along-grotons-nashua-river/
LOCATION:Nashua River Rail Trail – Sand Hill Road Parking Lot\, 92 Sand Hill Rd\, Groton\, MA\, 01450
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/John-Tinker-Trail-view-at-end.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240511T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240511T123000
DTSTAMP:20240501T150347Z
CREATED:20240425T122630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240501T150347Z
UID:21192-1715421600-1715430600@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Hike Through Mosaic of Glacial Landforms and Ecologies
DESCRIPTION:This event is a guided hike through several conservation parcels that were sculpted by the 2-mile high glacier that covered and then receded from the Northeast tens of thousands of years ago. The resulting kettle ponds\, eskers\, drumlins\, and extensive wetlands in between\, created prime conditions for exceptional biodiversity. These features also made development of the land more impractical and this has allowed many rare or endangered species to survive and even flourish. Part of the hike will show how development can be integrated into the natural environment with good success but will also show areas that have been largely untouched over thousands of years. \nThe trails are suitable for families. Dogs must be on leashes and well-behaved. A waiver form must be signed on the day of the event to participate in the hike. \nPARKING & ACCESS: Please park on Northwoods Rd. near a pond that is a few hundred feet to the west of Nashua Rd. The trails are not accessible. However\, the trails are also moderately easy to walk over in general. Hiking poles are recommended for unsteady walkers. \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/hike-through-mosaic-of-glacial-landforms-and-ecologies/
LOCATION:Northwoods Conservation Area\, Northwoods Rd\, Groton\, MA\, 01450\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hidden Treasures,Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Still-Meadow-front-field.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230216T183000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230216T210000
DTSTAMP:20230601T154714Z
CREATED:20230201T141326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230601T154714Z
UID:16526-1676572200-1676581200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:8th Annual Groton Conservation Forum
DESCRIPTION:The Groton Trails Committee\, the Groton Conservation Commission\, and the Groton Conservation Trust inaugurated the Groton Conservation Forum in 2015 and they rotate the organizing responsibility each year. All private and municipal organizations engaged in conservation and passive recreational activities in Groton\, as well as the general public\, are invited to participate. The goals of the Forum are to discuss topics of mutual interest\, to explore opportunities for cooperation\, to share different perspectives\, and to learn about each organization’s current initiatives. \nThe Forum will start with an opportunity to interact with each other over drinks and snacks. Then at 7:15 we will listen to the Keynote Address by Dr. Scott Jackson\, an Extension Professor in UMass Amherst’s Dept. of Environmental Conservation. You can get a preview of what he will talk about by viewing his presentation\, “Protecting Forests & Other Ecosystems in the Context of Climate Change\,” which is posted on YouTube. Dr. Jackson’s talk will surely engage and educate those in attendance. There will be a Q&A period following his presentation and then further time to interact with each other and finish up all the drinks and snacks!  The Forum will conclude at 9:00 pm. \nThe following is a condensed bio of Dr. Scott Jackson: Scott has taught courses and workshops on wetlands ecology and conservation\, biodiversity conservation\, the ecology and conservation of amphibians and reptiles\, and general New England natural history. He has been involved in the use of underpass systems to facilitate wildlife movement across roads and development of methods for evaluating the effectiveness of animal passage structures. His research interests include the following: ecology and breeding biology of amphibians\, vernal pool ecology\, wetland assessment and monitoring\, impacts of roads and highways on wildlife\, and landscape-based ecological assessment. He is a principal (along with Kevin McGarigal and Brad Compton) in the development of the Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS) and the Critical Linkages project\, and he serves as project leader for the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC). Scott led a collaborative project to develop the Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool and is interested in helping practitioners access climate science for on-the-ground ecosystem conservation. As a private consultant he conducted wildlife habitat evaluations\, natural resource inventories\, rare species surveys\, project reviews\, and development of conservation plans. Scott is Chair of the Whately Conservation Commission\, serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC)\, and is Chair of the Kestrel Land Trust Board of Trustees.
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/8th-annual-groton-conservation-forum/
LOCATION:The Groton Center\, 163 West Main St\, Groton\, MA\, 01450\, United States
CATEGORIES:Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6396.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220528T103000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220528T113000
DTSTAMP:20230421T201553Z
CREATED:20220425T134059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230421T201553Z
UID:13539-1653733800-1653737400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Storytime Walk: A River Ran Wild
DESCRIPTION:Learn about the story of the Nashua River and go for a walk along the River. We will read Lynne Cherry’s A River Ran Wild picture book about the Nashua River\, its natural beauty\, industrial impact\, and successful restoration efforts. Afterward\, we will hike on the John Tinker Trail along the river and enjoy a beautiful view of the Oxbow.\n \nSpecial Instructions: There is a parking area with handicap (van accessible) parking spots located at the trailhead at 97-147 Nod Rd. Reservations required\, email jabberwockyprincess@gmail.com.\n \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/storytime-walk-a-river-ran-wild/
LOCATION:John Tinker Trail\, Nod Rd\, Groton\, MA\, 01450\, United States
CATEGORIES:Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ht-2022_groton-trails-committee_john-tinker-trail.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220521T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220521T120000
DTSTAMP:20230421T200238Z
CREATED:20220425T133608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230421T200238Z
UID:13535-1653127200-1653134400@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Biodiversity Thriving Amidst Glacial Remnants
DESCRIPTION:Groton comprises an exuberance of glacier-created geologic features as well as an extraordinary biodiversity. This 4-mile hike will lead you to outcrops\, eskers\, kames\, kettle holes and ponds\, beaver ponds\, a great blue heron rookery\, and beautiful woodland scenery. You will learn about the on-the-ground impacts of a 1-2 mile sheet of ice that existed 80-120\,000 years ago and that fully receded around 14\,000 years ago. You will gain an appreciation for the influences of geography and geology on the exceptional levels of biodiversity that attracted the first Indigenous peoples to our region and that you can still experience today throughout Groton.\n \nSpecial Instructions: There is a small parking area in front of a gate across a discontinued road (Dan Parker Rd.) on Martins Pond Rd.\, about 1/4 mile west of Old Dunstable Rd. (This section of Martins Pond Rd. is named Rocky Hill Rd. on some maps.) If the parking area is full\, please park on only the north side of Martins Pond Rd. (the side that the parking area is on). \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/biodiversity-thriving-amidst-glacial-remnants/
LOCATION:Wharton Plantation\, Martins Pond Rd\, Groton\, 01450
CATEGORIES:Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ht-2022_groton-trails-committee_wharton-plantation.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220514T083000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220514T103000
DTSTAMP:20230421T200247Z
CREATED:20220422T195607Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230421T200247Z
UID:13530-1652517000-1652524200@freedomsway.org
SUMMARY:Blackman Field & Woods Guided Walk
DESCRIPTION:Trees are growing. Blue herons are nesting. Owl babies are getting ready to fly. Some birds are coming for the summer while others are on their way to the north. Beavers swim about. Flowers are blooming. Make sure to ring the Paul Matisse’s Forest Bells that rest on the top of a slight hill to listen to them bounce through the forest. There is so much to explore and love. This hike is family-friendly. Appropriate for ages 6+. A pair of binoculars is recommended.\n \nSpecial Instructions: Reservations required\, email russnmurray@gmail.com. \n  \nThis program is offered by the Groton Trails Committee as part of the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature\, Culture & History\, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places\, objects\, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Click to discover more Hidden Treasures!
URL:https://freedomsway.org/event/blackman-field-woods-guided-walk/
LOCATION:Blackman Field & Woods\, 23 Indian Hill Road\, Groton\, MA\, 01450\, United States
CATEGORIES:Walks & Hikes
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://freedomsway.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ht-2022_groton-trails-committee_blackman-field.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Groton Trails Committee":MAILTO:trails@grotonma.gov
END:VEVENT
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