Join Mass Audubon for a guided walk of their newest sanctuary, Brewster’s Woods, a historic property along the Concord River. Site of the home of William Brewster, a noted ornithologist and Mass Audubon’s first president, Brewster's Woods features a diversity of field, forest, and wetland habitats. We will discuss the planned ecological restoration of the sanctuary and our vision for its future as a site of inspiration and connection to nature. Reservation required; limit to 15 participants.

Travel in time as you paddle with Brian Donahue, Brandeis University history professor and expert on the Sudbury River. Paddle to Sherman's Bridge through the wide meadows that prompted the founding of Wayland and Sudbury and hear stories of a fascinating and sometimes lurid past. Meet at the Rte. 20 boat launch in Wayland. Bring your canoe or kayak and life jacket (required). Cars will be available at Sherman's Bridge Rd. to shuttle you back. For more information: (508)-358-2980.

Enjoy a calm 2-hour paddle and learn some history of the river in Saxonville and current threats from invasive aquatic vegetation. You are likely to spot a great blue heron, a kingfisher, a myriad of ducks and geese with chicks, and turtles sunning themselves, and maybe a bald eagle! There’s also the option of leisurely picking up shoreline debris and observing an invasive water chestnut hand-pulling removal demonstration. Please RSVP and indicate if you need to reserve a canoe for this event via the registration form. Contact for any questions about the paddle.

Join experienced guide Marlies Henderson, CIG, to explore extant portions of the Middlesex Canal, reading passages from Henry David Thoreau describing the towpath, from the Billerica Falls towards Middlesex Village. Focus will be on camaraderie and local history. Meet at the gazebo at the falls for a three hour easy walk. Knee high boots recommended if extending the walk beyond a flooded 500 foot section. 

Location: Meet at North Billerica Historic Mills District (71 Faulkner St, N. Billerica).

Enjoy a Self-guided Nature Hike and Seek and Nature Crafts in the orchard with The Trustees. The Old Manse will be open for house tours throughout the day as well. Learn more and book advanced passes at
The Old Manse - The Trustees of Reservations

Guided Walk.  At 11:00 a.m. meet a Park Ranger at the benches by the North Bridge for this daily 30 minute program. Learn about the momentous battle at Concord’s North Bridge, where the British Army suffered its first casualties of the war, and the legacy of this event in American History. For more information click the link below. Walks are happening both Saturday and Sunday.

Minute Man National Historical Park

Learn about the Middlesex Canal, the greatest work of its kind in the United States until the Erie Canal. Kayakers can take out above the Billerica Falls Dam at the canal entrance/parking lot at 2 Old Elm Street and walk part of the canal that Henry Thoreau traveled between the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. For children, a Leggo canal playground, a watered model lock, and a scavenger hunt. Free Middlesex Canal Museum, 71 Faulkner St, 12-4 pm. 

A pair of large, live oxen will visit the Middlesex Canal at 2 Old Elm St, Billerica, 12-4 pm, Saturday.

MCA Flyer 2022

EVENT REGISTRATION FULL

Join Dr. Amity Wilczek, an evolutionary ecologist, and Richard Smith, an historian, for a walk through Simon Willard Woods and along the Assabet River to Egg Rock, where the confluence of the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers form the Concord River. Along the way they will explore the ecological and historical importance of the area and discuss the changes that have occurred over the last 400 years. The three rivers that flow through Concord have played an important role in the history of the town, from the Native Americans who once fished here up to the recreational kayakers of the present day. Henry Thoreau was a frequent visitor to the rivers. Traveling by both land and water, he was always on the lookout for "Wild and noble sites...such as they who sit in parlors never dream of." And he usually found such sites. Join us and we may even see some ‘wild and noble’ sites, too! Meet at Simon Willard Woods. Parking is near the end of Simon Willard Road in Concord. Reservation required; limit to 15 people. https://www.concordland.org/

Moments of great importance often hinge upon individuals making decisions in the heat of the moment. At Concord’s North Bridge on April 19, 1775 soldiers on both sides made decisions that changed the course of history. Meet a park ranger at North Bridge Visitor Center for a 40 minute walking tour from the visitor center to the North Bridge battle site. Learn about the battle from the perspective of the participants. Along the way, the 18th century battlefield and landscape will be revealed as you walk in the footsteps of the minute men. Walks will happen both Saturday and Sunday. Click the link below for more information.

North Bridge Battlefield Walk

An approximately 4 hour flat water paddle to Lowell and back, using the North Billerica Fire Station ramp to put-in and take out. Despite the fact that this section is not designated "Wild & Scenic" (due to the dam impoundments), it is an absolutely scenic paddle! Meet at the North Billerica Fire Station, 21 Lowell Street, North Billerica, MA.

Join us for the ceremonial unveiling of a wayside exhibit at a canoe & kayak access point along the Concord River. The panel was funded by the SuAsCo W&S River Stewardship Council, and it highlights the outstandingly remarkable recreational values of the river, this beach once sported a popular boat house!

Learn about the Middlesex Canal, the greatest work of its kind in the United States until the Erie Canal. Kayakers can take out above the Billerica Falls Dam at the canal entrance/parking lot at 2 Old Elm Street and walk part of the canal that Henry Thoreau traveled between the Merrimack and Concord Rivers. For children, a Leggo canal playground, a watered model lock, and a scavenger hunt. Free Middlesex Canal Museum, 71 Faulkner St, 12-4 pm.

Join a paddle on the Concord River, explore the Middlesex Canal Museum, walk with Henry David Thoreau, and learn all about Billerica's River History from the comfort of your own home! Click the button below to watch the welcome video (2 min) then do some virtual exploring in Billerica!