Fall workdays are posted below!
Email RSVP to Charlotte at chood@bnrc.org
SEPTEMBER STEWARDSHIP TEAM WORKDAYS
Trail Blazing on the Hoosac Range, North Adams (6 volunteers) AT CAPACITY
Saturday, September 24th, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm (Rescheduled from August)
Help future visitors enjoy this beautiful reserve by re-painting the blazes on the 3 miles of trails at the Hoosac Range Reserve.
Your efforts will help future visitors easily navigate the trail. The clear markings help hikers enjoy their time outdoors without needing to worry about whether they are still headed in the right direction.
- Scout Swonger
- Jeff Turner
- Louise Lieblich
- Tina Scotis
- Juliana Hektor
- Open slot
Field Maintenance at Steadman Pond, Monterey/Tyringham
Wednesday, September 28, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (12 volunteers)
Join us in trimming back the woody debris that has grown up in the field adjacent to Steadman Pond. Using hand tools such as loppers, pruners, and hand saws participants will remove the woody growth, so the fields are fit for mowing maintenance for years to come.
Mowing fields is a management practice that is key to maintaining early successional habitat (grasslands, old fields, shrub thickets), a habitat type that is declining across the region. These areas provide excellent food and cover for many declining grassland bird species as well as songbirds, turkey, deer, rabbit, and many other species.
- Tim O’Brien
- David Dutra
- Charlie Dutelle
- Ken Kelly
- Eva Shuster
- Susan LeBourdais
- Duke Douillet
- Paula Hatch
- Sarah Hudson Howard
- Donovan Snyder
- Open slot
- Open slot
OCTOBER STEWARDSHIP WORKDAYS
Habitat Restoration at The Boulders, Pittsfield AT CAPACITY
Tuesday, October 4, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (15 volunteers)
Join us in an effort to remove winged euonymus (also known as burning bush) along the Blue and Red Trails at The Boulders reserve. We will hike approximately ¾ mile to the worksite. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers and handsaws.
Winged euonymus can negatively impact biodiversity in its non-native environment if left unchecked. By removing it, we are helping to restore habitat where a wider variety of species can thrive.
- Berkshire Hikers Group
Help Bring in Bridge Material at Basin Pond
Date is TBD, but will be a weekday, likely from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (8 volunteers)
Support BNRC’s trail crew in building new stream crossings at this popular reserve. The workday will focus on helping to carry decking materials for the bridges. Once we have a final date, we’ll notify interested participants and hope you can make it!
- Susan LeBourdais
- Tim O’Brien
- Bob Johnson
- Wendy Stebbins
- Jeff Turner
- David Dutra
- Jed Baumwell
- Jeff Turner
- Room to be placed on waiting list
2022 Volunteer Appreciation Event
When: Friday, October 14, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Drop in or stay for the whole time)
Where: Wild Acres Conservation Area, S Mountain Rd, Pittsfield, MA 01201
Join us in celebrating the great work of BNRC volunteers! Whether you are brand new or have been volunteering for many years- we could not do it without you.
During the Appreciation Event, we will enjoy pictures from workdays, games, drinks, and light eats under the pavilion. We will also lead a stroll to the observation tower overlooking a beautiful wetland and Mahanna Cobble.
Click here for more information.
Corridor Clearing on the Father Loop Trail, Alford Springs, Alford AT CAPACITY
Saturday, October 22, 10:00 am – 2:30pm (10 volunteers)
This workday will focus on clearing the trail corridor of the 4.3-mile Father Loop to prepare for the coming winter season. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers, pruners, and hand saws.
- Louise Lieblich
- Susan LeBourdais
- Rosemary O’Brien
- Tim O’Brien
- David Dutra
- Jeff Turner
- John Mancia
- Stan Brown
- Jeff Turner
- Rosemary McLaughlin
Trail Blazing on the Hoosac Range, North Adams (4 volunteers) AT CAPACITY
Wednesday, October 26, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm (Rescheduled from August)
Help future visitors enjoy this beautiful reserve by re-painting the blazes on the 3 miles of trails at the Hoosac Range Reserve. During this workday, we will organize a shuttle connecting to the Hoosac Range trail via the Busby Trail in Savoy State Forest. We will hike 4.5 miles in total.
Your efforts will help future visitors easily navigate the trail. The clear markings help hikers enjoy their time outdoors without worrying about whether they are still headed in the right direction.
- David Dutra
- Steven Rogers
- John Kidd
- Katherine Kidd
Field Maintenance at Steepletop, New Marlborough
Saturday, October 29, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (10 volunteers)
This workday will focus on clearing one of the fields with a cellar hole along Edie’s Way Loop. Join us in trimming back the woody debris that has grown up in the field using hand tools such as loppers, pruners, and hand saws participants will remove the woody growth so that it is fit for mowing maintenance for years to come.
Mowing fields is a management practice that is key to maintaining early successional habitat (grasslands, old fields, shrub thickets), a habitat type that is declining across the region. These areas provide excellent food and cover for many declining grassland bird species as well as songbirds, turkey, deer, rabbit, and many other species.
- Susan LeBourdais
- Jane Tant
- Charlie Dutelle
- Tim O’Brien
- Jeff Turner
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
NOVEMBER STEWARDSHIP TEAM WORKDAYS
Habitat Restoration at The Boulders, Pittsfield
Saturday, November 5, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (15 volunteers)
Join us in a continued effort to remove winged euonymus (also known as burning bush) along the Blue and Red Trails at The Boulders reserve. We will hike in approximately ¾ mile to the worksite. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers and handsaws.
Winged euonymus can negatively impact biodiversity in its non-native environment if left unchecked. By removing it, we are helping to restore habitat where a wider variety of species can thrive.
- Charlie Dutelle
- Jeff Turner
- Gail Parker
- Eric Johnson
- Lori Johnson
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
Field Maintenance at Steepletop, New Marlborough
Thursday, November 10, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (10 volunteers)
This workday will focus on clearing one of the fields with a cellar hole along Edie’s Way Loop. Join us in trimming back the woody debris that has grown up in the field using hand tools such as loppers, pruners, and hand saws participants will remove the woody growth so that it is fit for mowing maintenance for years to come.
Mowing fields is a management practice that is key to maintaining early successional habitat (grasslands, old fields, shrub thickets), a habitat type that is declining across the region. These areas provide excellent food and cover for many declining grassland bird species as well as songbirds, turkey, deer, rabbit, and many other species.
- Susan LeBourdais
- Jane Tant
- Tim O’Brien
- Rosemary O’Brien
- David Dutra
- Jeff Turner
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
Waterbar and Corridor Clearing Sunset Rock Loop at the Hoosac Range, North Adams AT CAPACITY
Tuesday, November 15, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (4 volunteers)
This workday will focus on clearing the trail corridor and water bars of the 1.6-mile Sunset Rock Loop to prepare for the coming winter season. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers, pruners, hand saws, and digging tools.
- Susan LeBourdais
- David Dutra
- Tim O’Brien
- Tina Scotis
Other Community Volunteer Opportunities:
- The Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) hosts a weekly invasive hardy kiwi cut and pull at Burbank Park in Pittsfield. If you’d like to volunteer with BEAT by helping us continue our efforts to eradicate this destructive and problematic vine, please send an email to Noah at noah@thebeatnews.org.