


Fall workdays posted below!
AUGUST STEWARDSHIP TEAM WORKDAYS
Trail Blazing on the Hoosac Range, North Adams (4 volunteers) AT CAPACITY
Wednesday, August 17, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Help future visitors enjoy this beautiful reserve by re-painting the blazes on the 3 miles of trails at the Hoosac Range Reserve. In 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 total.
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.
- Steven Rogers
- David Dutra
- John Kidd
- Katherine Kidd
Thomas & Palmer Trail Construction, Great Barrington (8 volunteers) AT CAPACITY
Wednesday, August 24th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Support BNRC’s trail crew in building a new trail at this popular reserve. Due to the complexity of the project, the workday tasks will be outlined closer to the event but will include corridor clearing, light trail surface cutting, or helping to carry decking materials for a bridge.
- Juliana Hektor
- David Dutra
- Jane Jacobs
- Jane Jacobs husband
- Nancy King
- Robert Johnson
- Charles Dutelle
- Alex Ziegler
Thomas & Palmer Trail Construction, Great Barrington (8 volunteers) AT CAPACITY
Saturday, August 27, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm (Rescheduled from July)
Support BNRC’s trail crew in building a new trail at this popular reserve. Due to the complexity of the project the workday tasks will be outlined closer to the event but will include corridor clearing, light trail surface cutting, or helping to carry decking materials for a bridge.
- Juliana Hektor
- Sharon Siter
- Jeffrey Turner
- Scout Swonger
- Robert Johnson
- Charles Dutelle
- Alex Ziegler
- Jessica Yauri Cambi
Habitat Restoration at The Boulders, Pittsfield (15 volunteers)
Tuesday, August 30, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us in a continued effort to remove winged eunoymus (also known as burning bush) from the Blue and Red Trails at The Boulders reserve. We will hike in approximately 3/4 mile to the worksite. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers, shovels, 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 wide variety of plants can thrive.
- Jeffrey Turner
- Juliana Hektor
- Kathleen Mosher
- Wendy Stebbins
- Kathryn Wedderburn
- Charlie Dutelle
- John Kidd
- Gail Parker
- Stephen Veilleux
- Alex Ziegler
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
SEPTEMBER STEWARDSHIP TEAM WORKDAYS
Trail Blazing on the Hoosac Range, North Adams (6 volunteers)
Tuesday, September 13th, from 12:00 pm – 4:30 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. In 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 total.
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.
- Susan LeBourdais
- David Dutra
- Rosemary O’Brien
- Tim O’Brien
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
Trail Blazing on the Hoosac Range, North Adams (6 volunteers)
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. In 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 total.
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.
- Robert Watroba
- Scout Swonger
- Open slot
- Open slot
- Open slot
- 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.
OCTOBER STEWARDSHIP WORKDAYS
Habitat Restoration at The Boulders, Pittsfield
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.
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!
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.
Corridor Clearing on the Father Loop Trail, Alford Springs, Alford
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.
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.
NOVEMBER STEWARDSHIP TEAM WORKDAYS
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.
Waterbar and Corridor Clearing Sunset Rock Loop at the Hoosac Range, North Adams
Tuesday, November 15, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This workday will focus on clearing the trail corridor and water bars of the 1.5-mile Father Loop to prepare for the coming winter season. Participants will use hand tools such as loppers, pruners, hand saws, and digging tools.
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.