* NRWA Whitman River Trail Hike

Whitman River Trail Hike
Sunday, November 17, 2013, 2:00- 4:00 p.m., in Westminster, MA
Join us to hike this beautiful section along the WhitmanRiver, running from Crocker Pond in Westminsterto Rt. 2A across from the Wachusett Brewery near the Fitchburg/Westminster line. The abutting land is owned by the Town of Westminsterand the river is a tributary to the North Branch of the Nashuain West Fitchburg. Your guides will be Al Futterman, NRWA Land Programs Director, and Ken Pearson, Biology/ Environmental Science Instructor with Monty Tech in Fitchburg. We cross several feeder streams which are home to native brook trout and other wildlife. Highlights include a frog pond, several vernal pools, seeps and a variety of aquatic and upland habitats. Evidence of moose, deer and beaver has been seen along the trail. Ken Pearson was recently awarded the Mass Audubon Conservation Teacher of the Year for High Schools, and is recognized for creating an outdoor classroom and stewardship program (started in 2009) for aquatic studies, connecting students and the curriculum to local resources such as the WhitmanRiverand Snow’s Mill Pond. The meeting place will be at the soccer field parking lot across from Wachusett Brewery (roughly 202 State Road Eastin Westminster); view Google map for directions. The walk is free and open to the public. For the comfort of all, no dogs are allowed. The NRWA is leading monthly walks on conservation properties in our watershed communities to encourage residents to get to know more about their local natural places, and to enjoy a healthy lifestyle through outdoor activity. Pre-registration is appreciated for planning purposes.  To pre-register, please contact Al Futterman at (978) 448-0299, or email AlF@NashuaRiverWatershed.org.  FREE