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| Storm Drain Stenciling | River Cleanup | Trash in Turnouts | The Water We Drink | |
by Tom Condon Join WRWA Board Member Tom Condon and The Zoo in Forest Park Director of Education Nancy Condon on adventures in and around the Westfield River Watershed. Learn more about the natural history and explore methods of preserving of this great natural resource. Cross-Country Skiing at Knightville Wildlife Area - Sunday, January 18: Pray for snow Saturday night and then throw your skis in the car Sunday morning for a trip along the Westfield River above Knightville Dam. We will ski (or walk if therešs no snow) in along old Montgomery Road and up into the Indian Hollow area. Wešll stop and explore the area, looking for signs of wildlife in the valley. This is a beginners skiing trip, so expect to go 2 to 3 miles on open, flat terrain. Meet at am at the commuter parking lot at Westfield State College. Wešll car pool up to the gated road. Expect to return about noon. Please watch the weather forecast the night before and dress appropriately. Layers of synthetics or wool blends are the best. Bring a small pack to stow your shed layers, a small snack, and plenty of water. You might throw in a thermos of hot cocoa too. Call Tom or Nancy at 564 0895 to pre-register for the trip or with any questions. A Day on the Pond Sunday - Sunday, February 15: Have you ever stood along the shore of a frozen pond and thought about whatšs going on under that ice? If so, have we got a trip for you! Grab up that old pair of skates or your boots with the stickiest soles and come join us at Russell Pond. This beautiful 400 acre pond will be our living laboratory as we explore the ecology and physics of a freshwater pond in the winter. We will criss-cross the pond, stopping to peer beneath the ice for signs of life, visit a stream with its oxygen-rich waters feeding the lake, and explore a beaver dam. We will also step up into the surrounding forest to discuss how outside factors influence this ecosystem. If ice conditions are unsafe for travel across the pond, we will still be able to explore from its shoreline. Wešll start our trip at 10 am at the Russell Pond Town Beach just off General Knox Road in Russell. Expect to return about 1 pm. Please watch the weather forecast the night before and dress appropriately. Layers of synthetics or wool blends are the best. Bring a small pack to stow your shed layers, a small lunch, and plenty of water. You might throw in a thermos of hot cocoa too. Call Tom or Nancy at 564 0895 to pre-register for the trip or with any questions. Hubbard Brook, Granville State Forest - Sunday, March 28: Come join the club for a stroll along one of the prettiest little brooks in Western Mass. Here the spring run off cascades over numerous small falls as the water tumbles down a heavily forested hillside. Along the trip, wešll stop and discuss the power of water to shape the watersheds in which we live. Wešll also look for signs of an early (we hope) awakening spring. Meet at the Brooks Shopping Plaza in Southwick at 9 am. Expect to return about 1 pm. Dress appropriately for the weather and bring a small pack to stow your shed layers, a small lunch, and plenty of water. Call Tom or Nancy at 564-0895 to pre-register for the trip or with any questions. |
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