Saturday Storybook Reading
2021-01-09 10:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a Saturday storybook reading with the Conservancy’s Tess O’Day. Each event will feature one story and include a take-away activity. Tune in on YouTube Saturday, January 9 at 10:30 am for the first winter story. Ideal for kids ages 5-12.

YLP Panel: Careers in Landscape Architecture
2021-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 | MA
Are you interested in Landscape Architecture? Do you want to find out what that even is? Join Landscape Architecture college and university students, professionals, and educators in this panel discussion about what it’s like working in the field of Landscape Architecture. This session will include a question and answer portion, as well as virtual “office visits” to different sites.
As part of our virtual Youth Leadership Program in 2021, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy is opening up select sessions to youth not enrolled in the program, FREE and open to ALL youth between the ages of 14-20.
Register for the panel here

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
2019-01-21 | MA
In observance of the holiday and Martin Luther King, Jr., Conservancy offices at the Shattuck Visitor Center are closed.

Saturday Storybook Reading
2021-01-30 10:30 - 11:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a Saturday storybook reading with the Conservancy’s Tess O’Day. Each event will feature one story and include a take-away activity. Tune in on YouTube Saturday, January 30 at 10:30 am for the first winter story. Ideal for kids ages 5-12.

Creating a Picture Book with Katia Wish
2021-02-06 10:30 - 11:30 | MA
Creating a Picture Book: An author-illustrator shares the secrets of making a picture book.

In this fun and interactive story time, an author-illustrator Katia Wish shares the secrets of making her picture book RACCOON’S PERFECT SNOWMAN. After an engaging slide presentation and story reading, the kids will enjoy a draw-along activity.
The kids will learn that every book goes through many stages to become a real published book.
– inspiration
– idea generation
– rough sketches
– character studies
– several drafts
– refined sketches
– final images for a book
– published book!
Katia Wish is a children’s book author-illustrator based in Brookline, MA. Her latest book is Raccoon’s Perfect Snowman.
If you’d like to order the book AUTOGRAPHED by Katia Wish, you can find the information here.
If you’d like to schedule a VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT with your school or library, you can find the information here.

Presidents' Day
2019-02-18 | MA
In observation of the holiday, Conservancy offices at the Shattuck Visitor Center are closed.

First Peek into the Curley House
2021-03-23 17:30 - 18:30 | MA
Fun fact: the Conservancy’s recently expanded offices at 350 Jamaicaway are the former home of Mayor James Michael Curley, one of Boston’s most notable (and notorious) mayors! Although our staff has been working remotely for the past year, we can’t keep this historically rich landmark overlooking Jamaica Pond to ourselves any longer! Join us on March 23 for a virtual “first peek” at the Curley House to learn about its remarkable past and its most storied resident.

We gratefully acknowledge the Trustees of the George Robert White Fund of the City of Boston, owner of the Curley House.

Patriots' Day
2019-04-15 | MA

Muddy River Cleanup 2021
2021-04-19 - 2021-04-24 | Emerald Necklace, MA, United States
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have adjusted our traditionally one-day event to span a week in order to promote social distancing among volunteers.
All cleanup events will take place from 10:00AM-12:00PM throughout the week.
Monday, April 19, 2021: Back Bay Fens & Olmsted Park
Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Charlesgate & Jamaica Pond*
Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Justine Mee Liff Park & Olmsted Park
Thursday April 22, 2021: Riverway & Franklin Park (Shattuck Picnic Grove)
Friday, April 23, 2021: Charlesgate & Justine Mee Liff Park
Saturday, April 24, 2021: Back Bay Fens & Franklin Park (Valley Gates)
* Must be 18+ or accompanied by a guardian to participate in Jamaica Pond Cleanup.

All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate. In order to follow event size requirements, we will cap each cleanup site at 25 volunteers. If a date does not appear on the signup form below, it has reached capacity.
If you would like to sign up for a waitlist for a closed cleanup site, please contact volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with the subject line ‘Waitlist for Muddy River Cleanup’.

Note: For corporate volunteers and groups interested in participating that are over 25 people, we will require that they split their group between multiple cleanup sites. Contact Land Stewardship Coordinator Joelle Boyle at jboyle@emeraldnecklace.org and include “Muddy River Cleanup Corporate Group: [Insert Group Name Here]” in the subject line to arrange dates and cleanup sites.

Tour of the Muddy River Restoration
2021-04-21 14:30 - 15:30 | MA
This tour is at capacity. To join the waitlist, please contact Jamie Santuccio at jsantuccio@emeraldnecklace.org.
Are you curious about what is going on in the Emerald Necklace behind those temporary fences?
Join the Conservancy on a tour of Phase 2 of the Muddy River Restoration in the Back Bay Fens restoration area with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Charter Construction. You will learn about why the Muddy River Restoration project is so important and specifics about how the restoration work is being done. The tour will be led by members of the Army Corps and Charter Contracting Company and will remain outside of the construction fencing for the safety of attendees.
Please note that space is limited to 10 guests and registration is required. We will be conducting the tour in accordance with COVID-19 safety requirements which include social distancing and face masks at all times. You will receive information about the tour meeting location in the registration email confirmation.
Please note: In case of inclement weather, this tour will be held on Thursday, April 22 at 2:30 pm. A switch to the rain date will be determined by 10:00 am the day of the event and will be communicated via email.

Walk: Useful Plants Among Us
2021-04-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Valley Gates Parking Lot, Boston, MA, United States
There are helpful and even edible plants all around us, especially in springtime. Learn how to identify and use helpful plants that grow in the wild on a leisurely stroll along Franklin Park’s Valley Gates with Pam Kristan, author and wild food practitioner. Find out what is growing, where, when, which parts are edible or useful for other purposes, and preparation techniques.
Free; Donations to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy gratefully accepted.
Note: This tour is educational. No plants will be harvested or eaten. Plants in Public Parks are not for harvesting. Covid safety protocols will be observed during the walk.
This event has reached its capacity. Please email kjackson@emeraldnecklace.org to join the wait list.

Arbor Week Tree Giveaway
2021-04-28 09:00 - 2021-04-29 18:00 | James Michael Curley House, 350 Jamaicaway, Boston, MA, 02130, United States
Plant a tree for Arbor Day!
In celebration of Arbor Week, we are pleased to partner with Speak for the Trees to give away tree saplings at the Conservancy’s Curley House offices. Stop by the parking lot, behind the Curley House, to pick up a White Oak, Bur Oak, Persimmon, Frasier Fir, or Sweetgum. Please note: parking is not available onsite, but there is street parking nearby. Enter on foot from Moraine Street. Special thanks to Speak for the Trees for making this giveaway possible.
Pick up dates and times (rain or shine):
Wednesday, April 28, 9am-1pm
Thursday, April 29, 2pm-6pm
Trees must be planted on private property.

Charlesgate Park Tour - Boston Design Week (1:00PM)
2021-05-01 13:00 - 14:30 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a tour of Charlesgate Park as part of Boston Design Week.
Charlesgate is the start of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. We hope you’ll join us to learn about the park’s history, as well as present restoration efforts designed to repair park access issues, improve the water quality of Muddy River and create new park amenities.
The tour will be led by Parker James from the Charlesgate Alliance. A rain date for this tour is set for May 8, 2021 at 1:00PM.

Charlesgate Park Tour – Boston Design Week (4:00PM)
2021-05-01 16:00 - 17:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a tour of Charlesgate Park as part of Boston Design Week.
Charlesgate is the start of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace. We hope you’ll join us to learn about the park’s history, as well as present restoration efforts designed to repair park access issues, improve the water quality of Muddy River and create new park amenities.
The tour will be led by Parker James from the Charlesgate Alliance. A rain date for this tour is set for May 8, 2021 at 4:00PM.

2021 Annual Meeting
2021-05-06 17:30 - 19:00 | MA
Join us to learn about the Conservancy’s tree care program and why a healthy urban tree canopy is essential to our city.
Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek will share an update about our work over this past year. We’ll dive a bit deeper into our tree and landscape work with Erica Holm, the Conservancy’s Field Operations Coordinator. Erica will explain the work we’ve completed so far during the first seven-year tree pruning cycle of our Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan, and where we hope to go in the future.
Dr. Jim Clark, the Managing Consulting Arborist for Hort Science | Bartlett Consulting and an internationally renowned arborist, will join us to speak about how this kind of tree care is beneficial for the long-term health of the tree canopy, for the humans interacting with it and for the environment.
To close out the event, we will be joined by an expert panel to discuss the importance of a healthy tree canopy from the perspective of the tree canopy and the nearby environment, direct human interaction in an urban environment and the broader public health impacts a tree canopy (or lack thereof) can have on the surrounding community.

Introduction to Animal Tracking
2021-05-08 10:00 - 11:00 | MA
Come and learn how to identify signs of different animal life, some of which we share our parks with! In this fun, virtual experience, we will look at animal tracks, scat, and other signs they leave behind, and learn how to identify which animal left them.
This experience will be facilitated by Bob Metcalfe. Bob is an excellent tracker with over 30 years of experience. Bob’s passion to share his love of nature permeates his teaching style. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from him!
Suitable for families and children age 12 and up.

Volunteer Event: Ecological Restoration Work in the Back Bay Fens
2021-05-15 10:00 - 12:00 | MA
Join Emerald Necklace Conservancy staff and volunteers with ecological restoration work in the Emerald Necklace parks! We will be removing trash and clearing brush and debris from areas of the Back Bay Fens.
There is a 25 person capacity limit for this event and registration is required in order to participate. Those who register will receive an email from Joelle Boyle, the Land Stewardship Coordinator, with further details, including the necessary waivers to sign and specific information on where to meet and what to expect on the day of the event.
Please email volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with inquiries on this event or other volunteer opportunities.

COVID-19 policy: The Conservancy has been closely monitoring health and safety guidelines set by the City of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the beginning of the pandemic. All programs and events that we have follow our Conservancy COVID-19 policies.
All volunteers will be required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing during the event. We advise that volunteers who feel ill within 72 hours of the event do not participate. All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate.

Memorial Day
2019-05-27 | MA

Beyond Walls: Performance in Public Space
2021-05-28 12:00 - 12:45 | Kelleher Rose Garden, Back Bay Fens, Boston, MA, 02115
Rising draws inspiration from the restoration of the Muddy River to highlight our collective need to recover and regrow as a society after the Covid-19 pandemic. Rising explores the potential of renewal from the simplicity of nature through live music, dance and poetry as performed by a multidisciplinary ensemble. Each aspect of the performance is designed to sonically, visually, and verbally guide the audience through the cyclical nature of growth and restoration.
Sam Feldman – Contemporary Theater 23’ | Tess Stevens – Dance 23’ | AnnaLotte Smith, Piano Performance MM 22’ | Rachel Kempenaar – Dance | Jacob Windeler – Dance 24’ | Featuring 42 Boston Conservatory at Berklee students
Friday, May 28 at 12:00 PM and 12:30 PM | Two 15- minute performances | Back Bay Fens, next to the Kelleher Rose Garden
Rising Poems
POEM #1
By: Alex Leondis, Yitong Zhu, Mel Tanaka, Dylan Gombos, James Paquette, Monique Lonergan, San Feldman
What is this muck on the pulse of the community?
Why does this water choose to rage infinitely?
Overflowing and drowning. I am bursting to breathe.
These days are all the same
falling from grace
it’s all too slow a pace for me

Scratching at the earth with a sneaking persistence
Rollover and rollover and rollover – I have dirt in my nails from a distance
A quiet tornado rages and weaves
You should breathe what you believe,
Reset what it means to grieve

It giveth and it taketh away,
What are you doing here?
Why did you stay?
Sensing instead of seeing
Perceiving is believing
And we are all healing
Stop the flood but not the flow
I watched life burn, dampen, then grow

POEM #2
By: Alex Leondis, Yitong Zhu, Mel Tanaka, Dylan Gombos, James Paquette, Monique Lonergan, San Feldman
Basking in the sun, I sit
As the park revolves around me
Pedestrians and Passerbys
Walkers and Wanderers
All moving past the same patch of grass and asphalt
I have seen much change from this spot.
The wind blows cooler now.
At first it chilled me to the brittle bone.
Now, it is almost refreshing.
A familiar ice can that aches in a specific way.
But now the sun is awake
Starting to poke out from behind ty
The todwering trees and buildings that peer
Ipark.
And I am starting to get warm.
Warm in my hands.
Warm in my feet.
My toes, my nose
And my heart.
A new wind is blowing
Blowing past me and through me.
A warm wind, for the first time in a long time.
And it is welcomed back like an age old friend.
A new breath. Fresh air.
Spring is here.
Make me a gathering place
a safe place
a resting place
Let the children play
let the runners run- let there be a moment to rest and a moment to love.
Let there be first dates and old friends and new friends and light.
Let the sun shine, the breeze blow, let the geese take flight.

POEM # 3
By: Sam Feldman
What is rebirth?
What does it mean to grow?
Through autumn leaves and fallen snow
The spring is here and flowers come
And birds add to the quiet hum

To change
To turn a page
To re-arrange
To re-estrange
And be regained
To stop the flood
To a come undone

Unfinished, as you are
And be unjudged

To delight in the small and good things
That come and go on birds wings
To honor the land on which we stand and plan for the future
To unapologetically and empathetically be.

Rising marks the culmination of Boston Conservatory’s new, credit-bearing summer course called Beyond Walls: Performance in Public Space, led by acclaimed artist and entrepreneur Maria Finkelmeier of MF Dynamics, who garnered praise earlier this year for her inventive multimedia public space project, Hatched: Breaking Through Silence, at the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston. Learn more about this program and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s partnership with the Boston Conservatory here.
Learn more about the Muddy River and the ongoing restoration efforts here. Explore the work of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and

Forest Bathing Walk
2021-05-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Valley Gates Parking Lot, Boston, MA, United States
Experience the healing benefits of The Emerald Necklace on a Forest Bathing Walk through Franklin Park.
Immerse yourself in the “Wilderness” of Franklin Park on a Forest Bathing Walk! Listen to the migrating birds and explore the textures of the puddingstone in this urban woodland as we slow down and awaken our senses. Forest Bathing, inspired by the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, is a restorative sensory exploration that supports health and healing for all beings. From increased cerebral blood flow to stronger immune defenses, come discover for yourself what happens when we unplug, slow down and open our senses to notice more of our natural surroundings. Forest Bathing is part of a global effort to tend to the stressful conditions of living in modern industrialized civilization. All the prompts, invitations, sharing and ways of participating are optional and open to interpretation.
About Tam Willey
they/she/he
Tam is a certified forest therapy guide, trainer, mentor and teacher with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and is the founder of “Toadstool Walks,” a guiding practice based in Boston, Massachusetts. Tam has guided Forest Therapy in collaboration with The Arnold Arboretum, The Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Mass Audubon, Boston Harbor Now, Peabody Essex Museum, Lesley University Holistic Psychology and Wellness, Boston University School Of Theology, and more. Tam is passionate about the ways that forest therapy can build our collective empathy and compassion, broadening and healing relationships, human and beyond, supporting our re-membering that we are not only in relationship with nature but rather that we are nature. For more information about Tam, check out ToadstoolWalks.com
This is a free event, though donations to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy are gladly accepted.
Register below:

Birding in the Emerald Necklace
2021-06-05 08:00 - 10:00 | MA
Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for a special springtime event: Birding in the Emerald Necklace!
This tour in Franklin Park will focus on the basics of bird watching. We will use our senses to witness the birds found within Boston’s largest park system. No experience or equipment necessary. Binoculars are welcome, but not needed.
The tour will be led by two Emerald Necklace Conservancy staff members:
• Kent Jackson, Director of Education at the Conservancy
• Erica Holm, Field Operations Coordinator
To comply with City of Boston COVID-19 regulations, tour capacity is limited and registration is required. Six-foot social distancing must be maintained and masks must be worn when in close proximity with others.
Registration required! Please register below.

Tuesdays With Roses 06/08
2021-06-08 17:30 - 19:30 | Kelleher Rose Garden, Back Bay Fens, Boston, MA, 02115
Join Emerald Necklace Conservancy staff and volunteers in the Kelleher Rose Garden to deadhead and prune roses and to weed the rose beds and borders. Training and tools are provided.
There is a 10-person capacity limit for this event and registration is required in order to participate. Those who register will automatically receive an email from Joelle Boyle, the Land Stewardship Coordinator, with further details, including the necessary waivers to sign and specific information on where to meet and what to expect on the day of the event.
Please email volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with inquiries on this event or other volunteer opportunities.

COVID-19 policy: The Conservancy has been closely monitoring health and safety guidelines set by the City of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the beginning of the pandemic. All programs and events that we have follow our Conservancy COVID-19 policies.

At this time, we still require that all volunteers wear a face covering and practice social distancing during volunteer events. We advise that volunteers who feel ill within 72 hours of the event do not participate. All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate.

President's Walking Tour of the Emerald Necklace
2021-06-12 09:00 - 13:00 | Emerald Necklace, MA, United States
Lace up your walking shoes and join us for our fourth annual full walkthrough of Frederick Law Olmsted’s masterpiece! Led by Conservancy President Karen Mauney-Brodek, you will enjoy a six-mile walk from Franklin Park to Charlesgate Park.
Take in the sights, sounds and scale of the Emerald Necklace on this special annual walk. There will be brief stops along the way to take in the scenery and talk about the history of the park and our current efforts to restore, improve and advocate for this historic parkland. (Rain Date: Sunday, June 13)
What to Bring:

Refillable water bottle with water
Lunch and/or snacks
Hat
Sunscreen

Important Info:

Dress in layers
Wear comfortable walking shoes
This is a light rain or shine event but will be rescheduled to Sunday, June 13 for extreme weather. Cancellation notification will be shared via email on Friday, June 12.
There will be brief stops along the way for lunch, snacks, water and restroom breaks. Most time will be spent walking.

Webinar: Ecology of Mother Earth
2021-06-12 10:00 - 11:00 | MA
In this presentation food, technology, art, medicine, storytelling, music and dance come together with our environment to teach us the importance of caring for the earth we all share. This virtual experience will be facilitated by Lorén M. Spears.
Lorén M. Spears, Narragansett, Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum, has been an educator for 25 years and has served as an adjunct faculty at Brown University and at the University of Rhode Island. She shares her cultural knowledge and traditional arts learned through her family with the public through museum programs. She has written curriculum, poetry, and narratives.

Second Saturdays Volunteer Event: Ecological Restoration Work in Franklin Park
2021-06-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Valley Gates, Franklin Park, Boston, MA, 02130
Join Emerald Necklace Conservancy staff and volunteers with ecological restoration and invasive species removal work in the Emerald Necklace parks on Saturday, June 12th! We will be removing brush, debris, and invasive species from areas of Franklin Park.
There is a 25-person capacity limit for this event and registration is required in order to participate. Those who register will automatically receive an email from Joelle Boyle, the Land Stewardship Coordinator, with further details, including the necessary waivers to sign and specific information on where to meet and what to expect on the day of the event.
Please email volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org with inquiries on this event or other volunteer opportunities.

COVID-19 policy: The Conservancy has been closely monitoring health and safety guidelines set by the City of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the beginning of the pandemic. All programs and events that we have follow our Conservancy COVID-19 policies.
At this time, we still require that all volunteers wear a face covering and practice social distancing during volunteer events. We advise that volunteers who feel ill within 72 hours of the event do not participate. All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate.

Tuesdays With Roses 06/15
2021-06-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Kelleher Rose Garden, Back Bay Fens, Boston, MA, 02115

Tuesdays With Roses 06/22
2021-06-22 17:30 - 19:30 | Kelleher Rose Garden, Back Bay Fens, Boston, MA, 02115

Webinar: Traditional Indigenous Use of Plants
2021-06-26 10:00 - 11:00 | MA
Take a virtual nature walk with us in this presentation on the traditional uses of both indigenous plants and the invasive species that became staples in Native communities. This virtual walk will be facilitated by Lorén M. Spears.
Lorén M. Spears, Narragansett, Executive Director of Tomaquag Museum, has been an educator for 25 years and has served as an adjunct faculty at Brown University and at the University of Rhode Island. She shares her cultural knowledge and traditional arts learned through her family with the public through museum programs. She has written curriculum, poetry, and narratives.

Canceled due to heat: Tai Chi Class – In-Person 06/28
2021-06-28 17:30 - 18:30 | MA
This class has been canceled due to a heat advisory. Please sign up for our next Tai Chi class on 7/20.
Presented in partnership with Yang’s Martial Arts Association of Boston.
Class Location: Back Bay Fens
Instructor: Joe Best
Joe Best started his martial arts training in Uechi Ryu Karate Do in 1970 under George Mattson and earned his black belt in 1977.
His Tai Chi practice began in 1980 at the Chinese Wushu Research Institute with Master Bow Sim Mark where he was also introduced to Hsing Yi and Bagua.
In 1985 Joe joined the Tai Chi program at Yang’s Martial Arts Association and began teaching in 1988. Joe has always had a strong interest in the technical aspects of the arts in general and of the internal aspects in particular. He is also a licensed massage therapist.
—
Tai Chi (Taijiquan) is a sequence of postures connected by flowing movement, practiced with focused breathing and a calm mind – a type of moving meditation. The slow, smooth movements gently stimulate the internal organs and joints, and improve energy circulation. Tai Chi is a gentle, low-impact exercise suitable for adults of any age and varying physical ability. Practicing Tai Chi can reduce stress, increase energy, balance, and flexibility, and ease symptoms of many health problems such as high blood pressure, asthma, back pain, and arthritis.
Located in the heart of Roslindale Village, Yang’s Martial Arts Association (YMAA) of Boston offers Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kettlebell and Kids Kung Fu classes. YMAA Boston classes share a deep knowledge of the arts in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Founded in 1982 by Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming, YMAA has grown into an international organization that includes 60 schools spread across 19 countries.
YMAABoston.com
756 South St, Roslindale, MA 02131
617-363-9622
info@ymaaboston.com

Canceled due to heat: Tour of the Muddy River Restoration
2021-06-29 14:30 - 15:30 | MA
Due to the extreme heat advisory, this tour has been cancelled. Please check back for updates and a rescheduled tour!

Are you curious about what is going on in the Emerald Necklace behind those temporary fences?
Join the Conservancy on a tour of Phase 2 of the Muddy River Restoration in the Back Bay Fens restoration area with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Charter Construction. You will learn about why the Muddy River Restoration project is so important and specifics about how the restoration work is being done. The tour will be led by members of the Army Corps and Charter Contracting Company and will remain outside of the construction fencing for the safety of attendees.
Please note that space is limited to 10 guests and registration is required. We will be conducting the tour in accordance with COVID-19 safety requirements which include social distancing and face masks at all times. You will receive information about the tour meeting location in the registration email confirmation.
Please note: In case of inclement weather, this tour will be held on Thursday, June 30 at 2:30 pm. A switch to the rain date will be determined by 10:00 am the day of the event and will be communicated via email.
