Water Trips in
MA
TOP
Organization for the Assabet River
- Maps, information, and events.
Ispwich
River, Ispwich, MA - Canoes can be rented at Foot Brothers,
Willowdale Dam, 230 Topsfield Rd., Ipswich, MA 01938, 978- 356-9771
Merrimack River
Watershed Council, Inc. - Fourth largest watershed in
New England,
spreading through New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
At its heart
is the Merrimack River, running 180 miles from the White
Mountains to
the Atlantic Ocean. Good overview map and trip listings.
Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands
- They regularly run summer and
fall trips in the
Harbor and along the coast. Take a group on one of these
trips and include
boat trip ticket and picnic supper. A great sunset cruise.
Boston Harbor Association - This
organization is composed of harbor industries
and the Boston
League of Women Voters. They regularly lead tours, boat trips,
and walks to
educate the public about the need for mixed use of the harbor,
both recreational
and industrial. Take a group on one of their tours and
combine itwith a
walk along the harbor followed by dinner or a snack.
Moonlight
Canoe Trip on the Charles River
-
This is a popular and easy trip
to run. Charles
River Canoe/Kayak provides the boats and lights. You
provide the paper
goods [plates, bowls or appetizers, utensils, and
garbage bags);
particpants provide the food. A-H main dish, I-N dessert,
and O-Z
appetizers. Bring your own beverage. Only certified INTRO
Paddling
Leaders can lead paddling trips. Waiver forms for INTRO and
for Charles
River REQUIRED.
Sea Kayaking
- We are not currently training INTRO Paddling leaders to do
sea kayaking
trips. The Boston Chapter Paddling Committee runs sea kayaking
trips and we
encourage members to go on their beginner trips. However, you
can run a sea
kayaking trip if you use an outfitter and a guide, such as
North Shore Kayak Outdoor Center.
They do an interesting overnight camping
trip to Thacher
Island.
Hiking Trips in
MA
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Massachusetts Parks and
Forests
New England Orienteering
- This organization sets up courses and also
offers free
instruction.
- You
organize a group and attend the event.
- You
divide your group into teams of 4 to do the course.
- Each team
pays an entry fee, usually about $4.
- This is a
fundraiser for the INTRO Committee.
We
charge each participant $4. The $4 includes their team
registration and
money for cookies purchased by the leader
for a small
social time afterwards. The remaining balance is
sent to the Trip
Report Coordinator with the Trip Report.
Photography
or Art Hike - Take along cameras or art supplies and visit scenic
areas. Following a
Photography hike, you can have a potluck at someone's
home and critique
or view results. Hike to an art museum or a concert.
Animal
tracking - These are guided hikes looking at signs of animals
and
interpreting what
they mean. Note that if you know what plants are growing,
you can find the
animals that eat them.
Massachusetts Audubon Society
- Many sanctuaries are scenic spots for
cross-country
skiing or snow shoeing. Ipswitch River Wild Life Sanctuary has
canoes for rent.
Sanctuaries have interesting nature walks on the Cape,
Martha's Vineyard,
and Nantucket.
Ponkapaug
Camp, Randolph, MA - Cute little AMC cabins near the Blue
Hills. Do a day
hike Fall or
Summer or reserve cabins for the weekend. There is a lodge
with cooking
facilities and couches overlooking the pond - no heat.
Day hike
with meal at a restaurant afterwards. See HiddenBoston.com,
a
web site maintained by a Boston AMC member, that provides descriptions
of
many little known interesting restaurants.
Night Hike
- Could be preceded with dinner ...
Silent Hike -
There is no talking on these hikes. You might provide name tags
and have index
cards with plant names on them. An ASL lesson is included.
Usually the
alphabet and about 12 words pertaining to the location of the hike.
One fluent signer
required.
Hiking and Tanglewood - Bascom Lodge is
still available
Biking/Other Trips in
MA
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Ice skating
at Ponkapaug
Camp
Topsfield Fair - Combine
this with a canoe on the Ipswitch. Suggest you
use a local
outfitter so you don't have to deal with boats at the fair. You
must be a
certified INTRO Paddling Leader to lead a paddling trip.
Boston Chapter
Conservation Committee - They often have interesting
speakers each
month. Work with them to include a potluck supper prior
to speaker
co-sponsored by INTRO or ... get some INTRO folks together
for supper and
then attend the Conservation Committee meeting en masse.
Hostels in
Massachusetts Handbook - Approximately $7-$25 per night. You
may not be allowed
to be there during the day.
Hosteling
International - Cape Cod - Maps, photos, and links to
other
hostels.
Beginner
Bike Trips - There is always interest in these bike rides and
there may not be
that many beginner trips offered by the Bike Committee
later in the
summer.
Ski Trips:
Downhill
Wachusett Mountain Ski Area - Downhill skiing. Night skiing
available.
Blue Hills Ski Area -
Canton, downhill.
Nashoba Valley - Westford,
downhill.
Bradford Hill - Haverhill,
downhill.
Cross-country
Weston Ski Track -
Cross-country skiing. Night Skiing available.
