-
A Nature Walk: Tree Identification in SpringOut & AboutJoin this spring nature walk at Arlington’s scenic Great Meadows, where we’ll focus on identifying the largest woody plants in the area. Discover tree identification techniques using branching patterns, bark, buds, galls, and leaves. We’ll explore 10–12 native trees, along with a few non-natives, while learning about the fascinating natural history and folklore surrounding these majestic trees.Spring 2025
-
Backpacking & Camping 101 for WomenOut & AboutNOTE: This class has been postponed from May 15 to May 22. Ready to hit the trail? Join two experienced thru-hikers for a hands-on introduction to backpacking and camping. Learn the basics, including how to choose the right gear, pack meals, filter water, and prioritize safety. This indoor preparation session is suited for beginners as well as seasoned hikers alike. We will also practice and share simple mindfulness concepts to deepen your outdoor experience. This session is inclusive of individuals identifying as transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming.Spring 2025
-
Starting SoonBackyard Bird Song IdentificationOut & AboutHave you ever wondered if that “tweet” is from a cardinal or a chickadee? Learn the language spoken by our feathered friends. Start with a few basic bird songs as a reference, then add to your repertoire with repetition and practice. You’ll learn the types of sounds birds make and why they make them, and explore common bird songs heard in Massachusetts. Each class will focus on approximately 10–15 different birds. Note: Have handy a notebook, pen, and a bird book if you have one.Spring 2025
-
Central Square Food & Mural TourOut & AboutDiscover this Cambridge neighborhood’s vibrant art and food scene, led by a friendly and knowledgeable guide. Visit Graffiti Alley and paint your own m asterpiece, then uncover a hidden second alley filled with even more art. Immerse yourself in large-scale murals and public art as you enjoy delicious bites from beloved local spots. Savor Vietnamese green papaya salad, butter beef spring rolls, and a fascinating beverage surprise at Shojo Cambridge. Indulge in Japanese tapas at PAGU, featuring tasty patatas bravas and black cod croquetas. At Viale, taste the best arancini in Boston and enjoy their occhi stellati mocktail under the stars. All ages welcome.Spring 2025
-
Chinatown Food TourOut & AboutBoston’s Chinatown is filled with so many little shops and restaurants—it’s easy to get lost amid its colorful window displays and enticing aromas. Our journey begins in the heart of Chinatown, where we’ll learn about its history while stopping at a few shops and bakeries for samples. Next, we’ll visit a Chinese herbal shop to examine traditional Chinese medicinal remedies before touring a Chinese market to explore exotic produce and other unique offerings. We’ll also try dim sum from a traditional and popular restaurant. Please note: Dietary restrictions CANNOT be accommodated on this food tour.Spring 2025
-
Codman Estate Grounds & Gardens TourOut & AboutEnjoy a guided tour of the Codman Estate’s historic landscape in Lincoln and learn about its evolution and preservation. The last two generations of family members, who lived here between 1862 and 1968, made notable improvements to the grounds and gardens while carefully preserving aspects of what their 18th-century ancestors created. The grounds feature a hidden Italianate garden (c. 1900) with perennial beds, statuary, and a reflecting pool filled with water lilies, as well as an English cottage garden (c. 1908).Spring 2025
-
Gibson House Museum: A Window into Queer BostonOut & AboutExplore the Gibson House Museum in Boston’s historic Back Bay neighborhood and learn about the gay subculture of early-twentieth-century Boston through Charlie Gibson’s eyes. American writer and preservationist Charles Hammond Gibson, Jr., created the museum to preserve his family home as a time capsule of the wealth, leisure, and elaborate social decorum of domestic life from the mid-nineteenth to early-twentieth centuries. His story is one of legacy and family history, of the fading grandeur of Victorian-era Boston, and of Boston’s LGBTQ history. Ages 10+ Please note: The tour is one hour and involves walking up and down five flights of stairs.Spring 2025
-
Gropius House TourOut & AboutThis tour offers private access to the Lincoln house and grounds of Walter Gropius, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century and founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus. Modest in scale, this 1938 home was revolutionary in impact. Gropius believed that the relationship of a house to its landscape was of paramount importance. In keeping with Bauhaus philosophy, every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity of design, revealing design strategies that have returned to architectural importance for green and sustainable design in the 21st century. Ages 10+ Meet at the front portico of the mansion. Parking is indicated at the main gate, then a short walk straight ahead up to the mansion on the left. Please note that the tour requires a considerable amount of standing and stair climbing. If you need special assistance, please contact ACE at least five days before the tour.Spring 2025
-
Harvard Square Donut TourOut & About“Donut” miss out on this mouthwatering adventure through Cambridge’s iconic Harvard Square. Sample an irresistible array of artisanal donuts crafted with passion and precision by four local bakeries as your friendly guide shares stories about donuts and the historic sights you’ll see. Try uniquely flavored donuts such as Greek donuts, mochi donuts, and churros All ages welcome but children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Please Note: Unfortunately allergies cannot be accommodated.Spring 2025
-
WaitlistDavid Wilson (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)Moonlight Canoe TourOut & AboutDusk is a magical time to be on the water, so what could be more blissful than paddling a canoe by moonlight? We’ll push off as the sun sets for an evening of relaxation, good food, and conversation. As the moon rises to light our way, we’ll watch herons browsing along the banks of the Charles, river otters fishing for their last meal of the day, and other wildlife settling in for the night. Your guide will share the rich history of the area, including the Canoe Clubs, Norumbega Park, and the Totem Pole Ballroom. After a light dessert and non-alcoholic beverages, we will return to the dock. This slow, relaxing 2–3-mile group paddle is suitable for folks of all paddling abilities. Children ages 12+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.Spring 2025
-
WaitlistMount Auburn Cemetery Tour: A Celebration of MothersOut & AboutJoin us this Mother’s Day for a thoughtful stroll through Mount Auburn, celebrating the lives of women whose stories highlight the many facets of motherhood. Fanny Longfellow (1817–1861), wife of the poet, devoted herself to the loving care of her young children. Caroline Merriam (1808–1891) was heartbroken by the loss of her son, Lieutenant Colonel Waldo Merriam, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania in 1864. His monument near Story Chapel honors his sacrifice. Civil War nurse Dorothea Dix (1802–1897) spent her life advocating for the mentally ill, and Fannie Merritt Farmer (1857–1915) helped generations of women master the art of cooking with her famous cookbook.Spring 2025
-
New England ShrubsOut & AboutShrubs are a key part of our New England landscapes. We will take a close look at 10–12 common native New England shrubs such as high bush blueberry, silky dogwood, and staghorn sumac, as well as a few non-native invasive shrubs. The class will focus on plant identification as well as fun and interesting natural history. We’ll see a plant that can be used to make a lemonade-like drink packed with vitamin C and a plant that the Chippewa used to produce a remedy for craziness. Please note: Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult. Meeting location will be emailed upon registration.Spring 2025
-
Royall House & Slave Quarters TourOut & AboutTour the house and grounds of Medford’s Royall House and Slave Quarters, part of the 600-acre Ten Hills Farm and home to the largest slaveholders in Massachusetts history, as well as the enslaved Africans who made their lavish way of life possible. The house is among the finest local examples of colonial-era buildings still standing, and the slave quarters are the only remaining slave quarters in New England. Today, this museum’s architecture, household items, and archaeological artifacts bear witness to intertwined stories of wealth and bondage and explore the meanings of freedom and independence before, during, and since the American Revolution. Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult. Please Note: the museum is only wheelchair accessible on the first floor of the Royall House and the Slave Quarters. The only way to get up to the second floor of the Royall House is by using the stairs.Spring 2025
-
South End Walking Tour & Chocolate TastingOut & AboutTour date changed from May 3, now May 17. The South End, one of the more under-explored neighborhoods of Boston, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for having the highest concentration of late-Victorian brick bow-front row houses. Luckily for us, it also has a lot of chocolate! Come along on this afternoon chocolate tour of Boston and sample delectable chocolate cuisine while touring an eclectic mix of local cafes, shops, restaurants, and boutiques in this truly charming and beautiful historical neighborhood. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed one week prior to the course. Tuition includes tastings.Spring 2025
-
Lynette FIESCHI (flickr) (CC BY 2.0)Summer Is Here!Out & AboutThe summer solstice marks the longest day (and shortest night) of the year, and the day when the midday sun reaches its highest point in the sky. It occurs on Friday, June 20 this year and we’ll celebrate it at Arlington’s Great Meadows from 6:30–8:30 pm. The walk will focus on plant ID as well as fun and interesting natural history plus tales and legends about the plants we see. We’ll also celebrate the season with a little poetry and solstice lore. Please note: Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult. Meeting location will be emailed upon registration.Spring 2025
-
Sunset & City Lights Kayak TourOut & AboutAfter a quick introduction to kayak strokes, we’ll launch our double kayaks and begin our sightseeing. We’ll paddle past the Great Dome of MIT, cross the Charles to the Esplanade, and take in the skyline, including the Hancock and Prudential buildings, Citgo sign, State House dome, and the financial district. After viewing a beautiful sunset and illuminated skyline, the guide will talk about the history and architecture of the city, then the group will enjoy a serene and quiet paddle back to the dock. Children ages 12+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.Spring 2025
-
Wang Theatre Backstage TourOut & AboutGet a behind-the-scenes tour of one of Boston’s most prominent theatrical landmarks. Learn about the theater’s architectural highlights and rich history—from its origins as a hotel and its glamorous days as a movie “cathedral” to its current role as a premier venue for performances and events. Visit the dressing rooms and hallways walked by entertainers such as Bruce Springsteen, Ella Fitzgerald, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Elton John, Lady Gaga, and many more. Walk away with a newfound appreciation of this theater and why it was once referred to as “The Showplace of New England.” Ages 10+Spring 2025