Arlington Community Education

February 16 is the day of the Full Snow Moon, called so due to the month’s typically heavy snowfalls. We’ll be hoping for clear skies so that we can watch the moon rise from the hilltop behind the new all seasons barn at Wright-Locke Farm. Begin with a little poetry and a discussion of what causes the phases of the moon. Then walk through the fields, around the farm pond, and into the woods as the sun sets in the west and the sky darkens. We’ll return to the barnyard to watch the moon rise in the east while we enjoy a nice bonfire and some hot apple cider. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine. Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.

We’re well into winter! Join Boot Boutwell for a slow-paced hike at Arlington’s Great Meadows with several stops as we breathe in the winter air, take a look at the plants in their winter form, keep our eyes open for animal tracks, and just enjoy the beauty of nature in winter. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine. Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.

Join one of the museum’s talented educators for this exclusive tour of the Concord Museum’s entirely renovated and interactive galleries, including the award winning April 19, 1775 gallery. Founded in 1886, the Museum serves as a gateway to the town of Concord with a collection that focuses on the history and continuing influence on American political, literary and cultural life. “Concord has played an outsized role in our nation’s history,” said Tom Putnam, Edward W. Kane executive director. “And these new galleries — combining iconic artifacts and dazzling media components — bring that story to life in a dramatic new way.” The tour will include highlights of the Museum’s nationally significant collection, from the Paul Revere lantern and Henry David Thoreau’s desk, to lesser-known gems, like a 12,000-year-old spearpoint.

This tour offers private access to the home 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, the 1938 Gropius home was revolutionary in impact. It combined the traditional elements of New England architecture—wood, brick, and fieldstone—with innovative materials rarely used in domestic settings at that time: glass block, acoustical plaster, and chrome banisters—along with the latest technology in fixtures. In keeping with Bauhaus philosophy, every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity of design. The house contains an important collection of furniture designed by Marcel Breuer and made in the Bauhaus workshops. With all the family possessions still in place, experience an immediacy rarely found in house museums.

Late winter in New England often features cold nights and warmer days, providing ideal conditions for the “running of the sap” in our sugar maples. This sap is vital to the health of the tree and has also created economic opportunities for local farmers who harvest the sap and boil it down to produce maple syrup. Join us for a morning at Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester where we’ll take a close look at some majestic maple trees, identify the various species, and taste sap right from the bucket. We’ll talk about the history of maple sugaring and discuss just how sap is turned into syrup. We’ll conclude by boiling down a small amount of sap so we can watch it turn into syrup. In a blind taste test, we’ll see who can tell the difference between real 100% maple syrup and a typical “pancake and waffle syrup” made mostly of corn syrup. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine. Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.

Spend some time outdoors this winter and join one or both of these guided hikes to locations you might not have visited before. As we explore these extraordinary sites we’ll take time to gaze at the natural formations we encounter and hear stories of historical significance along the way. All of the hikes are easy to moderate. Bring water and snacks to have throughout the hike to keep energy levels up. Jericho Town Forest, Weston: A former farmland with vintage old roads crisscrossing through 200 acres of flat forest, various trees can be found in this quiet, peaceful setting. The walk begins and ends at a former college that is now the Campion Conference & Renewal Center, a retreat center and Jesuit retirement community and infirmary. Camp Acton, East Acton: One of the largest recreational areas in the region, Camp Acton offers the opportunity to see native wildlife. Formerly owned by the Boston Minuteman Boy Scout Council, you can still camp out in grounds surrounded by heavy forests and swamps. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes and bring water and snacks to have throughout the hike.

Join us for a friendly stroll around and about Park Circle led by a local historian.In the early 19th century the Pierce family successfully farmed over 250 acres on this high elevation. In 1872 the Arlington Land Company bought the property. This astute syndicate believed that new house lots and streets would attract eager Boston buyers and by 1912, nearby Park Avenue was home to a diverse mix: business people, an inventor, and an architect. After the elegant Arlington Reservoir (1921-24) replaced a nondescript standpipe (1894) that had supplied water to the surrounding area, the neighborhood enjoyed even more rave reviews. Learn all about the history of Park Circle. Please note: Wear comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear for walking. Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine.

March 20 is the vernal equinox, marking the beginning of spring. In New England, the weather begins to moderate, the first flowers are already poking their heads above ground, and of course the days are getting longer. We’ll celebrate this time of rebirth and renewal by heading out into Wright-Locke Farm and the surrounding conservation area in search of signs of spring. We will begin with a little poetry and solstice lore, but the focus will be on plant identification and fun and interesting natural history. We will end back in the barnyard for a nice warm bonfire. Please note: Meeting location and safety guidelines will be emailed as part of the Registration Confirmation email. All walks meet rain or shine. Children ages 10+ are welcome to register if accompanied by a registered adult.

The weather outside might be frightful, but learning to co-exist with mother nature and embracing the beauty of what she has to offer in the winter can make life delightful. Come play outside with like-minded walkers as we explore hidden gems in our local area and find new places to add to your experiences. Remember the Scandinavian proverb, “There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!” Put on some warm gear and join us for some fun winter hiking with snowshoes or YakTrax. Please note: Meeting location for the first walk and safety guidelines will be emailed shortly before the first walk. All walks meet rain or shine.