Northfield Mountain September Recreation Events
Kids Cruise on Board the Heritage Riverboat
On Saturday, September 7th from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., celebrate the beginning of fall and a new school year with a children’s cruise on board the Heritage Riverboat. These cruises are the perfect length for children to get a taste of the river as we head downstream through the scenic French King Gorge. Travel beneath the French King Bridge, towering 140 feet above the boat. Cruise alongside rocky cliffs, over the “Deep Hole” and enjoy an outing on the beautiful Connecticut River. The fee is $8 per person and reservations are required by booking online at www.bookeo.com/northfield or by calling 1-800-859-2960.
Power Town History Stroll
Enjoy a walk back in time along the popular canal side bike path in Turners Falls on Thursday, September 19th from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Join local historian Ed Gregory, Northfield Mountain’s Kim Noyes, and Massachusetts DCR’s Janel Nockleby to discover the rich and colorful industrial history along this scenic paved path. Historical maps and photographs will help bring the sights and sounds of our industrial heritage alive. Wear comfortable walking shoes and meet at the entrance of the Great Falls Discovery Center (2 Avenue A, Turners Falls). Total walking distance is no more than two miles on flat terrain. Wheelchair accessible. Please pre-register for this free event by calling 800-859-2960.
Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Breathing Guided Walk
Connect with the natural world in a healing, calming, and replenishing way through a series of activities on a gentle, guided walk at Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center on Saturday, September 21st from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m. Look to the wisdom of the natural world for effective ways to relax and reinvigorate yourself. Shinrin Yoku is Japanese for “Forest Bathing”, a cornerstone of preventative health care and healing in Japanese medicine with a robust body of scientific literature on the health benefits. Join Kim Noyes, M.Ed., Education Coordinator at Northfield Mountain, for this gentle path to wellness accessible to almost everybody. This free walk is recommended for anyone age 18 and older. Pre-registration is required by calling 800-859-2960.
Fire and Ice; Richard Little Geology Cruise
On Saturday, September 21st, geology comes alive through the clear and often humorous stories of Richard Little. This relaxing cruise on the Connecticut River will be filled with tales of drifting continents, earthquakes, dinosaurs, glaciers, Lake Hitchcock, and the strange origin of deep riverbed holes; all are part of the creation of our idyllic Valley. Professor Emeritus of Greenfield Community College, Richard Little has published three editions of Dinosaurs, Dunes, and Drifting Continents: The Geology of the Connecticut Valley and created videos about the rise and fall of glacial Lake Hitchcock and the 500 million year history of the Connecticut Valley. Professor Little continues his passion for educating about geology through “Fantastic Landscape Tours” to significant geologic areas like the U.S. National Parks and Iceland. Don’t miss this overview of the amazing geology of our area by one of the region’s greatest geology educators. Riverboat tours will be offered from 1:15 – 2:45 p.m. and 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required by booking at www.bookeo.com/northfield or calling 800-859-2960. More information about Richard Little’s tours and publications is available at http://www.EarthView.rocks.com/
Source to Sea Cleanup; Gill-Montague and Green River Combined Efforts
Year 23 brings exciting collaboration when Franklin County lovers of clean open-space join forces at the Greenfield Swimming Area on Nash’s Mill Road. Join us on Saturday, September 28 from 9:00 a.m. until noon for the Source to Sea Cleanup. After morning refreshments, small groups will head to their respective communities to do the important work of removing debris from riversides and roadways to prevent contamination of our treasured water bodies. All volunteers are invited to return to the swimming area for lunch, camaraderie and live music. Trash collected from the greater Gill – Montague area will be loaded into trucks and brought to the Montague Transfer Station for recycling and disposal into dumpsters provided by USA Hauling & Recycling. People of all ages and abilities can join in the morning cleanup and those with trucks can help transport trash. Weekday cleanups can also be scheduled for interested school groups. Co-sponsors include watershed-wide organizers; the Connecticut River Conservancy, FirstLight Power, the Franklin County Solid Waste Management District, and the Deerfield River Watershed Association. Pre-registration is required by calling 800-859-2960. Program meets at the Green River Swimming Area, 1 Nash’s Mill Road, Greenfield.
