PAST EVENTS

2023

Spring Equinox at Frost Fish Creek

March 19th

CCF Executive Director Lauren Arcomano led a short walk celebrating the Spring Equinox through the trail at Frost Fish Creek.

First Day Hike Cape Cod: Mill Pond Overlook Trail

January 1st

CCF Executive Director Lauren Arcomano led two guided walks along CCF's recently opened Mill Pond Overlook Trail. Located next door to the Atwood Museum, this trail affords a beautiful overlook of the Mill Pond. The Chatham Conservation Foundation joined nine other conservation groups on #FirstDayHikesCapeCod.

Winter/Spring Webinar Series

Tree Identification on Cape Cod

Speaker: Tom Walker

Saturday, April 30th

Naturalist Tom Walker provided an introduction to the almost 40 species of native and naturalized trees on Cape Cod.

From Glacial Origins and First Peoples of Cape Cod to Today’s Truth and Reconciliation Process with Indigenous Cultures

Speaker: Todd Kelley

Saturday, April 15th

Natural historian Todd Kelley discussed the glacial origins of Cape Cod and the progression of Indigenous Peoples’ settlement on the Narrow Land up to early European exploration in the area and interaction with firstcomer European settlers, culminating in present day Truth and Reconciliation and Right Relationships dialogue.

Rebirth of the Earth

Speaker: Waban Webquish (Marcus Hendricks)

Saturday, April 8th

Waban Webquish presented a discussion on the indigenous practices of the seasonal new year, providing insight into the signs that earth is awakening and native flora and fauna.

Tracking the Land Mammals of Cape Cod

Speaker: Todd Kelley

Saturday, March 11th

Naturalist Todd Kelley explored the art of tracking in this webinar presenting images of different tracks and signs from the mammals on Cape Cod.

Bird Banding and Research on South Monomoy

Speaker: James Junda

Saturday, March 4th

Ornithologist James Junda shared his research on the millions of migrating birds that come to Monomoy Island each fall, where he has spent spends over 75 days each year since 2011 living in the 170-year-old lighthouse keepers' quarters.

Introduction to Lichens and Lichen Identification on Cape Cod

Speaker: Tom Walker

Sunday, February 19th

Naturalist Tom Walker presented a webinar on the ecology and how to recognize lichens, symbiotic organisms formed mostly from the union of fungus and algae.

History of Land Preservation on Cape Cod

Speaker: Mark Robinson

Saturday, February 25th

Mark Robinson, Executive Director of The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts since 1986, presented a chronological overview of attempts to “save the Cape,” which blossomed over the past 100 years as development ramped up, especially after World War II.

2022

Chatham Christmas Stroll

December 9th - 11th

The historic Mayo House was proud to participate in the annual Chatham Christmas Stroll celebration and was open for cider and sweets, tours and information on conservation land and trails in Chatham.

Mushroom Identification Walk: Frost Fish Creek with Wesley Price

with the Cape Cod Mycological Society

October 29th, 9am

Wesley Price, the founder of the Cape Cod Mycological Society, led a guided walk along the Frost Fish Creek trails. As participants foraged, Wesley identified mushrooms and answered questions.

Introduction to iNaturalist: Sylvan Gardens with James Junda

co-sponsored by the Friends of Sylvan Gardens

October 27th, 3pm

Ornithologist James Junda led a workshop on iNaturalist, the powerful new tool for both the citizen and professional naturalist. Participants learned learn to ID what we saw, how to get expert feedback, and share observations with biological researchers all within the iNaturalist app. CCF Trustee Carol Odell gave background information on the Sylvan Gardens trails and mission.

This walk was co-sponsored by the Friends of Sylvan Gardens, whose mission is to manage and improve the Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens for preservation of its natural resources and passive recreational public enjoyment.

Mill Pond Overlook Trail: Free Guided Trail Walks

October 6th, 1 - 2pm
October 13th, 1 - 2pm
October 20th, 1 - 2pm
October 27th, 1 - 2pm

CCF staff and trustees led guided trail walks along CCF's recently opened new trail. Located next door to the Atwood Museum, this trail affords a beautiful overlook of the Mill Pond.

Chatham Oktoberfest

October 22nd, 11:00 - 3:00pm

The historic Mayo House was proud to participate in the Chatham Oktoberfest celebration and was open for cider and sweets, tours and information on conservation land and trails in Chatham.

Lichen Walk: Barclay's Pond with Tom Walker

October 21st at 12pm

Naturalist Tom Walker led a guided walk exploring the great variety of lichens along the Barclay's Pond Trail.

Mushroom Identification Walk: Barclay's Pond with Wesley Price

with the Cape Cod Mycological Society

October 16th at 9:30

Wesley Price, the founder of the Cape Cod Mycological Society, led a guided walk along the Barclay's Pond trails. As participants foraged, Wesley identified mushrooms and answered questions.

Strong Island: Chatham's First Peoples Walk with Marcus Hendricks

October 8th at 10:00am

Marcus Hendricks (Waban Webquish) of Wampanoag Shells discussed the cultural practices and pre-colonial indigenous life of Chatham’s First Peoples. Topics will include traditional food sources, seasonal shifts, and the indigenous cyclical calendar. CCF Trustee Tim Burt talked about the Foundation’s conservation efforts related to Strong Island.

Strong Island Conservation and History Walk

September 24th at 10am

CCF Executive Director Lauren Arcomano and Trustee Tim Burt discussed the history and conservation efforts related to Strong Island, the “gem” of Pleasant Bay. They introduced the local flora and discussed the Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Old Village Walk, co-sponsored by the Friends of Trees

Wednesday, September 21st at 10am

CCF Trustee Oonie Burley led a walk that followed Main Street in Chatham to the Lighthouse, and then looping back to town. The trail included over a dozen of Chatham’s most notable trees. Participants visited both old and elegant specimens as well as “survivor” trees that have been impacted by the storms and wind of Chatham’s maritime climate as well as human encroachment.

The walk was co-sponsored by the Friends of Trees whose mission is to promote awareness of the environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits that trees provide our community.

Strong Island Natural History Walk with Todd Kelley

Saturday, September 17th

Natural historian Todd Kelley discussed the glacial origins of Pleasant Bay and the progression of Indigenous Peoples’ settlement on the Narrow Land up to early European exploration in the area and interaction with firstcomer European settlers. CCF Trustee Tim Burt also provided information on the Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Strong Island Bird Walk with Mark Faherty

Wednesday, September 7th

Ornithologist Mark Faherty discussed birdlife, insects and plant life found along the stunning woodland trail and island shore. CCF Trustee Carol Odell also provided information on the Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Peter Trull

Saturday, August 20th at 10am

Local naturalist and author Peter Trull shared his knowledge and enthusiasm on a variety of topics, from birds and habitats to dragonflies and salt marshes. CCF Trustee Linda Nixon also provided information on the Foundation's efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Strong Island Botanical Walk with Bob Zaremba

Wednesday, August 10th at 10am

Local botanist Bob Zaremba discussed the native flora along the stunning woodland trail. CCF Trustee Carol Odell also provided information on the Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Strong Island Photography Walk with Heather MacKenzie

Saturday, July 23rd at 10am

Professional photographer Heather MacKenzie guided participants on how best to capture images within the unique island environment. CCF Trustee Beth Taylor also provided information on the Foundation’s efforts to preserve and protect the Pleasant Bay ecosystem.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Julie Baca and Tim Burt

Wednesday, July 13th at 10am

CCF Land Stewardship Director Julie Baca and Trustee Tim Burt led a walk focusing on the environment and history of the “gem” of Pleasant Bay.

Chase Park Walk, Co-sponsored by the Friends of Trees

Saturday, June 18th at 10am

CCF Trustees Oonie Burley and Linda Nixon led a walk focusing on over two dozen noteworthy trees all contained within Chase Park in Chatham. The guides introduced participants to both older trees that have been in the park for decades as well as more recently planted specimens. The easily accessible walk was contained within the park, offering an opportunity for individuals who may not want to take part in a longer trail walk over more variable terrain.

The walk was co-sponsored by the Friends of Trees whose mission is to promote awareness of the environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits that trees provide our community.

The Bob Clem Trail at Frost Fish Creek with Beth Taylor and Linda Nixon

Friday, May 13 at 10am

CCF Trustees Beth Taylor and Linda Nixon led a walk through the breathtaking trails of Frost Fish Creek, highlighting the unique geological features and rich history of these wetlands. CCF acquired all of the almost 50 acres that now protect Frost Fish Creek over a span of 33 years. The 1.1 mile walking trail meanders along the edge of the Frost Fish Creek, offering walkers glimpses of an old cranberry operation which has reverted into open wetlands. With its unique configuration featuring brackish freshwater tidal wetland over viewed from upland pine/oak woodlands, this area offers the most varied and numerous opportunities to experience seasonal bird and mammal life in our area.

Native Plants Group with Cathy Weston

Wednesday, January 26th, 2022; 5:30pm

Wednesday, February 9th, 2022; 5:30pm

Wednesday, February 23rd, 2022; 5:30pm

Using Native Plants in Your Home Landscape

Cathy Weston, designer of our own Mini-Meadow and self-described "native plant geek," conducted a series of sessions to help homeowners plan their own native-plant gardens.

In the first Zoom session, Cathy discussed which native plants and what styles of garden design work best in the home landscape, and provided templates, plant lists, and practical advice to support your own garden design. These sessions were collaborative; participants shared concepts and on-paper designs that they were considering and group discussion provided feedback on each design.

First Day Hike Cape Cod - Sylvan Gardens with Dorothy Bassett

Saturday, January 1st, 2022; 1pm & 2:30pm

Sylvan Gardens

Chatham Conservation Foundation (CCF) Executive Director Dorothy Bassett led guided walks at Sylvan Gardens for First Day Hike Cape Cod.

The Chatham Conservation Foundation and eight conservation groups collaborated to launch #FirstDayHikesCapeCod on January 1, 2022. Building on the popularity of the national state park program originally launched in Massachusetts, this first-of-its-kind regional celebration featured eleven (11) free special walks, talks, and hikes in eight (8) communities across Cape Cod providing a range of opportunities for families, children, residents, and visitors to get outside and explore on the first day of the new year.

Mushroom ID Walk with Wesley Price

Saturday, October 23rd, 2021; 9am-12pm

CCF teamed up with the Cape Cod Mycological Society founder Wesley Price for a guided walk along the CCF trails. As participants foraged, Wesley identified mushrooms and answered questions.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Mark Faherty

Friday, October 8th, 2021; 9am-12pm

Strong Island

Mark Faherty, host of WCAI's Bird Report and Science Coordinator at the Mass Audubon's Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, led a scenic walk along the trails of Strong Island, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm on a variety of nature topics.

Acquired in 1973 from the Horst family, Strong Island, with 75 acres of upland owned by CCF and 59 acres of town-owned marsh, sits as the "gem" of Pleasant Bay. Located as it is in Pleasant Bay, the property has the limitations of isolation from the Cape as a whole, but also the likelihood of unique migrational visitations. Birds and mammals are representative of the general area.

Frost Fish Creek Walk with Julie Baca and Connor O'Brien

Thursday, October 7th, 2021; 9-10:30am and Friday, October 15th, 2021; 9-10:30am

Frost Fish Creek

Land Stewards Julie Baca of Chatham Conservation Foundation (CCF) and Connor O’Brien of Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) teamed up to offer walks on properties in Harwich and Chatham. Participants learned about Cape Cod’s unique plant communities, freshwater waterways, and habitat restoration potential at CCF’s Frost Fish Creek in Chatham.

Over the past few years, Julie has been enthusiastically working to expand her knowledge of Cape Cod flora. She discussed plant identification basics, pointing out both native and invasive plant species. Connor taught walk participants about the function of wetlands, freshwater waterways, and estuaries on Cape Cod and the important fish species that rely on those habitats. Eagerly awaiting the herring running every year, and having worked in environmental education, this is a subject that Connor loves to talk about.

Robert F Smith Cold Brook Preserve with Julie Baca and Connor O'Brien

Tuesday, October 5th, 2021; 9-10:30am and Wednesday, October 13th, 2021; 9-10:30am

Robert F Smith Cold Brook Preserve

Mushroom ID Walk with Wesley Price

Sunday, September 19th, 2021; 10am

Barclay Pond

CCF teamed up with the Cape Cod Mycological Society founder Wesley Price for a guided walk along the Barclay Pond trails. As participants foraged, Wesley identified mushrooms and answered questions.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Bob Zaremba

Sunday, September 12, 2021; 9am-12pm

Strong Island

Local botanist Bob Zaremba led a scenic walk along the trails of Strong Island, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm on a variety of nature topics.

Mushroom ID Walk with Wesley Price

Saturday, August 28th, 2021

Barclay Pond

CCF teamed up with the Cape Cod Mycological Society founder Wesley Price for a guided walk along the Barclay Pond trails. As participants foraged, Wesley identified mushrooms and answered questions.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Peter Trull

Saturday, August 28th, 2021

Strong Island

Mondays on Main - Mayo House Guided Tours

Mondays, July 5th through August 30th, 2021; 6-9pm

Mayo House

While you're enjoying downtown Chatham on Monday nights during the summer, please stop by the Mayo House for a guided tour.

Click here for more information on Chatham's Mondays on Main series.

Chatham Art in the Park

June 25th through August 20th, 2021

Kate Gould Park

The Chatham Conservation Foundation participated in this year's Art in the Park series. Thanks for stopping by to enjoy the wonderfully whale-inspired works of art!

Mini Meadow Walk with Cathy Weston

Saturday, August 14th, 2021; 10am

Mayo House

Ecological gardener and CCF Trustee Cathy Weston led a detailed look at the Mini Meadow on Main. This beautiful garden was planted with all Cape Cod native plants, and was designed by Cathy and Honorary Trustee Oonie Burley.

The meadow has changed over time as the plants have settled in: some have died back, and others have thrived. If you're interested in creating a meadow at home or learning about native vegetation, come see the Mini Meadow!

Forest Beach Overlook Walk with Kate Witte

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021; 9-10am

Forest Beach

AmeriCorps graduate and Chatham Shellfish Department employee Kate Witte led a family-friendly walk through the beautiful Forest Beach Overlook trail.

This short walk is part of a much larger parcel owned by the town, and was purchased through Town Land Bank Funds. This site was also once the location of radio transmission towers that sent ship-to-shore messages all over the world. It was part of RCA's Marine Communications Station WCC in North Chatham, as detailed by info panels onsite.

The town of Chatham purchased the property, along with the North Chatham WCC property, in 1999 from the MIC Corporation. This 30 acre parcel was designated Town conservation land.

2021 Annual Meeting

Monday, August 2nd, 2021; 5:30pm

Wequassett Inn

The Chatham Conservation Foundation held its 2021 annual meeting in person at the Wequassett Inn. Guest speaker Dr. Douglas Tallamy, Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, treated the audience to an engaging presentation on the importance of oak trees in our ecosystem.

Strong Island Nature Walk with Peter Trull

Wednesday, July 28th, 2021; 9am-12:30pm

Strong Island

Peter Trull and CCF Executive Director Dorothy Bassett led a scenic walk along the trails of Strong Island. Local naturalist and author Peter Trull shared his knowledge and enthusiasm on a variety of topics, from birds and habitats to dragonflies and salt marshes.

Acquired in 1973 from the Horst family, Strong Island, with 75 acres of upland owned by CCF and 59 acres of town-owned marsh, sits as the "gem" of Pleasant Bay. Located as it is in Pleasant Bay, the property has the limitations of isolation from the Cape as a whole, but also the likelihood of unique migrational visitations. Birds and mammals are representative of the general area.

Frost Fish Creek Walk with Bob Zaremba

Monday, July 19th, 2021; 9am-11am

Frost Fish Creek

Local botanist Bob Zaremba led a walk through the breathtaking trails of Frost Fish Creek, which have recently been enhanced with Plant ID tags thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.

Bob Zaremba has a PhD in botany, 18 years of working experience at the Nature Conservancy, and 39 years of botany experience. He guided visitors through the walking trail, which meanders along the edge of Frost Fish Creek and then follows the wooded ridge overlooking the marsh.

CCF acquired all of the almost 50 acres that now protect Frost Fish Creek over a span of 33 years. With its unique configuration featuring brackish-freshwater tidal wetland over viewed from upland Pine/Oak woodlands, this area offers the most varied and numerous opportunities to experience seasonal bird and mammal life in our area.

Strong Island Photography Walk with Isaiah Lee

Friday, July 23rd, 2021; 9am-12:30pm

Strong Island

Professional photographer Isaiah Lee and CCF Executive Director Dorothy Bassett led a walk through beautiful and remote Strong Island.

Dorothy covered how the Island and Pleasant Bay ecosystem are being preserved, and Isaiah gave a photography lesson on how to best capture images of this stunning area. Isaiah detailed nature photography and how to move through nature in a way that does not disturb plants or wildlife. Isaiah also detailed composition for close-ups like flowers or distant images like landscapes.

The island-long 1.7 mile trail system winds through pine and oak woodlands filled with native shrubs and wildlife. As you walk, impressive views of are all around you of the Atlantic Ocean, a barrier beach, salt ponds, marshland, and Pleasant Bay.

Mini Meadow Walk with Cathy Weston

Saturday, July 17th, 2021; 10am

Mayo House

Chatham History Weekend - Mayo House Guided Tours

June 12-13th, 2021; 10am-4pm

Mayo House

The historic Mayo House was proud to participate in the Chatham History Weekend, and was open for tours and information on conservation land and trails in Chatham. Click here for more information on Chatham History Weekend.

Mushroom ID Video Walk With Wesley Price

October 7th, 2020; 1pm

In order to offer the full mushroom ID walk sensory and educational experience, CCF teamed up with the Cape Cod Mycological Society founder Wesley Price, for a filmed guided walk through Frost Fish Creek. CCF Executive Director Dorothy Bassett and Land Steward Julie Baca walked with Wesley as he identified mushrooms along the trail, and marked each with an orange flag. Visitors watched the video live and then were free to explore the trail independently, stopping at each marker to visually inspect the various species.

Please note that mushrooms from the video disintegrate quickly, but the mycelium (similar to roots) remain in the ground and wood from where the various mushrooms and fungi can continue to grow.

Virtual Walk With CCF and The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

September 21st, 2020; 9am-11am

A live broadcast from conservation land where Chatham Conservation Foundation's property meets the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. We discussed the history, access, ecology, beauty, and uses of the area.