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Are you ready for a challenge? Each week in 2020 and 2021, our Explore South Shore program featured a different park or nature preserve, and invited you to explore it. We also encouraged you to participate in our monthly contest, for which we selected a winning photo on Instagram. Explore South Shore featured over 100 properties. It was exciting to see participants sharing images from so many inspiring places!
Even though there are hundreds more places on the South Shore still worthy of your attention, this year we’re changing things up a bit. Instead of destinations, we’re suggesting activities for you to try.
Accept our weekly Explore South Shore Challenge and you will find yourself identifying birds and trees, searching for fireflies, picking blueberries, and even getting up early to watch a sunrise! Ready to explore a tidepool? Or to learn what geocaching is all about? Thirsty for some hike-local brewery pairings? Every Wednesday we will introduce a new activity, and identify locations on the South Shore where the challenge can be fulfilled.
Follow us on Facebook so you don’t miss each week’s theme. Follow us on Instagram to see daily posts and suggestions.
As always, we’ll be offering a prize package to each months’ contest winner. Remember to post a selfie from your adventure to Instagram with the hashtag #ExploreSouthShore
Date Challenge Suggested Sites
December 29 – Visit a Place That’s New To You – Chapman’s Landing, Indian Head River Trails, Webster’s Wilderness, Whitney & Thayer Woods, Beaver Dam Conservation Area, Patuxet Park, Brockton Audubon, Marshfield Bridle and Rail Trail
January 5 – Try a New Nature Activity – Ski: Whitney Spur Rail Trail, Wheelwright Park, Wompatuck various entrances, Beaver Brook, See the stars: Aaron River Reservoir & Dam, Crowell Conservation Area, Matthews Bog, Newell Playground, King Oak Hill Park, Joseph Carven Boat Ramp/George Lane Beach
January 12 – Take Your Dog Someplace – Stodder’s Neck, Scituate Dog Park, Abington Dog Park, Widow’s Walk, Two Mile Farm, Thompson Pond Trail, Duxbury Bogs, Round Pond Conservation Area
January 19 – Learn Something – Attend a lecture in our Winter Nature Challenge, Maritime & Irish Mossing Museum, South Shore Natural Science Center, Duxbury Bay Maritime School, Keene’s Sawmill, Howland’s Landing Park, Nathaniel Thomas Mill, Stockbridge Grist Mill, Osprey Overlook Park
January 26 – Read A River Book – Hatch Mill, Curtis/Wanton Yards, Briggs Yard, Brick Kiln Yard, Fox Hill Yard, Hanover Yards, Rogers Yard, Packet Landing, Block House Yard, Bald Hills/Stetson Ship Yard Favorite Local Books: Red House, Demon of the Water, History of Shipbuilding, Freitas’ Humarock
February 2 – Have Some Winter Fun – Great Hill Park, Strawberry Valley Golf Course (sledding), Island Grove Park, Widow’s Walk, Coast Guard Hill (sledding), Norris Reservation, Damon’s Point, Brant Rock Beach (look for seals)
February 9 – Identify a Constellation – Aaron River Reservoir and Dam, Crowell Conservation Area, Matthews Bog, Newell Playground, King Oak Hill Park, Joseph Carven Boat Ramp/George Lane Beach
February 16 – Find A Historic Marker – Old Mouth, White’s Ferry, Peregrine White Homestead, Daniel Webster Estate, Winslow House, Hatch Mill, Myles Standish Monument, Cushing Memorial State Park, Colby Phillips Cemetery, Washington Street Bridge
February 23 – Take a Winter Walk – Tubbs Meadow Conservation Area, Monatiquot River Walk, Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area, Cherry Lane Bogs/Round Pond, J.J. Shepherd Memorial Forest, Webster-Billings Conservation Area, Hathaway Preserve, Cornhill Woodland, Whitney Spur Rail Trail, North Plymouth Rail Trail, Bay Farm, Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary
March 2 – Sketch or Paint a Landscape – Lehner Conservation Area, Harbor Park, World’s End, Berrybrook Fields, Turkey Hill, Weir River Farm, Hornstra Dairy Farm, Damon’s Point, Back River Trail
March 9 – Try Geocaching – Jacobs Pond Conservation Area, Stetson Meadows, Great Brewster Woods, Misty Meadows Conservation Area, Ellis Estate Trails, Rockland Town Forest, Webb Memorial State Park, Ames Nowell State Park, Rocky Run Conservation Area, Pond Meadow Park, South Shore Quests
March 16 – Look for Signs of Spring – Norris Reservation, Whiton Woods, Forge Pond Park, French’s Stream Trail, Old Rockland Fireworks Loop Trail, Clark Bog Trail, Summer Street Conservation Lands, Plain Street Trails, Indian Crossway, Whortleberry Hollow, Furnace Brook Watershed, Cranberry Watershed Preserve, Hanover Senior Center Trails
March 23 – Create a Photo Series or Nature Video – Rocky Run Conservation Area, Whitney & Thayer Woods, Union Street Woodland, Nelson Memorial Forest, Phillips Farm Preserve, Lansing Bennett Forest, Stewart/Person Preserve, Halfway Pond Conservation Area
March 30 – Take A Sensory Walk – North River Wildlife Sanctuary, House Rock Park, North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Camp Kiwanee, Tindale Bog, Jacobs Meadow, Pine Island Trails
April 6 – Pick Up Litter – Ellis Nature Sanctuary, Indian Head River Fish Ladder, Dandelion Park, Julia Road Park, Gaffield Park, Gifford Playground, Negus Park, Weston Park, Bicentennial Park
April 13 – Take a Walk in the Rain – Ellis Estate Trails, Monatiquot River Walk, Island Grove Park, Duxbury Bogs, Fern Hill Cemetery, Bare Cove Park, Alton Smith Reserve, Norris Reservation, Willow Brook Farm Preserve, Great Pond Trail
April 20 – Identify An Unfamiliar Bird – Camp Wing Conservation Area, Pape Reservation, Kibby Property, Donald Flaherty Trail, Cuffee Hill Conservation Area, Patuxet Park, Ferry Hill Thicket, Foundry Pond
April 27 – View a Herring Run – Stephen Rennie Herring Run Park, Iron Hill Park, Herring Run Pool Park, Herring Run Park (Pembroke), Stewart/Person Preserve, Veterans Memorial Park
May 4 – Identify An Unfamiliar Tree – South River Bog, George Ingram Park, Great Pond Trail, Hubbell Preserve, Rockland Town Forest, Twin Ponds Trail, South Shore Natural Science Center, Shingle Mill Brook Trail
May 11 – Take A Bike Ride – Rockland Rail Trail, North Plymouth Rail Trail, Norwell Pathway, Wompatuck, Bare Cove Park, Great Esker Park, Hit The Trails on a Mountain Bike: Round Pond Conservation Area, Knapp Town Forest, Carolina Hill Reservation, Wompatuck State Park Norwell
May 18 – Pair a Hike with a Local Ice Cream Shop – Hornstra Dairy Farm/Hatch Mill, Dairy Twist/Misty Meadows or Willow Brook, Nona’s/Driftway Multi-Purpose Path, FarFars/Lapham Woods or Williams Preserve, B’s Ice Cream/Pratt Farm and Rail Trail/Bridle Trail, Rocky Roads/Harbor Walk, Magoo’s/Rockland Town Forest, Nona’s/Triphammer Pond, JJ’s Dairy Hut/Great Brewster Woods, JC’s Ice Cream/Denham Pond, Peaceful Meadows (Whitman) Heidi’s Hollow/Forge Pond Park, Veterans Memorial Town Forest
May 25 – Visit a Community Garden for Inspiration – Last Meadows, Griffin Dairy Farm, Mounce Meadow, Holly Hill, Weir River Farm, Butterfly Park
June 1 – Book a Pontoon Boat River Cruise – NSRWA’s Pontoon Boat, Things You Can See on A River Cruise: Roht Marine, Damon’s Point, The Spit, Packet Landing, Blueberry Island, Couch Beach, John Little Conservation Area, Union Street Bridge, Nelson Memorial Park, Rogers Yard, Bulman Marine, Block House Yard, Chittenden Yard, Corduroy Road, Curtis/Wanton Yards, North River Ferry Wreck, Stetson Meadows, Bald Hills, Briggs Yard, Route 3A Bridge, US Air Force Recreation Area
June 8 – Go Fishing – Powder Point Bridge, Damon’s Point, Union Street Bridge, Chittenden Yard, Pond Meadow Park, Jacobs Pond, Whitman’s Pond Park, Stetson Pond Beach, Norris Reservation, Crooker Memorial Park, Burrage Pond, Furnace Pond, Oldham Pond, Halfway Pond
June 15 – Plan a Paddling Trip – Marshfield Launch, Hanover Launch, Peter Igo Park, Abigail Adams Park, Weymouth Landing, Keville Footbridge, Marshfield Town Landing, Chittenden Yard, Jacobs Pond, Nelson Memorial Park, Studley Pond, Norwell Town Landing, Bourne Island Lagoon, Blueberry Island, Couch Beach, Poor Meadow Brook, Howland’s Landing
June 22 – Take a Yoga Class Outdoors – Check out our Yoga at the River’s Edge classes!, Rexhame Beach, Couch Beach, Ferry Hill Center, Driftway Park, Luddam’s Ford Park (Pembroke)
June 29 – Campfire Time! – Wompatuck State Park, Blueberry Island, Couch Beach, Rexhame Beach
July 6 – Pick Your Own Blueberries – Tree-Berry Farm, The Blueberry Farm, CN Smith Farm, Sauchuk Farm, or can you find some on your own, in the wild?
July 13 – Swim in a River or Pond – Couch Beach, Rexhame Beach, Maquan Pond, Furnace Pond Beach, Little Sandy Bottom Pond, Stetson Pond Beach, Oldham Pond, Island Grove Park, Hartsuff Park
July 20 – Take A Firefly Walk – Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary (consult MassAudubon), Holmes Reservation, Wompatuck (combine with camping), Last Meadows, Whitman Hanson High School, Alton Smith Reserve
July 27 – Identify a Dragonfly – Butterfly Park, Cushman Preserve, Mary’s Garden, South River Park, Harding’s Pond, Woodbine Island, Cohasset Common, Crooker Park, Hingham Street Reservoir
August 3 – Watch a Sunset – Roht Marine, Damon’s Point, Indian Head Pond, Herring River Trail, The Spit, Coast Guard Hill, Masthead Drive Trail, Powder Point Bridge, Silver Lake Sanctuary, Harbor Walk, Furnace Pond Beach
August 10 – Relax and Float Downstream – Keville Footbridge, Rexhame Beach, Marshfield Town Landing, Bulman Marine, Marshfield Launch, Chittenden Yard, Pembroke Town Forest
August 17 – Hear Live Music Outdoors – Stay tuned for more information about ScitStock!, Check out the live music offerings at Scituate Heritage Days and the Marshfield Fair
August 24 – Explore a Jetty or Tide Pool – Brant Rock Beach, Green Harbor Beach, Scituate Lighthouse, Plymouth Harbor Jetty
August 31 – Visit a Farmers Market – Rye Tavern, Cohasset Common, Plymouth, Marshfield, Braintree, Hingham, Holbrook, Hanover, Kingston
September 7 – Pick Apples – Mounce Farm, CN Smith Farm
September 14 – Be An Advocate – Sign Up For Our E-News to be notified about advocacy opportunities. Visit local properties that were preserved thanks to public campaigns: Driftway Conservation Park, Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Phillips Farm Preserve, Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary
September 21 – Join a Trail Maintenance Crew – Fill out our Volunteer Registation Form to be notified of Trail Crew opportunities. Visit recently maintained spots: Webster’s Wilderness, Carolina Hill Reservation, Stetson Meadows, Bates Conservation Area, Rocky Run Conservation Area, Union Street Woodland
September 28 – Try Forest Bathing or Outdoor Meditation – Tucker Preserve, Bates Lane Conservation Area, Summer Street Conservation Lands, Veterans Commemorative Town Forest, Hatch Lots Conservation Area, Wharf Creek Conservation Area, Webster’s Wilderness, Phillips Sanctuary, Veterans Memorial Town Forest, Triphammer Pond Conservation Area, Thaddeus Chandler Sanctuary, Brass Kettle Conservation Area
October 5 – Pair a Hike with a Local Brewery – Stellwagen Beer Company/Jose Carreiro Woodland, Untold Brewing/Driftway Conservation Park, Burke’s Alewerks/Jacobs Pond Conservation Area, Vitamin Sea Brewing and Barrel House Z/Cavern Rock Park, Mayflower Brewing/Camp Nekon, Old Colony Brewing/Whitman Town Park and Hobart Pond, Widowmaker Brewing/Pond Meadow Park, 10th District Brewing/Ames Nowell State Park, Second Wind Brewing/Beaver Dam Conservation Area, IndieFerm Brewing/Eel River Preserve
October 12 – Visit an Audubon Sanctuary – Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, North Hill Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary
October 19 – Visit a Wildlands Trust Property – Hoyt Hall Preserve, Pudding Hill Reservation, Phillips Sanctuary, Willow Brook Farm Preserve, Tucker Preserve, Canoe Club Preserve, Melzar Hatch Preserve, Cushman Preserve, Cow Tent Hill Preserve, Striar Conservancy, Stewart/Person Preserve, The Nook Preserve, Halfway Pond Conservation Area
October 26 – Visit a Trustees Property – Two Mile Farm, Norris Reservation, World’s End, Whitney and Thayer Woods, Turkey Hill, Holmes Reservation, Weir River Farm
November 2 – Explore an Agricultural Landscape – Historic O’Neil Farm, Weir River Farm, Griffin Dairy Farm, Stetson Meadows, Donovan-Wildcat Conservation Area, Hornstra Dairy Farm, Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Crosbie Family Preserve, Willow Brook Farm Preserve, Berrybrook Fields
November 9 – Explore a Wetland – Preble Property, Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, John Little Conservation Area, Smith-Nawazelski Conservation Area, Colby-Phillips Trails, Lansing Bennett Forest, Norris Reservation, Canoe Club Preserve, Miller Woods, Brockton Audubon Preserve
November 16 – Explore a Forest Trail – Bradford Torrey Bird Sanctuary, Nelson Memorial Forest, Fogg Forest, Higgins-MacAllister Preserve, Pembroke High & Hobomock Elementary Trails, Simon Hill, Carolina Hill Reservation, Folly Hill Trail Walk, Knapp Town Forest/Waiting Hill Preserve, Wheelwright Park/Barnes Wildlife Sanctuary
November 23 – Explore a Salt Marsh Trail – Driftway Conservation Park, James Landing Walkway, North Plymouth Rail Trail, The Nook Preserve, Harbor Walk, Great Esker Park, Osprey Overlook Park, Bare Cove Park, Mulliken’s Landing, Mary’s Garden, North River Wildlife Sanctuary
November 30 – Check Out Some Glacial Erratics – Cavern Rock Park, Whitney & Thayer Woods, Wheelwright Park, Womaptuck State Park – Doane Street Entrance, Rocky Run Conservation Area, Barnes Wildlife Sanctuary, Bates Lane Conservation Area, Brockton Audubon Preserve, House Rock Park
December 7 – Explore the Beach in Winter – Rexhame Beach, Preble Property/The Spit, Brant Rock Beach, Duxbury Beach Reservation, Green Harbor Beach, Peggotty Beach, Gray’s Beach Park, Humarock Beach, Minot Beach, Stodders Neck, Webb Memorial State Park, George Lane Beach
December 14 – Visit a State Park – Wompatuck (various entrances), Webb Memorial State Park, Abigail Adams State Park, Ames Nowell State Park, Cushing Memorial State Park, Myles Standish State Reservation
December 21 – Visit a Rail Trail – Marshfield Bridle and Rail Trail, Rockland Rail Trail, North Plymouth Rail Trail, Whitney Spur Rail Trail, Nava-Stasiluk Conservation Area, Herring River Trail, Indian Head River Trails
December 28 – Watch the Sun Rise – Brant Rock Beach, Duxbury Beach Reservation, Plymouth Harbor Jetty, Bay Farm, Holmes Reservation, Scituate Maritime Center, Scituate Lighthouse, Peggotty Beach, Gray’s Beach Park, Humarock Beach