The Orleans Conservation Trust protects and restores natural lands — for people and wildlife, the health of our waters, and the character of our community. | |
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Thursday, October 3, 9:30-11am
Three Ponds Conservation Area
135 Quanset Road, Orleans
Introducing a new way to "get to know" Orleans Conservation Trust!
Whether you're new to town and want to check out our hiking trails, or you're a regular and want to hear a little bit more about OCT, these walks are the perfect opportunity to join us. Bring your questions, hear about how you can get more involved, and enjoy the nature of our community with OCT trustees and volunteers.
Unlike our monthly educational walks, we won't be making guided stops along the trail. Instead, we'll take a leisurely stroll where we can have a conversation and talk about all things OCT.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Preschool Explorers with Andrea Higgins | |
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Friday, October 4, 9-10:30am
Orleans; location given at registration
Fall is a wonderful time to explore the great outdoors! If you have a youngster aged 2-5 ready for adventure, we hope you’ll join Naturalist Ms. Andrea for this free Preschool Exploration sponsored by Orleans Conservation Trust and Harwich Conservation Trust.
We will gather at a unique conservation destination in Orleans to watch colorful leaves twirling to the ground, breathe in the fresh air, and see signs of wildlife. Get outside, get creative, and get moving while learning about the land we live on.
Location and driving directions will be included in your registration confirmation email.
Photos courtesy of Gerry Beetham.
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"Coexisting with Our Wild Neighbors" Lecture | |
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Wednesday, October 9, 6:30pm
Orleans Yacht Club
39 Cove Road, Orleans, MA
Wild Care, Inc. is a nonprofit wildlife hospital in Eastham dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured and orphaned wildlife on Cape Cod. Stephanie Ellis, Wild Care’s executive director, will discuss human impacts on the lives of our native wildlife and offer tips for how we can all coexist. She will suggest alternatives to rodenticides for controlling rodent populations, dispel myths about coyotes, and describe how we benefit from Virginia opossums and other creatures that share our outdoor space.
Doors open at 6pm; the lecture begins at 6:30pm.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Thursday, October 10, 1:30-3pm
Woods Cove Conservation Area
366 Tonset Road, Orleans, MA
Take a short, leisurely walk (about 1/2 mile) through pine–oak woodlands and enjoy views of Nauset Marsh. Participants will hear a brief overview of the rich history of this lesser-known OCT property.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Book Talk: "How to Love a Forest" | |
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Monday, October 28, 6:30pm
CHO Meetinghouse
3 River Road, Orleans, MA
Ethan Tapper is a forester, author, and digital creator from Vermont. His book How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World was published in September, 2024. Join Ethan to learn why we need to actively manage our protected lands in order to heal them from centuries of abuse and neglect. Presented in partnership with Seal Howl Bookshop.
Doors open at 6pm; the lecture begins at 6:30pm.
Limited participation; advanced registration required.
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Wednesday, October 9, 9:30-11:30am
366 Tonset Road, Orleans
Interested in finding out which species call OCT properties home? Join OCT's team of Biodiversity Seekers as we catalog all living things we find at Woods Cove Conservation Area.
Please arrive with a fully charged phone, long pants and sleeves, water, and any other personal items you may need for off-trail travel. Additional parking is available at the town landing at the end of Tonset Road.
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Trail Maintenance: Mill Pond Valley | |
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Thursday, October 24, 9:30-11:30am
13 Champlain Road, Orleans
Join us as we open up our trail corridors at Mill Pond Valley by trimming back overgrowth. Parking is available at 13 Champlain Road.
Please bring work gloves, proper clothes for off-trail travel, water, and any other personal items you may need for off-trail travel.
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Upcoming Walks:
- Get to Know OCT Walk (10/3)
- Preschool Explorers (10/4)
- Woods Cove (10/10)
- Three Ponds (11/13)
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Upcoming Talks:
- "Coexisting with Our Wild Neighbors" by Stephanie Ellis (10/9)
- "How to Love a Forest" by Ethan Tapper (10/28)
- "Birds, Bees, and Butterflies in Your Backyard" by Mark Faherty (11/6)
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November Sneak Peak:
- 11/6: "Birds, Bees, and Butterflies in Your Backyard" Lecture: Mark Faherty, Science Coordinator at Mass Audubon Cape Cod, will discuss the importance of a healthy ecosystem in attracting pollinators to your home landscape. Learn about some of the steps you can take to create your own wildlife haven and the fascinating diversity of life you might expect to find.
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At Home with Nature
Nature-friendly practices you can adopt for your yard
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Growing a Cape Cod Lawn
Adopting eco-friendly practices can minimize the environmental impact of lawn care. Mow your lawn at higher settings, promoting stronger grass and reducing the need for water. Water efficiently by collecting rainwater, and reduce fertilizers to avoid harmful runoff. Consider groundcover plants as an alternative to turf; for example, clover needs little attention once it’s established, suppresses weeds, and has a deep root system that aerates the soil. And re-think the size of your lawn, perhaps adding some native garden beds instead. Read more on creating an eco-friendly lawn here.
Check back monthly for more At Home with Nature tips, and visit our new webpage!
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Orleans Conservation Trust is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1970. Over its 50-year history, the Trust has preserved more than 660 acres in Orleans. Among the most active land trusts on Cape Cod, OCT stewards a range of ecosystems, from freshwater ponds and wetlands to saltmarshes, wooded upland, and coastal grasslands, managing its lands to protect and enhance wildlife habitat, restore native ecosystems, and provide public recreation and education through a network of trails and informational signage. OCT also educates residents and visitors about important natural values and environmental issues in Orleans and around Cape Cod via guided walks, free lectures, its website, newsletter, and other communications. | | | | |
