SAUGUS — The Department of Conservation and Recreation is sponsoring a number of programs at Breakheart Reservation throughout the month of August, each of which are free and open to the public.
Most of the programs are held outdoors, leaning into the reservation’s abundant open space, and are held on a weekly basis.
The first program — held twice — is a full-moon hike. The first hike will be held on Aug. 2, and a second will be held on Aug. 31, the date of a blue moon. The program is open to adults and families with children ages 8 and older, and will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
DCR will also host a number of recurring programs on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. On Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., park-goers can join the park interpreter for a guided hike that will stretch roughly 2 to 3 miles.
“Each trip will highlight natural and historic features that make Breakheart unique,” DCR said in a statement.
On Wednesdays, DCR is inviting visitors to “step into the past” with a guided hike that showcases Breakheart’s history. The hike is approximately 2.5 miles long and the department said the event is best suited for adults and older children interested in history.
The Breakheart Birding Club is held Thursday mornings from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and participants will aid the park interpreter in identifying and counting the many birds that call Breakheart home. Binoculars are encouraged but not required.
“Take part in this world-wide project to document the distribution, abundance, and movements of thousands of species of birds,” the statement urged.
Friday’s event is aimed at younger children, who can visit the park for “Kidleidoscope,” where participants can complete a small craft and explore the woods. The program runs from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each Friday.
On Saturdays, Breakheart is home to Family Fishing, in which visitors ages 5 and older can learn about the sport, the kinds of fish that live in the reservation, and how to catch and release responsibly. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and bait and a handful of rods will be provided.
Each Friday in August, the Junior Rangers program meets at the park from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Kids between the ages of 8 and 12 need to be accompanied by an adult. Participants will learn about map reading, fishing, and how history has shaped Breakheart.
For more information on any of the programs, call (781) 233-0834, send an email to [email protected], or visit DCR’s website.
