FOREST FIRE-MANAGEMENT TOUR

On Saturday, October 27, Friends of Myles Standish State Forest is pairing up with The Nature Conservancy to provide a tour that will demonstrate the fire ecology of Pine Barrens and show us how fire is used to manage the forest. Bob Bale, The Nature Conservancy Fire and Restoration Manager, will lead a moderate walk. Bob will start the tour from the Upper College Pond Road parking lot at 10:00 a.m. He expects it to last about two hours. Space for the tour is limited. To sign up, call TNC (508) 732-0300 x 21. Directions to the parking lot may be found online at www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/southeast/mssf.htm, or visit FMSSF website at www.friendsmssf.com.

Next Friends of Myles Standish State Forest Meeting

Anyone living in or near Pine Barrens will want to attend the next Friends of Myles Standish State Forest meeting, Thursday, 
October 25, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at “the Barn”, MSSF Headquarters. The speaker will be Ron Aseltine, Plymouth County Fire Warden District II (in Myles Standish State Forest). Ron says Pine Barrens are the Nation’s third most dangerous area for out of control wildfires.

With so many of us living in forested areas, we need to prepare for the inevitable. Come and learn what our forest 
managers and firefighters are doing to help prevent another wildfire disaster; and just as important, learn what you can do to 
protect your own property and the forest we all love. We urge you to attend this important meeting.

Also at this meeting, Friends will pay tribute to former MSSF Supervisor, Robert A. MacKenzie, who held MSSF together for over 17 years! The Department of Conservation and Recreation promoted Robert to District Supervisor of Blue Hills. Now DCR must find a replacement. Not an easy task! Everyone is welcome to Robert’s farewell celebration!

To find the Barn, enter the MSSF forest. Follow the signs to Headquarters. We will have a large sign posted at the Barn. Please call FMSSF (508) 833-3588 for more information.

Take Me Fishin'! Saturday, September 29, 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On Saturday, September 29, 2007, 10:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m., FMSSF will hold its first annual fishing event, "Take Me Fishin'!" at beautiful Fearing Pond in the Myles Standish State Forest. This is a free event aimed at giving children in our community the opportunity to learn to fish, to develop a sense of stewardship for our natural resources, and to get outside. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and MassWildlife will provide all of the equipment for fishing. We are planning other fishing related activities too. FMSSF will have trained volunteers on hand to teach kids and their parents some of the basics of fishing so that they might make fishing a family tradition. Fearing Pond has a number of BBQ's and picnic tables. Bring your lunch and stay the whole day!

See the link "DCR" at the sidebar for directions to the Myles Standish State Forest. This site has a PDF map of Myles Standish State Forest showing Fearing Pond.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 19, 7:00 p.m.

Friends of Myles Standish State Forest will hold its next meeting on September 19, at 7:00 p.m., at "the barn", across the street from the MSSF Headquarters. Friends will focus on establishing our priorities for the next twelve months. Bring your ideas for helping improve the forest.

Ron Hunter spotted this pretty Spotted Turtle!

Ron Hunter spotted this lovely turtle while he was working on the Easthead Trail. Spotted turtles are known to live 26 years but they may live to be twice that age! Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game is concerned about these little beauties because populations are declining and now they are on the Massachusetts Endangered Species List. Unfortunately, they like to burrow underneath grassy or muddy areas near ponds and in marshlands during the summer to keep cool. Quite often people and vehicles crush them but many are killed on roads. If you see a spotted turtle, or any other wildlife species, observe from afar or try to protect it while its crossing the road. Don't forget. All wild animals bite.

Big!

This is by far the biggest Snapping Turtle I've ever seen. He/She was aside of the road on it's way to the nearest lake...be careful when you go into that water.

Next Friends of Myles Standish State Forest Meeting

Dear Friends of Myles Standish State Forest,

Don't forget our next meeting on June 7, 7 p.m. at "the barn", across from the Forest Headquarters.

Environmental Police Officer, Rob Akin, will speak about the illegal use of off road vehicles in the Forest. We will discuss future projects, Trail concerns and elect officers. We need a Secretary and a Treasurer to become official. Please consider volunteering for the job.

This picture was taken at Fearing Pond. This gorgeous pond is designated for public use by the State but it is closed to the general public because of the lack of funds to pay for a life guard and because there is no sanitary facility. Want to try to open the pond to public use? Then join us.

Hope to see you there. Please tell everyone you know in the area to get involved!

Things I saw today...

I counted 48 of these "Lady's Slippers" today, and found 23 plants that didn't have flowers, along the trail. If you click on the picture for big, the specks of yellow on the flower is pollen from the trees.















I have no clue what this fuzzy stuff is...found it on a scrub oak...pretty.















Part of the Easthead Trail in the Myles Standish State Forest.















I think we're getting a new sign! A very big Thank You to Bob MacKenzie for all his hard work in tearing down the old one...a very difficult task especially in the hot weather we've been having recently.

More Forest Flowers

Here are a few more of the flowers found on one of my walks in the Myles Standish State Forest. Again, I have no clue as to what these are called but they are plentiful along the Easthead Trail.















Of course, we all know that the one pictured below is known as the "Lady's Slipper". Please correct me if I'm mistaken, in that they are protected. Reason being, that if the flower is picked, it will take years for it to grow another, if at all. Now go take a walk and enjoy these while they are in bloom. (Click on each picture for BIG)

Wildflowers

If you go for a ride through the Myles Standish State Forest, you might see some of these along the roadside. I'm not really sure of just what they are, but there are a lot of them. There are more flowers out now and I'll post some pictures of them a bit later. Enjoy these for now. (Click on the picture for big)

Edited to add; I'm told this is "Bird's Foot Violet". Thanks Sharl!

A Walk in the Park

We went for a walk in the Myles Standish State Forest a couple weeks ago, on the Easthead Nature Trail. This trail is about 3.5 miles around a small pond and took us roughly 1 hour to hike it. Besides the swans, we saw turtles, frogs, and a hawk. On a sunny day you can smell the pine as it heats up in the sun.
I picked up 2 trash bags of junk...someone's leftover trash from a picnic, several Dunkin Donut coffee cups, 2 empty nip bottles, a whole lotta cigarette butts, oh, yeah, and a used baby diaper. If you can pack it in, then you can pack it out. I shouldn't have to do it for you.

Help Wanted!

Your help is needed this Saturday, May 12th. The DCR is holding a Park Service day where volunteers will meet at the Forest Headquarters parking lot, by 10:00 AM. We will undertake a major clean-up of the Easthead Nature Trail. All adults willing to help are welcome (please, no young children and no dogs)...we will need lots of volunteers to help us with this task. Please bring your work gloves, rakes, wheelbarrows if you have them, a lunch, water, and whatever else you may need. Please call Sharl Heller at; 508 833 3588 for more information, or you may call the forest headquarters at; 508 866 2526. See you there!

CONTEST!!! Great Park Pursuit Outdoor Adventure

Coalition Partner
Newsletter Article

The Great Park Pursuit Outdoor Adventure
Contest Comes to Massachusetts


Friends of Myles Standish State Forest is teaming up with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to challenge members and the general public to disconnect from cyberspace and reconnect with open space this spring by entering The Great Park Pursuit.
The Great Park Pursuit will challenge teams to visit different state forests and parks over a six-week period. Participants will be able to hike to amazing views, learn to fish, pitch a tent and roast s’mores, discover secrets of the past, ride a horse-drawn wagon, learn how to milk a cow, and much more. And it’s all free.
Similar to some outdoor adventure, “reality-tv” programs, The Great Park Pursuit teams will receive weekly clues about where the next event will be held, and will participate in outdoor recreation challenges, as well as enjoy skill-building and nature-based learning activities.
Beginning May 19 at Blue Hills Reservation in Milton and running every Saturday through June 23, teams will travel to state parks in all sections of the Commonwealth. Teams that participate all six weeks could win exciting outdoor adventure packages donated by Eastern Mountain Sports, and every team will get some great giveaways. All teams must register to be eligible to win prizes. Register, get game rules, and learn more at www.greatparkpursuit.org.
The contest is part of a national initiative called “No Child Left Inside,” designed to encourage youngsters to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors, while learning more about the great natural and recreational resources in the state parks. Key goals are to fight childhood obesity and “nature deficit” disorder, encourage quality family time, and build the next generation of park and environmental stewards.
A Great Park Pursuit team consists of at least one person 18 years or older with at least one person under 18. Hurry to register at www.greatparkpursuit.org, as spots are limited.
For more information on The Great Park Pursuit, write to parkspursuit@state.ma.us or call 617-626-1450. Let the games begin!

1st Meeting

The first meeting of "The Friends of Myles Standish State Forest" took place Thursday evening on May 3rd under the direction of Sharl Heller and Bob MacKenzie. Approximately 35 enthusiastic people showed up for the meeting. People with a variety of user interests, such as; equestrian trail riding, hiking, and mountain bikers, to name a few. Topics discussed included, brushing back the hiking trails and placing trail markers, clean-up of trees and brush that have fallen due to the recent storms, forming a volunteer work crew to help with the clean-up and general maintenance, mapping trails, and the ongoing ORV problem. Several volunteers have formed subgroups to work on publicity, hiking trails, equestrian trails, work crews, and the forming of a 501c non profit status. Anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Sharl Heller at; slheller at comcast dot net or by phone 508 833 3588.