2019 conference archive | Field trips
This year we'll be offering several inspirational Field Trips on some pretty fantastic trails. Learn about a trail's indigenous history. Discover the challenges faced during trail construction. Meander your way along winding paths. Contemplate the nature around you!
Advance registration is required and all Field Trips have a nominal fee associated with each. Attendees can choose from a morning Field Trip, afternoon Field Trip, or both.
Advance registration is required and all Field Trips have a nominal fee associated with each. Attendees can choose from a morning Field Trip, afternoon Field Trip, or both.
Twin Cities Rail Trail
friday, november 1, 2019 | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (half day, morning)
DESCRIPTION: Workshop participants will be transported to key locations along the trail route to view some of the challenges faced in creating access to Fitchburg's downtown, addressing a huge washout of the rail bed, and crossing an active rail line. We will also answer questions regarding acquisition and construction funding, negotiations with CSX Corp., encroachment issues, and plans to extend the trail beyond its current southern terminus in Leominster.
INSTRUCTORS:
LARRY CASSASA - Chair, Twin Cities Rail Trail Association
AMY LEBLANC - Senior Project Manager, City of Fitchburg
NIKKI PETERS - Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: Lunch not included
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
INSTRUCTORS:
LARRY CASSASA - Chair, Twin Cities Rail Trail Association
AMY LEBLANC - Senior Project Manager, City of Fitchburg
NIKKI PETERS - Economic Development Coordinator, City of Leominster
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: Lunch not included
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
Touring the Rock Walk Trail
friday, november 1, 2019 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (half day, afternoon)
DESCRIPTION: Pete Capodagli (the visionary for this trail) will lead a tour of the 1.46-mile trail loop that begins and ends at the Rollstone Boulder on the Upper Common in downtown Fitchburg. The tour will follow the trail over city sidewalks to the trailhead entrance on Bruce Street and from there hike up to the summit of the hill through interesting woodland habitats on natural surface trails or old service roads used during the quarrying operation. The hill was intensively quarried for decades and now sits idle as nature continues to revegetate the area with mixed hardwood and stands of Pitch Pine and White Pine. At the top of the hill, the local aerosol artist community have “tagged” with spray-painted artwork and graffiti much of the exposed rock surfaces. Pete’s focus will be on the cultural history of Fitchburg and the quarrying that took place on the hill. SCA undertook work to redo the eastern portion of this loop trail and Pete will point out the locations and work that were done on the tour as well. This tour is moderately strenuous and participants will be walking on irregular or sloping rock surfaces, and near drop-offs or on debris piles. The full tour will take about 3 hours.
INSTRUCTOR:
PETE CAPADAGLI - Owner, The Boulder Art Gallery and Member of Fitchburg Historical Society
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: Lunch not included
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
INSTRUCTOR:
PETE CAPADAGLI - Owner, The Boulder Art Gallery and Member of Fitchburg Historical Society
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: Lunch not included
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
Upton Ceremonial Stone Landscape Walkabout
Friday, november 1, 2019 | 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm (half day, afternoon)
DESCRIPTION: Join this fascinating walkabout led by representatives of the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Trust. Visit the Upton Chamber and nearby associated stone features built by Indigenous People to form an integrated sacred landscape that served as a calendar. The National Register of Historic Places has determined that a clear relationship between the Upton Chamber and ceremonial stone features on Pratt Hill in Upton makes both areas eligible for designation as a "Discontinuous Historic District." Take a walk back in time and explore this ancient landscape and its origins.
INSTRUCTORS:
DOUG HARRIS - Trustee, Narraganset Tribal Historic Preservation and Trust
CATHY TAYLOR - Educational Director, Narraganset Tribal Historic Preservation and Trust
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: BE PREPARED: this tour is moderately strenuous with a steep hill for approximately 1000 feet that participants will need to climb in order to get to the first site. Please respond here if you are not physically able to do this climb as there will be room in a car for up to 4 people who can be driven up the hill. Lunch not included.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25
INSTRUCTORS:
DOUG HARRIS - Trustee, Narraganset Tribal Historic Preservation and Trust
CATHY TAYLOR - Educational Director, Narraganset Tribal Historic Preservation and Trust
LOCATION: Meet at: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 99 Erdman Way, Leominster, MA 01453
LOGISTICS: BE PREPARED: this tour is moderately strenuous with a steep hill for approximately 1000 feet that participants will need to climb in order to get to the first site. Please respond here if you are not physically able to do this climb as there will be room in a car for up to 4 people who can be driven up the hill. Lunch not included.
COST: $10
CAPACITY: 25