CLC FALL WALKS 2025
Check our website: (https://clclex.org/events/ )for updates and cancellations.
Registration is not necessary unless specifically mentioned in the walk notes.
Unless otherwise noted, walks will be canceled in case of steady rain/snow.
No dogs, except certified service dogs.
THE MOTH BALL
Thursday September 25, 6:30-9:30 PM
Rain date: Friday September 26, 6:30-9:30 PM
Registration required, limited to 15 participants – see CLC web site for registration link (https://clclex.org/events/)
Join us for a special kind of ball this September, but don’t worry about bringing your dancing shoes! Once the sun goes down, bugs will be the ones showing off their moves. During this nature walk hosted by both the Town of Lexington Conservation Division and CLC, and with special guest Jace Porter of the Global Entomology Coalition, we will get up close and personal with the night time residents of our local conservation areas. We will be using a large sheet illuminated with ultraviolet light to attract all manner of fascinating critters – moths, beetles, flies, spiders, stick insects, or true bugs are just some of the things we might see (and if you’re curious what the differences are between “bugs” and “true bugs,” then this might be the event for you!). We will also have on display a collection of previously captured and pinned specimens of all shapes, sizes, and species to supplement the living bugs we encounter. Long pants, long sleeves, closed-toed shoes, and a headlamp (preferably with a red light setting) are strongly recommended. Hooded shirts/sweaters or mesh head nets are recommended. Magnifying glasses are encouraged. If you’re familiar with the Seek or iNaturalist apps, we encourage using them too!
All ages are welcome, but we recommend attendees be 12 or older.
Meet at the meadow picnic table area of Willard’s Woods. Follow the trail westward from the parking lot on North Street opposite 44 North Street.
Leaders: Walt Emann – wemann@lexingtonma.gov (781) 265-8127 and Jace Porter, jaceporter@entomologycoalition.org
WILLARD’S WOODS: A BRIEF JOURNEY THROUGH A HISTORIC LANDSCAPE
Saturday September 27, 10 AM
Rain date: Sunday September 28, 10 AM
Registration required, limited to 20 participants – see CLC website for registration link (https://clclex.org/events/)
Join Jeff Howry, Ph.D., a Lexington historian and archaeologist, in the exploration of Willard’s Woods. The area presents many examples of how our New England landscape was shaped by nature and occupied by humans. The tour will show participants many of the features of the 100 acres that tell stories of what has happened in the past 12,000 years. Posters and artifacts will supplement the narrative as we explore the various terrains and historic areas within the conservation area. Participants will particularly come to appreciate the historic landscape and what it tells us about our colonial forbearers’ lives.
Wear long pants with closure straps, hiking footgear and weather-proof clothing.
Meet in the main parking lot on North Street opposite 44 North Street.
Leader: Jeff Howry jchowry@hotmail.com
ACROSS LEXINGTON ROUTE N
Sunday October 5, 1:00 PM
The walk is 3.7 miles and goes through the Turning Mill Pond, Willards Woods, and Chiesa Farm conservation areas as well as walking past Kineens Park and through Diamond Middle School grounds.
Meet in the Willards Woods parking lot on North St opposite 44 North Street.
The walk will be held rain or shine!
Leader: Ruth Ladd, 781-956-6774, wetlandmom@aol.com
FAUNA AND FLORA OF ARLINGTON’S GREAT MEADOWS
Saturday October 11, 10AM-Noon
Rain date: Sunday October 12, 10AM-noon
AGM is a 183 acre property owned by Arlington and located in East Lexington. It features meadows, wetlands, and woods within its borders. Over 700 trees, plants, insects, mammals and more have been documented on iNaturalist to date. We’ll share observations and insights of AGM’s natural communities, a changing mixture of native and introduced organisms, with a focus on late season wildflowers and insects.
Wear long pants and have bug repellent in reserve.
Meet at the end of Emerson Gardens Rd. off Maple St. in Lexington. Some public parking is available just past the entrance to Lexington Meadow townhomes. (Use Emerson Gardens Rd for overflow parking.)
Leader: Andrea Golden: andgold@comcast.net
GOAT PASTURE WALK AT CHIESA FARM
Sunday October 12, noon-2 PM
Rain date: Monday Oct. 13, 12 Noon-2 PM
Come and join the local Lexington goats for their daily pasture walk through the fields and woodlands at Chiesa Farm. Each season the land provides them with diverse plant life. The goats are very specific to what they need to eat depending on many factors. We will have two Lexington herds, totaling about 18 dairy goats, including some young kids in tow. Learn about the goats and how they are working to keep invasive plants in check.
All adults and children are welcome.
Park at Diamond Middle School using the Hathaway/Sedge Road entrance or park at Fiske school and walk across to the pastures.
Guides: Halé Sofia Schatz and Laurene Beaudette
Contact: laurene@iwebinsight.com
ACROSS LEXINGTON ROUTE A
Saturday October 18, 9 AM
Rain date: Sunday October 19, 9 AM
Join this walk to discover ACROSS Lexington Route A. This 5.2 mile loop is the longest ACROSS Lexington Route and one of the earliest. The walk will take approximately two hours. It goes through residential streets, the bike path and several conservation areas including Lower Vine Brook, Willard’s Woods, Chiesa Farm and Parker Meadow. The walk is not suitable for walkers, strollers or baby carriages. Wear comfortable clothing and walking footwear.
Meet on the bike path behind the Visitors Center.
Leader: Miriam Boucher – 781-248-6695, mdcb16@verizon.net
EDIBLE PLANTS – FALL EDITION
Sunday October 19, 3 PM
Registration required, limited to 15 participants – see CLC website for registration link (https://clclex.org/events/)
Lexington is home to over 70 species of edible wild plants, both native and non-native, including plants considered to be weedy or invasive. Some are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. This time of year offers a great opportunity to highlight late berry, root and nut harvests.
The walk is friendly to well behaved and attentive children.
Dress appropriately for the weather and bring a water bottle and harvesting bags.
Meet at the Fitness Trail entrance at the crosswalk on Worthen Road across from the Lexington High playing fields.
Leader: Emily Carvalho – rootedoutside@gmail.com
Fall Bird Walk at the Arlington Reservoir and Lexington Community Farm
Saturday October 25, 8-10 AM
Rain date: Sunday October 26 8-10 AM
We’ll be looking for migrating sparrows and late warblers like Orange-crowned at the farm and for arriving winter ducks at the reservoir.
Bring binoculars, wear footwear for possibly damp or muddy ground.
Meet at the gym set area of Rindge Avenue Playground.
Leader: Chris Floyd – hchrisfloyd@outlook.com
iNaturalist Observation Walk at Joyce Miller Meadow
Sunday November 9, 12PM
This walk is an opportunity to learn to use iNaturalist to observe and share biodiversity information in Lexington’s conservation land. iNaturalist is an online social network of people who care about biodiversity and want to contribute to knowledge and learn from each other. So far, people in Lexington have made over 30,000 observations comprising over 2100 species of plants, birds, bugs, fungi etc in iNaturalist. The walk will take about 1.5 hours/
Please download the iNaturalist app to your phone (iPhone or Android) and create an account before you arrive.
Meet by the bench at Adams Park along the Minuteman Bikeway. Car parking at the Waldorf School or along Massachusetts Avenue.
Leader: Barbara Katzenberg – barbara.katzenberg@lexingtontmma.org