The Trustees of Reservations

This Thanksgiving Eve ?? we’re shining a spotlight on a Trustees Hidden Gem: Whitney and Thayer Woods and Turkey Hill! Nestled between the woods and Weir River Farm, the 62-acre Turkey Hill is managed by The Trustees in partnership with the towns of Cohasset and Hingham. Looking for a post-Thanksgiving workout? Climb the 187-foot summit of Turkey Hill for spectacular views of the Boston Skyline. You’ll also encounter a relic of the Cold War—a cinder block building of an anti-missile radar control station sited here during the Cold War to thwart a potential nuclear attack by the Soviet Union. These days, the only thing you’ll be thwarting is a post-feast food coma! Whitney and Thayer Woods offers even more to explore. Step back in time as you wander through woodlands adorned with glacial erratics, vernal pools, and a secluded holly grove. Climb rock formations, look for wildlife and discover hidden gems like a hermit’s shelter. Amble along 10 miles of carriage roads through resurgent hardwood forests and open fields, with stunning views of the South Shore and Boston skyline. Then, head across the street to Weir River Farm, where you can meet friendly goats, sheep, and chickens. Whatever brings you here, Whitney and Thayer Woods and Turkey Hill are sure to delight. ???? ??: Turkey Hill - credit: Gabby Johnson ??: Whitney and Thayer Woods ??: Turkey Hill - credit: David Larkin ??: Whitney and Thayer Woods ??: Turkey Hill - credit: Lee Dawna ??: Whitney and Thayer Woods - credit: Nick Colleen Fiorello #TheTrustees #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #TrusteesHiddenGems #TurkeyHill #ThanksgivingHikes #SouthShoreExplorers #GetOutside #CohassetMA

Be An Early Bird! Be one of The Trustees’ 1,000 Giving Tuesday donors and make a difference in your community and across our Commonwealth! Make your Giving Tuesday gift by midnight on Tuesday, December 3, to protect Massachusetts’ special landscapes and landmarks! Give today: https://lnkd.in/eCputQgG ??: Great Blue Heron - Powisset Farm, Dover #TheTrustees #GivingTuesday #EarlyBird #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: A photo of a Great Blue Heron seen at Powisset Farm in Dover, MA.]

It’s opening week for Winterlights! ?? On Friday, November 29, three of our special places will officially open for all to experience the sparkle and magic of the holiday season! Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, and Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton will sparkle with thousands of shimmering, artfully designed holiday lights and music. The show will run through January 4 and will include sensory friendly hours at Stevens-Coolidge and the Bradley Estate on Dec 26 and 27. To learn more and reserve your spot, visit: https://lnkd.in/exry8yXV ?? Photos 1-2: Naumkeag, Stockbridge - credit: David Edgecomb ?? Photos 3-4: Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, Canton ?? Photos 5-6: Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, North Andover #TheTrustees #Winterlights #HolidayLights #HolidayEvents #Massachusetts #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: Photos of Trustees Winterlights event at three Trustees properties.]

“While there is perhaps a province in which the photograph can tell us nothing more than what we see with our own eyes, there is another in which it proves to us how little our eyes permit us to see.” ― Dorothea Lange ??: Menemsha Hills, Chilmark #TheTrustees #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: A photo of a person looking out at Menemsha Hills in Chilmark, MA.]

Support Local This Small Business Saturday! ?? One week from today, join us in celebrating Small Business Saturday by shopping locally and sustainably with The Trustees. From holiday artisan markets featuring handmade gifts and locally sourced treats to gift memberships and getaway experiences, there’s something for everyone on your list! ?? Shop Online: Browse our curated selection of unique gifts—from books and games to artisan crafts—all supporting the places you love. ??? Visit Our Markets: Explore festive markets showcasing incredible artisans, women-owned businesses, and BIPOC creators. ??? Give the Gift of Trustees Memberships: Share access to 120+ special places and unforgettable adventures across Massachusetts. ?? Trustees Farms: Find locally made goodies and gift CSAs that bring farm-fresh produce or seasonal meats straight to your loved ones’ tables. ?? Unforgettable Getaways: Treat someone special to a cozy getaway at Castle Hill or Field Farm, paired with outdoor adventures like skiing or snowshoeing. Shop with purpose and make your gifts extra meaningful this year. ?? Every purchase helps us care for the special places you cherish. ?? Explore the gift guide now at https://lnkd.in/eANxZmDA ??: Appleton Farms Store, Ipswich #TheTrustees #SmallBusinessSaturday #ShopLocal #TrusteesHoliday #GiftsThatGiveBack #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: A photo of the Appleton Farms store in Ipswich, MA.]

Powisset Cooks! at Powisset Farm in Dover is designed for people who love food and farms. Excite your senses, expand your palate and broaden your cooking repertoire, with hands-on cooking classes for adults, couples and children, vacation week programs – all centered around farm-fresh food. Come explore Powisset Farm from field to fork! #TheTrustees #PowissetFarm #CookingClass #FarmtoTable #Sustainable #Specialplaces

Summer Camp?! It's wild to think about but we're already getting ready and excited for Summer Camp 2025. Registration opens for Members after 12pm on January 9th (and for the public at The FARM Institute)! If you’re looking for a fun and enriching summer experience for your camper, our The Trustees Summer Camps across Eastern Massachusetts offer unforgettable adventures in nature, creativity, and discovery! Whether they’re exploring the great outdoors, getting hands-on with art and science, or making lifelong friends, our camps have something for everyone. ??? ?? Learn more and sign up for email alerts here: https://lnkd.in/dhiqJZi ??: Jake Belcher, 2023 #TheTrustees #SummerCamp #TrusteesCamps #KidsLearning #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: Photos of Trustees Summer Camps across Eastern Massachusetts in 2023.]

Did you know November is Native American Heritage month? Join us to celebrate and learn more about Native American culture with various exhibitions and events at properties like Appleton Farms @appletonfarms and The Crane Estate @craneestate_trustees in Ipswich and Fruitlands Museum @fruitlandsmuseum in Harvard. On 11/23 there will be a Native Plant Walk & Milkweed Fiber Spinning Demo at Appleton Farms in Ipswich and on 11/29 there will be a Celebrating Indigenous Knowledge Dune Hike at Crane Beach in Ipswich. While only open for special events this winter, Fruitlands Museum in Harvard currently features historic and contemporary works of art from several Native American communities, with three new exhibitions with a broader reinterpretation of the rich Indigenous collection originally assembled in the early 20th century. #TheTrustees #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #IndigenousCulture #CelebrateHeritage #TrusteesMA #AppletonFarms #CraneEstate #FruitlandsMuseum #Accessibility [Description: Photos featuring Trustees places and events paying homage to Native American Heritage Month.]

Kudos to the North Shore Education Team who is wrapping up a successful fall field trip season. Our youngest farmers, the Fiddleheads, explore every Wednesday at Appleton Farms @appletonfarms with Lee Wile and Suzanne Kelsey. Meanwhile hundreds of elementary students from Glen Urquhart School, Salem Public Schools, North Shore Christian, Brookwood School and more have visited the forests, gardens, and barnyard with Michael Walker at Appleton, and salt marsh, beach, and pine barrens with Sarah Morris & Joey Clancy at Crane @craneestate_trustees. We've also enjoyed digging into climate science at Crane with some advanced groups from Ipswich HS, and Northeastern & Brandies Universities. And we look forward to hosting Greater Lawrence Tech School and Root North Shore at Appleton later in November to explore sustainable food systems and environmental careers. We are grateful to work with this passionate and hardworking team! ??: Crane Beach, Appleton Farms - Ipswich #TheTrustees #FieldTrip #OutdoorEducation #EnvironmentalLearning #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: Photos of students on field trips at two Trustees properties in Ipswich, MA.]

The Trustees would like to welcome its newest TerraCorps member, Adam Sussbauer! Adam brings great experience and knowledge to the Trustees, we are very happy to have him on board. We asked Adam to tell us a little bit about himself and his new role with TerraCorps: Adam: “I grew up in Ashfield with a very outdoorsy family. To this end, I've been hiking on Bear Swamp and Bullitt since I could walk, where my parents would point out and teach me to identify trees, wildflowers, and anything else we could find. My early exposure to this field led me to study Earth & Environmental Science at Wesleyan University, where I worked in environmental archaeology, planetary geology, and geochemistry laboratories, among others. I now live in Granby, MA, where I am a residential advisor at the MacDuffie independent boarding school, and am thrilled to be serving with The Trustees as a TerraCorps member! As a TerraCorps member, I am working with Julie Richburg on the Ecology Team, where I am working on our grassland bird and nest box monitoring volunteer programs, biodiversity monitoring with iNaturalist, and the beginnings of culvert and stream crossing surveys. So far, I've been conducting my own field work, crunching through data from previous years, working with ArcGIS to create survey maps, and beginning to reach out to volunteers to work with us in the spring nesting season. Throughout my service term with TerraCorps at The Trustees, I am excited to work in the conservation field and the people within it, having been around it my whole life without even knowing.” ??: Adam Sussbauer – Bullitt Reservation, Ashfield & Conway #TheTrustees #TerraCorps #SpecialPlaces #ExploreOutdoors #Outdoors #Nature #Accessibility [Description: A photo of new TerraCorps member Adam Sussbauer.]