Summer Discovery: Animal Alphabet
A Fun Family Storywalk® at Houghton’s Pond Playground
Enjoy Gill Davies’ collection of 26 witty, kid-oriented animal poems ranging from Ants to Zebras. Read along as you stroll through the pages of the book posted on the wooden fence at the playground. Add a unique literacy experience to your outdoor fun. Best for families with kids 3-8 years old. Enjoy a self-guided visit through Labor Day at 840 Hillside Street in Milton. Co-sponsored by DCR and Milton Early Childhood Alliance.
Meetup Mondays at 10 am
Free Forest School at Blue Hills
Meeting details and RSVP through joining the Facebook group "Free Forest School of Greater Boston" or contacting freeforestschoolboston@gmail.com.
Free Forest School has come to the Blue Hills on Monday morning! Free Forest School is a national nonprofit meet up group, which encourages child-directed nature play for children ages 0-6 and their caretakers. We start with a shared snack, trail talk, and songs, which are followed by a less than .25 mile hike to a nature area where children play freely.
Every other Tuesday 11am-12pm
June 4 & 18, July 9 & 23, August 6 & 20
Friends of the Blue Hills Peek-a-Blue Hikes for Parents and Tots
Meet at Houghton’s Pond main parking lot at 840 Hillside Street in Milton.
Calling all parents and tots! Join the Friends of the Blue Hills for a new season of Peek-a-Blue Hikes for parents and tots. Complimentary water, juice and snacks too. Hikes will be offered every other Tuesday morning throughout the season. For info, visit www.FriendsoftheBlueHills.org/peekablue.
Saturdays, June 1 & 15, July 6 & 20, August 3 & 17 11am-3pm
Open House at the Dorothy Quincy Homestead
The Homestead is located at 34 Butler Road in Quincy. Visit www.nscdama.org
A National Historic Landmark, the Quincy Homestead is significant for its role in early American history, for its architecture, and for its Quincy family association. In addition to the architecture and furnishings, docents share stories of the Quincy family during the colonial era. The tours are free.
Saturday, June 15 10am-11:30am
Bunker Hill Quarry Tour
Meet at the Quincy Quarries parking lot located on Riccuiti Drive in Quincy. Look for the first large paved parking lot on the right.
Historic Bunker Hill Monument, which commemorates one of the first battles of the American Revolution, had its humble beginnings in the rocky hills of the West Quincy. Join members of the Quarry Workers Museum and a DCR Park Interpreter as we witness the amazing engineering feats behind the building of the Bunker Hill Monument. Must be able to walk 1 mile on moderately rocky, uneven terrain.
Thursday, June 27 11am–noon
Houghton’s Pond Nature Discovery: Turtles
Meet at the Houghton’s Pond Visitor Center at 840 Hillside Street in Milton.
New this summer! Stop by the Houghton’s Pond nature interpretation station located near the playground. Enjoy on-going exploration of the natural world. Today it’s Turtle Time as we learn about the turtles of Houghton’s Pond. Best for children ages 6 and up.
July 9- August 27 at Dusk
Tuesday Night Family Flicks -
Martini Shell Park
Meet at 1015 Truman Parkway in Hyde Park. Call 617-698-1802, ext. 4 for weather updates.
Bring along a blanket and snacks and enjoy a family movie under the stars. Bug spray too!
Movies begin at dusk. Rain cancels.
July 9: Ralph Breaks the Internet
July 16: Mary Poppins Returns
July 23: Spiderman into the Spider Verse
July 30: Bumblebee
August 6: The Lego Movie 2
August 13: How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World
August 20: Captain Marvel
August 27: Dumbo
Friday, July 12 7:30pm-9pm
Bats in the Blue Hills
Email Maggi.Brown@state.ma.us for registration and location. Space is limited.
Bats are truly remarkable and often misunderstood animals. Join us for an evening of bat appreciation as we learn about these amazing creatures in an indoor lecture then head outside to look and listen for these flying wonders. For ages 8 and up.
Thursday, July 18 11am–noon
Houghton’s Pond Nature Discovery: Insects
Meet at the Houghton’s Pond Visitor Center at 840 Hillside Street in Milton.
Stop by the Houghton’s Pond nature interpretation station located near the playground. Enjoy on-going exploration of the natural world. Today we’ll focus on butterflies and dragonflies of Houghton’s Pond. Best for children ages 6 and up.
Saturday, July 20 10am-1pm
Houghton’s Pond Annual Fish Festival
Take Rt. 93 to exit 3 and follow Fish Festival signs to picnic site 5 on the west side of Houghton’s Pond.
Catch some “reel” fun at Houghton’s Pond this summer! Join the DCR rangers and instructors from MassWildlife to learn the basics of fishing in this free clinic. Equipment is available or bring your own. Fishing license not required for this event. Crafts, games and other fishy activities too!
August 8- August 29 at Dusk
Thursday Night Family Flicks - DCR Pope John Paul II Park
Meet at the Gallivan Boulevard entrance in Dorchester. Rain cancels.
Bring along a blanket and snacks and enjoy a family movie under the stars.
Bring bug spray! Movies begin at dusk.
August 8: The Lego Movie 2
August 15: How to Train your Dragon: The Hidden World
August 22: Captain Marvel
August 29: Dumbo
Saturday, August 10 10am-noon
Neponset Greenway Geology Walk
Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Email fyler@neponset.org for program registration and meeting place.
This program is MBTA accessible via Redline, Mattapan Trolley, Milton stop.
Les Tyrala, registered geologist, and the DCR will lead a geology walk along the Neponset River tidal estuary. Examine puddingstone and glacial features along quiet side streets and a public greenway. We’ll pass through the former Baker Chocolate Factory Complex and discuss its sweet history as well. Ages 12 and up.
Thursday, August 15 11am–noon
Houghton’s Pond Nature Discovery: Birds
Meet at the Houghton’s Pond Visitor Center at 840 Hillside Street in Milton.
Stop by the Houghton’s Pond nature interpretation station located near the playground. Enjoy on-going exploration of the natural world. Today we’ll focus on birds of the Blue Hills. Best for children ages 6 and up.
Evenings of August 17 & 22
Brown Box Theatre presents Free Shakespeare in the Park
Measure for Measure
Saturday, August 17 7:30-9:30pm
DCR Fall River Heritage State Park
At 200 Davol Street, Fall River.
Thursday, August 22 7:30-9:30pm
DCR Borderland State Park
At 259 Massapoag Ave., North Easton.
“Some rise by sin and others by virtue fall.”
Join us for the political tragicomedy Measure for Measure. What happens when corruption reaches the highest level of court? Explore the price of principle, and witness what happens when the law is bent by those who serve to uphold it. The duke leaves the fate of his people in the hands of a ruthless surrogate. A loyal sister is despicably forced to make an inconceivable decision: save the life of her brother, or uphold her honor? Join us for Shakespeare’s timeless tale of deception, virtue, and hypocrisy, and decide for yourself whether justice is served. www.brownboxtheatre.org
Things to know before you go
Visit www.mass.gov/dcr for more DCR summer news & free programs across the state.