Don’t miss this unique experience! Join the Brewster Ponds Coalition and SUPfari Adventures (a BPC business partner) on an evening glow Eco Paddle “fun-raiser” that will begin at Arey’s Pond in Orleans at 7:00 PM on Sunday, August 11. This unique activity combines the sights and sounds of the “golden” sunset hours with the peace and stillness of the evening. With a single switch, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) will transform into floating flashlights, illuminating the marine life beneath the water’s surface. The Eco Paddle guides will lead you from Arey’s Pond into Little Pleasant Bay and back. The event is approximately 1½-2 hours and includes a brief safety instruction. Kayaks, paddleboards, and gear including personal flotation devices, will be provided by SUPfari Adventures. Spaces will fill up quickly as this unique event is limited to 12 participants (minimum age is 14). Admission is $50 for ages 14-25, and $75 for anyone over age 25. When registering, please indicate your choice of a kayak or SUP. More details, including what to wear and parking information, will be provided to registrants in advance of the event. Photographs above courtesy of SUPfari Adventures.
The Falmouth Pond Coalition, an organization with a mission very closely aligned with the BPC, is planning a webinar on Thursday, August 22 from 4-5:30 PM entitled Freshwater Pond Science 101. This webinar is a great way to understand the basic biological, chemical, and physical processes that guide these ecosystems. The program is open to anyone who resides on Cape Cod.
Click here for the full details about the webinar topics and speakers. The event is free, and registration is appreciated for planning purposes. MASSTC "Waste No Water" Library Tour
Wednesday, July 24: 2 - 3 PM Auditorium, Brewster Ladies Library 1822 Main Street, Brewster The Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center (MASSTC) is conducting a library series in Cape Cod towns that focuses on the wastewater successes and challenges that each town faces. You are invited to attend the program being held in Brewster on July 24 at the Brewster Ladies Library, from 2-3 PM. Those attending will gain a better understanding of wastewater and how innovative/alternative (I/A) systems are one important aspect that are being used to assist with reducing harmful nutrient outflow into groundwater. To learn more about the speakers and to register for this informative and free event, click here. Saturday, August 10 8:30 - 11 AM Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church 3600 Main Street, East Brewster It's hard to believe, but the Brewster Ponds Coalition is celebrating its 10th year this summer! In honor of this occasion, we will be including a small celebration of all our hard work during the upcoming Annual Meeting. Please mark Saturday, August 10 from 8:30 - 11 AM on your calendars for this meeting at the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:30 AM, with the meeting starting at 9 AM. The BPC is excited to announce that the guest speaker will be Christopher Flanagan, a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 1st Barnstable District, representing Brewster, Dennis, and Yarmouth. Mr. Flanagan has represented the district since 2023. Prior to being elected to the State House, he worked in the Offices of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State and as the administrative director of the Offices of Senator John F. Kerry and William "Mo" Cowan. His presentation at the Annual Meeting will focus on important issues to Brewster residents that are currently being discussed at the state level. The Annual Meeting is free to BPC members so be sure to reserve your spot. For non-members, we are suggesting a $10 donation payable at the event. Many thanks to The Leighton Team, a BPC business partner, for its sponsorship of this year's meeting.
Unfortunately, and for the first time ever, Brewster Conservation Day 2024 is cancelled due to consistent weather forecasts predicting bad weather on Saturday. Such conditions would make the event difficult for exhibitors and volunteers and provide a less than enjoyable experience for attendees. The sponsors of this event - Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT), the Town of Brewster Department of Natural Resources, the Brewster Historical Society, and the BPC - would like to thank the Brewster community for its continued enthusiasm and support of this yearly event as well as the local businesses that so generously donate food and beverages for the volunteers. We look forward to BCD 2025! In the meantime, you can enjoy these activities during Brewster Conservation Week: Calf Field Pond Walk
Tuesday, July 16 at 8 AM Led by the BCT, come learn about the historical uses of this special part of Brewster, how those uses impacted the forests, and how the forests have responded over time. Click here to register. Ruth Pond Walk Saturday, July 20 at 10 AM Join the BPC on this three-mile walk through Nickerson State Park to Ruth Pond. Click here to learn more and register. Photograph of the "The Big Flush" at BCD 2023, courtesy of William F. Pomeroy. Brewster Conservation Day 2024 Saturday, July 13: 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Drummer Boy Park, Brewster BCD 2024 is just a few short weeks away! Plan to attend this informative event that is always highlighted as the best conversation fair on Cape Cod. There will be approximately 38 unique environmental exhibits focusing on aquaculture, recycling, native plant gardening, and so much more. This year's theme is "Trees: Superheroes of the Natural World" and there will be exhibits and presentations related to the history of Cape Cod's forests, their environmental benefits, and how we can protect them for the future.
Plan to stop by the BPC exhibit to learn about our ongoing programs such as Citizen Science and Pond Education. As in years past, we will feature "The Big Flush." Over 100 visitors enjoyed being "flushed" at last year's fair! The Conservation Day Committee is still looking for volunteers to assist with various activities such as parking, food service, greeting visitors at the welcome tent, and more. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here to see the full list and sign up. BCD is sponsored by the Brewster Conservation Trust (BCT), the Town of Brewster Department of Natural Resources, the Brewster Historical Society, and the BPC. More information can be found on the BCT website. If you missed the recent BPC Pond Summit or would like to refer to the information presented, the presentations are now available for viewing. Below are the individual links to the recordings; you can also access them on our YouTube channel.
Many thanks to Bryan Horsley, Project Assistant at the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Testing Center (MASSTC), and Hilary Sandler, Extension Professor at the UMASS Cranberry Station, for their participation in this year's Pond Summit. The BPC Cycling Group rides again this summer! Join Marty Burke and the BPC cycling group for Ride #2 on Thursday, July 18. We'll meet at the Route 137 Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT) parking lot across from Ferretti's Market at 9:15 AM. The ride will take us east on the CCRT into Orleans with a stop for refreshments at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow. This is approximately an 11-mile ride at a leisurely pace. Come for the fun and camaraderie!
Registration is required, and the ride is limited to 12 cyclists. Meet-up instructions will be provided before the ride. Read the BPC Cycling Group’s Rules of the Road for more information. The BPC's most recent event has been featured in the local news!
The Pond Summit held on June 8 at the Brewster Baptist Church was attended by a reporter from The Cape Cod Chronicle. An in-depth article about the event and its speakers and presentations was published in the June 14 edition of the newspaper. If you missed it, be sure to read it by clicking here! (Masthead of the newspaper above is the copyright of The Cape Cod Chronicle.) On Saturday, June 8, the BPC held its annual Pond Summit at the Brewster Baptist Church. Approximately 60 members and community residents attended this informative event which featured three presentations that generated many questions and comments. Pictured above are (left to right): Dr. Hilary Sandler, Extension Professor from the UMASS Cranberry Station; Marty Burke, BPC Board member; Susan Bridges, BPC President; and Bryan Horsley, Environmental Project Assistant with MASSTC.
The Summit started with Bryan's presentation "Considering Eco-Toilets for Nutrient Management on Cape Cod." Attendees were given a wealth of information about how various systems offer source control of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus from entering groundwater along with saving water and conserving energy. Dr. Sandler's talk, "Natural History and Current Stewardship Practices for Cape Cod Cranberry Bogs," provided a history of the area's cranberry farming and techniques that are in place to protect surrounding water resources. Marty capped off the morning's presentations by explaining the BPC's "Pond Protection Pledge" (PPP) program. He noted that whether we act as individuals, or members of pond associations/neighborhood groups, we can all make a difference to the health and quality of our water resources by taking simple everyday actions. (You can read more on the PPP on this website.) The recorded presentations with accompanying slides will be posted soon on this website. |
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