Editor’s Note: Listings in Trail Mix are free. Email: outdoor@recorder.com The deadline is Tuesday by 8 a.m. Questions? Call 413-772-0261, ext. 276. Weather may cancel or force the rescheduling of some of these events. Additionally, space is often limited. Please contact organizers to ensure you can attend. This is particularly important if registration is required.
Junior Rangers — Earn your Junior Ranger Patch from Mass Parks! Become a Connecticut River Watershed expert and find out who lives along the canal and river in Turners Falls. Ages 8 to 11. Workshops are at 10:30 a.m. on Mondays: today, Aug. 8 and 15. Friends and siblings welcome. Children with a parent/guardian should meet at the Discovery Center lobby. Free. Register at 413-863-3221.
Trees on the Trail — Meet at the entrance to the center to learn fun facts and identify characteristics of native trees that help keep our watershed healthy. Children all ages accompanied by adult. Sunday, Aug. 21, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the Canalside Rail Trail. Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.
The Discovery Center is at 2 Ave. A in Turners Falls.
Deerfield Dirt Road Randonnee bike ride — Saturday, Aug. 20. The course follows the region’s narrowest, oldest, quietest and most scenic dirt roads.
More than 1,400 bike riders from around the world participate. Rides range from 20 flat miles along the Deerfield River to ones as long as 100 kilometers. The ride is a key fundraiser for the land trust.
To learn more about D2R2 visit: www.franklinlandtrust.org
Medicinal Plant Walk in Wendell —
Join our own Chris Marano for a medicinal Aug. 13. Learn about medicinal plants that are part of the local landscape. We’ll meet at 11 a.m. in the parking lot. Please RSVP to tckearns@gmail.com. Sponsored by the Wendell Open Space Committee.
The Beautiful World of Bugs — Saturday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. to noon. Butterflies and dragonflies are beautiful and fascinating inhabitants of the valley. Come learn about where they live and how they make a living. Join naturalist Josh Rose in Whately to meet the resident Lepidoptera (the fancy name for butterflies and moths) and Odonata (the dragonfly order). We’ll also get to know other interesting crawling insects like assassin bugs! A great outing for children and families.
Space is strictly limited to 20 participants. Please RSVP for the meeting location: office@kestreltrust.org.