Author Archives: Hillary T.

About Hillary T.

Where: Mass Audubon Headquarters, Lincoln Who: Massachusetts transplant by way of Florida and New York. Raising two young girls, who she hopes will be budding naturalists Favorite part of the job: Learning something new every day from some of the smartest and most enthusiastic groups of people

Beachcombing Basics

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Hillary T.

We are always looking for new ways to encourage people to get outside and enjoy nature. So when the opportunity arose to contribute to the fabulous Boston Mamas blog on behalf of Mass Audubon, I jumped at the chance. So far, posts have covered How to Make Butter, Birdwatching for Beginners, How to Attract Hummingbirds, and Fun with Fireflies.

Our most recent post is all all about the beach. Here’s an excerpt:

Beachcombing Basics

Just because school’s out for summer doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. In fact, when you’re outdoors, there’s always something new to discover — especially at the beach! Ever wonder what that cute little fuzzy bird is running back and forth to the water? How that shell got a perfect hole in it? Or what sand really is? Where there’s a question, there’s an answer. Next time you head for the coast, bring along this collection of interesting coastal facts to share with your kids. Continue reading >>

Photo via the National Park Service 

Welcoming the Governor

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Hillary T.

Tuesday, July 17 was no ordinary day for the campers at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick. When they arrived at camp, they were told there would be a special visitor and the crew quickly sprang into action creating welcome banners. Who was the visitor? None other than Governor Deval Patrick.

Governor Patrick was at Broadmoor to join Anita Walker of Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), Marty Jones of MassDevelopment, State Representative David Linsky, and State Senator Karen Spilka to award cultural nonprofits (including Broadmoor) grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund (CFF).

Broadmoor, specifically, will receive $185,000 from CFF to put toward upgrading and expanding the Saltonstall Nature Center, one of the state’s pioneering green buildings. All of the speakers echoed Governor Patrick in noting how important cultural institutions including Mass Audubon, the Danforth Art Museum in Framingham, and the deCordova Museum in Lincoln are for the state of Massachusetts and its residents.

“Our investments in our cultural life is about completing us. It’s about completing us as community, as human beings, and completing us economically as well,” he said.

Governor Patrick and Senator Spilka enjoyed the opportunity to tour the current nature center as well as to take a brief walk on Broadmoor’s universally accessible All Person’s Trail. Mass Audubon is so thankful to Massachusetts Cultural Council, MassDevelopment, and the Governor for honoring us not only with their visit but with the funds to make Broadmoor’s project a reality.