{"id":7732,"date":"2016-06-07T14:25:58","date_gmt":"2016-06-07T18:25:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=7732"},"modified":"2016-06-08T11:05:11","modified_gmt":"2016-06-08T15:05:11","slug":"5-fun-facts-about-habitat-education-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/5-fun-facts-about-habitat-education-center\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Fun Facts About Habitat Education Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont has a long and interesting history. At the heart of the sanctuary is a 1914 Georgian-style mansion that was once a private residence. In 1971, it became the home for the Habitat Inc. and a few years later Habitat Institute for the Environment, an innovative school for environmental education for adults and children.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t until 1994 that it became Mass Audubon\u2019s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary<\/a>. While the name has evolved, the mission hasn\u2019t: the sanctuary continues to welcome visitors and students of all ages to its forests, meadows, and ponds for walks, talks, and more. Check out five fun facts and come visit!<\/p>\n

All A-Bloom<\/h3>\n
\"Jacobs

Jacob’s Ladder<\/p><\/div>\n

Take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the beautifully maintained formal garden designed by the famed Olmsted Bros. landscape firm. Over the years, these gardens have become a favorite of everyone from those seeking a moment of solitude to guests attending intimate weddings. In bloom now: rhododendron, peony, iris, Amsonia (blue star), false indigo, bleeding heart, geranium, Jacob’s ladder, beauty bush.<\/p>\n

The Path Less Traveled<\/h3>\n
\"Bullfrog

Bullfrog \u00a9 Erika Whitworth<\/p><\/div>\n

For a more secluded brush with nature, follow the Weeks Pond & Meadow Trail<\/a> located off Somerset Street. Woodland birds frequent the forest. At the pond, covered in duckweed in summer, see a mother duckling leading her young, bullfrogs peeking through the tiny floating leaves, or damselflies skimming the surface.<\/p>\n

G is for Goat<\/h3>\n

\"HabitatGoat\"<\/p>\n

For several years, Habitat has kept\u00a0a small herd of Nigerian Dwarf goats. These goats help manage our meadow by eating invasive plants. Watch them in action in the Weeks Meadow or better yet, take part in the Work with Goats<\/a> program on July 7.<\/p>\n

Hit the Greenway<\/h3>\n

\"Western<\/p>\n

Habitat\u2019s trail system is part of the Western Greenway<\/a>, more than 1,200 acres of linked, undeveloped land in Belmont, Lexington, and Waltham.\u00a0Walk its seven miles of emblazoned trails, which start at Habitat and end at the Robert Treat Paine Estate in Waltham.<\/p>\n

Making Habitat More Accessible<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"apt2cropped\"<\/p>\n

The All Persons Trail<\/a> is this half-mile trail loop follows a wide, gently sloping\u00a0path with a smooth, packed surface. The trail\u00a0construction complies with ADA guidelines for accessibility\u00a0and is suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, and those who find walking on uneven trails difficult.<\/p>\n

The trail goes to Turtle Pond, a favorite destination at Habitat, which lives up to its name. You can often find many turtles sunning themselves on logs and rocks. Coming in December: an Audio tour of the\u00a0All Persons Trail.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont has a long and interesting history. At the heart of the sanctuary is a 1914 Georgian-style mansion that was once a private residence. In 1971, it became the home for the Habitat Inc. and a few years later Habitat Institute for the Environment, an innovative school for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[165,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sanctuaries-100","category-wildlife-sanctuaries"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-20I","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15575,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-hit-the-trails\/","url_meta":{"origin":7732,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Hit the Trails","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Earth Month is wrapping up this week and it's been terrific seeing so many people get involved, explore Mass Audubon's sanctuaries, and learn about what you can do to combat climate change.\u00a0Thankfully, we don't have to stop celebrating nature and all its wonders after April ends! Our statewide network of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary \u00a9 Lorie Brownell","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/04\/3436Lorie_Brownell33989-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10806,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-the-city-nature-challenge\/","url_meta":{"origin":7732,"position":1},"title":"Take the City Nature Challenge!","author":"Kelly R.","date":"April 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ready for a competitive weekend of exploration in nature? 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Mass Audubon wildlife\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Amy-Letourneau-e600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Amy-Letourneau-e600.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/04\/Amy-Letourneau-e600.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15841,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/ways-to-volunteer-this-summer\/","url_meta":{"origin":7732,"position":2},"title":"Ways to Volunteer This Summer","author":"Hillary T.","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Looking for a way to get out and give back? 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West June 11: Water Chestnut Removal by Canoe with Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton Water chestnut is an invasive plant that wreaks havoc on native plant and animal life, chokes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/general\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/IMG_8868-750x500-275cda65-a3be-4195-9823-211758d34812.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/IMG_8868-750x500-275cda65-a3be-4195-9823-211758d34812.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/IMG_8868-750x500-275cda65-a3be-4195-9823-211758d34812.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2021\/05\/IMG_8868-750x500-275cda65-a3be-4195-9823-211758d34812.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11207,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/plug-in-at-habitat\/","url_meta":{"origin":7732,"position":3},"title":"Plug In At Habitat","author":"Daniel Brown","date":"July 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Habitat Education Center in Belmont has a new Electric Vehicle Charging Station, the second at a Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuary (Joppa Flats in Newburyport has the other).\u00a0Electric Vehicles (EVs) are great tool for fighting climate change and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles. 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