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March at Mashomack

Trails are open 7 days a week, from dawn to dusk  

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The Visitor Center Exhibits are open Thursday-Saturday, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Visitor Center Restrooms open daily 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

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Mashomack Volunteer, Don Bindler, captures two bluebirds perched atop a branch.  © Don Bindler/TNC

Marching Towards Spring!
Days are getting longer and spring is rounding the corner. Our dedicated team of Mashomack bluebird volunteers have cleaned out the meadow’s nestboxes and birds are beginning to scope out the prime locations. Long known as the heralds of spring, bluebirds are a welcome sight in our meadow. Bring a pair of binoculars and head out to the Yellow Trail the next time you’re at the preserve to catch a glimpse of the happy nesting pairs.

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Mashomack Point: A Tour of the Katharine Ordway Wildlife Refuge
*NEW DATE* Saturday, March 2nd, 1 PM – 4 PM
Dedicated to a visionary and generous nature lover, the Katharine Ordway Wildlife Refuge at Mashomack Point is opened for a guided walk just once a year. This mid-winter truck ride and hike will allow us to explore this unique area’s woodlands, kettles, and fields, culminating with a breathtaking view of Northwest Harbor. Dress warmly. Advanced registration required.

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First Full Moon of Spring Hike
Date: Saturday, March 23rd, 7 PM – 8:30 PM
Join us as we celebrate the first few days of Spring under the light of the season’s first full moon. We’ll head out for a 1.5-mile hike along our Red Trail, taking in forest, marsh and freshwater kettle views. All are welcome. Advanced registration is required. 

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Saturday Seedlings
Dates:

  • April Showers: Saturday, March 30th, 10 – 11 AM
  • May Flowers: Saturday, May 4th, 10 – 11 AM

Join us as we explore the natural world and learn about different animals and habitats at Mashomack. Activities will include crafts, snacks and/or exploring our trails. Ages 4-8. Advanced registration required. 

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Earth Day Celebration
Date: Saturday, April 20th, 10 AM – 3PM (drop-in) 

Do you love nature as much as we do? Come down to the Mashomack Visitor Center and join our team as we celebrate Earth Day. Head out on the trails with a scavenger hunt, make your own native seed bombs, enjoy some nature-inspired snacks and take in an animal show by our friends at the Quogue Wildlife Center from 1 –2 PM. Drop-in. All are welcome.

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Spring Break One-Day Adventure
Date: Thursday, April 25th, 10 AM – 2PM 

Spend a day during Spring Break at Mashomack! Together, we’ll explore the meadows and fields at the preserve, craft bug hotel to provide homes for some of nature’s smallest but mightiest animals, and more! Ages 7-10 are welcome for this special, one-day program. Advanced registration is required.

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Environmental Explorers – Summer 2024 

Mashomack’s Environmental Explorer and Seasonal Conservation Education Assistant, Willow, working to create a wildlife corridor model on the beach. © Rebecca Kusa/TNC

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Filling Up Fast! Environmental Explorers 2024
Session 1: July 8-11
Session 2: August 12-15
*New, extended time* 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Scholarships available.
Registration is open. Click here to sign up. 

For even more programs, visit nature.org/events. 

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Volunteers helping to spread mulch along Mashomack’s Red Trail. © Rebecca Kusa/TNC 

Volunteer with Us!  

Thinking about how you can make a difference in the year ahead?  From trail work and crafting, to bluebird monitoring and Visitor Center docents, we have lots of opportunities for you to get involved at the preserve! To learn more, please email us at MashomackPreserve@tnc.org.

Want to stay up-to-date with programs and events happening at Mashomack?

Check nature.org/events for more exciting winter and spring programs.

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March Book in the Woods 
Yucky Worms by Vivian French 

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Worms have a tough life – especially since so many people think they are yucky! Find out how interesting they are -become a friend of worms! Come take a self-guided, half-mile walk and read as you go.

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© TNC

Conserving Fresh Water for Life on Earth

Freshwater systems are in trouble. Deforestation, fragmentation from dams, unsustainable farming and fishing, and unchecked pollution are only adding to the increasingly frequent and damaging impacts of climate change.  But with a new approach, we can change the course for the better. Freshwater systems that are degraded can recover—and they can recover quickly. Where freshwater ecosystems remain healthy and connected, we can protect them.

Learn More Here 

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Click on trail map to download.

The Nature Conservancy works across New York, the United States and in 79 countries and territories to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Learn more about our work at nature.org/NewYork 

Join us today

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Copyright (C) 2021 The Nature Conservancy. All rights reserved.

The Nature Conservancy
79 South Ferry Rd
PO Box 850
Shelter Island, New York 11964 

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AAQ / Resource: Stelle Lomont Rouhani Architects

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