The Nature Conservancy: September at Mashomack Preserve, Shelter Island -- Trails Open 7 Days / Week

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September at Mashomack

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

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Visitor Center is open Friday through Sunday,
from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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Bathrooms in Visitor Center open daily 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Please note this schedule is subject to change
as we closely follow Covid community levels for Suffolk County.

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Winding Down Summer

Mashomack welcomed over a hundred participants to our summer programs, from children to adults, all getting the chance to enjoy nature and conservation firsthand at the preserve.

Photo Credit: © Rebecca Kusa/TNC

Teens participated in the first ever summer Field Conservation and DNA Lab in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, the Shelter Island School and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Teens from five East End school districts had the chance to explore the woods and wetlands of Mashomack while identifying species that may be at risk of rising sea levels and other effects of climate change. The students collected samples and returned to the Shelter Island School’s biology lab to extract DNA and identify the species.

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Photo Credit: © Rebecca Kusa/TNC

Families joined us for hikes and paddles to experience the intersection of nature and conservation firsthand. The launch of our Summer Seedlings program welcomed young children into the marsh and the Visitor Center, where we crafted, read and discovered different animals at Mashomack.

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Volunteers In Action

Mashomack volunteers have been active around the preserve—assisting in conservation, education and outreach over the summer months. From bluebird nest box monitoring and stewardship work to conservation carts and carpentry projects, volunteers are a vital part of our preserve.

Photo Credit: © Rebecca Kusa/TNC

Interested in becoming a volunteer?

Email MashomackPreserve@tnc.org for more information.

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Fall Programming at Mashomack

Didn’t get a chance to join us this summer? Come down for one of our other programs this fall. All programs are free of charge. Be sure to check nature.org/events to learn about new programs as they are added.

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**New Children’s Program* Saturday Seedlings**

Join us at Mashomack one Saturday a month for fun, hands-on learning with our team. During this hour-long, program, we’ll explore the natural world around us and learn about different animals and habitats at the preserve. Activities will include crafts, snacks and/or exploring our trails. Ages 4-8. All programs from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Seedlings: Interesting Insects – Saturday, September 24^th
Saturday Seedlings: Nocturnal Nature — Saturday, October 22^nd

Saturday Seedlings: Hibernation Huddle — Saturday, November 12^th
Saturday Seedlings: Seasonal Snowflakes – Saturday, December 10^th

For questions or reservations, email MashomackPreserve@tnc.org.

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Truck Tours, Hikes and Volunteer Programs

Blue Trail Truck Tour

Join us for this special outing as we explore the far reaches of the preserve by truck. Following over ten miles of the Blue Trail, we’ll travel through forests, past meadows and along the coastline of Mashomack during the golden hours of September. Families welcome, ages 8 -plus. Space is limited, reservations requires. Heavy rain cancels.

Saturday, September 10^th, 5 pm – 7 p.m.

For questions or reservations, email MashomackPreserve@tnc.org.

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Coastal Cleanup – New Date

Come out for a day of volunteering as we work to clean up our coastline! Together, we can help keep our environment free of litter. All are welcome.

NEW DATE Sunday, October 9^th, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

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Halloween Nature Trail

Our Halloween Nature Trail is returning this year! Join us on Saturday, October 29^th, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a fun, family-friendly hike filled with a few Halloween tricks—but mostly treats!

For questions or reservations, email MashomackPreserve@tnc.org.

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September Book in the Woods

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A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

Come take a self-guided, half-mile walk and read this gorgeously illustrated book as the woods around you brim with acorns, hickory nuts and seeds of all kinds. Learn about how seeds fly, float or hitchhike and make the next generation of plants possible. A perfect family nature adventure and a great way to get your kids into the outdoors.

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The Mangrove Mothers

The women of Pate Island are fixing Kenya’s coastal forests
one seedling at a time.

For Information

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Click on trail map to download.

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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