Friends of Pine Hawk - November Schedule

Please join the Friends of Pine Hawk for more talks, walks and community events as we celebrate National Native American Heritage Month (November). 

Ceremonial Landscapes and the Algonquian Calendar

Thursday, November 5, 7 PM at the Acton Memorial Library

Ceremonial Landscapes mark key events such as annual fish-runs, planting and harvesting corn, storytelling, and maple syrup gathering. The nighttime sky's celestial patterns are encoded in stone features. Cathy Taylor, a former member of the Upton Historical Commission, will talk about these features.

 

Community Service Day at Nashoba Brook Conservation Land

Sunday, November 8, 1-3 PM, in person

Help us remove invasive plant species and clean up the trail at Nashoba Brook Conservation Land. Local Scout troops are also invited to join. The Town of Acton will supply all tools needed. There will also be an optional brunch beforehand at 11:30 AM. Event details are emailed to registrants a few days before.  Limited to ages 13+.

 

The Algonquin Atlantic

Tuesday, November 10, 7 PM at the Acton Memorial Library

Ted Timreck will present the early phase of a research project which will highlight new developments in the discovery of Native American Ceremonial Landscapes in the Northeast. Rather than offering definitive conclusions, he will present multiple lines of evidence that suggest promising directions for further investigation.

 

Fish Weir Creation Event at NARA Park

Sunday, November 15, 1-3 PM, in person

Come to NARA Park in North Acton with the whole family and participate in building a fish weir, a fence-like structure of intertwined wood and brush used by early Native American people to catch fish. The activity will be led by Ian Bergemann, Acton’s Open Space & Trails Manager, with guidance from Strong Bear Medicine of the local Nashoba Praying Indian tribe and Littleton historian Dan Boudillion. Details will be emailed to registrants. All ages welcome with adult supervision. 

 

Boxborough’s Beaver Brook Valley Preserve (Esker) Presentation

Saturday, November 21, 10-11 AM, a talk at the Boxborough Sargent Memorial Library

The presentations will describe some of Boxborough's pre-history and provide helpful context for those who also sign up for the George Krusen Memorial Boxborough Esker walk at 1PM later (below). Geologist Britt Argow will discuss how the local landscape developed over millions of years. Historian and author Brent Ranalli will provide an overview of the local Native American cultural history - especially the critical contact period. Rita Grossman, the Boxborough Conservation Trust's president, will note how George Krusen's efforts were key to protecting this significant geological feature from being fully excavated for gravel to build I-495.

 

George Krusen Memorial Beaver Brook Valley Preserve (Esker) Walk on the trail on the Boxborough’s Esker, Saturday, November 21, 12:45- 2:30 PM,  WAITLIST ONLY

 

All programs are free but require registration. If you haven’t signed up yet, you can register here.

The full Friends of Pine Hawk 2026 Fall Programs are available on our website, and a printable copy of the program descriptions is here.   

The Friends of Pine Hawk 2026 Programs are presented with support from Acton Memorial Library and Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area.