In June 2024, AVIS was awarded a $100,000 MassTrails Grant to construct an All Persons Trail at the Goldsmith Woodlands Reservation. We are excited to launch this important initiative! Please visit this page for project facts and updates as the project progresses and visit avisandover.org/join to help make the project the best it can be. Why an All Persons Trail? AVIS has […]
Reflections on a Rewarding and Fun-filled Year
As Andover High School graduation quickly approaches and my Environmental Sustainability Internship Course (ESIC) comes to an end, so does my role as the ESIC blogger. ESIC is a class that takes a special approach to experiential learning, run by Ms. Cutler. Ms. Cutler spends a tremendous amount of time working to give every student an internship that fits each […]
Garlic Mustard 101: What it is and what to do with it
Are you familiar with the garlic mustard plant? If you live in Massachusetts, the chances are you have walked past the plant many times before—maybe even in your own backyard. While this invasive plant is a threat to surrounding species, it isn’t all bad. Read on to learn how to identify the plant, why now is the ideal time of […]
My Goldilocks Moment While Searching for a Trail
The month of March I was on a bit of a mission. I was tasked with finding the ideal trail for an Andover High School field trip. The participants would be students in a special education class and the goal was to find a trail that could properly support our group, meeting our accessibility needs but also provide interesting scenery […]
What’s happening to animals without their winter cover?
With increasingly warming temperatures in New England throughout the winter and little snow covering the ground, animals’ typical winter movements are beginning to look different. Many animals are forced to surface early from hibernation and others are facing difficulty without being able to camouflage with fresh layers of snow, which used to be a regular occurrence. Snow acts as a […]
A Trail Accessibility Checklist: What to Know Before You Go
Are you planning to get outside and connect with nature? Regardless of the time of year, exploring new surroundings and landscapes is a great way to relieve stress and improve your health and well-being. But you should know that not all trails are created equal. Before you head to a nearby nature preserve, it’s important to do a little research […]
How can I hide my own geocache?
I recently got introduced to geocaching through my two AVIS mentors. After taking off on my first adventure and locating a few geocaches, a question popped into my head–what does it take to build your own geocache? I came across the perfect how-to while doing my research at https://www.geocaching.com/play/search. A good starting step that I found to be most useful […]
A Winter Treasure Hunt Awaits
Looking for a fun family outdoor activity during winter break? We want to let you in on a little secret. There is a world of hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered by you right here in AVIS reservations. Let me introduce you to geocaching. It is a great activity for all ages and allows you to be part of […]
A Great Holiday Gift Idea for Children of Any Age (Really!)
If you’re on a budget this year and want a gift that will give hours of pleasure, here’s an idea to think about. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has all sorts of great resources that can help you join the most popular hobby in America—birdwatching! And some, like the wonderful phone app “Merlin”, are available to download free. Merlin helps […]
Hello AVIS! I’m Ella the new ESIC blogger.
My name is Ella Dougherty and I’m a senior at Andover High school. I’m part of the Environmental Sustainability Internship Class (ESIC) and will be contributing to the AVIS blog during the current school year. I jumped right into this project by joining the Eco Team at the Shawsheen River Reservation for a work party. We worked diligently using our […]