Coast, Whales, Pilgrims, Music and Dance: Volunteer Work in Plymouth, Massachusetts

The Trip

The trip consists of service work with Wildlands Trust, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a historic New England coastline town. The trip includes a whale-watching cruise, a conservation-related naturalist presentation, hike/s, optional Early Music and English country dance activities hosted by the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS), and chef-prepared meals. Lodging is in rustic cabins (mostly two-person) in Pinewoods Camp, an idyllic, lakeside venue for traditional dance and music, nestled in a 25-acre pine and beech forest. Opportunities for leisure time activities abound: you can visit Plimoth Patuxet Museums (Plimoth plantation), Mayflower II, and Plymouth Rock; or take advantage of hiking trails; or swim, canoe, or kayak at the camp’s two ponds.

Plymouth is the meeting point of splendid land, water, and early American heritage. It provides ocean and lake waterfronts, kettle ponds, historic landmarks, cultural institutions, summer fairs, concerts, museums, and shops. Plymouth is also a short ferry ride from Provincetown and has easy access to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Boston, and Rhode Island.

The story of Plymouth cannot be told without the perspective of the indigenous people who were here and who remain. The Wampanoag have lived in southeastern Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. They are the tribe first encountered by Mayflower Pilgrims when they landed in Provincetown harbor and explored the eastern coast of Cape Cod and when they continued to Patuxet (Plymouth) to establish Plymouth Colony.

The Project

We will work on projects according to the needs of Wildlands Trust, a land trust dedicated to conserving land and preserving the natural heritage of Southeastern Massachusetts. One of the largest and oldest regional land trusts in Massachusetts, Wildlands Trust has helped to ensure the protection of nearly 10,000 acres of natural and agricultural lands since its founding in 1973. The town of Plymouth is the largest by area in the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts and contains globally rare habitats, including pine barrens and coastal plain ponds. Projects will likely include trail work, beach cleaning, and/or work on the gardens of Wildlands Trust. Work will be within walking distance or a drive from Pinewoods Camp.

This is a Saturday-to-Saturday, eight-day/seven-night trip. We will not work on days of arrival or departure, and will also have two days off, at the beginning of the week and midweek. Workdays will generally be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a break for snacks as needed and bag lunches, which will be provided by the camp. Specific trail and maintenance work will be assigned based on the needs of Wildlands Trust. Following the workday, people will be free to participate in the camp’s early music and English country dance activities (hosted by CDSS); to swim, canoe, or kayak the adjacent lakes; or to drive into Plymouth. 

Day 1: Arrive at Pinewoods Camp from 3-5:30 p.m. and settle into your cabin. Detailed driving instructions will be sent before the trip. We will tour the camp at 6:00 p.m. and then enjoy dinner together at 6:30 p.m. Following dinner, we will gather to have introductions and review our work schedule and leisure time opportunities. For the energetic ones, there is an optional late-night opening night party, hosted by CDSS.

Day 2: Free day. We recommend you use the day to get acquainted with the camp. There will be plenty of optional activities aside from swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking, including a mid-morning introductory English country dance class, a mid-day conservation-related presentation, and a guided, late-afternoon hike in a pine and beech forest. You can also use the day to visit historic Plymouth and the surrounding area (see greater detail on Day 6). Optional evening participation in English country dancing.

Day 3: Work with Wildlands Trust. Evening lecture: Behavior and Conservation of Whales, by Carol Carson, a highly experienced marine biologist. Optional evening participation in English country dancing. 

Day 4: Work with Wildlands Trust, at Pinewoods grounds. Following a shortened workday, we’ll have an afternoon whale-watching cruise. Optional evening participation in English country dancing.

Day 5: Work with Wildlands Trust. Optional evening participation in English country dancing.

Day 6: Free day. Leisure opportunities include:

Day 8: Eat breakfast, pack, and clean cabins. Depart by 10:00 a.m.

Note: The volunteer leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the goals outlined in the itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other unforeseen conditions, beyond our control, may cause us to modify the itinerary to ensure the safety and well-being of the group. 

Getting There

Pinewoods Camp, Plymouth is approximately 1½ hours driving distance from Boston Logan Airport or Providence, Rhode Island airport. Please avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader. 

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in Pinewoods Camp, an idyllic, lakeside venue for traditional dance and music, nestled in a 25-acre pine and beech forest. We will sleep in rustic, small, mostly two-bed cabins with outside, covered, flush toilets and showers. Toilets are a one-to-three-minute walk from nearly all cabins. 

Truly delicious food, included in the trip fee, will be prepared by the camp’s chefs and will include daily baked goods and bread, and local produce. Most dietary needs will be catered to by the kitchen. Breakfasts are served cafeteria style and dinners are served family style. Packed lunch bags will be provided by the camp on working days. 

Trip Difficulty

Equipment and Clothing

The weather is usually hot in August. Bring casual, everyday clothing that you can layer on and off as necessary. Rain gear is essential since we will work in light rain. Poison ivy and ticks are common so protective clothing is advisable. More information about packing will be sent before the trip.

References

Books:

• Cronon, W., Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England.
• Gilbert, Doug, A Walking Tour of Plymouth, Massachusetts (Look Up, America!).
• Gragg, Rod, The Pilgrim Chronicles: An Eyewitness History of the Pilgrims and the Founding of Plymouth Colony.
• Proctor, Noble, A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife: Marine Mammals, Seabirds, Fish, and Other Sea Life.
• Shumay, Scott, Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: Beach Ecology From The Gulf Of Maine To Cape Hatteras (Naturalist's Guide Series).
• Werny, Frank, Hike Plymouth!: Over 70 Great Walks Among the Pines and Ponds of Plymouth, MA, and Surrounding Areas.

Websites:

• History: http://www.ushistory.org
• Tourism: http://www.seeplymouth.com/
• Ferries: http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/state/ferries/

Conservation

We will be working with Wildlands Trust whose mission is to conserve and protect open and undeveloped lands, native habitats, ponds, forests, and all lands of ecological and scenic value. The tasks of Wildlands Trust include cleaning up storm damage, installing and maintaining trails, doing invasive species control, removing litter, reporting vandalism, and preserving a balance between appropriate public access and safeguarding natural resources. Wildlands Trust also seeks to help landowners protect their lands.

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.