#FirstDayHikesCapeCod Launches January 1st
Barnstable, MA (December 8, 2022) Barnstable Land Trust is once again coordinating #First Day Hikes Cape Cod – a cape wide initiative between 10 conservation groups who collaborating to launch the second annual #FirstDayHikesCapeCod on January 1, 2023. Inspired by the national state park program originally created in Massachusetts, this unique regional celebration features 11 free special walks, talks, and hikes in across Cape Cod providing a range of opportunities for families, children, residents, and visitors to get outside and explore on the first day of the new year.
On January 1, 2023, local nonprofit conservation organizations representing the towns of Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Falmouth, Harwich, Orleans, and Wellfleet/Truro will offer free First Day Hikes on Cape Cod starting at sunrise and lasting throughout the day. All hikes and activities are being offered free to the public and include sunrise salutes, history talks, family activities, and more.
“We are excited to take the lead in championing the second annual First Day Hikes Cape Cod, a collaborative effort that was launched last year to encourage people to get outdoors with free guided walks and activities,” said Janet Milkman, Executive Director of Barnstable Land Trust. “It is a perfect time to explore Cape Cod’s parks, trails, and natural resources and to appreciate how the efforts of the conservation community are protecting and conserving the natural places that make Cape Cod so special.”
First Day Hikes began locally in Massachusetts in 1992 and grew under the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation as a program celebrating the state parks before it went nationwide in 2012 under the aegis of the America's State Parks alliance. Today, Cape Cod is leading the way with this unqiue regional collaboration that further expands how people can explore the great outdoors.
A full schedule is featured on www.blt.org/firstdayhikescapecod and social media channels. Please check individual websites for specific event details concerning registration, weather cancellation policies, and any changes to individual events.
About #FirstDayHikesCapeCod
Championed by Barnstable Land Trust and supported by local conservation organizations, First Day Hikes Cape Cod is an initiative designed to encourage people to get outdoors with free guided walks and activities to explore Cape Cod’s parks, trails, and natural resources. Now in its second year, nonprofit conservation organizations offering hikes include the Barnstable Land Trust, Brewster Conservation Trust, Chatham Conservation Foundation, Dennis Conservation Land Trust, 300 Committee Land Trust (Falmouth), Harwich Conservation Trust, Orenda Wildlife Land Trust, Friends of Bass River and Friends of Herring River (Wellfleet and Truro). To find out more, check the participating organizations websites or see the full schedule of events at www.blt.org/firstdayhikescapecod.
About Barnstable Land Trust
Barnstable Land Trust (BLT) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving open space and natural resources in the Town of Barnstable and nearby areas. BLT has protected 1,100 acres in the Town of Barnstable and supported the Town in conserving over 11,000 more. As a regional leader in collaborative land preservation and stewardship, community engagement, training, and advocacy, BLT also leverages its conservation expertise to inform local public decisions as they impact our ecosystems, community health, well-being, and quality of life. To learn more about BLT, visit the website at http://www.BLT.org or call 508-771-2585. To view one of their free trail guides (Barnstable Trail Guide, Cape Cod Pathways/Barnstable Trail Guide, and Eagle Pond & Little River Sanctuary Trail Guide), click here; to learn more about their Words in the Wild poetry initiative on the trails click here.