2013 Sandy Neck Nature Hikes and Events

Meet at the Sandy Neck Gatehouse unless otherwise noted.

Whale Walk at Sandy Neck : Sunday, April 14^th, 1 pm – 2 pm

Cape Cod is one of the finest spots on earth to view cetaceans from land. In winter, critically endangered North Atlantic right whales come to Cape Cod Bay to feed. In late spring & early summer, humpback, fin & minke whales arrive. Join Barnstable Land Trust and Jesse Mechling from Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies to look for these gentle giants as they feed in the surrounding waters. Sandy Neck Gatehouse. $5 each.

Celebrate Spring on Sandy Neck : Wednesday, April 17^th, 10 am – noon

Sandy Neck awakens in April as Ospreys return to rebuild their bulky stick nests atop poles. Endangered Piping Plovers scour the vast beach for the ideal spot to scratch their simple nests. Rare Spadefoot Toads rush to breed in ephemeral pools in the dunes. Ian Ives of Mass Audubon’s Long Pasture and Nina Coleman, Sandy Neck Manager, will be your guides through this spectacular landscape. BLT & MAS members $6, non-members $8. Kids $4 members, $6 non-members. Pre-registration with the Barnstable Land Trust office is required. To register, contact info@blt.org or call 508-771-2585. For more information visit www.BLT.org

Spring Beach Clean-up, Sunday : Sunday, April 28^th , 9 am - noon

Join the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association for this yearly event. Activities include trash pick up and dune fence installation. Meet at the lower parking lot and spend the morning giving back to your favorite beach. For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300.

Searching Sandy Neck For Wildlife: From Ospreys and Piping Plovers to Diamondback Terrapin Turtles: EVERY Monday 9 am – 11:15 am from May 20^nd to September 9^th
Walk along the salt marsh, dunes and beach seeking signs of wildlife from wading shorebirds to mammal tracks to swooping swallows. Adult MA Audubon Members $6, nonmembers $8, $4 and $6 for children Call 508-362-7475 for information

Sandy Neck Plover Walk : Wednesday, June 5^th, 10 am – noon

Discover hidden Piping Plover nests along the front beach with Sandy Neck Park Manager Nina Coleman on a one-mile hike through the dunes of Sandy Neck. Explore barrier beach ecology. Learn about the Piping Plover’s life-cycle and conservation measures being taken to protect these endangered shorebirds. Wear hiking boots for sand/uneven terrain. This hike is free.

Sandy Neck Junior Ranger Program : Five Tuesdays, 9:30 am – noon, from July 9^th – August 6^th, Ages 9-13

Come explore the Sandy Neck barrier beach ecosystem as a Jr. Ranger. Jr. Rangers will earn their badge by participating in outdoor hikes, identifying local plants and animals including endangered species, learning how to rescue marine mammals such as dolphins and seals, and most of all having fun. Junior Rangers must be able to attend four out of five sessions to be eligible for the program. Space is limited to ten however more sessions may be added if needed. $40 for each Jr. Ranger. For more information on enrollment call the Barnstable Recreation Department 508-790-6345.

In Search of Diamondback Terrapins on Sandy Neck : Wednesday July 10^th, 10 am – noon

In summer, rare Diamondback Terrapins emerge from the Great Marsh to lay their eggs in the dunes of Sandy Neck. Join Sandy Neck Manager Nina Coleman and Mass Audubon’s Ian Ives as we search for signs of nests and tracks of these amazing and mysterious turtles. Learn about the headstart program helping the tiny terrapins. Call 508-362-7475 to register. BLT & MAS members: $6; non-members: $8. Children 12 and under: $4 members/ $6 non-members.

Sandy Neck Summer Flora & Fauna Hike : Wednesday, August 14^th, 10 am - noon
Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore barrier beach flora and fauna with Sandy Neck Manager, Nina Coleman. You’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect and restore these and other sensitive natural communities. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain. This hike is free.

Hiking for Terrapin Hatchlings on Sandy Neck, Wednesday, September 11^th, 10 am – noon
Last summer, we caught a glimpse of a rare Diamondback Terrapin female who had just laid her eggs. This fall we will be searching Sandy Neck for tiny tracks of hatchling terrapins with Long Pasture’s Ian Ives and Sandy Neck Manager Nina Coleman, as the quarter-sized newborns make the treacherous journey from their sandy dune nests to the safety of the marsh. $6 MA Audubon Members, $8 Non-members/ $4 and $6 for Children. Call 508-362-7475 to register.

Coast Sweep 2013 : Saturday, September 28^th, 9 am - noon

Sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management and coordinated by the Urban Harbors Institute, thousands of COASTSWEEP volunteers remove debris that would otherwise pollute our oceans, beaches, lakes, and rivers. Participants collect bag after bag of trash and debris, and record their findings onto data cards. The data is sent to the Ocean Conservancy and entered into a massive marine debris database. This information is then analyzed and used to identify the sources of marine debris, which helps to prevent the problem in the future.If you’re interested in volunteering,contact Donna Bragg at Sandy Neck Gatehouse at 508-362-8300 or email us at sandynec@town.barnstable.ma.us

Sandy Neck Fall Flora & Fauna Hike : Friday, October 5^th, 11 am - noon

Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore barrier beach flora and fauna with Sandy Neck Manager, Nina Coleman. You’ll learn about ongoing efforts to protect and restore these and other sensitive natural communities while you hunt for tiny terrapins. Wear sturdy hiking boots to walk over sand and uneven terrain. This hike is free.

All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.

All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.