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MECT Events
Discover the beauty of the North Shore through guided walks, seasonal explorations, and community programs hosted by Manchester Essex Conservation Trust. From peaceful woodland trails and wetlands to educational outings led by local naturalists, photographers, and conservation experts, these events are designed to deepen your connection to the natural world while celebrating the landscapes MECT works to protect.
New Upcoming Events are coming soon!
Upcoming Events
Spring History Hike: Bishop’s Grave Cartway with Rob Fitzgibbon
Saturday, June 13th
10 AM – 12 PM
Step back in time and explore one of Essex’s historic pathways on a guided hike along the Bishop’s Grave Cartway. Join local historian Rob Fitzgibbon as he brings the landscape to life through stories of early settlement, land use, and the people who once traveled these wooded routes.
This moderate walk will follow old cart paths and stone features, offering a glimpse into the area’s colonial past and its evolution over time. Along the way, Rob will share insights into the historical significance of the route and the surrounding conservation land.
Perfect for history enthusiasts and curious walkers alike, this hike offers a unique blend of storytelling and scenic exploration.
Past Events
Spring History Hike: Bishop’s Grave Cartway with Rob Fitzgibbon
Saturday, June 13th
10 AM – 12 PM
Step back in time and explore one of Essex’s historic pathways on a guided hike along the Bishop’s Grave Cartway. Join local historian Rob Fitzgibbon as he brings the landscape to life through stories of early settlement, land use, and the people who once traveled these wooded routes.
This moderate walk will follow old cart paths and stone features, offering a glimpse into the area’s colonial past and its evolution over time. Along the way, Rob will share insights into the historical significance of the route and the surrounding conservation land.
Perfect for history enthusiasts and curious walkers alike, this hike offers a unique blend of storytelling and scenic exploration.
Spring Botany: Mountain Laurel Hike with Lucas O’Neil
Saturday, June 6th
10 AM – 12 PM
Step into the heart of Manchester’s wild beauty with MECT and naturalist Lucas O’Neil.
Beneath the dappled light of the forest, we’ll wander quiet trails where the air is sweet with the scent of blooming Mountain Laurel. Their pale blossoms, like clusters of stars, will guide our way through hidden corners of conservation land. Lucas will pause often, inviting us to notice the small wonders—ferns unfurling, moss catching the light, and plants whose stories are written in their leaves. This is more than a hike; it’s an invitation to slow down, look closely, and let the landscape speak.
Spring Extended Hike: Fire Tower Exploration with Jeff Cochand
Saturday, May 30th
9 AM
Join MECT Trustee Jeff Cochand for an extended hike (approximately 4 miles) through some of our most scenic conservation lands, culminating in a visit to the fire tower. This longer outing is perfect for those looking to spend more time on the trail and explore a variety of landscapes.
The route will take us through wooded trails and rigorous inclines, offering a rewarding mix of natural beauty and local perspective. Jeff will share insights into the land and MECT’s latest conservation efforts.
This is a moderately challenging hike due to its length and the terrain, so sturdy footwear and water are recommended.
Spring Mindfulness Hike With Carla Villa
Sunday, May 17th
10 AM
Join MECT and Carla Villa of Ipswich Wellness Collective for a morning of mindful movement and walk in nature. In a world with many challenges, it’s important to build inner strength and calm. Mindful movement and meditation are powerful ways to help us manage stress and lift our spirits. On this hike we will mindfully immerse ourselves in nature, allowing it to lead us to a serene state.
Whether you’re new to meditation or have been practicing for years, if you love nature and seek a calm mind, this event is for you. We’ll meet at a trailhead where we’ll begin with a few minutes of mindful movement in our serene setting before setting off on our hike. Along the way we’ll pause for two short guided meditations and light conversation, allowing the sights and sounds of nature to help us slow down and quiet our busy minds.
Wear layers, appropriate footwear and dress comfortably for the outdoors.
Carla Villa is a Yoga and Meditation Instructor as well as the Engagement Manager at Ipswich River Watershed Association. She loves how yoga, meditation, and being in nature can help us connect with our inner calm and strength. In her classes, Carla focuses on meeting you where you are, offering accessible movement, mindful breathing, and guided meditation to help you connect with your body and inner self.
2026 Spring Trail Day
Saturday, May 16th (Rain Date May 23rd)
9 AM
With Spring popping up everywhere and the days getting both longer and warmer, it’s time to hit the trails. We hope some of the trails on which you rely are the ones we’re proud to take care of in Manchester by the Sea and Essex. A big part of that care comes from our amazing volunteer community, without which we couldn’t keep up with the 50+ miles of local foot trails and old cart-ways that make our outdoor adventures so easy.
This year we’re hoping you can help us tidy up some trails and check out our trail network. This will help us understand how much heavy work a good New England winter has left us. We’ve already cleared a dozen downed trees and anticipate we’ll need to do more. Here’s the good part: to help us, we’re going to ask you to take a hike!
We’ll split into groups to hike one of several planned routes. The routes we’ve mapped out cover as much of our trail network as possible, and they range from 2.2 to 3.7 miles long. On these hikes, we’ll ask you to do a light cleanup, like picking up small branches on the trail, trimming low-hanging branches, and gathering light trash. We’ll also ask you to make note of any bigger issues, like trees blocking a trail, wetland crossings that need fixing, or big piles of trash. We’ve designed these hikes to be a fun day in the woods and should take no more than 3 hours (some might even be shorter!).
Spring Kids Hike: Vernal Pool Exploration with Rick Roth
Wednesday, April 22nd
12 PM – 2 PM
Looking for a fun and educational outdoor activity during April School Vacation Week? Join Rick Roth of Cape Ann Vernal Ponds for a family-friendly exploration of a vernal pool in Manchester.
Rick is a passionate and knowledgeable expert who often leads nighttime hikes during the “Big Nights” of spring salamander and frog migrations. Now that amphibians have made their way to the pools, this is a great opportunity for children to experience these seasonal ecosystems up close.
We’ll be on the lookout for signs of amphibian activity, and with a bit of luck, we may spot egg masses from wood frogs and mole salamanders, along with fairy shrimp. Magnifying glasses will be available to help young explorers take a closer look.
While we love dogs, this hike is not suitable for them, as they can disturb the sensitive vernal pool habitat.
We respect the privacy of your family, so we suggest you register the children in your party as “Child1”, “Child2″,etc”. so that we get an accurate count and keep the size of the group manageable. This is not a drop-off event.
Fall Hike: Expanding the Wilderness Corridor – “Save Chebacco Trails”
Friday, December 5th 2025
12 PM
Join us to discover the terrific trails at 133 Essex Street, Hamilton, and gain an appreciation for the habitat value and connectivity.
We are thrilled that the local grassroots groups “Save Chebacco Trails” and the Watershed Protection Alliance succeeded in holding off development over the past 6 years. Now our friends at Essex County Greenbelt are under agreement to purchase this land and conserve it forever!
Please join us and Greenbelt representatives to explore this environmental and recreational treasure to the west of our conserved areas in Essex and Manchester, that protects the watershed and expands the Wilderness Corridor stretching from Gloucester to Beverly, Hamilton and Wenham.