Concord, Mass. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District announced today that Hodges Village Dam recreation area in Oxford, Mass., has been selected as a 2024 Leave No Trace Spotlight by the Leave No Trace organization.
The Leave No Trace Spotlight program is an initiative that highlights communities and outdoor areas taking action to address the challenges posed by increased use and environmental impact. Sites chosen as Spotlights receive up to three days of programs which include an environmental stewardship project, and a unique blend of education workshops, staff and community training and outreach programs. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team will be at Hodges Village Dam June 21 to 23, 2024, to collaborate with USACE Park Rangers on a variety of programs. Since 1999, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team has served as the mobile education arm of the Leave No Trace organization.
Park Rangers and Leave No Trace members will host multiple educational booths throughout Oxford on June 22. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the teams will participate in the Oxford Pollinator Day festival. A part of the town’s annual Pollinator Week celebration, Rangers and Leave No Trace members will promote pollinator health and the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies and agriculture.
In addition, the teams will staff pop-up education tables in the morning and afternoon to share information about the Leave No Trace ideology and educate the public on sustainable ways to recreate and protect the natural resources surrounding Hodges Village Dam. The first will be in the project's multiple use area, located adjacent to 11 Clara Barton Road, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Later that day, the teams will be at the main dam site trailhead at 30 Howarth Road from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Spotlight weekend will conclude June 23 with a day full of volunteer opportunities. Four Volunteer Stewardship Projects will be the focus of the day: installing new duck habitats, removing invasive plant species, trail maintenance and litter clean-up. Anyone interested in participating in this volunteer day can sign up at https://forms.osi.apps.mil/r/Fm8YL7Z1SQ.
All ages are welcome to attend, but volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The onsite sign-in booth will open at 8:30 a.m. at the multiple use area adjacent to 11 Clara Barton Road. Volunteers will be broken into groups and commence work at 9 a.m. Please note that volunteers will need to be able to walk/hike on uneven terrain, and must wear long pants and closed-toed shoes in order to participate. Volunteers should also bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and dress for the weather. Tools and supplies will be provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For more information about Hodges Village Dam, visit the project website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Hodges-Village-Dam/.
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