Sandy Neck Nature Hikes and Events
Spring Beach Clean-up: Saturday, April 15, 9 am - noon
Join the Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association for this yearly event. Activities include trash pick-up,
dune fence installation and more!
Meet at the Sandy Neck lower parking lot and spend the morning giving back to
your favorite beach. For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300.
Signs of Spring on Sandy Neck:
Tuesday, April 18, 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. Join a Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean
Kortis as your guides through this spectacular landscape. Programs are $14
for members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration required. For more
information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or
online
www.massaudubon.org/longpasture
Sandy Neck Spring Flora & Fauna Hike:
Wednesday, May 17, 10 am - noon
Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore
barrier beach flora and fauna with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park
Staff. 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. For more information
call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit the web site
www.blt.org
This hike is free.
In Search of Diamondback Terrapins on Sandy Neck: Wednesday, June 14, 10 am – noon
In summer, rare Diamondback Terrapins emerge from the Great Marsh to lay their
eggs in the dunes of Sandy Neck.
Join a Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean Kortis as we search
for signs of nests and tracks of these amazing and mysterious turtles. Learn
about the headstart program helping the tiny terrapins. Programs are $14 for
members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration required. For more
information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or
online
www.massaudubon.org/longpastur
Sandy Neck Plover Walk:
Tuesday, June 20, 10 am – noon
Discover hidden Piping Plover nests along the front beach with
Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park
staff 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. For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300
or visit the web site
www.blt.org This hike is free.
Sandy Neck Junior Ranger Program: Five Tuesdays, 9:30 am – noon, from July 11 – August 8,
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. $65 for each Jr. Ranger. For more information on enrollment
call the Barnstable Recreation Department 508-790-6345.
Sandy Neck Summer Flora & Fauna Hike:
Wednesday, August 9, 10 am - noon
Hike 1.5-miles through Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh and sand dunes to explore
barrier beach flora and fauna with Barnstable Land Trust and Sandy Neck Park
Staff. 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. For more information
call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300 or visit
www.blt.org . This hike is free.
Hiking for Terrapin Hatchlings on Sandy Neck, Wednesday, September 6, 10 am – noon
This fall we will be searching Sandy Neck for tiny tracks of hatchling
terrapins with a Sandy Neck Ranger and Mass Audubon’s Sean Kortis as these
quarter-sized newborns make the treacherous journey from their sandy dune nests
to the safety of the Barnstable Great Marsh.
Programs are $14 for members and $18 for non-members. Pre-registration
required. For more information, call Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary at
508-362-7475 Ext 9355 or online
www.massaudubon.org/longpasture
Sandy Neck Fall Migration Hike:
Wednesday, September 13, 10 am – noon.
Sandy Neck is a popular resting place for many migratory species on
their way south along the east coast. The forested areas along the trails are
made of a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees packed with high-energy food for
the traveling birds. Additionally, many migrating birds linger on Sandy Neck
shores, delaying their flights south for as long as possible. These birds tend
to concentrate near their favorite food source before continuing on their
journey. Join us for a migration hike as we welcome fall and the migratory birds
that are leaving, returning, or just passing through.
For more information call the Gatehouse: 508-362-8300. This hike
is free.
Coast Sweep 2023:
Sunday, September 17, 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
All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.
All Sandy Neck hikes are considered strenuous in difficulty.