Rockin' with Raptors

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Dates:	Saturday, September 24, 2022 - Saturday, September 24, 2022
Hours:	12:00 pm- 4:00 pm
Ages:	Infants, Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:	Free
Category:	Nature & Outdoors

Join Boston Nature Center for our annual Rockin' with Raptors festival and the 20th Anniversary of the George Robert White Environmental Conservation Center in Mattapan.

This free community celebration is a great opportunity to explore Mass Audubon’s urban sanctuary, located just outside of Boston and home to two miles of trails, a nature play area, plenty of wildlife, and a thriving community garden.

Takes place rain or shine.

• Get up-close with animals—caterpillar demos from The Caterpillar Lab, plus meet raptors from Blue Hills Trailside Museum & critters from BNC
• Nature activities—arts & crafts, birdhouse building, Nature Nook games
• Family-friendly entertainment—face painting, Rosalita's Puppets, music with DJ Popular
• Delicious food from Grill Master Kenny Perry
...and much more!

This free community celebration is a great opportunity to explore Mass Audubon’s urban sanctuary, located just outside of Boston and home to two miles of trails, a nature play area, plenty of wildlife, and a thriving community garden.

Featuring:
• Educational caterpillar demonstrations
• Charming puppet shows
• Live raptors
• Music, food, and much more!

Our day will include entertainment and food, as well as activities offered by many of our collaborating cultural and green organizations!

Rain or shine, the event attracts hundreds of visitors and provides a venue for adults and children to learn, play, and have fun.

WEBSITE

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www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/boston-nature-center

LOCATION

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500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, MA, 02126 map
Phone: 617-983-8500

Getting to the Boston Nature Center
We encourage visitors to carpool, bike, walk, and/or use public transportation. Please call us at the number above if you have any questions.
NOTE: Online maps and GPS units may not direct you to our building/parking lot. If you are using an electronic map, enter this address: “450 Walk Hill St, Mattapan” which will take you to the brick buildings just inside the Walk Hill St. entrance. From there, follow the road straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building. You can also enter the latitude and longitude of our main building: 42.288092, -71.101306.
Driving
From the Mass Pike:
Take I-90 towards Boston/NH/Maine. Follow I-90 East until Exit 14: I-95/Route 128. Merge onto I-95 South. Take Exit 20A: Route 9 East towards Boston/Brookline. Follow the directions immediately below: “From the West.”
From the West:
Take Route 9 East to Route 1 South, the Jamaicaway. Follow the Jamaicaway past Jamaica Pond then follow Route 203 past Arnold Arboretum, keep to the left over an overpass, straight through a rotary (Route 203 becomes Morton Street). Continue to follow Morton Street/Route 203 past Shattuck Hospital on your left and past Forest Hills Cemetery on your right. Continue under an underpass (American Legion Hwy), and turn right at the second light onto Harvard Street. At the traffic light turn right onto Walk Hill Street. Take the second right at the sign for Boston Nature Center. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.
From the North:
Take Route 93 South (through Boston) until you see the South Bay Mall on your right. Take Exit 15: Columbia Road/JFK. Take right at bottom of ramp onto Columbia Road. Columbia Road will bear to the left at the intersection of Mass Ave. and Boston Street. Follow Columbia Road until it intersects with Blue Hill Avenue. (Franklin Park Zoo will be across the street.) Turn left on Blue Hill Avenue; get into the right lane and follow to the intersection of American Legion Highway (at Mobil Station). Turn right onto American Legion Highway. At the fourth set of lights (look for the Wendy’s), turn left onto Walk Hill Street. Take the first left at the sign for Boston Nature Center. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.
From the South:
From Route 128, take the Milton exit (138 North). Go about four miles and merge (bear right, then left) onto 28 North/Blue Hill Avenue through Mattapan Square, then stay on Blue Hill Avenue about one mile until you come to Walk Hill Street. Turn left onto Walk Hill Street (at restaurant with green awnings). Follow through two sets of lights and take the second right at the sign for Boston Nature Center. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.
Public Transportation
We encourage you to use the MBTA Trip Planner: http://www.mbta.com/rider_tools/trip_planner/
MBTA bus (suggested routes below):
Route # Bus Stop Leaves from Service
14 American Legion Highway & Walk Hill Street Roslindale Square/Heath Street Runs every 40-50 minutes; no Sunday service
21 Morton Street & Harvard Street Forest Hills/Ashmont Station Runs every 10-15 minutes on weekdays; every 45-60 minutes on Saturdays/Sundays
28 Blue Hill Avenue & Morton Street Ruggles/Mattapan Station Runs every 10-15 minutes daily
29 Blue Hill Avenue & Morton Street Jackson Square/Mattapan Station Runs every 20-45 minutes; no daytime Saturday service, no Sunday service
31 Morton Street & Harvard Street Forest Hills/Mattapan Station Runs every 10-15 minutes daily
If you get off the bus at American Legion Highway & Walk Hill Street (Bus 14):
Follow Walk Hill Street south (away from American Legion Highway) and turn left at the Boston Nature Center sign. Use caution crossing the street. Go straight at the intersection and continue until you see our parking lot and large yellow building.
If you get off the bus at Morton Street & Harvard Street (Bus 21 or 31):
Facing Olmsted Green, walk up Harvard Street. Turn right at the Boston Nature Center sign onto West Main Street. Follow the road to the left for about ¼ mile to another Boston Nature Center sign and turn right into our driveway.
If you get off the bus at Blue Hill Avenue & Morton Street (Bus 28 or 29):
With the gas station on your left, walk up Morton Street about six blocks. When you reach Harvard Street, follow the directions above for “Morton Street & Harvard Street.”
Walking From Forest Hills T Station (about a 1¼ mile walk):
Be sure to exit the station onto the Hyde Park Avenue side. Cross Hyde Park Avenue, and then turn right. Turn left at Walk Hill Street (you will see a Dunkin Donuts on the corner). Proceed up Walk Hill Street past Forest Hills Cemetery to the intersection of American Legion Highway. Cross American Legion Highway and follow directions above for Walk Hill and American Legion Highway.

Biking
We encourage you to approach from the Walk Hill Street side and avoid Morton Street. There is a bike lane on American Legion Highway, but cars generally travel 45 miles per hour on that road. Our bike rack is located next to our front doors. Please lock your bike.