The Blue Hills Reservation is hosting free public events Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29, after the national nonprofit Leave No Trace selected the 7,000-acre park as a 2026 Spotlight site.
The designation brings a three-day education and restoration push to Houghton's Pond, in Milton, where record visitor numbers have strained trails across the reservation. The park covers parts of Milton, Canton, Quincy, Braintree, Randolph and Dedham and contains 125 miles of trails, according to Boston University's BU Today.
"With over 7,000 acres of green space just minutes from Boston experiencing a record number of visitors, partnering with Leave No Trace gives our community the vital hands-on tools and education we need to keep these trails protected, and open for everyone to enjoy," Lt. Tom Bender, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) South Coast District Ranger, said in a statement published by the Milton Scene.
Friends of the Blue Hills, a 1,500-member Canton-based nonprofit founded in 1979, worked with DCR to bring the Spotlight program to the reservation. The group has offered guided hikes, volunteer opportunities and educational programs since the 1970s.
Friday: pop-up education
On Friday, Aug. 28, staff from Leave No Trace, Friends of the Blue Hills and DCR will set up at Houghton's Pond for a free pop-up event. Visitors can play games that teach Leave No Trace's seven principles and learn how to reduce their impact on the reservation's trails.
Saturday: volunteer stewardship project
A free stewardship service project begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at Houghton's Pond. Volunteers will clear brush, pick up litter and perform trail maintenance. For details, contact John Harrell at Friends of the Blue Hills.
Both events are open to all ages.
Dana Watts, executive director of Leave No Trace, said the Spotlight program puts conservation into action through workshops and community engagement. In 2025, the national program drew 3,821 participants who logged more than 2,087 volunteer hours across all Spotlight sites.
The three-day Spotlight, which began Thursday, Aug. 27, wraps up Saturday, Aug. 29. Future programming is listed on the Friends of the Blue Hills calendar.
