The Trustees, Massachusetts’ largest conservation and preservation nonprofit today announced that the organization will again support REI’s national initiative to close on Black Friday this year and encourage families to #OptOutside. The Trustees will waive paid entry and parking fees at several of its most popular properties, including Castle Hill on the Crane Estate and Crane Beach Ipswich, The Old Manse in Concord, Rocky Woods in Medfield, World’s End in Hingham, Barthlomew’s Cobble in Sheffield, and Monument Mountain in Great Barrington among many others. Last year’s #OptOutside initiative, dubbed ‘Green Friday’ at the Trustees, resulted in record turnouts at Trustees natural and cultural properties as families and friends chose to skip the shopping and take the day after Thanksgiving to enjoy the great outdoors together.
“We at The Trustees welcome visitors to enjoy the outdoors every day of the year but this day has special meaning as we encourage families to enjoy experiential gifts rather than material ones this Thanksgiving season,” says Barbara Erickson, Trustees President & CEO. “REI has been a Trustees partner for many years; we share a mission of inspiring people to unplug from their frantic, digitized lives and embrace a healthy, active lifestyle. It is a natural fit for us to make our sites even more accessible during a time when we are celebrating gratitude as a nation.”
On Green Friday, all The Trustees’ recreational and culture sites are free and open to the public and many will be offering special programs, such as: Green Friday: Opt Outside at Rocky Woods in Medfield; Storybook Walk at Bartholomew’s Cobble, a National Natural Landmark in Sheffield; Turkeys on the Trail at Farandnear in Shirley; Hike & Sketch Along the Rivulet Trail at the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington; and For the Love of Dogs! Green Friday Dog Party at Appleton Farms in Ipswich. Trustees members receive discounted entry to gated sites, programs, and free parking year-round.
For more than 10 years, REI has partnered with The Trustees in Massachusetts to fund stewardship efforts on Trustees property and host year-round outdoor educational programs to help residents lead active lifestyles. “REI is excited about our ongoing partnership and especially grateful to The Trustees for the support of #OptOutside,” says Paul Gannon, REI’s outdoor programs and outreach market manager. “We are thrilled that the Trustees is opting to get more people outside for the Holiday again this year by opening up their gates and properties to encourage families to spend quality time together.”
The Trustees invites Massachusetts visitors and residents to share their stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest as they explore the organization’s beautiful woodland trails, beaches, parks, farms and properties located around the state.
Many of The Trustees’ 116 properties offer free entry to all, year-round. Free entry on “Green Friday” will be offered at gated sites that normally charge entry fees, as well as sites that charge parking fees, including Crane Beach, Rocky Woods, Bartholomew’s Cobble, Ward Reservation, Monument Mountain and World’s End. Note: There will be no on-site parking at World’s End on Green Friday; instead, free shuttles will be provided from the Nantasket Junction MBTA station parking lot. Since dogs are not allowed on the shuttles, please consider taking your dog to World’s End another day!
Green Friday does not include free public programming or historic house tours, but the grounds of many Trustees historic homes like Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, the Eleanor Cabot Bradley House in Canton, and the Old Manse in Concord are always open for free. Trustees farms like Powisset Farm in Dover and Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough are also always free and have wonderful trails for all to explore! For a full list of other Trustees properties where you can always #OptOutside click here: http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/.
To learn more about #OptOutside and find places to visit in your area, as recommended by their employees, visit rei.com/opt-outside. To learn more about The Trustees and for a complete list of Trustees holiday programs to enjoy this season, visit thetrustees.org/things-to-do/.