Halibut Point State Park sits on the northeast tip of Cape Ann in Rockport, Massachusetts.  Originally termed “Haul-about” Point in the 17th Century due to its location, a spot where the prevailing wind currents, northeast and southwest, tend to shift, indicating mariners should “haul-about” their sails, this uniquely beautiful coastal landscape of fifty-five acres is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation with twelve abutting acres belonging to The Trustees of Reservations.  Halibut Point is open year-round for you to explore its trails and tidepools, picnic on its rocky ledges, enjoy its sweeping views, and learn about the nature and history of Cape Ann.  From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the park is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm daily with a $2.00 parking fee per vehicle; the rest of the year the park is open from sunrise to sunset.  Site of the former Babson Farm Quarry and with a Visitors Center and museum in a former World War Two artillery fire control tower, Halibut Point features an onsite park interpreter and free educational/entertainment/nature programs for the public from April thru October.  Click here to download a park brochure. Directions: Halibut Point State Park is located approximately forty miles north of Boston.  The best approach is to take Rt. 128 north toward Gloucester and Rockport.  After crossing the Annisquam River bridge, go three-quarters way around the first rotary, following signs for Rt. 127 north (Annisquam and Pigeon Cove).  After approximately six miles, turn left at the park sign by the Old Farm Inn onto Gott Ave.  From downtown Rockport, drive north on Rt. 127 for three miles, turning right onto Gott Ave.  The phone number at Halibut Point State Park is 978-546-2997. This is the blog of park interpreter John Ratti (johnrai@aol.com) and will be used to inform the public about Halibut Point State Park events and programs, answer questions and field comments, and to provide historical, cultural and environmental information about the park and its programs. 

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Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Dwell in possibility.

Emily Dickinson 

Decked out in t-shirts as blue as the Maine sky over Chase’s Pond that afternoon, staff and volunteers bustled around us and up ahead as we made our way from the street onto the grounds.  All the excitement was over the 2009 “Wild About Our Community” event at the Center for Wildlife, Cape Neddick, Maine.  The CFW, one of the largest animal rehabilitation facilities in New England, is becoming an increasingly significant education partner with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation due to the extraordinary and varied off-site wildlife learning opportunities they bring to the region.  Their invitation to attend on this day was my first visit to their location.    

I had the pleasure of encountering my first representative from the Center’s considerable number of sponsors and partners when I met Dan Gardoqui, Founder & Director of White Pine Programs (www.whitepineprograms.org), a nonprofit educational organization providing nature based programs for all ages.  “The area around the home that kids are allowed to wander has shrunk to less than 10% of what it was in 1970,” Dan informed me.  “As a result, lots of children today can’t identify an oak tree or a grasshopper,” he continued.  While I listened, there was the same quiet passion in his tone and directness in his gaze that I witnessed in Richard Louv when he spoke about his book, Last Child in the Woods.  After looking over White Pine’s brochure detailing their core programs I had a closer look around me and came away with an inkling that the Center for Wildlife, its partners and sponsors all had something special in common and I set out to learn more what that was.

“Have you been to Mt. Agamenticus lately?” Robin Kerr inquired.  I had to admit it was a long time since I had, though it is nearly always visible from the Overlook at Halibut Point, looming over  the shore as one of the highest elevations along the East Coast so near  the sea.  “We can usually always see it from the park.  On the right winter’s day we can even make out the tower,” was the best I could come up with for a recent experience with the Big A.   Robin, the Conservation Coordinator for the Mt. Agamenticus Conservation Region (www.agamenticus.org) for the past six years stood by her organization’s display and removed her sunglasses to connect with me eye-to-eye:  “ Things have changed since back then” she said, able to name eight current conservation partners.  She explained the work and stewardship challenges of maintaining the acres for watershed, flora and fauna conservation as well as for recreation purposes, each one alone a daunting challenge for any conservator.  More importantly, as she let me know about MACR’s successes and going-forward plans I felt a charge in her voice as strong as a pelting northeast rain powerful enough to turn the mountain’s granite to granola.  “This mountain rules!” the group’s trail guide says.  And there on Mountain Road in the shadow of Agamenticus  I met an advocate who did the same.

 The dirt pathway framed by pines, oaks and maples curved to the right where I stopped at the outside Turtle House with a number of others and observed the box and painted turtles residing at the Center for Wildlife.  The young woman offering us a learning opportunity gently rolled her palm along the carapace of the creature she held and then moved a finger along its marginal scutes.  “They shed along these edges,” she indicated, “which are made of keratin, just like your fingernails.”

Adjacent to the presentation stood the Center for Wildlife’s office.  I paused in front of the modest sculpted pond prefacing the entrance, squinting ahead at the sign to the side of the door.  “Animal Intake” were the important words.  Even amidst the hubbub of the day I felt a zone of serenity, the recuperative hush experienced before approaching an important medical unit.  Rescue … Rehabilitate … Release.  Stand here at you’ll know down to your core what the Center for Wildlife is all about. 

A few feet away I met Josh Baston of ReVision Energy (www.revisionenergy.com). I mentioned that at Halibut Point we’ve been using solar, photovoltaic and geothermal renewable energy resources since the mid 1990’s and Josh, sans any further information, was able to correctly detail the features of our older technology.  He pointed at a solar panel ahead of us on the roof of the CFW office and outlined the difference between that installation and the one we had at our site.  “ReVision Energy has installed more than half of all solar energy systems in Maine over the past few years,” he told me.  I wasn’t surprised.  

The Seacoast Science Center (www.seacoastsciencecenter.org)  Great Works Regional Land Trust (www.gwrlt.org) BioDiversity Research Institute  (www.briloon.org) York County Audubon Society(www.yorkcountyaudubon.org) – I met representatives from them all and even more organizations, leaving me to stop at the end of presentation row, have a look back and take stock at what I was witnessing.  I could hear storyteller Shawn Middleton, see Ed & Ken so genially scooping ice cream and families grabbing some pizza.  Scanning the day’s program, a quick count listed nearly fifty partners, sponsors and donors participating in this event. 

“Building a sustainable future for wildlife” – those are words I’ve seen CFW use more than once.  And that’s when I realized what everyone at “Wild About Our Community” had in common – they were pioneers of a notion that there are better ways to live.  And for at least one day nobody had to make much effort to find them.

Hawks, falcons, owls, porcupines, opossums, bats, squirrels, woodchucks, muskrats, songbirds, ducks, geese, swans and more -up to 150 different species – I discovered the Center for Wildlife rehabilitates and sometimes permanently cares for as I visited their natural history area.  Among the series of spaced enclosures for the animals I met CFW Board member Dawn Dickinson while reading interpretive signage by the opossum’s residence.  “They did a great job, didn’t they?” Dawn smiled, explaining the materials, laminate and font on the paneling.  I smiled back; as an employee of the DCR Bureau of Interpretive Services I knew the level of passion necessary to embrace and be excited about the intricacies and subtleties of a public information display.   

I spent the rest of my visit to the Center for Wildlife in the natural history area watching a number of live-animal presentations by staff and volunteers spaced between a number of wild bird releases that children in the audience were invited to participate in.  Kristen Lamb, CFW Education and Outreach Director, took some time from a very busy day to stand beside me for a chat.  “What’s the most fulfilling part of what you do?” I asked her.  “Countering human impact on animals,” Kristen told me.  “Humans sometimes injure them … we care for them.”  I thought about what Kristen said as I took a look around me.  How many times had I seen an animal by the side of the road, bedraggled and hurt?  Or heard its cries in some nearby woods and thought it was some poor creature that hasn’t got a prayer?  Well, many of these animals do have a prayer in Cape Neddick, one the Center for Wildlife answers some 1600 times a year.  You can discover more about the Center for Wildlife here.

Martin Buber said, “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”  That day at the Center for Wildlife, Cape Neddick, Maine, I met a community of incredibly caring people and felt the power of a great language spoken from the hearts of some fellow human beings.     

The Center for Wildlife, Cape Neddick, Maine will be back at Halibut Point State Park with more of their wildlife ambassadors for a Birds of Prey program on Saturday, September 26th at 1:00pm.  This FREE event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Friends of Halibut Point State Park.  You’re all invited to come and learn more about this wonderful organization.

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In October, Halibut Point State Park is offering standard programming along with one very special event.   The park has its Saturday morning Quarry Tour scheduled at 10:00am thru October 24th and Halibut Point’s Tower Tour will take place on Sundays at 12:00pm thru October 18th.  The DCR Universal Access Team is sponsoring a Universal Access Hike at at park on Friday, October 2nd at 11:00am and Peter Van Demark will again host Birding for Beginnerson Sunday morning, October 18th – meet him in the parking lot at 8:00am.  And as always, DCR programs are FREE, including this special event detailed below:

The Cape Ann Ice Age Trail

Did you know the pattern of recent Ice Ages is the defining event on Earth over the past several million years?  Do you know what defines and causes an Ice Age?  That the most recent Ice Age is likely the cause of the rise of the modern human species?  That until 12,000 years ago North America was the greatest land of predatory creatures since the Jurassic era? Or that the entire New England region was under a mile of ice that recently?  Cape Ann is one of the most significant geological areas in America and one of the best places to see and know the last Ice Age up close in front of you and on Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th the DCR and Trustees of Reservations are combining to provide The Cape Ann Ice Age Trail.  This two day special program will be hosted at the DCR’s Halibut Point State Park on October 11th and at the Trustees Ravenswood Park in Gloucester on October 12th.  Both programs get underway at 2:00pm.  For a flyer you can download with October’s Halibut Point programs and events, click here.

The September schedule of special programs & events at Halibut Point State Park begins with the park’s final Sunday Sounds concert.  On Sunday, September 6th at 3:00pm it’ll be Willie Alexander and the Persistence of Memory Orchestra.  Don’t miss this long-time Boston rock legend and enduring icon.  Willie Alexander’s career spans the 1960’s “Bosstown Sound” as a member of The Lost and Bagatelle, thru a stint in The Velvet Underground, onto ground-breaking 1970’s punk as leader of Willie Alexander and the Boom Boom Band and in recent decades noteworthy solo projects in music, art and literature.  For more on this musician and his resplendent body of work, go to: www.williealexander.com.  This concert is sponsored by the Friends of Halibut Point State Park and like all programs & events at Halibut Point, it is FREE.  Yes, it’ll be Willie Alexander at Halibut Point! 

On Sunday, September 20 at 8:00am the park will host its monthly Birding for Beginners program.  Meet Peter Van Demark in the parking lot.

The Center for Wildlife of Cape Neddick, Maine is once again offering a special program at Halibut Point, this time on Saturday, September 26th at 1:00pm.  New England Birds of Prey features live ambassador raptors such as hawks and owls along with a presentation detailing the lives of these amazing creatures and the challenges they face today.  Please have a look at their website – www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org – to learn more about their mission of strengthening regional capacity to protect wildlife through rehabilitation, conservation and education.  This program is sponsored by the Friends of Halibut Point State Park. 

Standard programming for September at Halibut Point include the Quarry Tour every Saturday morning at 10:00am which entails a video, granite-splitting demonstration and a walk around the Babson Farm quarry.  The Tower Tour, every Sunday at 12:00pm, details the military history of the park, including a climb-up the five stories of its artillery fire control tower.  Tidepools will be offered twice in Spetember – on Monday, September 7th at 8:00am and on Monday, September 14th at 2:00pm.  And Dragonflies in the Park, an exploration of the life of odonata, is scheduled for Friday, September 4th & 11th at 1:00pm.  Click here for a flyer you can download containing Halibut Point’s September schedule.

Coming in October – The DCR and Trustees of Reservations present The Cape Ann Ice Age Trail – a two day event at Halibut Point State Park and Ravenswood Park in Gloucester.

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In the early years of European settlement of America residence along the coastline was considered appropriate only for the more economically disadvantaged among the community.  Needless to point out, things have certainly changed.  Today we’re all quite aware of the ever increasing material value of waterfront property.  Hand-in-hand with that truth goes a number of issues relating to public access of the coastal areas that belong to us all.  It’s estimated that in New England the public has easy access only to about half of the coastal topography that belongs to everyone.  In Massachusetts, the laws governing public access to coastal lands is even more restrictive than in other states with shorelines.  In 1647 the Massachusetts Bay Colony Ordinances moved the line between public and private property to the low water mark, a situation which still prevails and is in reverse of what exists in most states today.  In Massachusetts, the intertidal area between the low and high water mark is presumed to belong to the waterfront property owner.  In other words, the coastal property owner is considered the owner of the coastal area to the low tide mark.  The original intent in creating these “private tidelands” during the Colonial era was to facilitate private wharf construction and economic development.  Although the 1647 Colonial Ordinance transferred ownership of intertidal flats from public to private, it did not relinquish all property rights held in trust by the state.  It did not give up public rights to the waters above the land and also preserved the right for the public to continue to use private tidelands for the purposes of fishing, fowling and navigation.  Over time, with many new business and recreational activities the public enjoys, courts have had to step in to interpret the spirit of the initial Colonial Ordinance.  In 1991, Massachusetts passed a special act that requires a public on foot free right-of-passage along the shore between the low and high tide line subject to certain limitations.  Perhaps not surprisingly, waterfront property landowners had a frosty response to this new law, even with being absolved of liability from the results of the public’s access under the Massachusetts Recreational Use Law.  Today, even with this more recent legislation, public access to waterfront areas remains a sometimes contentious issue in the state, with the public unaware of their rights or not aware of how they can gain access to a shoreline that belongs to all. However, due in part to the efforts of the town of Rockport, the public can find almost two miles of unfettered coastal access that is called The Atlantic Path.  The nearly two miles of public coastline is, at its most informal definition, made up of three public resources – The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation at Halibut Point State Park, the abutting acres belonging to Trustees of Reservations, and the town of Rockport’s land next to it.  Although only the Rockport coast section is officially designated as The Atlantic Path and is partly called Sea Rocks, the land belonging to the public stretches from the northwest corner of Halibut Point State Park all the way to Pigeon Cove.  If you consider exploring The Atlantic Path, there are a couple of things you should know – the Path is not really a “path” per se; although some areas of it are a defined path, the route encompasses a bouldery shore, some clambering around jagged rocks by privately owned property as well as traveling through seaside thickets.  However, the reward is great for those embarking upon the trek – hikers will encounter numerous and diverse flora & fauna, wonderful tidepools and some of the most extraordinary geology found on Cape Ann.  (Including a sprawling, stunning pegmatitic formation you can see a bit of in the middle photo prefacing this version of Interpreter’s Notes – for more on pegmatites and their significance go here.)  Another factor to consider if considering an exploration of the path is where and how to access it.  Many points of access are narrow footpaths located on residential streets with limited or no parking for non-residents.  Those whom explore The Atlantic Path often find the best way to gain access to the area is to park at the Halibut Point parking lot and either head into the park and down to the shore from there or walk down to the end of Gott Ave. and onto the Trustees Path.  Several years ago Halibut Point initiated an Atlantic Path program that explores this wonderful shore.  The program, usually featuring a guest educator or two as well as park personnel, is scheduled monthly in June, July and August.  In 2009, Halibut Point’s first Atlantic Path program will be on Saturday, June 6th at 2:00pm.  Please check our monthly program schedules as they are are posted for details and dates for July & August.  If you plan on attending one of the park’s Atlantic Path programs there are some things to consider: remember that the path is sometimes challenging, with it often necessary to climb around boulders; the program is a solid three hours in length with no amenities once we are out there; and frequent bramble, thicket and poison ivy leave us recommending attendees do not wear shorts.  We hope you’ll attend an Atlantic Path program at Halibut Point State Park or find some time to enjoy the path on your own.  If you’d prefer to explore Rockport’s Atlantic Path on your own, you can find a map listing some path access points here.  As a member of  Rockport’s Right-of-Way Committee once said, “The best way to insure the posterity of your public lands is to use them.”

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In August, Halibut Point State Park is featuring special programs and events every weekend, kicking off with an August 2nd, 3:00pm Sunday Sounds concert of well-known R&B, jazz and swing instrumentals by Alek Razdan and A-Train.  

On Saturday, August 8th the park is hosting Nature Day with two back-to-back live animal programs with the theme of creatures seldom seen.  At 1:00 Kristen Lamb from the Center for Wildlife, Cape Neddick, Maine will present Nocturnal Animals, a wonderful introduction to the creatures of the night.  And at 3:00pm, Richard Wolniewicz will offer Creepy Crawlies with newts, frogs, salamanders and more.  Bring the family for these special presentations and receive free Park Passports for the kids.  

Peter Van Demark will offer Birding for Beginners on Sunday, August 16th at 8:00am – meet him in the parking lot. 

There will be another Sunday Sounds concert on August 23rd at 3:00pm with bluegrass originals and favorites from the Squatcho Bondo Band. 

On Friday, August 28th at 5:00pm it’ll be Shakespeare in the park with the Rebel Shakespeare Company’s Teen Intensive Program performance of Twelfth Night against the backdrop of the Babson Farm Quarry.  To learn more about the Rebel Shakespeare Company, go to – www.rebelshakespeare.org  This performance, like all programs & events at Halibut Point State Park, is FREE.

August’s standard park programs are the Saturday 10:00am Quarry Tour which includes a stone-cutting demonstration.  On Sundays at 12:00pm the park offers a Tower Tour detailing the almost two centuries long military history of Halibut Point and on Fridays, Reading the Forested Landscape, an examination of the natural history of a landscape that includes deciphering clues determining forest composition will be offered at 10:00am.  Finally, down to the sea rocks for some inter-tidal fun with Tidepools will be on Monday, August 10th at 10:00am.   All programs meet at the park’s Visitors Center.  For a brochure of August programs & events that you can download, click here.

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In July, Halibut Point for the first time is featuring a number of the park’s most popular standard programs together in a single month.  The Quarry Tour will continue on Saturdays at 10:00am and there will be Tidepools programs on three dates: Friday, July 3rd at 2:00pm; Saturday, July 26 at 10:00am and Friday, July 31 at 2:00pm.  Geology Rocks! will be on Sundays, July 5, 12 and 16 at 11:00am, and Ceremonial Time: The 15,000 Years of Fifty Acres will take place on Tuesdays July 7, 14 and 28 at 10:00am

Special programs and events for July are Dragonflies in the Park, and exploration of the world of odonata, one of the oldest species of life on the planet.  This program will take place on July 10 and 24 at 11:00am.  July’s Birding for Beginners will be on Sunday, July 19 at 8:00am – meet Peter Van Demark in the parking lot.  On Saturday, July 25 at 8:00am Halibut Point will host the  Essex National Heritage Photo Safari featuring Tamron and Hunt’s Photo and Video.  To register for this event, go to: essexheritage.org/photosafari.  Halibut Point’s July schedule of special programs and events will conclude on July 26 at 3:00 with another Sunday Sounds concert featuring the oldies but goodies of Midlife Crisis.  For a flyer you can download with the July schedule and more information about the month’s programs, click here.

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The June schedule at Halibut Point State Park is featuring several special programs.  On Saturday, June 6th at 2:00pm the DCR will undertake the first Atlantic Path program of the season.  The Atlantic Path, since beginning as a Halibut Point event three years ago, has grown to become a very popular program: a three-hour trek along Rockport’s resplendent public coastline featuring some birding, great tidepools, interesting history and what many come to the program for – the stunning geology of the blue quartz and amethyst pegmatites at Andrews Point, which is among the most significant geological areas in New England.  The Atlantic Path includes guest environmental educators and includes some caveats – this is not a “path” per se, but a rocky coastline that can be, in sections, due to bouldering somewhat challenging to negotiate; it’s best not to wear shorts due to poison ivy, hard rocks, thorny thicket, poison ivy and biting insects and please consider that  there are no amenities while we are out there.  If you can handle all that, you may find The Atlantic Path one of the most rewarding nature programs you’ll ever attend.   

The next special program at Halibut Point in June is Follow the Full Moon.  This program, which follows the full Moon over a period of months at Massachusetts northeast region state parks takes place at Halibut Point on Sunday, June 7th beginning at 8:00pm and offers evening activities related to scientific and cultural interpretations of the full Moon. 

On Friday, June 12th at 8:00pm the park will host a special event – Mars in 3-D.  Sponsored by the DCR and Gloucester Area Astronomy Club, this program is about Mars, a planet of mystery and imagination and in recent decades a series of robotic explorations have stripped away much of the unknown.  Sky & Telescope magazine Editor-in-Chief Robert Naeye will  present recent images of Mars in spectacular 3-dimensions and provide an update about ongoing Mars missions.  Red-and-blue 3-D anaglyph glasses will be provided for all attendees.  Besides his affiliation with Sky & Telescope magazine, Robert has worked on the editorial staffs of Discover and Astronomy  magazine as well as being senior science writer for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s Astrophysics Science Division.   He has written two books: Through the Eyes of Hubble: The Birth, Life and Violent Death of Stars and Signals from Space: The Chandra X-ray Observatory.  Following Robert’s presentation, there will be public stargazing (weather permitting) with telescopes provided by the Gloucester Area Astronomy Club.

Snakes of Massachusetts and the World is the next June special program at Halibut Point.  Licensed herpatologist Rick Roth of the Cape Ann Vernal Pond team will bring over twenty live snakes for viewing and handling on Saturday, June 27th at 2:00pm.  This is perenially one of the popular programs every season at the park and is sure to bring a crowd.  Bring the young ones and a camera!

Halibut Point’s monthly Birding for Beginners will be on Sunday, June 21st at 8:00am.  Meet Peter Van Demark in the parking lot.  In May, Peter and others reported an extraordinary amount of warblers in the park.  Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Black-throated, Black & White, Yellow-rumped and Magnolia warblers were some of the ones spotted at Halibut Point in the later part of May. 

On Sunday, June 28th at 3:00pm the park will host its  second  Sunday Sounds concert with the original and well-known R &B, jazz and swing instrumentals of Alek Razdan and A-Train.  Sponsored by The Friends of Halibut Point State Park.

Besides the above schedule of special events and programs Halibut Point in June is also offering its standard Quarry Tour on Saturdays at 10:00am and Tower Tour on Sundays at Noon.  There are also two Tidepools programs, on Monday, June 15th at 11:00am and on Friday, June 19th at 2:00pm.

As always, every program and event at Halibut Point State Park is FREE.  For a flyer of June’s events you can download, click here.

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Programming for May 2009 at Halibut Point State Park begins on the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd with the premiere of an art installation created by students from the Montserrat College of Art.  The displays, situated inside the Visitors Center as well as out & about in the park, center around the interpretive themes of Halibut Point.  The installation will remain on view at the park until May 17th and all are invited to meet the students, who will be onsite from 1-4 p.m. on the 2nd & 3rd.

On Saturday, May 9th at 10:00 a.m. Halibut Point State Park’s Quarry Tour will begin and run every Saturday.  Meet at the Visitors Center and join us for this ever-popular program which entails a video, granite-splitting demonstration and tour of the former Rockport Granite Company’s Babson Farm Quarry.

Beginning Sunday, May 10th at 12:00 p.m. and continuing on every Sunday thereafter the park’s Tower Tour will commence for another season.  This program, taking place inside the Visitors Center, details the two centuries of military history at Halibut Point and features a trip to all five levels of the park’s artillery fire control tower, one of very few that are open to the public. 

Halibut Point’s Tidepools program will be featured twice in May 2009 – on Sunday, May 17th and Sunday May 31st at 9:30 a.m. meeting in the Visitors Center for a trip to the rocky shore and some inter-tidal exploration.

The park’s monthly Birding for Beginners program will be on May 17th at 8:00 a.m.  Meet Peter Van Demark in the parking lot for this two hour stroll around the trails & shore in search of the sights and sounds of local birds.  You can download a checklist of the species of birds one may see and/or hear around Halibut Point State Park by clicking here.

Sunday, May 31st at 3:00 p.m. is the kickoff to Halibut Point State Park’s Summer Sounds concert series.   Our opening show features a return prerformance of classic hits unplugged by Livin’ on Luck.  The concert takes place outside the Visitors Center and is sponsored by The Friends of Halibut Point State Park.

All programs and events at Halibut Point State Park are FREE.  To download a flyer with the park’s May schedule of programs & events, use this link.

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In September, Halibut Point State Park is featuring a full schedule of standard programs and special events.  The park’s Quarry Tour will continue every Saturday at 10:00am, the Tower Tour remains on the schedule every Sunday at 1:00pm and the popular Geology Rocks! program will be featured on two Mondays, September 1st & 8th at 1:00pm. Special events for September include Halibut Point’s final Sunday Sounds concert for the season on Sunday, September 7th at 3:00pm with perennial park favorites the Squatch Bondo Band and their bluegrass renditions of popular music.  On Saturday, September 13th at 2:00pm the park will host Cape Ann Beneath the Sea, with diver and underwater photographer Dave Milhouser presenting images of marine life off Cape Ann.  On Saturday, September 20th at 2:00pm Halibut Point and The Trustees of reservations will once again offer The Atlantic Path.  This three-hour, moderately challenging trek along Rockport’s resplendent public coastline from Halibut Point to Pigeon Cove and back features extraordinary geology, tidepools, birding and more.  Sunday, September 21st at 8:00am Peter Van Demark will once again be leading Birding for Beginners - this program meets in the parking lot.  Also on Sunday, September 21st at 5:00pm Halibut Point will present natural light photographer Leslie Bartlett’s A Stonecutter’s Tale: Stories of the Quarry.  A silhouette puppet-play for the entire family, this program takes place outside overlooking the Babson Farm Quarry.  And on Saturday, September 27th at 2:00pm the park will offer Birds of Prey.  Sponsored by The Friends of Halibut Point State Park and presented by The Center for Wildlife from Cape Neddick, Maine, this program will explore, via birds, posters and hands-on materials the different kinds of raptors that live in New England.  Unless otherwise noted, all programs begin in the park’s Visitors Center and are always FREE.  For a flyer you can download with Halibut Point’s September programs & events, click here.

Coming in October Halibut Point will offer more standard park programs, the Masschusetts Department of Public Health’s Keep Moving program, an autumn Nature & Wildflower Walk with Ed Jylkka and more Birding for Beginners.

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