ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY
The Trails Are Calling: Go-Getter Challenge Gains Momentum THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY
The 2025-2026 Go-Getter Trails Challenge is off to an impressive start! Since its June launch, more than 280 participants — including individuals, couples, families, teams, and even the occasional dog — have registered to explore Greenbelt’s protected properties across the region. From craggy coastlines and quiet woodlands to tran -
quil marshes and windswept meadows, these outdoor enthusiasts are uncovering hidden gems, making unexpected discoveries, and reaping the health benefits of time spent outside. You can be a Go-Getter too! The challenge runs through May 30, 2026, so there’s plenty of time to join the fun — it’s free, open to all, and perfect for every pace. Whether you prefer to hike, bike, run, stroll, snowshoe, or simply wander, the challenge offers the perfect excuse to get outside and explore. Visit 5, 10, even 25 properties and earn your Go-Getter badge — or go for all 50 and claim ultimate bragging rights as a member of the Trailblazer’s Circle!
KATE BOWDITCH
SECRET SQUIRRELS TEAM
280+ Explorers in Trails Challenge
12 Teams and counting
255+ Properties explored so far!
ecga.org/trails-challenge SIGN UP TODAY!
Glow Mural Project BLENDING PUBLIC ART, COMMUNITY SCIENCE, AND HABITAT RESTORATION
In collaboration with Merrimac-based artist Jenn Houle, Green belt installed glow-in-the-dark murals at four of our properties from August through October, creating a unique nighttime art experience. The murals were designed to highlight the impact of light pollution on native pollinators while giving visitors a chance to explore nature after dark in a new and inspiring way. At each site, community members were also invited to use their phones to participate in the Globe at Night community science program, gathering real data on how light pollution affects moths, bats, bees, and other vital species. Following the season’s data collection, each mural site was seeded with native flowering plants in collaboration with The Monarch Gardener, leaving behind lasting pollinator habitat. The murals will rotate to new Greenbelt properties each year, expanding the project across Essex County. This initiative was made possible through a Creative County Initiative grant from the Essex County Community Foundation.
Artist Jenn Houle in her studio with the hand-painted, glow-in-the-dark tiles she displayed at four Greenbelt properties this summer and fall.
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