THE FRIENDS OF BORDERLAND

The Friends of Borderland is a non-profit organization formed in 1972, dedicated to preserving and maintaining the Borderland property, the Ames mansion, and the heritage of the Ames family that created the Borderland Estate. We provide for the general public an interesting, informative and fun schedule of events to help them appreciate the natural and cultural resources that are available at Borderland State Park.

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Programs begin at the Visitors Center unless otherwise indicated. All parking lots have a $2 parking fee payable at the yellow machine in the Visitor Center parking lot.  All dogs must be on a leash.  For accessibility information call (508-238-6566). Note: Calendar is subject to change without notice.

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW ART PROSPECTUS 2008 and see "ART SHOW REQUEST FOR ENTRIES" at the bottom of this page.

CALENDAR EVENTS

Revised 08/17/2008

 

SPECIAL EVENT: Junior Duck Stamp Art Exhibit.   Through August 28. 

  • Exhibit of original art work for the 2008 Junior Duck Stamp competition, including the 2008 Best-of-Show winner by Sabrina Palanza of Mansfield and Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro.  Beautiful and charming drawings and paintings of waterfowl by Massachusetts students, part of a national competition.  In the Visitor Center, open daily 8am to 3pm, Sundays noon to 4pm.

 

Nature Exploration.  Saturday, August 16, 9-10am. 

  • See or do something new for an hour every week – this week our topic is “Grasshoppers”.  We’ll take the insect nets, hand lenses and field guide, and see how many different species of grasshoppers we can find.  Join us first thing on Saturday mornings, then do your chores afterwards. For adults or school-aged children, no baby-strollers.  Be prepared to walk two miles on rough ground.  Wear sturdy shoes and long pants.  Downpour cancels.

 

Weeds & Wildflowers.  Sunday, August 17, 9-10am.

  • Take time to notice the lovely complexity of our weeds and wildflowers.  Join the Park Interpreter on a one-hour morning ramble.  Bring your hand lens and wildflower field guide, or borrow ours.  For adults and school-age children.  Plan to go about ¼-mile over uneven ground, sturdy shoes and long pants recommended.  We don’t go far or fast.  Rain cancels.

 

SPECIAL EVENT: Ames Mansion Tours.  Sunday, August 17, 1-3pm. 

  • The Friends of Borderland lead continuous tours of the Ames Mansion. This fully furnished former home of Oakes and Blanche Ames includes a 6000 volume library wing, an art studio and 18 other rooms; many beautiful paintings and other artworks.  Wheelchair accessible first floor only.  Park at the Visitor Center, enter through Mansion kitchen door.  $3 donation per adult requested.  Visit the Friends gift shop for mementos of your tour.  Rain or shine.

 

SPECIAL EVENT: “Raptors- Birds of Prey” Wildlife Show. 

Wednesday, August 20, 1-2pm. 

  • One-hour presentation on the life of native raptors and their biology.   Live birds of prey: hawks, owls, a vulture!  Falconer and naturalist Marla Isaac of New England Reptiles and Raptors explains the adaptations that make raptors special, how they hunt and their places in the ecosystem.  Take photos up close of these beautiful birds.  Rain or shine.

 

Quick Mansion Tour.  Friday, August 22, noon-12:45pm.

  • See the first floor of the Ames Mansion, plus the master bedroom suite and the art studio.  A great Friday lunch-break outing!  One tour only, 45 minutes.  Limited to 10 visitors, please pre-register: call 508-238-6566, leave your name, phone number and number in your party.  $3 donation per person requested to Friends of Borderland.  Wheelchair-accessible first floor only.  Rain or shine.

 

Nature Exploration.  Saturday, August 23, 9-10am. 

  • See or do something new for an hour every week – this week our topic is “Squirrels & Chipmunks”.  We’ll take the binoculars and hike into the park to see what kinds of squirrels and chipmunks we can see.  Join us first thing on Saturday mornings, then do your chores afterwards. For adults or school-aged children, no baby-strollers.  Be prepared to walk two miles on rough ground.  Wear sturdy shoes and long pants.  Downpour cancels.

 

Family Hike.  Sunday, August 24, 9-10am. 

  • One-hour guided hike for families led by the Park Interpreter.  We take an easy but interesting route through the woods, past a one-million-pound boulder, and down by the Pond.  Kids 6 years and older – earn your “Poison-Ivy Inspector” certificate!  No baby-strollers please.  Wear long pants and sturdy shoes.  Rain cancels.

 

"Burt the Raccoon” Puppet Show.  Thursday, August 28, 10-11am.

  •  “Burt the Raccoon” pays a special visit to Borderland State Park.  You’ll find him and his friend John Tierney at the Visitor Center, chatting with kids, telling raccoon stories and singing animal songs, with occasional accompaniment in American Sign Language.  Hilarious – and free!Rain or shine.

ASTRONOMY NIGHT AT BORDERLAND STATE PARK

 

  • See a dazzling astronomical display of autumn constellations and distant galaxies on September 7 at 8:30 pm at Borderland State Park.  Steve Clougherty presents this evening program in the fields by the main parking lot.  Program begins at 8:30pm, ends at 10pm.  The park will be open this evening for this special event only.  Bring a jacket, bug repellant and lawn chair or blanket for this outdoor show.  Call Ellenor at the Park for viewing conditions: 508-238-6566.

Tennis on the Ames Mansion Court.  Daily, 8 am-8 pm. 

Play tennis on the newly re-furbished court next to the back lawn at the Ames Mansion.  Bring your own rackets and balls.  Park at the Visitor Center, walk to the Mansion and proceed down the steps to the left of the Mansion, past the small stone pool and up the steps to the back lawn.  First come first served, free, just come and play.

Private Mansion Tours. 

Available by special arrangement in advance with the Park Interpreter for groups of 10 to 20 people, Mondays 9am-3pm, Thursdays noon-3pm.  $5 per person donation to benefit Friends of Borderland is requested.  Call 508-238-6566.

Unless otherwise noted, events meet at the Lawrence Newcomb Visitor Center, are free of charge and open to all, no pre-registration required.  Reasonable accommodation available upon advance request: call Ellenor at the Park, 508-238-6566

MANSION TOURS 2008

Join us for a guided tour of Blanche and Oakes Ames' Borderland Mansion.  Learn about Blanche Ames, artist & suffragette, and her husband Oakes Ames, botanist. The mansion was completed in 1912 and is preserved much as it was when the Ames family resided here.  Attractions include the beautiful two-story library, Blanche's art studio, an orchid room and a Civil War room.  Blanche's paintings are featured throughout the house. Our tours guides present a history of the family that lived here as well as describing the items of interest.  Questions are welcomed.

Sunday tours being at 1 pm and are admitted approximately every twenty minutes until 3 pm.  A complete tour of the mansion's three floors take a little more than an hour, and cost $3.00.  No admission charged for children 12 and under, or for members of the Friends.  Picture taking is not allowed inside the mansion, but postcards, books and souvenirs are available in our gift shop.

                                            TOUR DATES

  • SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

  • SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

  • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16

 

 

Misc. Information

Tennis on the Ames Mansion Court.  Daily, 8am-8pm.  Play tennis on the newly re-furbished court next to the back lawn at the Ames Mansion.  Bring your own rackets and balls.  Park at the Visitor Center, walk to the Mansion and proceed down the steps to the left of the Mansion, past the small stone pool and up the steps to the back lawn.  First come first served, free, just come and play.

 

Private Mansion Tours.  Available by special arrangement in advance with the Park Interpreter for groups of 10 to 20 people, Mondays and Thursdays 9am – 3pm.  $5 per person donation to benefit Friends of Borderland is requested.  Call 508-238-6566.

 

Unless otherwise noted, events meet at the Lawrence Newcomb Visitor Center, are free of charge and open to all, no pre-registration required.  Reasonable accommodation available upon advance request: call Ellenor at the Park, 508-238-6566.

 

Borderland State Park is located off Massapoag Avenue on the Easton/Sharon line.  There is a parking fee of $2 per car payable at the yellow machine; those over 62 should visit the office for a free lifetime pass.  Sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.  See the DCR Events Calendar at http://www.mass.gov/dcr/events.htm.

 

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For Prospectus, please click on this link

ART SHOW REQUEST FOR ENTRIES

 

The Friends of Borderland invite entries for the September 2008 Blanche Ames National Juried Art Exhibition.  The first place winner will receive $1250, second place $500 and third place $250.  The exhibition is scheduled for September 16 to October 4, 2008 in the library of the 1910 Ames Mansion at Borderland State Park, open to the public every day except Mondays.

 

Deadline for entries is July 25, 2008.  There is an entry fee of $25, covering up to three pieces.  A maximum of three works per artist may be submitted.  Artists must be 18 years of age or older, and be residents of the United States.  All work must be original and properly prepared for exhibition. 

 

For more information and to get an entry form, please email banjae@verizon.net or phone 781-784-6116 or stop in at the park Visitor Center, located off Massapoag Avenue

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Volunteers are always welcome.  If interested please send e-mail to janlcan@yahoo.com .