Fireside Chats at Breakheart are a wintertime attraction for those who want to learn about Massachusetts state parks

By Laura Eisener

Eating doughnuts by a real wood fire in the charming log cabin may be one of the best ways of appreciating the pleasures of winter. With the snow piled up outside, what could be cozier than sitting by the blazing fire and sipping coffee or cocoa at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitors’ Center at Breakheart Reservation on Saturdays?

You might still want to wear modern versions of the skis and snowshoes displayed on the mantel if you decide on a long walk through the woods, but the series of Saturday morning talks — sponsored by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) — that run through the end of this month are informative and very entertaining. They run from 10 a.m. to noon each Saturday and are free of charge, no reservations required. The schedule of speakers and topics can be found in “The Sounds of Saugus.”

The first speaker at last Saturday’s Fireside Chat was Julie Martin, who spoke on “Stewarding our Common Wealth – Connecting People, Parks, and Purpose.” The audience was engaged as she led off with a fun quiz about the state parks of Massachusetts.

The first state park in Massachusetts was established in the spring of 1893 at Beaver Brook Reservation, and some of the descendants of the famous Waverly Oaks still stand there near the Belmont/Waltham line. Several attendees knew that the country’s first public beach was in our neighboring town, Revere Beach, set aside in 1896. While people may have thought the highest point in Massachusetts is the snow pile at the end of their street, the actual answer is Mt. Greylock out in western Massachusetts!

You will likely not be surprised to discover that Massachusetts has many firsts in its history, including the first “First Day Hike,” which occurred at Great Blue Hill in Milton — now at least one state park in each of the 50 states offers a First Day Hike on New Year’s Day. Julie introduced us to many interesting parks across the state and new events, and some of the audience also shared their favorite places to visit nearby.

The second speaker was Ryan Narog-Hutton, digital strategist, who documents the state parks through photos and video and manages their social media accounts. There are several educational and yet amusing videos available on YouTube now that you can see without leaving home. These include documentaries on a Full Moon Hike, Underwater Walden Pond and a tour of the Blackstone Valley Canal, to mention a few. Upcoming activities statewide include the Parade of Sail on July 11 this year, and many events and activities in different state parks throughout the year.

Participants could choose from three colors of bandana. Bowser the dog, who is the pet of DCR Deputy Communications Director Ilyse Wolberg, looked especially fetching in his bright green bandana, but I have to say that the bandanas were also flattering to the human attendees.