Timber Harvesting and Snowmobile Trails in Massachusetts
Timber Harvesting and Snowmobile Trails in Massachusetts By Randy Toth Mention the word logging today and many people immediately assume the worst. They envision “clear-cut” logging – cutting down every tree in sight for miles around. The Department of Conservation ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 in Environment, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, environment, public lands
2017 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program
The 2017 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program grant round is now open! Please visit the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) website for updated grant guidelines, application materials, and past awarded projects Check out the SAM clubs that were awarded grants this past ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, DCR, press release, public lands, volunteers
2016 Recreational Trails Program
The Baker-Polito Administration announced the awarding of 30 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants for projects in local communities throughout the state totaling $1,052,985. The RTP grants, ranging from $500 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project, serve as ...Read more
Published on Saturday, September 24, 2016 in Awards, News & Updates
Tags: clubs, DCR, environment, in the news, legislative, press release, public lands
DCR Public Meetings for Forest Management Projects
DCR Announces Public Meetings for Forest Management Projects in H.O. Cook, October Mountain, Sandisfield, Savoy, Wendell, Oakham and Townsend State Forests. The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Bureau of Forestry will be hosting the following public meetings to discuss ...Read more
Published on Thursday, March 10, 2016 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, public lands
2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Applications Open
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has just announced that the 2016 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program grant applications are open. Information Sessions: Three information sessions will be held to inform and update the public on the Recreational Trails Program, ...Read more
Published on Sunday, October 11, 2015 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, public lands
DCR Regulation Listening Sessions
Published on Sunday, October 4, 2015 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, press release
DCR Partnerships Matching Funds Program
DCR Commissioner Carol I. Sanchez announces DCR Partnerships Matching Funds Program. PRESS RELEASE, May 22, 2015 Dear Partners: I am pleased to announce the launch of the first phase of the FY16 DCR Partnerships Matching Funds Program. The Partnerships Matching ...Read more
Published on Sunday, May 31, 2015 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, press release, public lands
Chainsaw Safety Class
May 30-31, 2015 9am-4pm at Bridgewater State University June 27-28, 2015 9am-4pm at Notchview Reservation, Windsor, MA. This class is supported by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the Massachusetts Recreational Trails Advisory Board (MARTAB) and the Recreational Trails ...Read more
Published on Sunday, May 17, 2015 in Education, News & Updates, Safety
Tags: DCR, education, public lands, safety, volunteers
Final Push for Snowmobile Legislation in Massachusetts
We are fast approaching the end of the current two-year Massachusetts legislative session that began back in January 2013. Since that time the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has been working to get our two bills passed before the December 31 ...Read more
Published on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, legislative, safety, vintage
New Trend for Land and Snowmobile Trails (Larry Tucker)
This is the time of year to get our trails cleaned and ready for the coming snowmobile season. The trail crews for all the clubs are out there working on our most important asset – our trails. My club has ...Read more
Published on Friday, November 28, 2014 in Environment, Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, public lands
Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program 2015
The Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program 2015 Grant Round is OPEN! Grant Deadline Date: February 2, 2015 The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federally funded grant program created through the National Recreational Trail Fund Act as a part of the ...Read more
Published on Sunday, November 16, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, press release, public lands, trail-riding, volunteers
Recreational Trails Program
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) accepts applications for Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants on an annual basis. The next deadline for all RTP grants is February 1st, 2015. Only application materials delivered or post-marked by February 1st ...Read more
Published on Thursday, October 2, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, education, environment, public lands
2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in partnership with the Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board (MARTAB) presents the 2014 Massachusetts Trails Conference to be held on Saturday, November 8, 2014 at the Double Tree Hotel and Conference Center in ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, public lands
Chainsaw Safety for Trail Volunteers
Chainsaw Safety for Trail Volunteers, Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA, June 21st and 22nd, 2014, 9 am – 5 pm both days. Ten spaces are available for the chainsaw training course funded by the RTP. This two day class is designed for ...Read more
Published on Saturday, June 14, 2014 in Education, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, education, environment, volunteers
DCR Releases Volunteer in Parks Program Guide
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation releases their new Volunteer in the Parks Program Guide policy “with an opportunity to achieve the goal of standardizing and simplifying the process for proposing, reviewing, and conducting all volunteer activities – whether ...Read more
Published on Friday, May 2, 2014 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, clubs, DCR, environment, Grooming, press release, public lands, volunteers
Snowmobiles and Land Partnerships in Massachusetts (Larry Tucker)
The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts has worked to create an awareness of SAM among public and private land agencies. Over the last couple of years SAM has established relationships with land trusts, has partnered with a land trust to purchase ...Read more
Published on Sunday, January 26, 2014 in Guest Columns, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, opinion, public lands
Conservation Restrictions and Snowmobiles (Larry Tucker)
The topic of Conservation Restrictions (CR) is involving an ever-increasing amount of SAM’s time and attention, since it is within these CR’s, that to a great extent, the future of our recreation lie. In the October and November issues of ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, December 25, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, opinion
Massachusetts Trails Conference (Larry Tucker)
While this past summer did have its hot spells, overall it was real nice with beautiful weather. I hope everyone was able to enjoy some cookouts, camping, the beach and some parties. While we put our sleds away for the ...Read more
Published on Monday, November 4, 2013 in Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, people, public lands, sam
RTP Grants Open – Workshops Announced
The 2014 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Round is now OPEN! SAM Clubs are encouraged to apply for grants that create or improve trails, purchase equipment to maintain trails, grooming equipment and other trails related projects. Please visit the Recreational ...Read more
Published on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, Grooming, public lands, safety, trail-riding, volunteers
DCR Volunteers in Parks Program Guide Draft
The DCR released a draft of their newly proposed policy as it relates to volunteers and non-profit organizations working at DCR properties. All snowmobile clubs should review the document and comment, both to the DCR and the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts. ...Read more
Published on Sunday, June 23, 2013 in General Announcements, In The News, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, in the news, legislative, public lands, volunteers
ISC 2012 RTP Grant
Attention Massachusetts snowmobilers and others interested in maintaing recreational trails. Here is a rare opportunity for snowmobile leaders & volunteers to attend ISC 2012 through the RTP grant. You must be a Massachusetts Resident You must include a $50.00 check ...Read more
Published on Saturday, March 10, 2012 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, ISC 2012, press release, sam
Call To Action: RTP in Jeopardy
Every State Snowmobile Association in the country has come to rely on funds from the Recreational Trails Program (RTP). This program is funded by you, the snowmobiler, every time you put gas in your sled. A portion of the federal ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, legislative
A Community's Passion for a Sport (Melissa Allard) (video)
Many of you have seen me running around with my camera at various SAM events over the past season. For those who don’t know me, I’m a born-and-raised snowmobiler from the Berkshires. Growing up, the Snow Seekers were like my ...Read more
Published on Thursday, January 12, 2012 in Guest Columns, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, family, opinion, people, public lands, sam, trail-riding, volunteers
Trail Conference Notes
A few weeks ago we posted a report about the 2011 Massachusetts Trails Conference that was attended by user groups from all over the state. The presentations and notes have been posted online at the DCR website Scroll down to ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, education, public lands
First Annual Massachusetts Trails Conference
This past Saturday, November 14, the First Annual Massachusetts Trails Conference was held. Over one hundred trail enthusiast attended the day-long event presented by The Massachusetts Recreational Trail Advisory Board (MARTAB) in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation ...Read more
Published on Monday, November 14, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, education, environment, public lands, sam, volunteers
2012 Massachusetts RTP Round is Now Open!
The 2012 Massachusetts Recreational Trails Program Grant Round is now open! Please visit the Recreational Trails Program website for grant guidelines, application materials, and paperwork guidelines: http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/services-and-assistance/grants-and-technical-assistance/greenways-and-trails-program.html The 2012 Statewide Trail Education Grant Round is also open with the same ...Read more
Published on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: DCR, education, press release, safety, sam
DCR Map of Land Designations: Please Attend Meetings!
DCR Releases Draft Map In Anticipation Of Its Second Workshop Series On Landscape Designations For State Properties SAM members are encouraged to attend these very important meetings that will outline public land use and recreation, such as snowmobiling. Meeting dates ...Read more
Published on Monday, May 23, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, press release, public lands
DCR to Hold Pittsfield State Forest Forum
The Department of Conservation and Recreation will hold a forum on the master plan for the Pittsfield State Forest area which include snowmobile trail areas such as Wahconah Falls! This plan will spell out what activities are allowed and which ...Read more
Published on Thursday, April 21, 2011 in General Announcements, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, public lands, sam
Urgent Action Needed to Fund Recreational Trails Program!
SAM members need to contact their U.S. Congressman and ask that they support the Recreational Trail Program (RTP). Losing RTP would be disastrous to the clubs that use the program to purchase grooming equipment and fund other projects that improve ...Read more
Published on Monday, April 11, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, legislative, public lands, sam
DCR Posts Public Comments
DCR has posted all of the written public comments the agency received regarding the Landscape Designation criteria and management guidelines, as part of this fall’s public process. SAM has been encouraging it’s members to keep informed and take part in the ...Read more
Published on Thursday, February 24, 2011 in General Announcements, Legislative Affairs, News & Updates
Tags: access, DCR, environment, opinion, public lands
