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Programs

Summer Volunteer Opportunities: Invasive Water Chestnut Training and Pulls

Pulls in July: In-person in Ayer and Nashua

Summer is just around the corner and that means soon invasive water chestnut will begin to surface in the Nashua River and tributary ponds. Volunteers are needed to help scout and pull these plants to prevent their further spread. The effort of dozens of volunteers over the past years has made a huge difference.  Can you help?

We have single day pull events, and we also have an option to Adopt-a-River segment for those who wish to commit to monitoring and pulling in an assigned stretch of the river for the full season. Learn more about Adopt-a-River. View or download flyer of summer water chestnut pull events to post or share with others.

SUMMER GROUP PULL EVENTS

At each pull event, volunteers will be offered training, life jackets, and chestnut harvesting supplies. We ask that volunteers bring their own canoes and kayaks if they have them. Please let us know on the registration forms if you think you need to borrow a boat for the event.

Grove Pond in Ayer: Group Pulls

  • Friday, July 17, 4:00 – 7:00 pm
  • Saturday, July 18, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Sunday, July 19, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Park at the Ayer Community Garden to launch from the Marshall Street bridge, 15 Barnum Road, Ayer, MA  View Google Maps for directions. There is a rain date of Monday, July 20 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm in the event any one of the other pull days needs to be cancelled for threatening weather. PACE is partnering with NRWA to conduct these pulls.  Register today.

Mine Falls in Nashua: Group Pulls

  • Sunday, June 28, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Sunday, July 26, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Launch from the Mine Falls Park Boat Ramp on Stadium Drive/Rt. 111, in Nashua NH.  View Google Maps for directions. The Rotary Club of Nashua West is providing partial funding and support for these pulls. Register today.

QUESTIONS? Please email Project Coordinator, Ryan Hennrikus.

Nashua River Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council

The Adopt-a-River Program is funded by the Nashua, Squannacook, and Nissitissit Rivers Wild and Scenic Stewardship Council. Learn more about the Council and our Wild & Scenic Rivers.

Upcoming Programs

2026 NRWA Annual Meeting

Thursday, Nov. 12, 7:00 pm at the Devens Common Center

Join us to celebrate the progress we’ve made together to protect the nature of our communities, and the positive impact for our individual and collective well-being.

Registration required.

NRWA Curiosity Club

September and October at a Public Library near you!

If you have ever looked at the natural world and wondered “Why?”, “What?” or “How?” then Curiosity Club is for you! Join Nashua River Watershed Association Education Staff for an hour of exploration with nature specimens, magnifiers, microscopes and plenty of time to investigate and find answers.

Fearless With Color: Selected Works in Watercolor

Experience the bold, expressive watercolor paintings of artist John Barnard in Fearless With Color, throughout September at the Prescott Community Center in Groton, with an opening reception on Friday, September 11, from 5:00–8:00 PM.

Video: Dam Removals in Massachusetts

In this video presentation, the Nashua River Watershed Association gives a general overview of why and how unsafe dams are removed, and what changes you might expect to see in your community as a result.

Video: NRWA Paddling 101

ACA Certified Guide Stacey Chilcoat presents a talk about paddling equipment & safety, paddling options and accessibility, and best practices when exploring the diverse habitats of our local rivers. She also introduces NRWA’s new online paddling maps.

Past Programs

Learn to Fly Fish Workshop

Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Squan-a-tissit Chapter of Trout Unlimited (TU) leads this hands-on, full day Learn to Fly Fish Workshop, a no pressure beginner’s class with the opportunity to learn all the basics from experienced instructors. Space limited to 10; registration required.

Caterpillars of New England: Celebrating Spring Biodiversity – Virtual

Thursday, May 14 beginning at 7:00 pm on Zoom

The NRWA is hosting The Caterpillar Lab for a video- and photography-packed presentation revealing the caterpillars whose ecosystems we inhabit, and our roles as neighbors, stewards, and champions of these incredible insects. Registration required; register online today.

The World of Turtles with Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL TO CAPACITY

Saturday, April 18th beginning at 1:00 PM
Arlington Street Community Center
36 Arlington Street, Nashua, NH 03060

Join award-winning author Sy Montgomery and illustrator Matt Patterson for an engaging, family-friendly exploration of the fascinating world of turtles.

Dam It: Partnering with Beavers to Save the Planet with Author Ben Goldfarb – Virtual

Thursday, March 12 beginning at 7:00 pm on Zoom

Join Ben Goldfarb, author of the acclaimed book, “Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers” to learn more about “nature’s engineer” the North American beaver and their role in wetland restoration, some of the most valuable habitats for natural and human communities. Registration is required; register online.

Water’s Journey: A Three-part Series- Virtual

Part 3: Thursday, April 2 at 7:00 pm on Zoom
Part 1 & 2 can be viewed on NRWA’s YouTube channel

Water is at the heart of all that the Nashua River Watershed Association does, and understanding the science of hydrology– how water moves through our watershed- is essential to our work. Join NRWA Board members as they lead this series covering basic hydrology concepts, human and climate alterations to natural hydrology, and actions we can take to protect and restore our natural hydrology. Registration required; register online.

Winter Sowing: Get a Head Start on Your Spring Garden

Jan. 22 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm at the NRWA River Resource Center

Winter sowing is a way to get a head start on your garden by planting seeds outdoors in the winter in order to develop healthy seedlings ready for planting in spring. You can winter sow many types of plants including perennials, vegetables, and herbs. This presentation will focus on the winter sowing of native perennials. Registration required; register online.

NRWA Storytime at Groton Public Library

January 13 from 10:30 to 11:00 am at the Groton Public Library

NRWA Education Director Gaynor Bigelbach visits the Groton Public Library to read aloud two of Amy MacDonald’s charming picture books about Little Beaver, and lead a simple craft project. For children under age 5.

How Animals Prepare for Winter

December 21 from 1:00 to 3:00pm in Devens
Join the fun of this winter solstice program at the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge’s Bill Ashe Visitor Facility. Appropriate for ages 8 and up. Registration required.

NRWA Annual Meeting 2025

Join us to celebrate the progress we’ve made together to protect the nature of our communities, and the positive impact for our individual and collective well-being. — Thurs Nov 13th from 7 to 9pm. Registration required.

Paddling 101 with Stacey Chilcoat

Enjoy this zoom presentation on the basics of paddling and NRWA’s new online paddling maps presented by Stacey Chilcoat, ACA paddling instructor and naturalist– Wed. Sept. 24 at 7pm. Registration required.

Guided Fern Walk in Shirley, MA

Join NRWA and our guest host, Elizabeth Perry, for an exploration of ferns at Farandnear in Shirley, MA on Sun. Sept. 14 from 1 to 3pm. Registration is required.