Programs and Events

Camping on conservation land

Interested in spending the night in the great outdoors? The Conservation Commission is happy to review requests to camp on conservation land in Andover. Please refer to the form below for instructions on how to submit a camping request. We recommend starting this process about three weeks before you are interested in camping so you can be added to a meeting agenda. 

Overnight Camping Request

Special use of Andover conservation land

Conservation land under the care and custody of the Andover Conservation Commission is open dawn to dusk for use by all members of the public for many recreational purposes.  These “Lawful Activities” of Andover Conservation Land are listed on our website here: Rules and Regulations of Andover Conservation Land. Standard allowable uses include hiking, birdwatching, and leashed dog walking. 

If you are interested in a special use of conservation land that is not specifically listed as a “Lawful Activity,” you will need to be granted specific permission from the Andover Conservation Commission. Please fill out the following form and submit it to the Andover Conservation Division for review at least three weeks prior to the desired date of activity.  Examples of special uses that have been permitted in the past include Eagle Scout projects, scientific studies, running races, boat rack installations, and special one-time events. Remember, always "carry in and carry out!"

Request for Special Use of Andover Conservation Land

HIke beautiful andover with marlies henderson


program description

Andover Conservation is offering free guided walks on Wednesday mornings each month to encourage the community to explore and enjoy Andover's wonderful trails and open spaces!

Developed in Japan during the 1980s, “Forest Bathing” or Shinrin Yoku, is a cornerstone of preventive healthcare and healing in Japanese medicine. Currently this holistic approach to healthy living gains traction in western culture. Sign up for these monthly hikes to immerse yourself in nature alongside likeminded individuals. 

These guided walks will occur year-round on mostly wooded trails to grow awareness of Andover Conservation and AVIS trails, with a focus on camaraderie and local history.

All walks will begin at 9:45am in the morning, at a meeting point that will be distributed to registrants prior to each walk. 


Registration

Please click the following link to register for a walk today!

https://forms.office.com/r/NFB5hEEMuA


Marlies Henderson 2023 Schedule

Route Descriptions for Upcoming Walks

Den Rock Park Vernal Pools:    Join us for an exploration of the connectivity between Andover and Lawrence Den Rock open space, featuring active vernal pools and the Shawsheen River. About 4 miles miles of woodland trails. Focus on history and camaraderie. Park at the end of Fleming Avenue. Meet by 9:45 AM at the trailhead to start walking at 10 AM. Wear sturdy shoes. Bring hiking poles for confidence. Remember binoculars!

Merrimack River Reservation:   Join us for a riverbank stroll about the Merrimack River Reservation:  Four miles total, along a linear trail. Focus on history and camaraderie. Park along the Launching Road by 9:45. A bus leaves punctually at 10 AM, to bring us to the Andover-Lawrence line by the Merrimack River, from where we walk back to our cars in about 2 hours (4 miles). Wear sturdy shoes. Bring hiking poles for confidence.


storywalks in the woods


The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and was originally developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. The Conservation Division’s newly installed StoryWalk combines education and outdoor adventure by encouraging children and adults to walk along the Sacred Heart Reservation trail and read the pages of a book as you go. The StoryWalk will guide you along a boardwalk and around a gentle loop trail that is approximately 0.15 miles long. Parking is available at Penguin Park, located at 76 Burnham Road, with the entrance to the property at the back of the playing fields. 

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