Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary

Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary
Interactive map of Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary
LocationCharlton, Massachusetts, US
Coordinates42°08′14″N 72°00′29″W / 42.1372°N 72.0081°W / 42.1372; -72.0081
Area86 acres (35 ha)
Created1977 (1977)
FounderRuth Dyer Wells
OwnerCapen Hill Nature Association, Inc.
OpenTrails open dawn to dusk. Visitor center open during business hours.
Websitecapenhill.org Edit this at Wikidata

Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary is an 86-acre (35 ha) non-profit nature reserve in Charlton, Massachusetts, United States. It is free and open to the public year-round, offering a series of walking trails and an educational visitor's center.

History

Ruth Dyer Wells founded Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary in 1977 with a 72-acre (29 ha) parcel as a public place for animal care, nature trails, conservation, and environmental education.[1] In addition to Wells being a philanthropist who founded Old Sturbridge Village, she had lived for several years in Charlton at Gaeville Farms, but afterward donated the land to the town.[2] After the government of the Town of Charlton was not able to cover the costs of running it, it was turned over to a separate non-profit organization (Capen Hill Nature Association, Inc.) on March 11, 1986.[3] In 2009, it acquired another adjacent 14 acres (5.7 ha) of land for $25,000 which expanded the property to a total of 86 acres (35 ha).[4] Upkeep and maintenance is provided by community donations, including work from Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School students,[5] Eagle Scout service projects,[6][7][8] and donations and grants from others.[9]

Nature trails

Throughout the property are a series of short interconnected walking trails that showcase the variety of natural plants and geography in the area, including many species of common and endangered plants and animals.[10] There is no charge to visit the sanctuary.[11] Trails are marked with blazes made of colored shapes.[12]

Visitor center

The visitor center is converted from a 1950s residence, and is also free to visit. Sometimes when needed, the sanctuary will take in and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and the animals are used to help educate the public.[10][13] During business hours, visitors can meet around 40 rescue animals, including a variety of birds, reptiles, rabbits, bearded dragons, and axolotls.[11][14] There is also a domesticated rat named George.[11] The visitor center also has a library, mineral collection, and gift shop.[15][16]

Events

Capen Hill runs day camps in the summer for ages 5–12, offering a program to help children connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.[17][18] They also hold an annual fall festival[19] and Easter egg decorating events.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "History". Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary. Archived from the original on November 4, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ Nangle, Richard (December 15, 1989). "Ruth Dyer Wells, 82". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. p. C18.
  3. ↑ Gushue, Harold (September 9, 1990). "Sanctuary Fun For All Ages". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
  4. ↑ LaPlaca, Debbie (April 1, 2009). "Capen Hill community meets the challenge". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  5. ↑ LaPlaca, Debbie (April 3, 2017). "Voke students to brighten entrance at Capen Hill". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Eagle Scout renovates barn at Capen Hill". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. May 19, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Four members of Charlton's Troop 165 earn Eagle Scout Award". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. January 18, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Local Teen Completes Eagle Scout Project" (PDF). Charlton Villager. Stonebridge Press. October 5, 2023. p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2026. For his project he created a Pollinator Garden at Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary in Charlton.
  9. ↑ Ring, Kim (September 18, 2014). "Grant helps keep Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary open". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Magnuson, Carolyn (July 28, 1997). "Capen Hill is a Friend to Nature". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. p. B1.
  11. 1 2 3 Barnacle, Sarah (April 6, 2026). "Giant 40-foot troll could soon call Charlton home. How you can help". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Trail Maps". Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary. Archived from the original on April 29, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  13. ↑ Hill, Jean Laquidara (November 4, 2002). "Yearning for home - Animals lack native surroundings". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. p. B1.
  14. ↑ Richman, Olivia (March 3, 2017). "Capen Hill gearing up for year of celebration" (PDF). Charlton Villager. Vol. X, no. 9. Stonebridge Press. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 1, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026. Then up in the sanctuary we have rabbits and reptiles, guinea pigs and chinchillas. We also have a cockatiel who loves to dance.
  15. ↑ "Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary". The Last Green Valley. Archived from the original on April 18, 2026. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  16. ↑ LaPlaca, Debbie (February 22, 2022). "Charlton: Great place with a good location". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. p. 7A.
  17. ↑ "Summer Camp". Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary. Archived from the original on April 20, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  18. ↑ Miner, Bradford L. (August 12, 2008). "Back to nature - Summer camps give children chance to reconnect to real, not virtual, adventure". Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
  19. ↑ "Fall Family Festival 2025". Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
  20. ↑ Ring, Kim (April 17, 2017). "5 interesting (and colorful) facts about Easter egg decorating". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
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