👩‍🌾 FOLQ Weed Team Invasive Plant Work Session at Gertrude Spaulding Park
2025-06-14 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Interested in helping out? Fill out our volunteer form and an FOLQ board member will contact you!
The FOLQ Weed Team is a group of volunteers who want to spend some time outdoors at the lake and help to make a difference! The schedule continues every 2 weeks all summer long. These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important.
Overview of the Work:

Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Bring your own tools (any of the following: garden or work gloves, shears/scissors, clippers, garden shovel with a pointed tip, hand trowel, hand fork)
Rain or shine (unless it’s really bad rain, or thunder/lightning…)
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants! 🙂

Interested in coming to a weed team session? Fill out our volunteer form and an FOLQ board member will contact you!

👩‍🌾 CANCELED - FOLQ Weed Team Invasive Plant Work Session, Hall Park
2025-06-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER 🌧️
🌿🌱 Interested in helping out? Fill out our volunteer form and an FOLQ board member will contact you!
The FOLQ Weed Team is a group of volunteers who want to spend some time outdoors at the lake and help to make a difference! The schedule continues every 2 weeks all summer long. These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important.
Overview of the Work:

Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Bring your own tools (any of the following: garden or work gloves, shears/scissors, clippers, garden shovel with a pointed tip, hand trowel, hand fork)
Rain or shine (unless it’s really bad rain, or thunder/lightning…)
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants! 🙂

Interested in coming to a weed team session? Fill out our volunteer form and an FOLQ board member will contact you!

Board Meeting
2025-07-01 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2025-09-02 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2025-10-07 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2025-11-04 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2025-12-02 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2026-02-03 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York), 2026-03-03 18:30 - 20:00 UTC, 2026-04-07 18:30 - 20:00 UTC and 2 more dates

👩‍🌾 FOLQ Weed Team Invasive Plant Work Session, Gertrude Spaulding Park
2025-07-12 09:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)

🎣 Free Learn to Fish Session at Lake Quannapowitt
2025-07-17 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
The registration limit of 50 people has been reached. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, email mail@folq.org and provide your name and the number of people in your party.

Registered but can’t attend? Email mail@folq.org to let us know – we can offer your spot to someone on the wait list!
FOLQ is thrilled to partner with MassWildlife to host a “Learn to Fish” event for ages 5 and up. This free, family friendly fishing class at Lake Quannapowitt from 5:30 – 7:30 PM will occur before the beginning of that night’s Movie by the Lake.
All Ages Welcome
This is NOT exclusively a kid’s program. It is a program for people of all ages who want to learn how to fish. Children 15 or younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Details
🐟 July 17th, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
🐟 Ages 5 years and older
🐟 Lower Common, Lake Quannapowitt
🐟 Pre-registration Required
🐟 Cost: Free!
What to Expect
Have you ever wanted to learn how to fish? Now’s your chance! Let the MassWildlife Angler Education Program be your guide. We’ll have equipment on hand for use, as well as terminal tackle, and live bait. You’ll learn the basics, from casting out, to baiting up, and the best part – you’ll be able to fish. So come try your hand at this great pastime, guaranteed to catch some fun!
REGISTRATION LIMIT: 50 PEOPLE – REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE WHEN LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED.
Register is closed.
Good to know: If you’re fishing at Lake Quannapowitt, FOLQ and the Town of Wakefield have installed fishing line recycling canisters around the lake. Please dispose of any fishing line, hooks, and bobbers in the green cane-shaped canisters located in 6 places. Details here.

👩‍🌾 FOLQ at the Wakefield Farmers Market
2025-09-13 09:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Hall Park (Veterans Field Parking Lot)
Friends of Lake Quannapowitt will be hosting a table at the September 13 Wakefield Farmers Market. Come see us to ask questions about current events around the Lake, our water quality testing program, our lakeshore stewardship and invasive plant removals, and ways to get involved. We’ll also have some fresh new merchandise for sale! All proceeds benefit FOLQ as we are a nonprofit, 100% volunteer group.

🚮 Fall Lakeshore Cleanup with Galvin Middle School
2025-09-20 08:30 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Bandstand/Lower Common Lake Quannapowitt, Church Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
Volunteers from FOLQ will partner with 5th and 6th graders from Galvin Middle School to clean up trash around the lake. Students should meet at the FOLQ table by the bandstand on the Lower Common to receive trash bags and gloves.

🎪 FOLQ at Town Day on the Common
2025-09-27 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Bandstand/Lower Common Lake Quannapowitt, Church Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
The Town of Wakefield and the Wakefield Area Chamber of Commerce will host Town Day on the Common on September 27, 2024. Stop by the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt table at Town Day on the Lower Common. See the work we do, learn about the latest happenings around the lake, check out volunteer opportunities, and take home some fresh merchandise! All proceeds benefit FOLQ’s efforts because we are a nonprofit, 100% volunteer organization.
From 1 to 4 p.m., all are invited to listen to live music, enjoy a variety of food and beverages, join live demos, and browse exhibitor tables.

🧱 🎀 Bricks for the Holidays
2025-10-01 - 2025-12-01
Now through December 1st, order a custom-engraved brick to be embedded at Col. Connelly Park at Lake Quannapowitt. All funds generated by brick purchases are dedicated toward improving parklands around the lake.
🎀🧱 Holiday Order Deadlines
Orders must be received by December 1, 2025 to receive a certificate suitable for gift wrapping. Certificates will be mailed no later than December 15, 2025. To guarantee placement of your brick in the spring of 2026 installation, orders must be received by March 1, 2026.
Bricks by the Lake is a community project established in 2006 to help fund the restoration of Colonel Connelly Park at the Head of Lake Quannapowitt. In the spring of 2008, the first group of custom-engraved bricks were embedded in the newly constructed flagpole plaza at Colonel Connelly Park. All funds generated by donated bricks are dedicated toward improving park lands around the lake.
Your purchase of an engraved brick will be a permanent memorial to your connections with Wakefield and Lake Quannapowitt. Beyond its meaning to you, your donated brick is a gift to our town, to our lake and to future generations.
🎀🧱 Learn more about the Bricks by the Lake Program and how to order here!

👩‍🌾 Autumn Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup: Hall Park
2025-10-05 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Sunday 10/05/2025
2:00pm-4:00pm
Hall Park (near Vets Field parking lot)
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves, pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

CANCELLED 👩‍🌾 Autumn Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2025-10-13 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up for Other Dates Here!
CANCELLED: Monday 10/13/25
4:00pm – 6:00pm
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves, pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

👩‍🌾 Autumn Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Sunday 10/19/25
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: Gertrude Spaulding Park at the north end of the lake (near the flagpole)
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves, pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

👩‍🌾 Autumn Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2025-10-24 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Friday 10/24/25
4:00pm – 6:00pm
Location: Gertrude Spaulding Park (north end of the lake near Col. Connelly Park)
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves, pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

👩‍🌾 Autumn Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2025-11-02 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Sunday November 2
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Location: TBD
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves, pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

🧹 Spring Lake Cleanup with Galvin Students
2026-04-04 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Bandstand/Lower Common Lake Quannapowitt, Church Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880, United States
The Friends of Lake Quannapowitt and 5th and 6th graders from Galvin Middle School will partner to clean up trash and debris from the Lower Common to Veterans Field.
All 5th and 6th grade students and their families are invited to attend!
Students will receive extra credit in science class.
You don’t need to bring anything but comfortable shoes and sunscreen. We provide gloves and trash bags and will share snacks and goodies with all volunteers. We hope to see you there!
Come anytime between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm to the Band Stand at the Lower Common – look out for the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt table to get your trash bag and gloves!

🎨 Lake Quannapowitt Art Show
2026-05-01 - 2026-05-02
FOLQ invites everyone to our upcoming art show featuring artwork of Lake Quannapowitt and its surrounding natural lands. This art show is free and open to the public. Drop in anytime to view beautiful pieces by local artists!

🎨 Artists who registered and still need to drop off your artwork: The second drop off is Wednesday anytime between 5-6pm at Albion Cultural Exchange. Email FOLQartshow@gmail.com with questions.

Theme: Celebrating the Natural Beauty of Our Lake

Show Dates: Friday May 1 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm and Saturday May 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Albion Cultural Exchange, 9 Albion Street in Wakefield, MA

What you’ll see at the Lake Quannapowitt Art Show:

Artists of all ages, and amateurs and professionals.
Any media, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, etc.

There will be People’s Choice voting for all attendees to select your favorite piece for each age group, as well as the piece you’d post like to see represented on a t-shirt!
We hope to see you pop into the art show at any time!
Show Dates: Friday May 1 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm and Saturday May 2, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: Albion Cultural Exchange, 9 Albion Street in Wakefield, MA

🧹 Lake Cleanup with Weston & Sampson
2026-05-04
The tradition continues! Volunteers from Weston & Sampson Engineering & Environmental Consulting will spend an evening at the Lake. They will clean up trash, remove invasive plants, and plant new additions to the Gertrude Spaulding garden at the north end of the lake. Our sincere thanks for Weston & Sampson’s many years of volunteerism with Friends of Lake Quannapowitt!

Tickets Now Available: Annual Meeting & Dinner
2026-05-21 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Bear Hill Golf Club, 2 North St, Stoneham, 02180, United States
The Friends of Lake Quannapowitt invite all community members to join us at our Annual Meeting and Presentation at Bear Hill Golf Club in Stoneham on Thursday, May 21, 2026. All are welcome. Guests will enjoy dinner and participate in a short business meeting, followed by an educational presentation and discussion.
This year’s presentation will be given by Wakefield’s Town Engineer Bill Renault. Bill will discuss some of the Town’s recent and upcoming initiatives to improve the water quality within the Lake.
Dinner tickets are $35.
Meeting & Dinner Agenda:

5:30 Cash Bar/Social Hour
6:15 Buffet Dinner
7:00 Short business meeting
7:15 Presentation by Town Engineer Bill Renault

We sincerely hope you can join us for an educational and informative evening. Your attendance helps us achieve our mission of educating and informing the public about the protection and enhancement of Lake Quannapowitt and its surrounding environment.
🍽️ Details and Tickets Here

👩‍🌾 Spring Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2026-06-07 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Sunday June 7, 2026
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: Hall Park (near Vet’s Field Parking Lot)
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves (including children’s sizes), pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

👩‍🌾 Spring Invasive Plant Removal and Litter Cleanup
2026-06-11 17:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!
Thursday, June 11
5:00pm – 7:30pm
Location: Gertrude Spaulding Park (near Col. Connelly Park at the north end of the lake by Gingerbread Construction Company)
DETAILS

Two volunteer options during each session: invasive plant removals or litter cleanup. You can choose one or both.
Stay as long as you’d like: These are usually 2-hour work sessions, but people stay for as long or short as they can, and you’re welcome to sign up for any that you’d like to do! No previous experience is necessary, but enjoying hands-on gardening is important for invasive plant removals.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORK

Invasive plant removals:

Bring garden gloves and any tools you have: Please bring garden gloves and any tools you might have like garden shears, a hand trowel, clippers, and other pruning tools. We’ll also have some available.
A lot like weeding a garden
Pulling, cutting, and digging out invasive species along the shoreline to help the native plant species thrive
Plants include bittersweet (a vine), bindweed (a vine), purple loosestrife (a flower), multiflora rose (a flower), and others
Family-friendly: The work is probably a good fit for kids 10 and up. BUT we love having families with young kids come to enjoy the lake and help out even in small ways, so we welcome families with kids of all ages – even if it means you’re just there for 20 minutes checking out the plants!

Litter cleanups:

We provide gloves (including children’s sizes), pickers, trash bags, and hand sanitizers
Pick up any garbage you see along the lakeshore (bottles, bags, fishing lures, etc.)

🌿🌱 Sign Up Here!

🎪 Festival by the Lake
2026-06-14 10:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Friends of Lake Quannapowitt is happy to once again participate at the Festival by the Lake, an annual event hosted by the Wakefield Center Neighborhood Association (WCNA). Come for the many crafters, artists, local organizations, live music, and great food. Visit with the many local nonprofit organizations, including FOLQ, to learn about community services and opportunities to get involved.
FOLQ will share information about the Lake, including updates on construction around the lake, native and invasive plant work being done along the shores, water quality updates, and more.
⭐⭐⭐ NEW THIS YEAR: FOLQ will have Interactive Watershed Demonstrations running from 10:00am to 12:00pm. This is a fun, interactive way for kids and people of all ages to learn how watersheds work, and how water and pollutants travel from miles away to wind up in Lake Quannapowitt. Stop by the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt booth for a hands-on look at our watershed! Visitors will be environmental scientists using our 3D watershed model to see exactly how rain and daily habits impact the health of our local lake. Come learn how we can all work together to keep our water clean. Anyone who stops by can enter a giveaway to win some great prizes!

We hope to see you on the Lower Common for this community event!
