FRAMINGHAM, MA – Between the towns of Natick, Wayland and Framingham, MA, Lake Cochituate offer many recreational summer activities including swimming, boating and fishing.

Many locals may not realize that just a few hundred yards east of the Framingham/Natick town line, (on Rt. 30), the beach, picnic area, boat launch, snack bar and canoe/kayak rental shop are in Cochituate State Park, (which is operated by the MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation).

Below is a list of fun, educational FREE summer activities for kids and families available at the park during the month of July 2014, (Tuesdays-Saturdays).

Most of the activities have a different theme each week, so frequent visitors can enjoy learning and doing different things — and kids won’t complain “I already did that last week”.

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Tuesday, July 1 12:30 – 1:30pm — It’s Sand, Man! – What is this material called sand? Where does it comes from? What materials make up the substance? The interpreter will help you sift the sand to find the composition of the material that covers our New England fresh water beaches. On-the-beach programs are appropriate for children 5 – 13.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Wednesday, July 2 10:00-11:00 am — Kidleidoscope Kids – Meet at the Nature Center for fun nature-based activities for Children ages 3-5. Kidleidoscope program is designed to introduce young children to the natural world in a fun, engaging way. The program revolves around three different activities (activity, game, story, craft, exploration, etc) each lasting ~15–20 minutes long. Each of these activities is centered on a theme. This format helps keep young children interested and attentive. Each week a different topic/theme is explored to encourage repeat visits by interested children. No preregistration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, July 2, 1:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate!  – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Thursday, July 3, 1:00-3:00 pm — Water Comes to Boston! – Turn the tap and out it comes, right? Not for people that lived over 100 hundred years ago. Learn the exciting history that Lake Cochituate shares with Boston – it was the first fresh water supply! Help build a cool aqueduct system on the beach to model how water was taken to Boston. Appropriate for children age 6 and up.

Saturday, July 5, 12:30 pm — Sandy Art – Join this fun-filled program with the interpreter and learn about one animal – then make it in the sand! Materials provided for this group activity that is both fun and educational. Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children may participate with an adult.

Saturday, June 5, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Tuesday, July 8 12:30 – 1:30pm — It’s Sand, Man! – What is this material called sand? Where does it comes from? What materials make up the substance? The interpreter will help you sift the sand to find the composition of the material that covers our New England fresh water beaches. On-the-beach programs are appropriate for children 5 – 13.

Tuesday, July 8, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Wednesday, July 9, 10:00-11:00 am — Kidleidoscope Kids – Meet at the Nature Center for fun nature-based activities for Children ages 3-5. Kidleidoscope program is designed to introduce young children to the natural world in a fun, engaging way. The program revolves around three different activities (activity, game, story, craft, exploration, etc) each lasting ~15–20 minutes long. Each of these activities is centered on a theme. This format helps keep young children interested and attentive. Each week a different topic/theme is explored to encourage repeat visits by interested children. No preregistration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, July 9, 1:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Thursday, July 10, 1:00-3:00 pm — Water Comes to Boston! – Turn the tap and out it comes, right? Not for people that lived over 100 hundred years ago. Learn the exciting history that Lake Cochituate shares with Boston – it was the first fresh water supply! Help build a cool aqueduct system on the beach to model how water was taken to Boston. Appropriate for children age 6 and up.

Friday, July 11, 1:30- 3:00pm — Critter of the Day – Join the Park Interpreter on the beach for a fun program on the wildlife that live in and around Cochituate State Park. Discover signs of living things all around you!  Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children can participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 12, 12:30 pm — Sandy Art – Join this fun-filled program with the interpreter and learn about one animal – then make it in the sand! Materials provided for this group activity that is both fun and educational. Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children may participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 12, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Tuesday, July 15 12:30 – 1:30pm — It’s Sand, Man! – What is this material called sand? Where does it comes from? What materials make up the substance? The interpreter will help you sift the sand to find the composition of the material that covers our New England fresh water beaches. On-the-beach programs are appropriate for children 5 – 13.

Tuesday, July 15, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate!  – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Wednesday, July 16, 10:00-11:00 am — Kidleidoscope Kids – Meet at the Nature Center for fun nature-based activities for Children ages 3-5. Kidleidoscope program is designed to introduce young children to the natural world in a fun, engaging way. The program revolves around three different activities (activity, game, story, craft, exploration, etc) each lasting ~15–20 minutes long. Each of these activities is centered on a theme. This format helps keep young children interested and attentive. Each week a different topic/theme is explored to encourage repeat visits by interested children. No preregistration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, July 16, 1:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Friday, July 18, 1:30- 3:00pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Join the Park Interpreter on the beach for a fun program on the wildlife that live in and around Cochituate State Park. Discover signs of living things all around you! Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children can participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 19, 12:30 pm — Sandy Art – Join this fun-filled program with the interpreter and learn about one animal – then make it in the sand! Materials provided for this group activity that is both fun and educational. Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children may participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 19, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Tuesday, July 22 12:30 – 1:30pm — It’s Sand, Man! – What is this material called sand? Where does it comes from? What materials make up the substance? The interpreter will help you sift the sand to find the composition of the material that covers our New England fresh water beaches. On-the-beach programs are appropriate for children 5 – 13.

Tuesday, July 22, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Wednesday, July 23, 10:00-11:00 am — Kidleidoscope Kids – Meet at the Nature Center for fun nature-based activities for Children ages 3-5. Kidleidoscope program is designed to introduce young children to the natural world in a fun, engaging way. The program revolves around three different activities (activity, game, story, craft, exploration, etc) each lasting ~15–20 minutes long. Each of these activities is centered on a theme. This format helps keep young children interested and attentive. Each week a different topic/theme is explored to encourage repeat visits by interested children. No preregistration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, July 23, 1:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Thursday, July 24, 1:00-3:00 pm — Water Comes to Boston! – Turn the tap and out it comes, right? Not for people that lived over 100 hundred years ago. Learn the exciting history that Lake Cochituate shares with Boston – it was the first fresh water supply! Help build a cool aqueduct system on the beach to model how water was taken to Boston. Appropriate for children age 6 and up.

Friday, July 25, 1:30- 3:00pm — Critter of the Day – Join the Park Interpreter on the beach for a fun program on the wildlife that live in and around Cochituate State Park. Discover signs of living things all around you! Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children can participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 26, 12:30 pm — Sandy Art – Join this fun-filled program with the interpreter and learn about one animal – then make it in the sand! Materials provided for this group activity that is both fun and educational. Appropriate for children age 6 and up. Younger children may participate with an adult.

Saturday, July 26, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Tuesday, July 29 12:30 – 1:30pm — It’s Sand, Man! – What is this material called sand? Where does it comes from? What materials make up the substance? The interpreter will help you sift the sand to find the composition of the material that covers our New England fresh water beaches. On-the-beach programs are appropriate for children 5 – 13.

Tuesday, July 29, 2:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Wednesday, July 30, 10:00-11:00 am —  Kidleidoscope Kids –  Meet at the Nature Center for fun nature-based activities for Children ages 3-5. Kidleidoscope program is designed to introduce young children to the natural world in a fun, engaging way. The program revolves around three different activities (activity, game, story, craft, exploration, etc) each lasting ~15–20 minutes long. Each of these activities is centered on a theme. This format helps keep young children interested and attentive. Each week a different topic/theme is explored to encourage repeat visits by interested children. No preregistration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Wednesday, July 30, 1:00 – 4:00 pm — Nature Center open at Cochituate! – Cochituate nature Center has all kinds of fun things to do. Start a craft or check out a Discovery Pack. Explore the park and its nature. Appropriate for children age 6 and up with an adult.

Thursday, July 31, 1:00-3:00 pm — Water Comes to Boston! – Turn the tap and out it comes, right? Not for people that lived over 100 hundred years ago. Learn the exciting history that Lake Cochituate shares with Boston – it was the first fresh water supply! Help build a cool aqueduct system on the beach to model how water was taken to Boston. Appropriate for children age 6 and up.

Click for larger Google Map or to get driving direction from outside local area.

Directions to Cochituate State Park: follow Cochituate Rd., (Rt. 30) east, when you pass the intersection of Speen St. and Rt. 30, (near Home Depot) the road will become Commonwealth Rd., (at Natick town line), park entrance is on your right approximately 1/4 mile at 43 Commonwealth Rd., Natick, MA.

Additional information is available on the Cochituate State Park page of the MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation website, or by contacting Cochituate State Park Headquarters / Business Office located at 93 Commonwealth Rd. Wayland, MA, or by phone at: (508) 653-9641.

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All programs are free and open to the public. Most programs take place at the beach. There is a $5.00 parking fee. Bring water, wear sunscreen/bug spray, dress in layers, and wear good footwear. An adult must accompany children. Rain cancels. For more information call 508-653-9641. Cochituate State Park is located on 43 Commonwealth Rd.  Natick, MA, (Rt. 30, just over the Framingham town line near the Speen St. / Cochituate Rd. intersection).

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The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways. Led by Commissioner Jack Murray, the agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr.

Familiar Places, Hidden Treasures…what will you find? 

Celebrate Preservation Month 2014 with DCR programs and events. Learn more @ http://www.mass.gov/dcr/presmonth