The autumn edition of my Friends of Webster Trails (FWT) newsletter popped up in my email box the other day, and as usual, it was packed with lots of great updates about how much the Friends have accomplished in the last several months. And as usual, I’d like to share some of those accomplishments with you all.
But first, I want to highlight two family-friendly events the Friends have scheduled in just a few weeks.
The first is a Family Scavenger Hunt on Saturday Nov. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kent Park, 1700 Schlegel Rd., held in conjunction with the Webster Recreation Center.
Participants can choose their own adventure as they explore the park, completing a fun scavenger hunt along the way. Three different skill levels will be available for kids aged 2 to 12, so children of all ages can participate, and every child will earn a prize.
Cost is $5 per child, and please preregister at the Recreation Center website. You can pay when you get to the hike. Sign in anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The hunt will take place rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Proceeds will be donated to the Webster Arboretum to help improve Webster’s trails.
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That evening, the Friends will host their annual Hot Cocoa Hike, held this year at State Road Nature Preserve, 1571 State Rd.
This free, self-guided, family-friendly hike will be about one mile from start to finish, and includes a stop along the way for (you guessed it) hot cocoa! The path will be clearly marked, and there will be lights along the way to help guide you, but please bring a flashlight to help out as well. (And your own travel mug.)
Participants are asked to plan to leave the parking lot between 7 and 8 p.m. so that you can arrive at the hot cocoa stop by 8:30 p.m. The trail will begin on the right-hand side of the parking lot. Please leave your dogs at home.
There’s no cost, but please register here so the Friends have enough hot cocoa and marshmallows.
Now, on to the newsletter
If you enjoyed hiking any of our trails this summer, you’ll notice how great they’re looking — and keeping them looking great has been a challenge with all the windstorms knocking down trees left and right. The dedicated FWT volunteers have been working hard all summer to maintain these trails. Here are some highlights:
- Habitat/ReTree Project: Volunteers planted 151 native trees and shrubs. The purpose of this project is to restore and protect the forests in Webster by planting native species, improving wildlife habitat, and making local woodlands more resilient to insects, diseases, and other threats. Thanks to the Ciena Corporation, who provided some volunteers for this project, for the Girl Scouts, who potted some seedlings, and to RG&E for donating nursery stock.
- Bird Sanctuary Trail: This was much improved over the summer with lots of new gravel and the installation of new drainage pipes. Soon the Friends also plan to install a dog waste station at the Orchard St. trailhead.
- Gosnell Big Woods Preserve: In addition to doing some much-needed cleaning along the fence line, FWT volunteers were able to rescue a wounded osprey, with help from the Braddock Bay Birding Observatory.
- Whiting Rd. Nature Preserve: The Whiting Rd. Red Trail now has a new boardwalk, thanks to the efforts of Maria Frick, who completed it in June for her Eagle Scout project.
The newsletter also had a rather interesting analysis of who’s actually using the trails. Hikers by far comprise the greatest number of users (and runners from my running group are included among them), at 64%. They’re followed by dog walkers at 29%, and bikers are 7%. And a separate tally of the number of people using the paths around Charles Sexton (North Ponds) Park counted an amazing 4,000 a week.
If you include yourself among these folks who use our trails, and you aren’t yet a member of the Friends of Webster Trails, please consider showing them some love by becoming a member. It doesn’t cost much (really, just $15 for an individual or $20 for a family) and the funds go directly to making our trail system better for everyone to enjoy.
You can find out more about the organization and see an interactive map of all the trails at the Friends of Webster Trails website.
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(posted 10/21/2026)
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