By MATT DEMIRS
The Lynn Public Library is hosting a Henry David Thoreau nature walk and cleanup this Saturday at 11 a.m.
This year marks the bicentennial of transcendentalist Thoreau, best known for his literary classic Walden, which documents his personal experiment living in the woods of Walden pond in Concord.
The Lynn Public Library will celebrate with their own version at the “Other” Walden Pond in Lynn Woods.
A group will meet at the Great Woods Road entrance off Lynnfield Street, walk the path to the pond — picking up trash along the way — and stopping at Walden for a reading of Thoreau’s work.
The idea came from Lynn library associate, Lindsey Robert, who decided to piggyback off this year’s statewide summer reading program theme: Build a Better World.
The event also stems from a statewide initiative by The Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods to keep Thoreau’s legacy alive.
Robert said she wants to spark an appreciation for Lynn Woods and Walden pond, like Thoreau sought to instill with his Concord experiment 200 years ago.
A nature fan, Robert said she wanted to bring new people, as well as regular visitors, together for a common cause: cleaning up a local gem and honoring the work of one of the best-known 19th century naturalists.
Participants will be forgiven of library fines for taking part in the event.
Matt Demirs can be reached at [email protected]
