A spectrogram, a yellow and black bird, and mics attached to a tree

Stop by the Hunnewell lawn to experience the sounds of the Arboretum in a new way. View the sound of wind or birdsong through special spectrograms; participate in a “sound to sketch activity” to draw what you’re hearing with a friend or family member; work with a birder to learn how to identify birds from their unique calls; and listen to the sounds of a tree or soil amplified through specially designed microphones.

We recommend bringing a set of wired headphones if you have them. We will also have headphones available.

Registration is not required for this program.

Jacek Smolicki is a sound artist and researcher with the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Amanda McCluskey and Isabella Febbriorello are recent MassArt graduates with degrees from the Studio for Interrelated Media. They contribute to outreach for Sound Travels, an educational research project about sound and learning in informal environments.

Accessibility: This event takes place on flat mowed grass just off the main road.

Audience: This event is appropriate for all ages.

Inclement weather policy: This program will be cancelled or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather and this page will be updated to reflect the change. If the forecast looks poor, please check this page to determine the event’s status. 

Click here to view our full inclement weather policy. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email publicprograms@arnarb.harvard.edu (inbox monitored on weekdays) or call the Visitor Center desk between 10:00am and 4:00pm at (617) 384-5209.

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Location

Hunnewell Lawn

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Directions

By subway

Take the MBTA Orange Line to its southern end—Forest Hills. Exit through the door marked “Arnold Arboretum,” cross Washington Street, and walk up Arborway to the Arboretum’s Forest Hills Gate on your left. To reach the Arboretum’s Arborway Gate and the Hunnewell Building, continue along the sidewalk on the Arborway to the Arborway Gate (about 12 minutes), or go through the Forest Hills Gate, bear right at the pond, and continue down Meadow Road to the Hunnewell Lawn. The Hunnewell Lawn is located outside of the Hunnewell Building.

By bus

Take the #39 bus to the South Street @ Bardwell Street stop in Jamaica Plain. Walk down South Street away from Bardwell Street, take a right on Custer Street, and walk down Custer Street until it ends. Turn right and walk about 300 feet down Arborway to the Arboretum’s Arborway Gate, which will be across the street. The Hunnewell Lawn will be just inside the gate on your right, outside of the Hunnewell Building.

By car

There is public street parking on Arborway, including six designated accessible spots on either side of the gate. Parking on Arborway can sometimes fill up and you may need to walk a little ways from your parking spot to the gate. Please allow for extra time to account for this, especially during the spring and for large programs like lectures and performances.

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