When my husband and I decided to start a new tradition of gifting “experiences,” I had no idea it would open a door of joy and wonder that would sustain me mentally and physically all year long.
The tradition started in 2022. That fateful Mother’s Day, we purchased a Family Membership to the Trustees and then enjoyed a wonderful hike as my preschooler stopped to sketch every rock and leaf she saw in her nature journal.
Last year, we upgraded our Membership to the Supporting level, which includes reciprocal benefits to more than 1,000 museums across North America. I’m so glad we did.
In one year, not only have I visited 14 breathtaking Trustees properties across Massachusetts, but I also received free admission to several other museums across the country!
Putting my NARM benefits to immediate use
My annual membership renews in May. When a college friend invited me to visit them in Cincinnati, Ohio, for Memorial Day weekend, I was excited to put my North America Reciprocal Museum (NARM) benefits to the test! First stop on our trip, an evening at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Exploring the Cincinnati Art Museum with my best friend, Corinne.
I loved revealing in all the art, but one of the most memorable exhibitions was in the Egyptian wing, where the curators shared how they were rethinking the display of human remains. I’ve been fascinated by Egyptian culture and history since I was a child. But this topic of viewing mummies as well as other cultural and sacred artifacts has been heavy on my mind since reading Warrior Girl Unearthed the year before, and I appreciated seeing museums take a step back to learn and listen. Both the book and the exhibition challenged me to consider how we can approach art and exhibitions from a more sensitive, and inclusive, standpoint.
Hello, summer camp discounts!
Returning to Massachusetts, it was time to start summer! With my kiddo now in elementary school, we were officially on the school calendar– which includes finding summer camp opportunities that allows her to get outside and enjoy nature, while keeping her engaged and learning. Finding something that checks those boxes while working within our family budget was no small feat. Thankfully, with our Membership, we received discounted camp tuition!
We enrolled in several weeks at Summer Quest at the Crane Estate, where she got to enjoy her afternoons at the beach with her new camp friends, as well as Appleton Farm camp, where she enjoyed getting her hands in the earth. She had such a great time, we cannot wait to go back this year!
Want to see how we prepared for summer camp? Check out this Get Ready With Me video I made for The Trustees!
Hiking Trustees trails
As a working parent and as someone who struggled with anxiety, my Trustees Membership was more than just amazing benefits — it was a lifeline. Sometimes the trails were the only place my mind and body find true peace. A few minutes in, I could feel the worries inside my head soften to a quiet whisper as anxiety loosened its grasp on my weary body.
While I’d hit up the trails pretty much any time of year, what I loved most was a brisk hike on a crisp fall morning. A fall hike always feels like I’ve stepped out of reality and into a dreamy watercolor full of warm, vibrant colors.
Unfortunately, my trail count this year wasn’t as high as I hoped, thanks to a significant shoulder and ankle sprain when I took a bad spill in gardening. I missed all my picturesque hikes while I recovered.

The most meaningful hike of the year, raised awareness for mental health with friends at the Dirty Hands Project
However, I still managed to hike eight beautiful trails with my friends, family, and colleagues throughout the year. I appreciated seeing these beloved trails wake up from a sleepy winter during my spring hikes:
- Ravenswood Park, Gloucester
- Long Hill, Beverly
- Moraine Farm, Beverly
- Doyle Community Park, Leominster
- Farandnear, Shirley
- Fruitlands Museum, Harvard
- Noanet Woodlands, Dover
- Appleton Farms, Hamilton and Ipswich
Going behind the scenes of my favorite Trustees event of the year
I’m very lucky to have a Trustees property within minutes of my house. Long Hill has become the backdrop to many parts of my life, including meeting my Girl Scout troop in the gardens, hiking the trails regularly, and taking a mom-break to watercolor paint in peace and quiet.
As a long-time Salem resident, I cannot hide how much I love Halloween. Meeting friends at Halloween on the Hill has been a tradition for nearly four years. Last year, as a staff volunteer, I went behind the scenes to prep for my favorite event. I carved more than a half-dozen pumpkins to add to the display.

As a huge Oz fan, I loved the new scarecrows at Long Hill the best!

Carving the pumpkins is harder than it looks, but so rewarding to see them at night!
It was an absolute joy to create a scavenger hunt for my daughter to find all of “Mommy’s pumpkins” along the trail!
An amazing girls’ weekend in the Berkshires
Through November, I was deeply immersed in migrating all the organization’s Member and donor database to a new system. As with any technical migration, you don’t stop until the work is complete. The 70+ hours a week were catching up to me, as the fall turned to autumn — so much so that I couldn’t even muster the energy to decorate my home for the winter holidays, let alone hosting friends and loved ones for festive parties. My friend, Thea, organized the perfect a weekend getaway, just us Moms!
Our first stop: Winterlights at Naumkeag!

Sometimes your friend knows just what you need: twinkle lights and silly headbands!
We grabbed some hot cocoa to keep us warm while we walked the dazzling light displays. It was hard to pick a favorite from their show, but Rainbow Alley was every bit as fun and joyful as the pictures promise!
On day two of our trip, we took a tour of The Mount (Edith Wharton’s house) and hit up the Norman Rockwell Museum. Admissions to both museums were included in my reciprocal benefits, and their gift shops were the perfect place to finishing up our holiday shopping.
Fun on the farms
As Winter faded to Spring, and I continued to recover from my sprained ankle, I was looking forward to getting outside. Born and raised in rural Ohio, there’s no denying I’m a farm girl. I found a little slice of home when I visited a Trustees farm. Bringing my daughter to these places also helped me nurture an appreciation to the land and the farmers who care for our food. From maple sugar programming at Appleton Farms to meeting the piglets at Powisset, we made countless memories on the farms this past year.

Hello, piglets! We loved meeting you!
Experience these amazing benefits for yourself
I’ve only scratched the surface of the rich history and breathtaking vistas that my Trustees Membership benefits have to offer. I cannot wait for what the next year has in store for me.
You can experience these amazing benefits for yourself.
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