Last Updated on May 15, 2017

The Nature Trail was the brainchild of architect Paul Gaudreau (1914-1995), who with his wife Margaret, moved into Brookside in 1993. Soon thereafter he posed his idea for a Nature Trail, which would follow our stream (Herbert Run) through the woods on campus.  John Erickson liked the idea, and wheels were set in motion.  The Trail was built and informally used in 1994-5, but officially dedicated in 1996. Mr. Gaudreau was the first Chairperson of the new Nature Trail Committee.

The Lake Trail is a walking and maintenance road around Lake Charlestown.  It was built 25 years ago with the construction of the Lake, which serves as a stormwater runoff catchment and as a place of placid beauty.  The Lake replaces a small natural pond which was originallly on the site.  A large earthen dam forms the Lake, which does not receive water from Herbert Run.  The stream flows from the Nature Trail area, through the woods below the dam, and then off Charlestown property.