Kayak Tours

Join the Nantucket Waterkeeper RJ Turcotte, along with members of our partner organizations, for a two-hour* educational tour of Nantucket’s great ponds.

Explore firsthand the incredible biodiversity of Nantucket’s unique Great Ponds, discuss water quality issues that face our island’s water resources, and find out how you can help protect and preserve these special ponds!⁠

Participants will gain a greater understanding of our island’s water resources and great pond systems and enjoy a fun and educational morning on the water. Kayaks and lifejackets will be provided. ⁠All kayak tours begin at 8am, unless otherwise noted.


* This time frame is an estimate and may vary depending on wind, tide, and weather conditions

2026 KAYak tour Dates

• Tuesday, July 21st (with Linda Loring Nature Foundation)
• Tuesday, August 18th (with Linda Loring Nature Foundation)

• Thursday, September 3rd (with Nantucket Natural Resources Department)

Please note that the NLWC may need to cancel this tour due to unforeseen weather changes. In the event of a cancellation, you will be notified in advance via email and your purchase will be processed as a donation and will become fully tax-deductible.

Tree Tours

The Nantucket Land & Water Council offers free historic downtown tree tours. Learn about the beautiful and historical species of trees that line our downtown streets. Led by Nantucket Waterkeeper RJ Turcotte, whose combined biology and island history knowledge generates interesting conversations and surprising questions.

Find out how our town’s trees have been preserved over the decades. Group size is limited– we welcome small group private tours by appointment. All Tree Tours begin at 10AM (unless otherwise noted) from the NLWC office on 6 Ash Lane.

Download our brochure (PDF) if you would like to take a self-guided tour.

2026 DOWNTOWN TREE TOUR Dates

• Friday, April 24th 
• Thursday, May 21st

• Thursday, July 16th
• Thursday, August 13th

Vernal Pool Tours

Join the Nantucket Land & Water Council and Nantucket Conservation Foundation each spring for an exploration of the vernal pools found on Nantucket. On a discovery walk led by Nantucket Waterkeeper RJ Turcotte and Interpretive Education Coordinator/Ecologist Neil Foley, you will learn about vernal pools – bodies of water that form during the spring and provide essential habitat to a variety of species. Discover some of the unique animals that call these temporary bodies of water home! Tours are open to adults and children with a parent/caregiver.