Acorn Longevity Project
Find our Sturbridge Acorns… Drop #1 on May 23, 2026.
Discover handcrafted pottery acorns hidden along our marked trails, expertly crafted by a local artisan at Twiddle T’s Pottery. Each unique acorn measures approximately 5 inches, showcases a variety of colors, and is distinctly numbered and dated. These treasures are tucked away no more than 5 feet from the trail, nestled in stump hollows, shrubs, and rock walls.
The acorn symbolizes longevity
We aim to promote your health and well-being through your experience on the trails in Sturbridge.
Hunting Rules
In 2026, acorns will be hidden in the Leadmine Mountain and Heins Farm trail systems.
Acorns will be hidden exclusively alone MARKED TRAILS and no more than 5 feet off the path.
Please respect the vegetation. While acorns may be concealed in the nooks and crannies of trees and stone walls, there is no need to dismantle walls nor to tamper with or disturb the surrounding forestry to locate one.
Each participant is permitted to keep one acorn per year. If you discover a second acorn, we encourage you to leave it or rehide it so that others can also experience the joy of discovery.
Please register your acorn find. You are welcome to share your photo and story on our website.
Register my Acorn!
Congratulations, you’ve found an acorn. Now it’s time to register and share your story. All submissions will be reviewed before being posted.
Found Acorns
2026: Acorn Drop - May 23, 2026
Name: Ethan Donahue
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #54
Acorn Location: Sandhil Trail, In Tree
Name: Riley Donahue
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #57
Acorn Location: Arbutus in tree near bench
Name: Rebecca Shinner
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #52
Acorn Location: In the V of a big pine, Pond Loop Trail.
Thank you! Year 2!
Name: Brianne Miers
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #61
Acorn Location: Old Growth Trail, down in a stump hole.
Name: Kayla Hatch
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #75
Acorn Location: 7 Ridges; hidden in a nook in a tree.
Such a fun activity that got us out of the house and some early morning steps!
Name: Caleb Thompson
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #19
Acorn Location: In rock wall.
Name: Jeff Paul
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #27
Acorn Location: Leadmine Trail, hidden in a tree where branches meet.
Name: Krissy W
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #69 (2025)
Acorn Location: Cow Stile, Rock Wall.
Name: Tammy and Mark Buckner
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #33, 34
Acorn Location: Mountain laurel trail
Hidden well needed flashlight to see them,Mark found his first then I found one too…Always fun meeting new people on the trails.
Name: Thomas Gendron
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #31
Acorn Location: Mountain Laurel. Behind a Rock.
Name: Heather King
Date Found: May 25, 2026
Acorn Number: #69
Acorn Location: Cow stile (rock wall)
Me and my granddaughter found an acorn!
Name: Karin Johnson
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #45
Acorn Location: Arbutus Park trail Hidden under leaves by the bench that overlooks the solar field.
I love my acorn! So excited to find one on the 1st day. Thank you to all that make this fun scavenger hunt happen!
Name: Carolyn and Jacques Dulav
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #35
Acorn Location: Mt Laurel trail inside a tree stump.
Name: Ashley King
Date Found: May 27, 2026
Acorn Number: #53 (2025)
Acorn Location: Mountain laurel trail
Name: Juliana O’Brien
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #50
Acorn Location: Gateway Traill
So excited to find my first acorn!!
Name: Matt Schmida
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #26
Acorn Location: Seven ridges under a rock. Well hidden a little off the trail.
Found my acorn the first day I ever looked! It was hidden well. Very excited to have one to display.
Name: Lailani Paul
Date Found: May 31, 2026
Acorn Number: #39
Acorn Location: On the Link trail in a hollow log.
Name: Doug Jacobs
Date Found: May 25, 2026
Acorn Number: #20
Acorn Location: Found on Cabin loop in a Mt. Laurel.
Gorgeous dark brown color and a thrill on a rainy day!
Name: Therese Jacobs
Date Found: May 25, 2026
Acorn Number: #70
Acorn Location: Found on pond loop under a rock!
Great fun, found while visiting family in Sturbridge!
Name: Caitlyn Waddell
Date Found: May 23, 2026
Acorn Number: #51
Acorn Location: Cow stile, found under a rock and tree branches.
Hidden really well! If I didn’t step off the trail for a better view, I would have missed it!
Found Acorns
Name: Liz Sigaty
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #57
Acorn Location: Cow Stile Trail (orange/white), under a large slanted rock
I found the acorn on the orange/white trail not far from the intersection with the green/white trail. It was behind and under a large slanted rock.
Name: John & Valerie Durkee
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #55
Acorn Location: Raven Rookery tucked inside a rock wall
After many hunts we were successful! Thank you for organizing this great event! Looking forward to many more!
Name: Jasper Shinner-Rudder
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #84
Acorn Location: Heins Farm Trail, Y of a tree, with a leaf on it
My son and I loved this adventure!
Name: Kristie K
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #71
Acorn Location: Pond loop - inside large stump by water
Beautiful purple
Name: Bonnie Maska
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #74
Acorn Location: It was found on loop Trail and it was in a split of two trees
Name: Megan Maska
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #64
Acorn Location: Found on Cabin Loop Trail, in a rotted log
Name: Kimberly Hill
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #59
Acorn Location: Cow Stile Trail - tucked between a boulder and a tilted tree
Just wanted to say a big thank you for putting on the Acorn Longevity Project. I had so much fun searching, and the acorn I found is absolutely beautiful! My husband, our dog Penny, and I hike these trails all the time, but this activity made us slow down and notice little details we might normally walk past. At times it was like hunting for a Survivor immunity idol. It turned a regular hike into an adventure! I really hope this becomes an annual tradition. It’s such a great way to bring people together and celebrate these amazing trails. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it happen!
Name: Jose Mazzei
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #65
Acorn Location: Arbutus Trail… in the bow of a tree
So fun! Can’t wait to find more!
Name: Krista Berube
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #62
Acorn Location: Leadmine Trail
Thank you so much! So fun.
Name: Matt Mazzei
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #78
Acorn Location: Arbutus trail in the knot of a tree
So fun! Great project can’t wait to do it again!
Name: Jami-Lynn Lamy
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #54
Acorn Location: On Mt Laurel Trail behind/tucked under a downed tree
My daughters and I started on the Leadmine trailals at the OSV parking lot area and walked for 2 hours with no luck. We hopped in the car for a breakfast break and then went over to the Leadmine parking area and spent another 2/2.5 hours there and we were lucky enough to find a beautiful acorn that will be a lasting family memory! We walked over 10 miles together and giggled so much it hurt. The trails are so stunning - pure medicine for the soul. Thank you for such a wonderful adventure!
Name: Tracee White
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #68
Acorn Location: Leadmine Trail. Behind a boulder in front of a stone wall.
I was so excited to find my acorn on the beautiful Leadmine Trail. Thanks so much!
Name: Tammy Zamichiei
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #70
Acorn Location: Blue trail, in a tree stump
So much fun! Didn’t get one in July so this was fun!
Name: Colleen Martel
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #99
Acorn Location: Pond Loop Trail was under the rock
Love my acorn
Name: Grant MacFarlane
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #56
Acorn Location: It was on the Cow Stile Trail in a rock wall
Name: Kris Parker
Date Found: September 21st, 2025
Acorn Number: #60
Acorn Location: Cow Stile Trail, hidden on top of a tree stump
This was fun - thank you for organizing this!
Name: Jessica Mumford
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #52
Acorn Location: I found it on the Leadmine Trail in a bird nest in a mountain laurel.
My husband and I enjoyed a beautiful 4-mile hike. Thank you for the lovely treasure!
Name: Sarah Balko
Date Found: September 22nd, 2025
Acorn Number: #58
Acorn Location: Mt Laurel Trail - in the base of a tree trunk
Loved my hike on the 1st day of Autumn! So much fun hunting for an acorn!
Name: Max K
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #75
Acorn Location: Arbutus
Name: Missy Cudgma
Date Found: September 23rd, 2025
Acorn Number: #98
Acorn Location: I found it in one of the Teepees and was hidden very well!
It was very exciting to finally find one as I had been looking! GREAT JOB with this project and I’m super grateful for the experience as it has gotten me outside a lot more to enjoy our trails!
Name: Vicky Schmida
Date Found: September 23rd, 2025
Acorn Number: #67
Acorn Location: Sand Hill
So happy to finally find an acorn!!
Name: Justine C.
Date Found: September 21st, 2025
Acorn Number: #79
Acorn Location: Arbutus Trail
Name: Carissa Tilton
Date Found: September 24th, 2025
Acorn Number: #100
Acorn Location: Found hidden in birds nest on the Gateway trail!! Almost didn’t see it!
Name: C and C Phillips
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #80
Acorn Location: Arbutus trail. Hidden under exposed tree roots.
Name: John Morytko
Date Found: September 26th, 2025
Acorn Number: #95
Acorn Location: Arbutus Park. Hidden in nook under a tree root.
My son and I stumbled on Acorn #95 while biking the Arbutus Park trail this morning! He was so excited to spot it and held it the whole way home to show his mom. Big thanks to the Longevity Project for such a fun initiative that made our ride today extra special!
Name: Jeryl Broman
Date Found: September 25th, 2025
Acorn Number: #83
Acorn Location: Gateway Trail in a hollow of a tree.
Name: Famaz Chowhan
Date Found: September 24th, 2025
Acorn Number: #76
Acorn Location: Arbutus Trail in a tree
Name: Michelle Pierce
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #73
Acorn Location: Stuffed way in a tree trunk
Name: Emily Duffin
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #77
Acorn Location: Raven Rookery - hidden under a rock!
Went searching for acorns with my husband and our pup. Excited to have found such a pretty one!
Name: Cale Johnson
Date Found: September 20th, 2025
Acorn Number: #66
Acorn Location: Mt. Laurel Trail. Found under/within a stone wall.
Thanks for an exciting day and a neat treasure!
Name: Allen Silva
Date Found: October 6th, 2025
Acorn Number: #92
Acorn Location: Link Trail. Hidden deep in end of fallen tree.
Name: Jennifer Walsh
Date Found: October 6th, 2025
Acorn Number: #91
Acorn Location: Leadmine Mt. trail. It was in a small tree well.
Thank you, I didn’t know about this program until I started the hike. I am visiting from Seattle, WA
Name: Marie Oprica
Date Found: October 7th, 2025
Acorn Number: #88
Acorn Location: Seven Ridges Trail
I can't believe I found one! Thank you for dropping more acorns in the fall. Searching during the summer was brutal.
Name: Katie-Lynn Gendron
Date Found: October 8th, 2025
Acorn Number: #90
Acorn Location: Cow stile
This was such an amazing mission to go on. I hiked SO many miles, looked all over the place, and finally found one. Tucked under a rock. I really hope you all do this again next year. It was such a great time.
Name: Leo Johnson-Coveney
Date Found: October 18th, 2025
Acorn Number: #82
Acorn Location: Leadmine
Leo was so excited and found it in the back of a tree by the bridge all by himself.
Name: Dan Rice
Date Found: October 27th, 2025
Acorn Number: #85
Acorn Location: Cabin Loop
I was just about to give up after 3 hours and 5.5 miles of hiking and I found one in a rock tee pee in the fairy land. Best part about it is it’s my wife’s favorite color. She is so happy. It was worth all the hiking trips we have taken.
Name: Michele S
Date Found: October 25th, 2025
Acorn Number: #93
Acorn Location: Found on 7 Ridges deep in the bottom of a stump
I was so excited to find my acorn. After miles and hours of hiking. Thank you!!
Name: Linda Aparo
Date Found: October 27th, 2025
Acorn Number: #89
Acorn Location: Leadmine
What a fabulous program! So much fun searching the woods looking for this hidden gem
Name: Thomas Gendron
Date Found: October 27th, 2025
Acorn Number: #86
Acorn Location: Mountain Laurel Trail
After hiking the trails several times, searching every stump and hole in a wall, I finally found mine stuck between two trees. I ran out as soon as I heard the last group was dropped and hiked in chasing the sun. It was getting a bit dark and the rustling of the leaves got me nervous enough to reverse direct. Perhaps it was the trees telling me to turn around, as soon after I found my prize. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Name: Karin Johnson
Date Found: October 28th, 2025
Acorn Number: #94
Acorn Location: I found this on the Arbutus Trail in the nook of a tree.
I am so happy I found an acorn. I have been searching since opening day and hiked over 50 miles searching! I almost cried when I saw the acorn this morning. Thank you for such a fun adventure!
Name: Marcia Simpson
Date Found: October 28th, 2025
Acorn Number: #96
Acorn Location: By the waterfall on Leadmine side
My SIL chris Rovezzi found it for me, although Tracy wanted it..maybe we will share.
Name: Kristin T
Date Found: October 28th, 2025
Acorn Number: #72
Acorn Location: 7 Ridges trail close to Raven Rookery intersection in a rock shelf structure on the side of the trail
Thank you so much to everyone involved! After miles and miles this fall, I finally found one and it was so exciting. The acorn is beautiful!
Name: Keith Cudgma
Date Found: October 21st, 2025
Acorn Number: #97
Acorn Location: Mountain Laurel
Thanks for creating this project I’m not sure I would be on the trails as much as I am now
Name: Jonathan B
Date Found: November 10th, 2025
Acorn Number: #81
Acorn Location: Seven Ridges Trail, Resting on a mossy stump.
Name: Dan Rice
Date Found: October 27th, 2025
Acorn Number: #85
Acorn Location: Pond Loop, under a rock tee pee
Acorn Longevity Project Sponsors
