As part of a Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations program, a small group of kayakers took to Leonard’s Pond on Saturday.

“This time of year we like to get people out on the water,” said Linton Harrington. “It’s a neat way to view the property from a different perspective.”

In summer, the trustees host a once-a-month guided kayak trip on its properties throughout the South Coast. Harrington, an education and outreach coordinator for the trustees, said this was the third year the Leonard’s Pond trip has taken place. The trustees provided kayaks and life jackets for the group.

Leonard’s Pond is one of 112 properties owned by the group. In Rochester, the Conservation Commission recently built a parking lot off of Mary’s Pond Road to provide easy access to the water.

After a brief boating lesson, the group of 12 adults and three children paddled out into the water. Harrington led a guided tour that included a brief excursion up the Sippican River.

He described the history of the land, which started as a “gentleman’s farm” built by Charles Leonard. A New York businessman, Leonard built the estate in the 1850s with money he earned shipping whale oil.

Later, the Hiller family bought the property. Today, much of the land around the pond is permanently protected as East Over Reservation.

On the tour, Harrington pointed out the iconic yellow farm buildings and brought the group close to the dam and former mill on the site.

The trustee’s next kayak trip will be on the Westport River. For more information, call 508-636-4693 ext. 103 or email lharrington@ttor.org.