Weekly Suggested Events for January 30-February 5, 2021
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Are you looking for things to do in western Massachusetts? Seeking curriculum ideas for remote learning or homeschooling? Are you a self-directed, life-long, and/or experiential learner? Are you curious or wanting to support the interests of your family. Our weekly Suggested Events list includes suggested learning ideas, resources, and events for all ages, each week!
Scroll down to discover featured events, learning opportunities, and educational videos to support learning from home. And be sure to subscribe to our free weekly eNewsletter so you never miss out!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS: JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2021
LEARNING RESOURCES
MUSEUM ADVENTURES: “How People Make Things” at the Springfield Science Museum
COMMERCIAL-FREE. DIY Holiday Gifts
PLACE-BASED LEARNING. Learning Ahead: Cultural Itinerary for Western Massachusetts
CLASSES. Western MA Class Directory
NATURE-BASED LEARNING. Nature Tables
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Nordic Skiing & Snowshoeing (Windsor)
NATURE-BASED LEARNING. Resources for Educators and Homeschooling Parents with The Trustees.
GARDEN-BASED LEARNING: Smithsonian Gardens Green Ambassador
INDIGENOUS AMERICAN. Native Knowledge 360°
FOOD HISTORY. Smithsonian Food History
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities


Imagine a school that values and encourages your child’s unique qualities: The Hartsbrook School provides just that, with warmth and attentiveness. Outdoor-based classrooms, storytelling, music, and creative problem-solving all lay the foundations for future learning and deep social connection. Children’s imagination and empathy are awakened through the rich curriculum. Walks in the woods, visits to the school’s farm animals, and tending the gardens develop an awareness of, and care for, the natural world. Discover how meaningful a school experience can be and enjoy a vibrant, active parent community. Applications received by March 1st receive first priority. 193 Bay Road, Hadley, 413-586-1908, www.hartsbrook.org

WinterFest Amherst 2021: Amherst Recreation, The Business Improvement District, and The Amherst Area Chamber presents Ice Sculptures on the Common! A Drive-Through Experience, on February 5 & 6 from 5-7pm. Welcome one and all to Winterfest 2021! This fantastical event will feature at least 11 life-sized animal ice sculptures displayed on the Amherst Common. Your favorite Winterfest mascot, Flakey, along with mascots from our local colleges and businesses, will join this event in waving to passers-by. Please DRIVE by and celebrate this amazing event! Ice Sculptures on the Common! A Drive-Through Experience takes place on the Amherst Town Common.
Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield, MA, is accepting applications for Fall 2021. Prospective families can attend a Virtual Open House on Wed., January 20 at 7pm, or Sat., February 6 at 10am. Four Rivers is a small Expeditionary Learning school for grades 7-12, dedicated to educating young people for lives of learning and service. Four Rivers offers a rigorous college preparatory program aligned with the MA curriculum frameworks and emphasizes character development for moral and social responsibility. Students connect learning to the real world, work hard, and develop the independence and thinking skills needed in college and beyond.For more info & Zoom link, visit FourRiversCharter.org.
The Pioneer Valley Symphony is accepting new students to its Youth Orchestra virtual program. Thursdays 6-8pm, February 11 – June 3 (16 sessions). Students play, learn, and grow during these fun and interactive sessions led by Chris Moehringer of the Community Music School of Springfield. Activities include music rehearsals, virtual recording projects, music history, theory, improvisation, and masterclasses. Open to all orchestral instrumentalists ages 8-18. Tuition is $225 for the semester; fees are prorated for rolling admission. Discounts are available for families with multiple participants and limited scholarship funding available. For more information: admin@pvso.org; 413-773-3664; www.pvsoc.org/yo.
Built in 1832 as a hotel, Deer Hill House is the perfect place to stay overnight while visiting family and friends in western Massachusetts! Deer Hill House is now four separate apartments under one roof, located on a quiet country road along the Westfield River, with Deer Hill behind the house, and a large open yard. Private, sunlit, one-bedroom apartments on the first and second floor, complete with full kitchens, and baths, are ideal for a writing retreat or a comfortable home base for your adventures. Located in Cummington, MA, Deer Hill House is less than 10 minutes from Notchview, and 30 minutes from Northampton, Pittsfield, and MassMoCa. Check out the first-floor apartment or search Deer Hill House on Airbnb.

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Preschool Directory
Find what you’re looking for in our Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA
List of Weekly Suggested Events
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 2021
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
PASTRY ARTS. 9am. Croissants & Pain au Chocolate Baking Class
TRANSPORTATION. 9am Railroad Hobby Show – virtual
FAMILY MUSIC. 9am. Hilltown Family Variety Show with Guest DJ, Tunes with Tim
NATURALIST SKILLS. 10am. Wildlife Tracking for Families
ECOLOGY. 10am-12pm. Winter Ecology: Snow and Ice
STEM. 10:30am. STEAMCraft Online: Optical Illusions
ORNITHOLOGY. 12pm. Owl Explorations
ART STUDIES. 12pm. HENRI MATISSE ONLINE: Painting with Scissors
ARCHEOLOGY/ART STUDIES. 12pm. The Van Gogh Museum and the Canals of Amsterdam
ART STUDIES. 3pm. French Impressionism Art Tour at the National Gallery of Art Washington DC
PHYSICS. 7pm. Online-Four Dimensional Space-Time
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2021
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
BRITISH HISTORY. 5am. Virtual Tour of Buckingham Palace
LANGUAGE ARTS. 1pm. Creative Resilience – Rewriting the Script
PREK STORYTIME. 2:30pm. Virtual Storytime & Craft to Celebrate Groundhog Day
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2021
ENGINEERING. 10:30am. Shake It Up: Engineering Earthquake Resistant Buildings
PREK MUSIC. 10:30am. Sing With Your Little Ones with Wendy & Anna Plummer
TEXTILE ARTS. 4pm. Let’s Get Small! Fiber Arts Class
SOCIAL CHANGE. 5-7pm. Calling In the Call-Out Culture
PARENTING. 6:30pm. Valley ADHD Parent/Caregiver Support Group
MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Ukulele Strum-Along ONLINE
GEOGRAPHY. 7pm. Virtual Tour of Tibet and Mt. Everest Climb
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
Self-Directed Learning:
GEOGRAPHY
GEOGRAPHY
Mon, Feb 1 @ 7pm
Virtual Tour of Tibet and Mt. Everest Climb
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021
PreK LITERACY. 11am. Virtual Storytime with Hubbard Memorial Library
EDUCATION. 4pm. K-8 Virtual Info Session with Oak Meadow Live
NATURE JOURNALING. 5pm. Intro to Landscape Painting and Pastel
ART STUDIES. 6pm. Intro to Colored Pencils
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. 6:30pm. Virtual: Belize: The Southern Wilds (grades 6-Adult)
MARINE BIOLOGY. 7-8:30pm. Sea Turtle Rescue
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Virtual Family Jam!
FIBER ARTS. 12noon. Knot Just Knitters: Live at Lunchtime!
PreK LITERACY. 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour with the Cushman Library
FIBER ARTS. 5-7pm. Class at Northampton Center for the Arts
FOOD HISTORY. 6:30pm. A Cup of Chocolate in 1771
AGRICULTURE. 7-8:30pm. How to Make Maple Syrup at Home
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2021
PreK DEVELOPMENT. 9:30am. Virtual Grow Play & Learn Weekly Group with Hubbard Memorial Library
PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Lenox Library Outside Story Time
PreK MUSIC. 11am. NPC’s Mr. Liam Thursday Music Zoom!
LANGUAGE ARTS. 4pm. No Bull Writing Workshop
EDUCATION. 4pm. High School Virtual Info Session with Oak Meadow Live
SOCIAL CHANGE. 4-6pm. Meeting, Organizing, Teaching, Learning, Strategizing, Marching, and Gathering on ZOOM
ART STUDIES. 6pm. Collage Club (online)
LOCAL HISTORY. 6:30pm. The History of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke with Abigail Scanlon
ORNITHOLOGY. 7pm. Birding in Massachusetts and Beyond
ARCHEOLOGY. 7:30pm. Virtual Tour of the Acropolis of Athens (with a Stopover in Santorini)
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. 7pm. Turtles: Massachusetts Wildlife Success Stories
EDUCATION HISTORY. 7pm. One Room Schoolhouses
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS.Greenfield Winter Carnival
COMMUNITY TRADITIONS: Easthampton Winterfest
PreK LITERACY. 10am. Virtual Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org
PARENTING. 11am. Infant and Toddler First Aid for Parents and Caregivers
GOVERNMENT. 11am. Civics 101: Legislative Branch Part 1
ZOOLOGY. 3:30pm. Virtual Zoo on the Go: Harry Potter Edition
SOCIAL CHANGE. 4-5:30pm. Barriers to Reproductive Justice in Western Mass and Beyond
PERFORMANCE ART. 6:30pm. No Strings Marionettes Presents The Snowmaiden
LOCAL HISTORY. 7pm. Life & Historic Home of Civil Rights Activist
Self-Directed Learning:
NATIVE SPECIES
Did you know we have three wild canine species in Western MA? See the differences between a red fox, gray fox, and coyote.
Online and in-person events and resources shared above are done so as a courtesy and not as an endorsement. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm information, age appropriateness, registration requirements, safety protocols, and associated costs.
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Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.