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Weekly Suggested Events for February 20-26, 2021
Home < Weekly Suggested Events < February 20-26, 2021
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 list of Weekly Suggested Events 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!
100+ SUGGESTED EVENTS: FEBRUARY 20-26, 2021
10 LEARNING RESOURCES
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Sledding Hills in Western MA
STEM: Science in the City: Exploratorium Video Series
KITCHEN SCIENCE. Hungry for Science Video Series
STEAM. Home-based Learning with Exploratorium Activities
ORNITHOLOGY. Interactive Tutorial: All About Feathers
AMERICAN HISTORY. 10 Black History Resources for Educators
ART STUDIES. National Museum of African Art
CREATIVE-FREE PLAY. Play Ideas for Family & Community
ART STUDIES. Illustration History: Online Educational Resource & Archive for the Art of Illustration
LANGUAGE ARTS. Literary Guides
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities
Adventure East is a new outdoor adventure company in Western Mass and is developing hiking, biking, paddling experiences for all ages and experience levels. They would love to have your input as they prepare to launch in June. They need 10 minutes of your time to complete their online survey. The information you share will only be used for their product development and will not be shared. To show their appreciation, if you provide them with your email, you will be eligible to win one of five Northampton Gift Cards worth $50 each. The deadline for replying is March 31, 2021. To complete the survey, click here. More info: info@adventureeast.com.
Programming on Demand at the Springfield Museums is a new way to experience the Springfield Museums. Programming on Demand, or PODs, are field trips for families, friends, and small groups. Customize a field trip to the Museums for your group of five to 30 people (divided into smaller groups of 10). Children & adults will participate in up to three hour-long curriculum-based school programs. Mix and match science, art, history, and Seuss! Summer camp classes at the Museums will include art, nature, and space explorations for children 5 -12yo. Teens will enjoy drawing, painting, and printmaking. July 12-16; July 19-23; July 26-30. All experiences require a mask & social distancing. Classes will be kept small. For more info, call 413-314-6477.
This February, bring love into your learning! Take 20% off all items in Oak Meadow’s bookstore from February 14-28. Oak Meadow’s K-12 homeschooling curriculum provides a comprehensive educational experience, delivered with imagination and heart. The curriculum includes weekly lesson plans for a full year and can be customized to meet your student’s needs and interests. Purchase complete curriculum packages for K-8 or individuals courses for high school, purchase craft supplies, homeschooling resources, books, and more. Shop February 14-28 at oakmeadowbookstore.com.
FEATURED CLASSES
The Wild Arts Cafe in Northampton, MA
The Wild Arts Cafe offers 4th-8th graders multi-modal arts classes in six-week sessions, with an emphasis on open-ended creativity. Modalities include visual arts, creative writing, movement, music, photography, and more. On one day, the younger kids might create a spontaneous collage on cereal a box and fill it with story scraps. Or they might paint a life-sized body map and paste personified poetry on top. 7th and 8th graders work with clay while blindfolded–– then use the experience as a prompt to write a story. They also learn Soul Collage™ and Zentangle™ along with the Wild Arts Cafe’s online students at Hogar Irekani Orphanage in Mexico. As one student recently said, “In the Wild Arts classes, my ideas feel free!” For more information: alisa@thewildartscafe.com; 413-588-6898; thewildartscafe.com
FEATURED SCHOOL
The Common School in Amherst, MA
Preschool ♦ Ages 3-12yrs
For more information: 413-256-8989; www.commonschool.org.
Children only get one preschool experience. Experience The Common School. The Common School, serving children ages 3-12 years, has two preschool classrooms for children ages 3-5 years. These classrooms provide strong student/teacher ratios, a diverse and inclusive community, opportunities for experiential learning, a stellar social and emotional curriculum, environmental awareness, play based learning, significant time spent outdoors and many resources, such as an extensive library, music and movement class. Prospective families are invited to meet their teachers and tour their newly renovated facilities, including outdoor learning spaces for extended time outside.
SEE YOUR AD HERE
Partner with Hilltown Families in your online advertising! Delivering your message each week to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers, Hilltown Families can bring your message to thousands of readers in Western MA who are committed to their community and willing to support one another in times of need. In-person and virtual event organizers, local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our affordable advertising options and marketing packages. To find out how we can partner together in your online marketing and outreach, contact Sienna at swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org.
Preschool Directory
Find what you’re looking for in our Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA
List of Weekly Suggested Events
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2021
COMPUTER CODING. 6am. Children’s Coding Scratch Workshop (Virtual)
ANIMAL ADAPTATION. 7am. Polar Evolution for Kids (Virtual)
NORDIC SKIING. Daylight. Notchview in Windsor, MA (In-Person)
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Storywalk & Scavenger Hunt at the Westhampton Public Library (In-Person)
NATURALIST SKILLS. Animal Tracks and Traces StoryWalk at Wild Acres in Pittsfield, MA (In-Person)
FAMILY RADIO SHOW. 9-10am. Hilltown Family Variety Show with Guest DJ, Stacey Peasley
ORNITHOLOGY. 10am. Winter Raptors of the Connecticut River Valley in Northampton, MA (In-Person)
WORLD HISTORY. 10am-1:15pm. China’s and Japan’s Approaches and Responses to Imperialism and Modernization (Virtual)
LOCAL FOOD. 10am-2pm. Winter Farmers’ Market in Great Barrington, MA (In-Person)
ART INSTALLATION. 10am-5pm. Downtown Springfield Ice Invasion at the Quadrangle at the Springfield Museums (In-Person)
HORTICULTURE. 10:30am. Home Orchard Establishment (Virtual)
HISTORY. 11am. The History of Palisades Amusement Park (Virtual)
LOCAL FOOD. 11am-2pm. Winter Farmers’ Market in Holyoke, MA (In-Person)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 1pm. Wildlife Tracking Workshop with the Hilltown Land Trust in Ashfield, MA (In-Person)
SOCIAL CHANGE. 2-4pm. Decolonizing Mental Health: For Professionals and Others Supporting Activists (Virtual)
ORNITHOLOGY. 4pm. Winter Birds in Our Backyards (Virtual)
CLIMATE JUSTICE. 4pm. Redlining Youth Workshop (Virtual)
BIRDS OF PREY. 4-7pm. Birding Workshop: Winter Raptors (In-Person)
WORLD GEOGRAPHY. 6pm. Guided Tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi (Virtual)
MAGIC. 6pm. Magic Workshop (Virtual)
MUSIC STUDIES. 7:30pm. 10-fingered jazz: Matt DeChamplain, solo piano (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
SOUND
PHYSICS
MYO Personal Sound System
(At Home)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2021
BIOLOGY. 6am. Let’s have a look at DNA! (Virtual)
NORDIC SKIING. Daylight. Notchview in Windsor, MA (In-Person)
FAMILY RADIO SHOW. 7-8am. Hilltown Family Variety Show with Guest DJ, Stacey Peasley
NATURALIST SKILLS. 9am-12pm. Wildlife Tracking in North Adams, MA (In-Person)
HERBALISM. 9:15am. Intro to Tea & Herbs Workshop in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
NATURALIST SKILLS. Animal Tracks and Traces StoryWalk at Wild Acres in Pittsfield, MA (In-Person)
LOCAL FOOD. 10am-2pm. Winter Farmers’ Market in Easthampton, MA (In-Person)
PLACEMAKING. 10am-5pm. Downtown Springfield Ice Invasion at the Quadrangle at the Springfield Museums (In-Person)
DANCE STUDIES. 2pm. School for Contemporary Dance and Thought Dance Festival (Virtual)
SOCIAL CHANGE. 3-4:30pm. Cultivating Cross-Cultural Understanding in Personal and Organizational Settings (Virtual)
COMMUNITY MEAL. 5pm. Community Supper from Hope & Olive in Greenfield, MA (In-Person/Take Home)
ART STUDIES. Westfield University Virtual Art Exhibit Featuring Springfield Public School Students (Virtual)
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021
EARLY EDUCATION: February at the Family Center of Northern Berkshire County (Virtual & In-Person)
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Sing With Your Little Ones with the Pelham Library (Virtual)
LITERACY. 11am. Kindergarten Write and Read in Great Barrington
PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program in Great Barrington (In-Person)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Outdoor Playgroup with Northampton Parent Center in Florence, MA (In-Person)
PreK LITERACY. 11am. Storytime with Hubbard Memorial Library (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 11am & 2pm. Storytime at the Amelia Park Children’s Museum (In-Person)
AMERICAN INDIAN. 2:30pm. 2021 State of Indian Nations Address by the National Congress of American Indians (Virtual)
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
STORYTELLING & TINKERING
Storytelling is a great way to get into a Tinkering project while supporting language development.
Self-Directed Learning:
NATURAL HISTORY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
EARLY EDUCATION: February at the Family Center of Northern Berkshire County (Virtual & In-Person)
K-9 EDUCATION. 9am. Tour of The Bement School Campus (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Feelings & Faces Playgroup with Northampton Parent Center (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Playgroup with Hatfield Library. (Email for Zoom link) kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Make & Take and Playgroup at the Granby Library (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY 10am. Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (Virtual)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 10am-12pm. Tracking Workshop: Weasels and Rodents (In-Person)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
HOMESCHOOLING. 12pm. K-8 V Info Session with Oak Meadow (Virtual)
STEM. 3:30pm. Make a Bouncy Ball with the Storrs Library (K- Gr 2) (Virtual)
PHYSICS. 12pm. Classroom Science at Home: Exploring Bubbles (Virtual)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
PURIM. 5:30pm. Hamantaschen Baking Class with Congregation B’nai Israel of Northampton, MA (Virtual)
CULINARY ARTS. 7pm. Cookbook Club with the Southwick Public Library: “The Pioneer Woman Cooks” (Virtual)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 7pm. The Nature of Winter with Mass Audubon (Virtual)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. 7-8:30pm. The Nature of Winter (Virtual)
NATURE JOURNALING. 9pm. Introduction to Nature Journaling (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
CULINARY ARTS
CULINARY ARTS
Tues., Feb. 23 @ 7pm
Cookbook Club: The Pioneer Woman Cooks
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
PREK MUSIC & MOVEMENT. 9:30am. Interactive Music & Movement Workshop for Caregivers + Kids 1-5yrs (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program in Great Barrington (In-Person)
PreK STEM. 10am. Storytime Science for Kids Online: The Color Episode (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Outdoor Playgroup with Northampton Parent Center in Northampton, MA (In-Person)
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Family Jam (Virtual)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
FIBER ARTS. 12pm. Knot Just Knitters with the Springfield City Library (Virtual)
SUSTAINABILITY. 12noon. Building a Sustainable Future with Center for EcoTechnology (Virtual)
BIOMIMICRY. 2pm. Learn From Nature with The Conservation Foundation (Virtual)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 3pm. Drawing Insects with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour with the Cushman Library (Virtual)
INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE. 4-5:30pm. Decolonizing Science: Centering Indigenous Science, Methodologies, and Practices (Virtual)
FORENSIC SCIENCE. 7pm. SciTech Cafe: Forensic Science (Virtual)
PARENTING. 7pm. Parent Cafe with Northampton/Hadley Family Connection (Virtual)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 7:30-9pm. Winter Neighborhood Naturalist: Winter Botany (Virtual)
GEOGRAPHY. 9pm. Winter in Oregon (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
FORENSIC SCIENCE
FORENSIC SCIENCE
Wed., Feb. 24 @ 7pm
SciTech Cafe: Forensic Science (Virtual)
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
PreK LITERACY. StoryWalk with the Leverett Library (In-Person)
EARLY EDUCATION: February at the Family Center of Northern Berkshire County (Virtual & In-Person)
PreK DEVELOPMENT. 9:30am. Grow Play & Learn Weekly Group with Hubbard Memorial Library (Virtual)
PreK PLAYGROUP. 10am Music & Movement with the Montague Libraries (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Lenox Library Outside Story Time (In-Person)
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Music Class with South Hadley Family Center (Virtual)
PreK MUSIC. 11am. Music Playgroup with Little Roots & Northampton Parent Center (Virtual)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 11am. Drawing Canada Geese (Virtual)
NATURAL HISTORY. 11am. Volcanoes (Virtual)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
ARTS & CRAFTS. 11am & 2pm. Crafts at Amelia Park Children’s Museum in Westfield, MA (In-Person)
LANGUAGE ARTS. 2pm. Langston Hughes (Virtual)
MINDFULNESS. 2:30pm. Teen Mindfulness Course with Tilton Library (Virtual)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
BIOLOGY. 4:15pm. The Food Network: How Your Brain Makes You Feel Hungry or Full (Virtual)
PURIM. 4:30pm. Purim Magic Show (Virtual)
SUSTAINABILITY. 6pm. Building a Sustainable Future with Center for EcoTechnology (Virtual)
AMERICAN HISTORY. 7pm. Are Conspiracy Theories Out to Get Us? (Virtual)
FOOD HISTORY. 7pm. The History of the New England Maple Sugar Harvest (Virtual)
ANGLER SKILLS. 7pm. Learn to Ice Fish (Virtual)
SPORTS. 7pm. Athlete Upstanders & the Role of Activism in Sports (Virtual)
FOOD HISTORY. 7-8:30pm. The History of the New England Maple Sugar Harvest (Virtual)
THEATER. 7:30-9pm. New Play Reading Series: Virtually Neurotic by Emily Wiest (Virtual)
SOCIAL CHANGE. 6:30-8pm. Powerfully Peaceful (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
HARLEM RENAISSANCE
LANGUAGE ARTS
Thurs., Feb. 25 @ 2pm
Langston Hughes (Virtual)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
EARLY EDUCATION: February at the Family Center of Northern Berkshire County (Virtual & In-Person)
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Outdoor Playgroup with Northampton/Hadley Family Connection in Northampton, MA (In-Person)
PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Storytime with the Lenox Library (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 10:30am. Art Museum Playdate with the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 10am. Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (Virtual)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
OCEANOGRAPHY. 11am & 2pm. Explore the Layers of the Ocean (Virtual)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
Self-Directed Learning:
OCEANOGRAPHY
OCEANOGRAPHY
Fri., Feb. 26 @ 11am & 2pm
Explore the Layers of the Ocean (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
NATURE OBSERVATIONS
Weekly eNewsletter
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 Agawam, Amherst, Charlemont/Hawley, Colrain, Deerfield, Gill, Greenfield, Hadley, Northfield, Palmer, Plainfield, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
