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Weekly Suggested Events for March 13-19, 2021
Home < Weekly Suggested Events < March 13-19, 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 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!
10 LEARNING RESOURCES
ART STUDIES. Google Cultural Institute: A Portal to the Cultural Treasures of the World
BOTANY. Flower Shows Offer Lessons in Botany & Habitat
MINDFULNESS. Mindfulness Through the Seasons
PEDAGOGY. Integrating Permaculture with Community-Based Education
CREATIVE-FREE PLAY. Fresh Ways to Engage Toddlers in Creative Free-Play
PreK FAMILY: Family Center of Northern Berkshire County
PreK FAMILY: Northern Berkshire Community Coalition
WOMEN’S HISTORY: Resources for Women’s History Month
WOMEN’S HISTORY. Smithsonian Women’s History
FOOD HISTORY. Smithsonian Food History
15 SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IDEAS
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities
NERD (New England Regional Developers) Summit is an inclusive, community-building annual tech event held in New England. Each year, local professionals present sessions on various topics, with audiences ranging from beginners to individuals with years of experience. NERD’s mission is to collaborate with the regional community to ensure that the annual Summit and events throughout the year offer everyone, regardless of background or finances, a diverse curriculum for relevant skill-building and valuable networking opportunities. NERD’s mission supports their vision of creating positive and supportive learning opportunities for people who work or want to work in web and related technology. For more info, visit nerdsummit.org.
Montessori School of Northampton Summer Program in Northampton, MA
Northampton, MA ♦ For over 40 years, MSN has offered exciting and engaging summer programs for children 18 months old up to 8th grade in the tradition of Italian educator Maria Montessori. Located near downtown Northampton, Route 9 and I-91, their Toddler and Children’s House (pre/K) programs have half and full-day options available with a strong teacher/student ratio and theme-based programming. For elementary and middle school students, they offer classes like Film & Videography, Pokémon engineering & STEM LEGO programs with Play-Well TEKnologies, Visual Arts, Graphic Novel/Comic Book Art, Outdoor Wilderness Adventures, and Digital Animation/Coding workshops presented by Holyoke Codes.
Dates: June 28-August 20, 2021; Age Range of Participants: 18mo-14yo
Contact: 413-563-4645 ♦ summer@northamptonmontessori.org ♦ msn.coursestorm.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.
FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
The Putney School Summer Arts
Putney, VT
Dates: June 27-July 24, 2021
Age Range: 14-17yo
Contact: 802-387-6297
♦ summer@putneyschool.org
♦ summer.putneyschool.org
Putney Summer Arts is a summer camp like no other. Over the course of four weeks, participants will have dedicated and focused time every day to grow as an artist in a supportive community where they can truly be themselves. Whether they’re trying something for the first time or honing their craft, Putney Summer Arts faculty will be there to guide them on their individual path. All of this happens on their beautiful 500-acre campus in Southern Vermont. Putney Summer Arts is currently monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. All on-campus programming will be designed to follow recommended safety precautions as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and the state of Vermont.
FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
The Experimentory at Deerfield Academy
Deerfield MA
Dates: July 5-23, 2021
Age Range: 11-14yo
Contact: 413-774-1498
♦ experimentory@deerfield.edu
♦ deerfield.edu
The Experimentory at Deerfield Academy is a program for students entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade interested in academic adventure. This summer, The Experimentory will be offered as an exciting virtual program called Periscope. Periscope will allow students to delve into project-based creative learning, focusing on collaboration, communication, fostering creativity, building character, and developing a global outlook. Students will participate in courses like Architecture, the Science of Sports, Video Production, and Environmental Stewardship, all designed and led by Deerfield Academy teachers. Also, students will form deep connections with like-minded peers around the world, learn more about themselves, and have tons of fun! Applications submitted after March 29th will be reviewed on a rolling basis as capacity allows.
FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
Kids, Art & Nature
Amherst, MA
Dates: July 5-August 27, 2021
Age Range: 5-14yo
Contact: 413-367-0186
♦ kidsartandnature@hotmail.com
♦ www.kidsartandnature.com
Children in Deborah Bazer & Lahri Bond’s week-long, themed Summer Art classes explore the natural world through the visual arts. Drawing from many traditions, they nurture the children’s creative, intellectual, and emotional growth in their care. Visual arts, storytelling, and environmental education are all integral parts of their summer classes. Summer 2021 session is from 8:30am-3:30pm, Mon-Fri at the Arts Barn on the beautiful Hampshire College campus and woods, and includes classes on making art with nature, faeries & myths, puppets, superheroes & dinosaurs, dragons, ceramics, and creating tabletop fantasy game. The days are spent mainly outside, artmaking, exploring, and playing non-competitive games.
FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
Summer at The Academy at Charlemont
Charlemont, MA
Academy Summer Programs tap into The Academy’s artistic, outdoor, and academic communities by enabling students to explore areas of interest in a safe, in-person, outdoor environment. Offerings are week-long, half or full days for rising 4th – 10th graders.
Dates: July 12-August 6, 2021
Age Range: 9-16yo
Contact: 413-339-4912
♦ summer@charlemont.org
♦ www.charlemont.org
FEATURED SCHOOL
Amherst Montessori
Amherst, MA
Families are invited to discover the warm, welcoming community of Amherst Montessori School, with dedicated teachers, administrators, and fellow parents who strive to create a sense of belonging for each child and family. Prospective families are encouraged to set-up a virtual or socially-distanced outside tour with the Director of Admissions & Learning Support, Julie Tanguay. Explore the hands-on, child-centered Montessori curriculum, and learn about the engaging community of Amherst Montessori School. Apply now for the 2021-22 school year. Schedule options from a partial day to a full day with extended hours. More information at amherstmontessori.org.
FEATURED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
Playful Minds Learning Center
South Hadley, MA.
Playful Minds Learning Center’s philosophy is to gently foster and guide children’s love of learning while supporting them developmentally in all areas. Through a nurturing, structured, and creative environment, Playful Minds Learning Center provides an early foundation for developing the positive skills and confidence children will need for life. Daycare. Preschool. Early Childhood Education Program. Ages 4weeks-14yrs. For more information: Delmari@playfulmindslc.com; 413-534-5674; www.playfulmindslc.com.
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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, MARCH 13, 2021
NORDIC SKIING. Daylight. Notchview (In-Person/Windsor, MA)
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
FAMILY RADIO. 9am Hilltown Family Variety Show Being a Good Friend Episode (Streaming Live)
SUGAR SEASON. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village (In-Person/Sturbridge, MA)
CHILDREN’S MUSIC. 10am. Animals: Their Countries, Their Songs with Dickinson Memorial Library (Email for link)
SING-ALONG. 10am. Jones Library Kids Room Presents: Stuffed Animal Sing-Along with Julie Stepanek (Virtual)
PHOTOGRAPHY. 10am. Beginners Camera Settings For Beginners with Springfield Photography Group (In-Person/Springfield, MA)
LOCAL FOOD. 10am-1pm. Northampton Winter Farmers Market (In-Person/Northampton, MA)
ANIMAL STUDIES. 10am. Second Saturday Hitchcock Center Science Walk: Camouflage (In-Person/Amherst, MA)
DANCE STUDIES. 10am. Teen/Adult Contemporary Ballet Barre the School for Contemporary Dance and Thought (Virtual)
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY. 10:30am. Wild Arts Cafe at the Northampton Center for the Arts (In-Person/Northampton, MA)
BEEKEEPING. 10:30am-12pm. Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping (Virtual)
AEROSPACE. 10:30am-2:30pm. Women Take Flight at the New England Air Museum. (Hybrid/Windsor Locks, CT)
WORLD GEOGRAPHY. 11:30am. Ireland: Guided Tour of Western Ireland (Virtual)
ORNITHOLOGY. 12pm. Birding by Ear (Virtual)
ARCHEOLOGY. 2pm. The New Antiquarians: Working Together to Unlock the Mysterious Stone Ruins (Virtual)
WORLD CULTURE. 3pm. A Taste of the Irish with Southwick Public Library (Virtual)
WORLD HISTORY. 6pm. Peru: Guided Tour of Machu Picchu (Virtual)
MAGIC. 6pm. Magic Workshop (Virtual)
NATURE STUDIES. 7pm. New Moon Night Sky with Mass Audubon (In-Person/West Stockbridge, MA)
INTERGENERATIONAL YOGA. 7pm. Putumayo Presents Yoga Class for Kids and Families (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD HISTORY
Resource: Maple Sugaring Curriculum
Event: Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village
SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021
NORDIC SKIING. Daylight. Notchview (In-Person/Windsor, MA)
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
SUGAR SEASON. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village (In-Person/Sturbridge, MA)
LOCAL FOOD. 10am-2pm. Winter Farmers’ Market (In-Person/Easthampton, MA)
GEOGRAPHY. 11:30am. Alaska: A Guided Tour (Virtual)
IMPROV GAMES. 12pm. Quest at Smith Vocational High School (In-Person/Northampton, MA)
PHYSICAL EDUCATION. 1:15pm. Gym Warrior at Smith Vocational High School (In-Person/Northampton, MA)
WORLD HISTORY. 5pm. Africa: Guided Ancient Egypt (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD STUDIES
Resource: Learn more about celery! Listen to the celery episode of Proof.
MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021
FILM STUDIES. Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival (Virtual)
FAMILY CENTER. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition March Calendar
PERFORMANCE ART. Virtual Flea Circus with Storrs Library (Virtual)
PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program in Great Barrington
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Sing With Your Little Ones with Pelham Library (Virtual)
PEACE ACTIVISM. 11am. The Laundry List: In Memory of Frances
LITERACY. 11am. Kindergarten Write and Read in Great Barrington
PreK LITERACY. 11am. Virtual Storytime with Hubbard Memorial Library (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 11am & 2pm. Storytime at the Amelia Park Children’s Museum (In-Person)
SOCIAL JUSTICE. 1pm. How to be an Antiracist with the Springfield Jewish Community Center (In-Person/Springfield, MA)
WORLD CULTURE. 7pm. Middle East: Tour of Tehran and Baghdad (Virtual)
ORNITHOLOGY. 7pm. Avian Mating Behavior with NYC Audubon (Virtual)
STORYTELLING. 7pm. The New Normal New England Road Trip with Greenfield Public Library (Virtual)
THEATER STUDIES. 7:30-9pm. Smith College Theatre Department presents a digital production of Julius Caesar (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
ROMAN HISTORY
Resource: Conspiracy against Julius Caesar
Event: Digital production of Julius Caesar
Self-Directed Learning:
ROMAN FOOD
Resources: Recipe for Pizza al Taglio; Recipe for Pasta alla Gricia
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2021
FAMILY CENTER. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition March Calendar
PLAYGROUP. 10am. Playgroup with Hatfield Library. (Email for Zoom link) kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY 10am. Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (Virtual)
CULINARY ARTS. 10am. What’s Cooking Cookbook Club with the Springfield Public Library (Virtual)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
STORYTIME. 4:30pm. Storytime with Agawam Family & Community Program (Virtual)
ECOLOGY. 5:30pm. Awakenings: Early Signs of Spring (Virtual)
PHOTOGRAPHY. 6pm. Beyond Basic Photographic Composition with IS183 Art School of the Berkshire (Virtual)
SOCIAL JUSTICE. 7pm. Decolonize This Space: Building Racial Literacy and Anti-racist Practice for Educators with the Forbes Library (Virtual)
SPORTS. 7pm. Sports in Japan: The Olympics and More (Virtual)
WORLD HISTORY. 7pm. Middle East: Guided Tour of the Borders of Israel (Virtual)
ART STUDIES. 8pm. Highlights Tour of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (Virtual)
PASSOVER. 8pm. Passover Cooking Demo with the Jewish Federation of the (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
SIGNS OF SPRING
Resource: Word Scramble for Spring
Event: Early Signs of Spring
Self-Directed Learning:
ART STUDIES
Resource: The MET Curriculum Resources
Event: Virtual Tour of The MET Museum
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2021
FAMILY CENTER. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition March Calendar
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
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)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
PreK LITERACY. 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour with the Cushman Library (Virtual)
MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. St. Patrick’s Day Tour of Dublin and Live Irish Music (Virtual)
ORNITHOLOGY. 7pm. Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
ST. PATRICK’S DAY. 7pm. St. Patrick’s Celebration with the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England (Virtual)
GARDENING. 7pm. The Pollinator Garden (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
QUANTUM BIOLOGY
Resource: Building & Managing Bee Hotels
Event: The Pollinator Garden
THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021
INDIGENOUS WOMEN. All day. Film: Youth in Action: Native Women Making Change (Virtual)
FAMILY CENTER. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition March Calendar
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)
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-Person)
MINDFULNESS. 2:45pm. Teen Mindfulness Course with the Tilton Library (Virtual)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
PSYCHOLOGY. 4:15pm. Understanding the Interplay of Stress, Relationships, and Biology (Virtual)
ASTROPHYSICS. 6:30pm. Book Group with Tilton Library: Astrophysics In A Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson (Virtual)
NATURALIST SKILLS. 6:30pm. Nature Writing with Mass Audubon (Virtual)
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY. 6:30pm. Dramatic and Pretend Play to Make Meaning of our Changing World (Virtual)
WORLD HISTORY. 7pm. Tour of the Great Wall of China (Virtual)
HOMESTEADING. 7pm. Backyard Chickens with the Greenfield Public Library (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
ASTROPHYSICS
Resource: Astrophysics facts for kids
Event: Book Group: Astrophysics In A Hurry
FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
FAMILY CENTER. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition March Calendar
SUGAR SEASON. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days at Old Sturbridge Village (In-Person)
PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Storytime with the Lenox Library (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 10am. Virtual Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org
PLAYGROUP. 10:30am. Art Museum Playdate with the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Virtual)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA (In-Person)
PASTRY ARTS. 4pm. Baking with HCC: Blackberry Cobbler a la Mode (Virtual)
WORLD CULTURE. 7pm. Africa: Tour of Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti and the Tanzania Tribes (Virtual)
ORNITHOLOGY. 7pm. Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
DANCE HISTORY. 7:30pm. History of English Country Dances (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
PASTRY ARTS
Resource: History and Legends of Cobblers
Event: Baking with HCC: Blackberry Cobbler
Self-Directed Learning:
DANCE STUDIES
Resource: Country Dance& Song Society
Event: History of English Country Dances
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, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Huntington, Leyden, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Northfield, Palmer, Pelham, Plainfield, Shelburne, South Hadley, Tyringham, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
