Weekly Suggested Events for May 15-21, 2021

Posted on May 13, 2021 By Hilltown Families

Home < Weekly Suggested Events < May 15-21, 2021

Over 100 smart things to do in western Massachusetts and online learning opportunities for mid-May for everyone in your family!

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!

Want to see your event, resource, or opportunity featured here, reaching thousands of family across the region? Inquire about our Summer Sale for local advertisers.

100 SUGGESTED EVENTS

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Monday, May 17, 2021

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Friday, May 21, 2021

10 SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IDEAS

10 LEARNING RESOURCES

PreK. Making the Transition to Kindergarten

INDIGENOUS AMERICAN. Listening to Wampanoag Voices: Beyond 1620

INDIGENOUS AMERICAN. National Museum of the American Indian Virtual Field Trips

ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN. Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

LOCAL HISTORY. Virtual Local History Learning Opportunities with The Trustees.

DISABILITY HISTORY. Smithsonian Disability History

LATINO HISTORY. Smithsonian Latino History

LGBTQ HISTORY. Smithsonian LGBTQ History

MUSIC STUDIES. Jazz Library at the Jones Library

STORYTELLING. National Storytelling Network

Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities

**FEATURED HOMESCHOOL RESOURCE:** Oak Meadow (Save 20% in May!)

Oak Meadow provides a flexible, progressive homeschooling curriculum for students in K-12. A trusted homeschooling option since 1975, Oak Meadow is offering 20% off all items in their bookstore, May 15-31. Save on K-12 homeschooling curriculum, which provides inspiring learning experiences for creative, motivated students. Or purchase craft supplies, homeschooling resources, books, and more. Their student-centered, nature-based approach allows families to set their natural learning rhythm and encourages creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual development through hands-on activities and interdisciplinary projects. Save on homeschooling at oakmeadowbookstore.com.

**FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM: Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre**

Charlemont, MA ♦ The Recovery Theatre is a performing arts experience for young people overcoming trauma, addiction, anxiety, depression, and other behavioral health challenges. This post-workshop 5-day intensive is for any teen living with circumstances that present barriers to them becoming their fullest selves. Their innovative strength-based, holistic model—they integrate therapeutic horseback riding, circus silks, trapeze, ziplines, white water rafting, aerial park, and the gorgeous natural landscape of West County—takes into account adolescents developing endocrine and nervous systems, incorporates families, social supports and emphasizes peer interactions. Join the summer spectacle! (See Hilltown Youth Performing Arts Programs). Visit their website to learn how they opened safely in 2020. Dates: August 6-10, 2021; Age Range: 12-18yo & 18 -24yo. Contact: 413-625-2100. hilltownyouth@gmail.com; hilltownyouth.org.

**FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM: Hilltown Youth Performing Arts Programs**

Charlemont, MA ♦ Perform under the stars on an aerial park, zipline and mountaintop at Berkshire East ensemble and theatergoers reach by chairlift! The Hilltown Youth Theatre Summer Workshop offers intensive, outdoor training for aspiring actors, artists, dancers, musicians, singers, and circus performers (trapeze, fabrics, stilts, German wheel) with Knighthorse Theatre, Double Edge Theatre, and other luminaries from the Valley’s performing arts community. HS-aged ensemble members can apply for their youth Job Corps program. So teens supporting and creating all this vibrant youth and performing arts culture get to be part of the creative arts economy which we all benefit from! (No prior experience required.) Visit their website to learn how they opened safely in 2020. Dates: July 12-August 4, 2021; Age Range: 7-18yo. Contact: 413-625-2100. hilltownyouth@gmail.com; hilltownyouth.org.

**FEATURED MUSIC PROGRAM:** Community Music School of Springfield

Community Music School of Springfield (CMSS) is now enrolling for private music lessons in over 30 instruments and voice! CMSS offers high-quality music instruction for students of all ages and levels, featuring a choice of online or hybrid learning. Summer scheduling is flexible to accommodate families’ busy lives & vacation plans. Or, if you’re already gearing up for the upcoming school year, act now to reserve your weekly opportunity for creativity, self-expression, and learning. Whether just starting out or a seasoned musician, CMSS takes the time to match you with a professional teaching artist while helping you accomplish your personal musical goals. More info: info@communitymusicschool.com; 413-732-8428; communitymusicschool.com.

FEATURED MUSIC AUDITIONS
Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras
Springfield, MA

Attention music students or parents of music students! Virtual auditions are now open for ages 10-19 of all instrument levels to join the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras for the 2021-2022 season. Particularly seeking beginner/intermediate violin and all levels of brass, viola, bass, and percussion, but all interested musicians may apply. Benefits include great repertoire and fellowship with other talented area musicians; performing in Springfield Symphony Hall; sectionals, coaching, and master classes with professional SSO musicians; chamber ensembles; and more. For more info on registering & submitting your audition video, visit www.springfieldsymphony.org/springfield-symphony-youth-orchestras or email rmora@springfieldsymphony.org.

FEATURED AUTISM RESOURCE
Zephyr Behavioral Healthcare
Hatfield, MA

Preschool. Early Childhood Education Program. ♦ Ages 2-6yrs
For more information: 413-247-6364; info@zephyrbehavioral.org; www.zephyrbehavioral.org

Zephyr Behavioral Healthcare provides Center-Based ABA services to children with autism, ages 2-6. First and foremost, they want their clients to love learning. They challenge the stereotype of monotonous and repetitive behavior therapy by centering their services around play. They weave together data-driven results with a nurturing, fun-loving environment to create a balanced intervention. Their program simulates a preschool environment, with individualized and group instruction throughout the day. With 1:1 support and supervision, they identify the key skills that will prepare their clients to succeed in other environments later in life. They then break down these skills, teach smaller goals, build a strong foundation, and fill their clients’ toolboxes for the future.

FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
Camp Lion Knoll
Leyden, MA

Outdoors. Indoors.

Dates: June 28-August 20, 2021
Age Range: 4.5-13yo
Contact: 413-774-7407
♦ srickman@girlsclubofgreenfield.org
♦ www.girlsclubofgreenfield.org

Leyden, MA ♦ Camp Lion Knoll provides children from 4.5 years to 14 years of age a summer camp experience when the public schools are not in session. Their program allows parents to attend school, work, and/or receive special services while knowing their child is busy and safe. Camp Lion Knoll promotes social and emotional learning and provides children with quality out-of-school time experience that studies show can help stem academic declines typical of a summer break. Campers are also provided with a structured meal schedule and nutritious meals during the summer.

SEE YOUR AD HERE

Partner with HIlltown Families!

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.

Class Directory

Discover virtual & adapted programming in our Class Directory for Western MA

Preschool Directory

Find what you’re looking for in our Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA

List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021

ART STUDIES. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

FARMERS’ MARKET. 9am-1pm. There are so many lessons to be learned and information to share at a farmers’ market. Every Saturday is the Pittsfield market, the first teen-run market in the region. Get curious (and hungry) and bring the kids! Happens on the Pittsfield Common. (Pittsfield, MA)

ART STUDIES. 9:30-11:30am. Bring your students into the environment of Edo period Japan. “Edo Avant-Garde reveals the pivotal role Japanese artists of the Edo era (1603 – 1868) played in setting the stage for the “modern art” movement in the West. Participants will be challenged to think about how to draw on this resource to teach about history, culture, biodiversity, religion, and art. Open to K-12, post-secondary, and home school teachers. (Virtual)

BOTANY. 10am-1pm. Hilltown Seed Savers: Plant Swap & Seed Exchange at the Village Church (32 Main Street) in Cummington. Offering and exchanging plants and seeds. Drop off plants the evening of May 14 behind the church, or May 15 before the swap from 8-10am. Seeds can be dropped off starting May 9th in the mini-fridge inside the back door of the church. Pre-package and label all seeds! Masks and 6′ distance are required throughout the event. (Cummington, MA)

ART STUDIES. 10am-5pm. Inspired by the exhibition On the Move with Eric Carle, create a transportation network and explore paper in three dimensions at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts! (Amherst, MA)

ASTRONOMY. 10am-5pm. Join the Springfield Museums for Astronomy Day! Families can participate in activities and demonstrations on the Museums Grounds and in the Science Museum. Astronomy Day began in California in 1973 to share the joy of astronomy with the public and has grown into a worldwide annual event. (Springfield, MA)

COOKING & COMMUNICATION. 10:30am. Cooking is a great way to expand your child’s communication skills. It helps children learn how to follow directions, expands vocabulary, and creates a shared experience for you and your child. East Longmeadow Public Library is hosting a program for ages 2 & up with a caregiver. (Virtual)

DANCE STUDIES. 11am-12:30pm. Take a guided tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina, followed by live introductory tango dance lessons. (Virtual)

DANCE STUDIES. The Festival de Jerez is the world’s foremost Flamenco and Spanish Dance Festival. 2021 marks its 25th anniversary, making it one of the longest-running festivals of its kind. Every year, thousands of flamenco lovers descend on Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, to attend classes and performances by the most sought-after masters of flamenco. (Virtual)

THEATER STUDIES. 2pm. The Play’s the Thing, a performance by Shakespeare & Co. at The Wooden O Theatre. An adaptation from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. (Lenox, MA)

WORLD LANGUAGES. 3-4:30pm. Learn & practice speaking Spanish with the Forbes Library Spanish Conversation Group. (Virtual)

CULINARY ARTS. 3:30-5:30pm. Learn to make handmade pretzels! From the south of Germany to the streets of Manhattan, the pretzel has developed a worldwide following that has stood the test of time. In this virtual class, learn to knead, shape, boil, and bake artisan pretzels. (Virtual)

COMMUNITY ART. 4-7pm. Join NCFA board member and passionate maker Amy Putnam for the Northampton Community Making Space at 33 Hawley! As we continue to figure out how to be artists in this time, Amy would like to offer a space for us to make in the community while still paying attention to the care that we need to take of ourselves and others in the times of COVID 19. Please join us at 33 Hawley on the third Saturday of the month from 4-7 in Eli’s Room for community making. All experience levels are welcome. (Northampton, MA)

MUSIC STUDIES. 5pm. A concert of pre-recorded works introduced live by the composers, plus the premiere of a jointly-composed film score for the 1929 short animated film “The Haunted House.” (Virtual)

WORLD HISTORY. 6:30-8pm. Guided Historical Tour of Pompeii Italy. Take a virtual guided experience of the archaeological site of Pompeii, Italy – its history and the ruins today. (Virtual)

INDIGENOUS CULTURE. 6:30-8:30pm. Join Liyang Amherst & Western Mass for an arts and education workshop centered on Lumad land defenders’ struggle in Mindanao, Philippines! Integrating both educational and artistic components, this workshop will enable participants to learn about the current situation of Lumad (Indigenous) communities in the Philippines and be empowered to support their struggles. (Virtual)

THEATER STUDIES. 7:30pm. The Smith College Department of Theatre presents Shapes and Stanzas by Ken Pruess as part of its 2021 Spring Studio Productions directed by Madison VanDeurzen. In the play, friends meet three times across 60 years, exploring poetry, geometry, romance, and other complicated things. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
ART STUDIES

Sat., May 15 @ 9:30-11:30am.
Bring your students into the environment of Edo period Japan. “Edo Avant-Garde reveals the pivotal role Japanese artists of the Edo era (1603 – 1868) played in setting the stage for the “modern art” movement in the West. Participants will be challenged to think about how to draw on this resource to teach about history, culture, biodiversity, religion, and art. Open to K-12, post-secondary, and home school teachers. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
BOTANY

Sat., May 15 @ 10am-1pm.
Hilltown Seed Savers: Plant Swap & Seed Exchange. Offering and exchanging plants and seeds. Drop off plants the evening of May 14 behind the church, or May 15 before the swap from 8-10am. Seeds can be dropped off starting May 9th in the mini-fridge inside the back door of the church. Pre-package and label all seeds! Masks and 6′ distance are required throughout the event. (Cummington, MA)

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

ART STUDIES. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.)

ART STUDIES. 10am-5pm. Norman Rockwell: Murder in Mississippi at the Norman Rockwell Museum. In 1964, after The Problem We All Live With ran in Look magazine, Norman Rockwell received many letters criticizing his choice of subject, but irate opinions did not stop him from pursuing his course. In the 1965 painting Murder in Mississippi, he illustrated the Philadelphia, Mississippi, slaying of civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney. The anatomy of this particular work illuminates Rockwell’s process. He produced charcoal preliminaries, an oil color study, and the large final painting. (Stockbridge, MA)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

ART STUDIES. 12-5pm. Inspired by the exhibition On the Move with Eric Carle, create a transportation network and explore paper in three dimensions at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts! (Amherst, MA)

MYCOLOGY. 1-3pm. Spring Mushroom And Wild Edibles Walk with New England Wild Edibles (Amherst, MA)

LANGUAGE ARTS. 4pm. Creative Writing Workshop with Make-It Springfield (Virtual)

PHYSICS. Get kids interested in physics through engines! The Hillside Agricultural Tractor & Engine’s Club’s 13th Annual Tractor Ride occurs at the Cummington Fairgrounds. It even includes a community meal, COVID-style. (Cummington, MA)

MUSIC STUDIES. 7:30pm. A joint concert by Smith Chinese Music and Javanese Gamelan Ensembles. (Virtual)

ART STUDIES. 10am. Join educators from the National Gallery of Art and The Eric Carle Museum for a hands-on program where participants can engage in an interactive storytime featuring Eric Carle’s From Head to Toe. Participants will look closely at original art from the National Gallery of Art’s collection and explore at-home materials for creating their own collage artwork. (Virtual)

NATURAL HISTORY. 12-1:30pm. Experience the natural beauty and history of the Galapagos Islands with a tour online. (Virtual)

PERFORMANCE ART. 1-3pm. Youth Performance Workshop with Berkshire Music School (Pittsfield, MA)

DANCE STUDIES. 2:30-5:30pm. DELving into Dance History with Jacob’s Pillow. Discover the rich history of Asian and Asian American dance artists from the 20th century to the present while learning about their contributions to a broad canon of works in early modern dance and explore distinctly Asian forms of dance such as Bharatanatyam and Butoh. Designed to re-envision teaching dance history as an inquiry-based and embodied practice, DELving into Dance History is for K-12 dance educators, college-level dance educators, and dance history enthusiasts to enhance remote and in-person teaching and discovery.(Virtual)

MUSIC STUDIES. 3pm. The Amherst College Department of Music presents “Black Music Matters Marathon,” a virtual performance by members of the Amherst Symphony Orchestra showcasing a multitude of unjustly neglected masterpieces by Black composers for the concert hall. (Virtual)

WORLD HISTORY. 8-9:30pm. Join a live guide and expert Ancient Egypt Historian for an amazing tour and time-traveling presentation to the land of pharaohs & pyramids. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
PHYSICS

Sun., May 16 Get kids interested in physics through engines! The Hillside Agricultural Tractor & Engine’s Club’s 13th Annual Tractor Ride occurs at the Cummington Fairgrounds. It even includes a community meal, COVID-style. (Cummington, MA)

Self-Directed Learning:
MUSIC STUDIES

Sun., May 16 @ 3pm. The Amherst College Department of Music presents “Black Music Matters Marathon,” a performance showcasing a multitude of unjustly neglected masterpieces by Black composers for the concert hall. (Virtual)

MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA

PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program (Great Barrington, MA)

PLAYGROUP. 10am. At the James School. (Williamsburg, MA)

LITERACY. 11am. Kindergarten Write and Read (Great Barrington, MA)

PreK LITERACY. 11am. Spring Story Time on the lawn at the Hubbard Library (Ludlow, MA/Hybrid)

PreK LITERACY. 11am & 2pm. Storytime at the Amelia Park Children’s Museum (Westfield, MA)

SOCIAL JUSTICE. Norman Rockwell: Imagining Freedom explores the unforgettable odyssey of humanity’s greatest ideals. Tracing the Four Freedoms journey from World War II to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and the call for freedom today, this exhibition inspires fresh consideration of our most pressing social concerns through the lenses of art and history, inviting us to consider how we can become allies in the creation of a more humane world. Norman Rockwell Museum. (Stockbridge, MA)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Ukulele Play-Along with the Jones Library. (Virtual)

FIBER ARTS. 7pm. Crafty Crochet Club with Make-It Springfield (Virtual)

FILM STUDIES. 8-10pm. Far Out Film Discussion will have a zoom meeting to talk about the 2014 murder mystery miniseries Li’l Quin Quin by french filmmaker Bruno Dumont with the Forbes Library. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
MATH & SCIENCE

Geometry & Physics in a Dandelion Seed

Self-Directed Learning:
HISTORY

Dandelion’s Place in History

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

NATURE-BASED PreK. 9am. Nature Sprouts at Bement. Connecting with nature through stories & hands-on activities (Deerfield, MA)

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Playgroup with Hatfield Library. (Email for Zoom link) kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com (Virtual)

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Russell Playground. (Chesterfield, MA)

PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org (Virtual)

BABY SIGN LANGUAGE. 10:30am. Baby Sign Workshop with Union 38 Family Network (Virtual)

NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

LANGUAGE ARTS. 12pm. Stars and Stories: Writing Session with The Clark Art Institute. Aim for the stars at this imaginative writing program open to all—no experience necessary. Clark educators lead you through a series of open-ended prompts inspired by night scenes and nocturnes from The Clark’s collection. Share a few favorite sentences with the group at the end or write and observe. (Virtual)

FARMERS’ MARKET. 1:30-6:30pm. Northampton Tuesday Market is a vibrant downtown market with the best in local fruits and vegetables, local prepared foods, and the occasional local craft. Entertainment most weeks. (Northampton, MA)

STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PLAYGROUP. 3pm. At the Westhampton Library field. (Westhampton, MA)

PreK MUSIC. 4:30pm. Musical Storytime with Pelham Library (Virtual)

ECOLOGY. 5:30pm. Learn about the fascinating lives and epic migrations of American Shad and Sea Lamprey. These fish play an essential role in our river ecosystems as they migrate to and from the sea. Sea Lamprey has been called a hero of our rivers and a vampire of the sea. Find out why this keystone species is misunderstood and underappreciated with Northfield Mountain. (Virtual)

ETHNOBOTANY. 6pm. Wabanaki Ethnobotany with Ethan Allen Homestead Museum (Virtual)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

CULINARY ARTS. 6-7:30pm. Tuesday Night Supper Club with Johnny Bossuot. For lifelong learners looking to sustain healthy dietary changes or simply want to have community and support around eating healthy. (Virtual)

HEALTH & WELLNESS. 7pm. Workshop: Learning to Cope with Uncertainty & Anxiety with River Valley Co-op (Virtual)

WORLD CULTURE. 7-8:30pm. Take a guided tour Chiang Mai Thailand, traveling to Northern Thailand for a world of culture, trekking, and native Thai tribes. (Virtual)

LOCAL HISTORY. 7-8:30pm. Join the Lenox Library to learn about one of Lenox’s daughters, Mary Cordelia Sears. Born in 1828, Mary traveled farther than many women of her time and was immersed in indigenous culture (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD STUDIES

Baking & Brewing with Dandelions

Self-Directed Learning:
BOTANY

Botany Lessons from the Front Lawn

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

BOTANY. 9am-12pm. ‘The Beauty of Spring’ Wildflower Walk at Graves Farm Wildlife Sanctuary (Williamsburg, MA)

PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program (Great Barrington, MA)

PLAYGROUP. 10:30am. At the Conant Park Playground Pavilion. (Southampton, MA)

PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Family Jam (Virtual)

NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

CIVICS. The Unity Project is an art and civics initiative of the Norman Rockwell Museum and contemporary illustrators dedicated to an inclusive America where all voices are heard. Inspired by the rich and continuing tradition of American illustration, this project inspires us to consider the integral role that published imagery plays in creating cultural narratives which connect us to our times. (Virtual)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PreK LITERACY. 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour with the Cushman Library (Virtual)

CULINARY ARTS. 4-6pm. Learn the proper techniques to create a stellar maki roll in this online Sushi 101 class. (Virtual)

SUSTAINABILITY. 7pm. The Honorable Harvest: an evening with Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (Virtual)

SOCIAL JUSTICE. 7-8:30pm. Straw Dog Writers Guild presents Voices for Resistance, sponsored by the Forbes Library. (Virtual)

Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

PreK DEVELOPMENT. 9:30am. Grow Play & Learn Weekly Group with Hubbard Memorial Library (Virtual)

ART STUDIES. 10am-4pm. Inspired by the exhibition On the Move with Eric Carle, create a transportation network and explore paper in three dimensions at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Arts! (Amherst, MA)

NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am Tours of Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PreK MUSIC. 11am. Music Classes for Families with Young Children with Northampton Parents Center (Virtual)

ARTS & CRAFTS. 11am & 2pm. Crafts at Amelia Park Children’s Museum (Westfield, MA)

STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PreK MUSIC. 11am. Music with Northampton Parents Center (Virtual)

METALSMITHING. 3pm. Teen Metalsmithing Workshop at the Southwick Public Library (Sunderland, MA)

CULINARY ARTS. 3:30-5:30pm. Knowing how to use knives skillfully is the foundation of all cooking and doesn’t have to be scary or frustrating. Learn how to slice, dice, chop, and much more safely and efficiently in this online Knife Skills class. (Virtual)

SCIENCE. 6pm. Life Science Cafe (Virtual)

ART STUDIES. 6pm. Collage Club with IS183 Art School of the Berkshires (Virtual)

COMIC BOOKS. 7pm. Meet your neighbor, Steve Murphy, a local comic book and graphic novel writer, for a virtual discussion with Greenfield Public Library. (Virtual)

OCCUPATIONS. 7pm. Northfield Public Library hosts “Ask Airline Attendant Anything.” Local airline attendant Sarah Monette answers any questions you have about her job and commercial flights. (Virtual)

HERBAL MEDICINE. 7pm. River Valley Co-op hosts a free workshop, “Incorporating Medicinal Herbs into your Garden.” (Virtual)

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 7-8:30pm. Join Marjorie Turner Hollman, author of the Easy Walks in Massachusetts trail guide series, for a virtual presentation in conjunction with the Great Barrington Library. She has lots of suggestions, experience, photos, and ideas that can help you have a more positive experience in the outdoors. This presentation is especially appropriate for elders, those with mobility impairments, and families with young children who hope to use strollers while sharing the outdoors with their little ones. (Virtual)

WORLD CULTURE. 7-8:30pm. Tour of Kabul Afghanistan with a local virtual guide, exploring the ancient and modern city of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. (Virtual)

ETHNOBOTANY. 7-8:30pm. For thousands of years, humans have been invested in learning about the uses of plants. Discover more in the presentation, The Importance of Ethnobotany. (Virtual)

STORYTIME. 8:30pm. Post-Bedtime Parents Group with It Takes a Village (Virtual)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
OCCUPATIONS

Thurs., May 20 @ 7pm. Northfield Public Library hosts “Ask Airline Attendant Anything.” Local airline attendant Sarah Monette answers any questions you have about her job and commercial flights. (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
ETHNOBOTANY

Thurs., May 20 @ 7-8:30pm. For thousands of years, humans have been invested in learning about the uses of plants. Discover more in the presentation, The Importance of Ethnobotany. (Virtual)

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA

PLAYGROUPS. Northern Berkshire Cty Family Center Activities

ORNITHOLOGY. 9am-5pm. FalConference, a one-day virtual conference where the community is invited to join the UMass Du Bois Falcon team and their collaborators on- and off-campus as they discuss all things peregrine falcon. (Virtual)

PreK LITERACY. 10am. Virtual Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org

ART STUDIES. 10am-4pm. Norman Rockwell: Murder in Mississippi at the Norman Rockwell Museum. In 1964, after The Problem We All Live With ran in Look magazine, Norman Rockwell received many letters criticizing his choice of subject, but irate opinions did not stop him from pursuing his course. In the 1965 painting Murder in Mississippi, he illustrated the Philadelphia, Mississippi, slaying of civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman, and James Chaney. The anatomy of this particular work illuminates Rockwell’s process. He produced charcoal preliminaries, an oil color study, and the large final painting. (Stockbridge, MA)

ART STUDIES. 10am-4pm. Norman Rockwell: Telling Stories. Though Norman Rockwell preferred cover work to any other type of assignment, story illustration makes up a large body of the artist’s work. Narrative texts by a wide range of authors, both famous and lesser-known, were the basis for thousands of illustrations. His interest in characterization and detail was perfectly suited to story illustration, which enhanced and expanded upon the written word. (Stockbridge, MA)

HEALTH & WELLNESS. 10am. Caregiver Yoga & Mindfulness with It Takes a Village (Virtual)

PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Storytime with the Lenox Library (Virtual)

NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 11am. Tours of Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PreK MUSIC GROUP. 11am. Sing & Play with Jeannie outside of the Great Barrington Library. Bring instruments and be ready to sing. (Great Barrington, MA)

COMMUNITY SERVICE. 1pm. Downtown Pittsfield Spring Cleanup (Pittsfield, MA)

STEAM. 3pm. STEAM Tours at Storrowton Village Museum (West Springfield, MA)

PASTRY ARTS. 5-7pm. Learn to make a variety of cookies in this online class with the Institute of Culinary Education. (Virtual)

WORLD CULTURE. 7-8:30pm. Tour Havana Cuba, a virtual experience of the Capital of Cuba. (Virtual)

ASIAN PACIFIC. The Story of the Lūʻau with Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (Virtual)

Self-Directed Learning:
ART STUDIES

Fri., May 21 @ 10am-4pm. Norman Rockwell: Murder in Mississippi at the Norman Rockwell Museum. (Stockbridge, MA)

Self-Directed Learning:
PASTRY ARTS

Fri., May 21 @ 5-7pm. Learn to make a variety of cookies in this online class with the Institute of Culinary Education. (Virtual)

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.

Subscribe ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities ♦ Learning Opportunities ♦ en Español

Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont/Hawley, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Dalton, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Holyoke, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Northfield, Palmer, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southampton, Springfield, Tolland, Tyringham, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.