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Weekly Suggested Events for May 29-June 4, 2021
Home < Weekly Suggested Events < May 29-June 4, 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!
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
ART STUDIES: Three Sisters Sanctuary. 413-268-3677. 188 Cape Street. Goshen, MA.
PHYSICS: Unity Skatepark. 56 1st St. Turners Falls, MA.
LANGUAGE ARTS: William Cullen Bryant Homestead. 413- 634-2244. 207 Bryant Road, Cummington, MA.
ECOLOGY: Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 789 Main St, Hampden, MA.
PHYSICS: Keystone Arches Trailhead. Middlefield Rd, Chester, MA.
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities
The Campus School in Northampton, MA, is pleased to announce that due to a growth in enrollment, they will be adding a second kindergarten class for the 2021-22 school year. Limited spaces are available and applications will be accepted on a space available basis. What can a 5-year old learn on a college campus? Click here to learn more about the Campus School’s partnership with Smith College! Request information here or schedule a tour with the director of admission and financial aid by emailing Maureen Litwin at mlitwin@smith.edu.
FEATURED EVENT
11th Annual Will Bike 4 Food
The 11th Annual Will Bike 4 Food brings us safely back together on Sept 26, along with a new way to participate in the months leading up to this fun & meaningful cycling event. Help raise funds for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to support our neighbors in need for Hunger Action Month. To get an early start, on June 26, join the Ride & Seek Community Challenge, which will direct you to local businesses along bikeable trails & roads in pursuit of a chance to win prizes. Visit www.WillBike4Food.org for more details, register as an individual/team, or sign-up to volunteer. Proceeds go to The Food Bank to provide healthy & nutritious meals to families & individuals facing hunger. For inquiries, email Cheyenne: cheyenneb@foodbankwma.org.
FEATURED SUMMER PROGRAM
Community Music School of Springfield Music Lessons
Springfield, MA
Dates: June 28-August 13, 2021
Age Range: 4yo+
Contact: 413-732-8428
♦ info@communitymusicschool.com
♦ communitymusicschool.com
Come play with CMSS this summer! CMSS offers high-quality music instruction for students of all ages and levels, and their summer session features flexible scheduling and a choice of online or hybrid learning. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned musician, CMSS takes the time to match you with a teacher who will connect with you while helping you accomplish your personal musical goals. Offering instruction in over 30 instruments and voice, their registration team can help you decide whether to rent or purchase your instrument. Getting started is easy – your summer music lesson is just a click or phone call away!
ADVERTISE 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.
Preschool Directory
Find what you’re looking for in our Preschool & Daycare Directory for Western MA
List of Weekly Suggested Events
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021
RADIO SHOW. 9am. Hilltown Family Variety Show with Guest DJ Andy Z (Broadcast)
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Hiking at Mt. Tom State Reservation Stone House Visitor Center. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA.
ART STUDIES. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.)
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! Pittsfield Farmers’ Market. First Street Common. Pittsfield, MA.
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-5pm. Craft Weekend at Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.
HIKING. 10am-1pm. Group Hike to Spencer Homestead, Old Dayville. Chester, MA.
BOOK SALE. 9:30am-2pm. Pop-Up Book Sale on the front lawn at the Stockbridge Library. 413-298-5501. 46 Main Street, Stockbridge, MA.
BOTANY. 10am. 10th Annual Seedling Swap with Hoosac Harvest. 23 Eagle Street, North Adams, MA.
STORYTELLING. 10am. Young at Heart: Tall Tales and Flights of Fancy with Ed Hotaling. Ed knows a variety of stories, from classic fairy tales to folk tales from around the world. He even tells one about his grandfather. Whether it’s the Three Little Pigs or a folk tale from as far away as Haiti or China, he enjoys them all. Takes place at Dewey Memorial Hall. 413-229-2357. 91 Main Street, Sheffield, MA.
ARCHAEOLOGY. 10am-3pm. Historic Deerfield continues its archaeological investigation of the Stebbins House site. Museum visitors are invited to visit the excavation and talk to archaeologists at work as they follow up on clues from a ground-penetrating radar survey. Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.
LOCAL HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Broom-Making Demonstrations. Brooms were important to the economy of 19th century Deerfield. Watch a broom being made by hand, learn about growing and processing broomcorn, and see broom-making tools and equipment. Learn the story of Caleb Salisbury, an African-American man who lived in Deerfield and made brooms, and learn about the role of broom-making and the craft industry in the 19th century. Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, 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 The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 413-559-6300. 125 W Bay Rd, Amherst, MA.
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY. 10am-5pm. Opening of Wild Kratts: Creature Power, an immersive, interactive exhibit where kids and families explore four animal habitats and the creatures within them, building STEM skills as they play. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
MUSIC STUDIES. 10:30am-5pm. 11th Annual Berkshire Drum Fest at Windsor Town Park (Windsor, MA)
WORLD HISTORY. 11:30am. Live Guided Tour of Kuwait and Bahrain. Join virtual guides live from the Middle East as we take a historic and modern tour at two Middle East Gulf Countries: Kuwait and Bahrain (Virtual)
ART STUDIES. 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, or 10pm. Great Art on Screen Documentary Series: Hermitage – The Power of Art. A spectacular documentary event tour through St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, an extraordinary complex of buildings with the most extensive collection of paintings in the world, to retrace two and a half centuries. (Virtual)
NATURAL HISTORY. 6pm. Guided Tour of Alaska. Take a tour of one of the most beautiful and majestic states in the Union. From incredible nature to historic cities. (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
ARTISAN HISTORY
Sat., May 29 @ 10am-4pm. Broom-Making Demonstrations at Historic Deerfield.
Deerfield, MA.
Self-Directed Learning:
MUSIC STUDIES
Sat., May 29 @ 10:30am-5pm. Berkshire Drum Fest at Windsor Town Park.
Windsor, MA.
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2021
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Hiking and Bike Riding at Mt. Holyoke Range State Park. 413-253-2883 . 1500 West St. Amherst, MA.
GEOLOGY. Self-guided Geology Walking Tour at Skinner State Park. 413-586-0350. 10 Skinner State Park Road, Hadley, MA.
ART STUDIES. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-5pm. Craft Weekend at Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.
ART STUDIES. 10am-5pm Norman Rockwell: Telling Stories. Norman Rockwell Museum. Glendale Rd, Route 183, Stockbridge, MA. WORLD CULTURE. 12pm. Guided Tour of Cancun and Tulum, Mexico (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. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 413-559-6300. 125 W Bay Rd, Amherst, MA.
ART STUDIES. 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, or 10pm. Great Art on Screen Documentary Series: Hermitage – The Power of Art. A spectacular documentary event tour through St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, an extraordinary complex of buildings with the most extensive collection of paintings in the world, to retrace two and a half centuries. (Virtual)
OUTDOOR CONCERT. 3:30pm. Music outdoors under the tent, where families can dine and listen at a safely-distanced table in the dining terrace at the corner of Housatonic and Church streets. Lenox, MA.
PERFORMANCE ART. 5pm. Arts Alive! A magical late afternoon gathering in the garden to celebrate the arts with original dance; Haydn’s String Duo in D major; and readings from a new collection of poetry inspired by Chesterwood and the cultural legacy of the Berkshires. Chesterwood. 413-298-3579. 4 Williamsville Rd, Stockbridge, MA.
WORLD GEOGRAPHY. 7pm. Live Guided Tour of Wales. Experience the beauty and history of this treasured part of the United Kingdom. (Virtual)
MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Hiking and Bike Riding at Mt. Holyoke Range State Park. 413-253-2883 . 1500 West St. Amherst, MA.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. Hiking at Mt. Tom State Reservation Stone House Visitor Center. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA.
ART STUDIES. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.)
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-5pm. Craft Weekend at Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge, MA.
MEMORIAL DAY. 11:15am. Memorial Day Celebration, starting with a performance by Prone to Mischief on the town hall lawn. Plainfield, MA.
ART STUDIES. 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, or 10pm. Great Art on Screen Documentary Series: Hermitage – The Power of Art. A spectacular documentary event tour through St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, an extraordinary complex of buildings with the most extensive collection of paintings in the world, to retrace two and a half centuries. (Virtual)
ART STUDIES. MASS MoCA From Home. (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
MEMORIAL DAY
Self-Directed Learning:
BBQ
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021
ORNITHOLOGY. 8-10am. Spring Bird Walks with Mass Audubon. The month of May brings spring migration and birds from central and South America. Takes place at The Mount. 413-551-5111. 2 Plunkett Street, Lenox, MA.
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western 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)
ART STUDIES. 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, or 10pm. Great Art on Screen Documentary Series: Hermitage – The Power of Art. A spectacular documentary event tour through St. Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, an extraordinary complex of buildings with the most extensive collection of paintings in the world, to retrace two and a half centuries. (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 Tuesday Farmers’ Market. 413-320-4799. 1 Kirkland Ave, Northampton, MA.
DRIVER’S ED. 6:30pm. Dare to Prepare: Getting Your Driver’s License. Teens planning on signing up for driver’s education this summer can take a pre-permit workshop. This workshop is for soon-to-be drivers and their parents, explaining the driver education, permit, and Graduated Driver License process and laws for your state. (Virtual)
US HISTORY. 7pm. Guided Tour of the Alamo (Virtual)
HEALTH & WELLNESS. 7pm. Workshop: An Introduction to Working with Essential Oils (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Tues., June 1 @ 7pm. Workshop: An Introduction to Working with Essential Oils (Virtual)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA BOTANY. 9-11am. Summer Wildflowers at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.
PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program in Great Barrington
PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Family Jam (Virtual)
ART STUDIES. 10:30am-3:30pm. Urban Sketching Workshop. Using pencils, pens, and sketchbooks, learn to draw life in the city, capturing scenic street views, unique buildings, and people. Practice the art of telling a story while learning basic drawing skills. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
GARDENING 12pm. Rain Garden Primer – A Good Option for Your Landscape? (Virtual)
PreK LITERACY. 4pm. Cushman Library Story Hour with the Cushman Library (Virtual)
BOTANY. 5:30-7:30pm. Introduction to the Identification of Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes of New England with the Berkshire Botanical Garden. (Virtual)
NATURAL HISTORY. 7pm. Guided Tour of Iceland (Virtual)
LANGUAGE ARTS. 7pm. Book Share with Molly Knox Ostertag with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
ART STUDIES
Wed., June 2 @ 10:30am-3:30pm. Urban Sketching Workshop. Using pencils, pens, and sketchbooks, learn to draw life in the city, capturing scenic street views, unique buildings, and people. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
Self-Directed Learning:
LITERATURE
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA
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. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 413-559-6300. 125 W Bay Rd, Amherst, MA.
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY. 10am-5pm. Wild Kratts: Creature Power, an immersive, interactive exhibit where kids and families explore four animal habitats and the creatures within them, building STEM skills as they play. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
ARTS & CRAFTS. 11am & 2pm. Crafts at Amelia Park Children’s Museum. 413-572-4014. 29 S Broad St, Westfield, MA.
MUSIC STUDIES. 3pm. Want to try an instrument that is fun and easy to play? Join Julie Stepanek as she shows the fundamentals of ukulele playing. You’ll learn how to tune, strum, and read chords. After a short lesson, you’ll be able to play songs. No experience necessary. Bring your own ukulele or borrow one of her sanitized sopranos. On the lawn at the Greenfield Public Library. 413-772-1544. 402 Main Street, Greenfield, MA.
MINDFULNESS. 5:30pm. Workshop: Mindful Yoga (Virtual)
WORLD GEOGRAPHY. 8pm. Guided Tour of Stonehenge and Canterbury England (Virtual)
Self-Directed Learning:
CULINARY ARTS
Self-Directed Learning:
ANIMAL STUDIES
FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY. 9:30am-12:30pm. Water Chestnut Removal by Canoe with Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA.
PreK LITERACY. 10am. Virtual Story Hour with Greenfield Public Library (Email for Zoom link) librarian@greenfieldpubliclibrary.org
ART STUDIES. 10am-3pm. The Basics of Plein Air Painting in all Media. Plein air painting can be a challenge, as the light and scene is constantly changing. Learn the secrets professional artists use to capture the essence of the landscape. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
ART STUDIES. 10am-4pm. Inspired by the exhibition On the Move with Eric Carle, create a transportation network and explore paper in three dimensions. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 413-559-6300. 125 W Bay Rd, Amherst, MA.
PreK LITERACY. 10:30am. Storytime with the Lenox Library (Virtual)
INTERGENERATIONAL MUSIC. 10:30am. Friday Family Sing with Andy Goulet and the Emily Williston Library. Families are invited to sing along to classic kids’ songs. Performances are hosted live on YouTube. (Virtual)
PreK MUSIC GROUP. 11am. Sing & Play with Jeannie outside of the Great Barrington Library. Bring instruments and be ready to sing. Mason Public Library. 413-528-2403. 231 Main St, Great Barrington, MA.
PERFORMANCE ART. 4pm. Pioneer Valley Ballet will perform “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This live, walking-tour performance event tells Shakespeare’s classic tale of love, magic, and revelry, featuring some of Shakespeare’s best-known characters. Takes place at Park Hill Orchard. 413-527-6186. 82 Park Hill Road. Easthampton, MA.
FOOD STUDIES. 4-5:30pm. Grow Food Northampton presents a workshop in their Giving Garden: “Pick & Preserve: Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.” (Florence, MA)
SUSTAINABILITY. 5:30-7pm. Plastic Pollution and Sustainable Solutions with SBRSD Sustainability Coalition (Virtual)
WORLD CULTURE. 7pm. Tour of Milan and Pisa (Virtual)
ENTOMOLOGY. 7-9pm. Spring Ecology Workshop: Ephemeral Stream Insect with Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-637-0320. 472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA.
Self-Directed Learning:
PERFORMANCE ART
Fri., June 4 @ 4pm. Pioneer Valley Ballet will perform “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Takes place at Park Hill Orchard. 413-527-6186. 82 Park Hill Road. Easthampton, MA.
Self-Directed Learning:
FOOD STUDIES
Fri., June 4 @ 4-5:30pm. Grow Food Northampton presents a workshop in their Giving Garden: “Pick & Preserve: Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.” (Florence, MA)
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, Bernardston, Buckland, Charlemont/Hawley, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Dalton, Deerfield, Easthampton, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Holyoke, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, 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.
