Weekly Suggested Events for June 5-11, 2021

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Hilltown Families weekly Suggested Events list includes suggested learning ideas, resources, and events for all ages, each week.

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!

COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

STEM: A2Z Science & Learning Store. 413-586-1611. 57 King St, Northampton, MA.

SPORTS HISTORY: The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 1000 Hall of Fame Ave. Springfield, MA.

ART STUDIES: MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.

NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY: Bidwell House Museum. 413-528-6888. 100 Art School Road, Monterey, MA.

FILM STUDIES: Greenfield Garden Cinema. 413-773-9260. 361 Main St. Greenfield, MA.

THEATER STUDIES: Double Edge Theatre. 413-628-0277. 948 Conway Rd, Ashfield, MA.

Graphic for 2021 Summer Camp Directory
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.
FEATURED SCHOOL: The Campus School of Smith College adds a second kindergarten class for 2021-22 school year!

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.

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.
FEATURED SUMMER CLASSES WITH WHOLE CHILDREN: July 6-August 21, 2021

Whole Children is pleased to offer a Virtual & In Person Summer Program for school age kids. The 7-week program will be offered Monday through Saturday, July 6-August 21. We are excited to offer a full roster of virtual classes and a selection of in person classes, including photography, theater, Joyful Chorus, Friendship Band and more! Price: $150 for 7 weeks of unlimited classes! https://bit.ly/3fOLWXd or call 413-585-8010. Whole Selves is also offering two clinics this summer, including a focus on Puberty and Social Media. Price: $350 for non-Whole Children members or $100 for current registered Whole Children members. Register here: https://bit.ly/3paygtO

FEATURED EVENT
11th Annual Will Bike 4 Food

Ride & Seek Community Challenge on June 26!

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

Photograph collage from Drama Studio Summer Programs.
Indoors. Virtual.

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!

FEATURED SUMMER CAMP
Edge Soccer Academy Summer Camp
Holyoke & Wilbraham, MA

Outdoors.

Dates: Jun 28-Jul 2 & Jul 24-30, 2021
Age Range: 5-15yo
Contact: kevon.isa@aic.eduwww.edgesocceracademyinc.com

Edge Soccer Academy Summer Camp 1 June 28th – July 2nd, 2021 Full Day Option (8-15 yr olds): Monday-Thursday: 9am-4pm; Friday, 9am-12pm $250 Half Day Option (5-8 yr olds): Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm $150 Location: Roberts Field (Holyoke High School Turf Field) 500 Beech Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 Edge Soccer Academy Summer Camp 2 July 26th – 30th, 2021 Full Day Option (8-15 yr olds): Monday-Thursday: 9am-4pm; Friday, 9am-12pm $250 Half Day Option (5-8 yr olds): Monday-Friday, 9am-12pm $150 Location: Spec Pond (Wilbraham, MA) 45C Post Office Park, Wilbraham, MA 01095

Naturally Curious : A Photographic Field Guide and Month-By-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England
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Class Directory

Class Directory

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

Preschool & Daycare Directory

Preschool Directory

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

List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021
Graphic for 2021 Summer Camp Directory

MINDFULNESS. 9am. Discover the benefits of Forest Bathing. Forest and Nature Therapy offers us the opportunity to slow down. It re-aligns our rhythms with the landscape, allowing our senses a respite from everyday demands and uncertainties. It’s a chance to remember our connections to nature and the joyful relationships that await us outside. This guided experience is not a hike or naturalist adventure but an opportunity to slow down and allow our bodies to engage all of our senses. Hitchcock Center for the Environment. 413-256-6006, 845 West St, Amherst, MA. 

NUTRITION. 9am. Take part in a Nutritional Talk about Plant-Based Diets with the YMCA in Greenfield, a discussion on plant-based diets for reducing hypertension and strategies for incorporating a more plant-based diet. (Virtual) 

FAMILY RADIO. 9am. HFVS Trees In Story And Song Episode with Guest DJ Claudia Robin Gunn (Radio Show/Podcast) 

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. 

DANCE STUDIES. 10am. Young at Heart: Family Dance Around the World at Dewey Memorial Hall. Dewey Hall’s “Young at Heart” series is family-friendly and welcomes all ages. “Young at Heart” occurs weekly on Saturday mornings starting at 10am. The series will feature different art forms each week in an engaging light-hearted way. “Young at Heart” will take place outside at Dewey Hall. 413-229-2357. 91 Main Street, Sheffield, MA. 

MINDFULNESS. 10am-12noon. Forest Bathing with Kestrel Land Trust. Experience the restorative power of forest bathing: a heart-opening practice designed to awaken the senses via a slow guided walk through the forest. Greenberg Family Conservation Area. Westhampton, MA. 

ARTS & CRAFTS. 10am-3pm. Summer Arts & Crafts Festival. Spend time outdoors with friends, do some shopping, and support local artisans, craftspeople, and makers of all kinds. Takes place at Berkshire South Regional Community Center. 413-528-2810. 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, 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.  

ECOLOGY. 10am, 11:15am, 1pm. Family Fun Day: What lives in the pond and stream? Learn about animals that inhabit the pond and stream at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 789 Main St, Hampden, MA. 

ORNITHOLOGY. 10am, 11am, 12:30, 1:30pm. Family Fun Day at Arcadia: Birds at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. What is it like to to be a migratory bird? What hazards would you encounter, and how far would you go? How many times does a hummingbird flap its wings in a minute? How about a crow? Can you run as fast as a bird flies? Learn about birds with your family as you all experience what it might be like to be a bird! Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Rd, Easthampton, MA. 

BOTANY. 11am. Berberis thunbergii. Celastrus orbiculatus. Alliaria petiolata.The mere mention of these species can be enough to send any conservation professional into an agitated state. Invasive flora presents numerous challenges to property owners and land managers, from conservation organizations like Hilltown Land Trust to private homeowners. Crowding out native species – and often frustratingly difficult to remove – plants like Japanese barberry, bittersweet, and garlic mustard can cause as many headaches in your own backyard as they do on our protected properties. Learn more during an Urban Invasives Walk with the Hilltown Land Trust. Williamsburg, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 11am-4pm. Lenox Art Walk. The 2021 Spring Lenox Art Walk will be comprised of small-scale, safely-distanced art “villages” throughout downtown Lenox, showcasing over 40 fine artists and artisans. Downtown Lenox. 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 12pm. Hiking at Mt. Tom State Reservation Stone House Visitor Center. 413-527-4805. 125 Reservation Rd, Holyoke, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 1pm. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.) 

ART STUDIES. 2pm. Drawing offers an opportunity to connect with the world around us. In this three-week series of outdoor classes, participants will use their powers of observation to look more closely and describe, through drawing, what they see. With warm-ups, guided practices, and basic drawing tools, they will learn techniques using line, shape, value (dark and light), texture, and pattern that they can take with them to continue to develop their drawing and observation skills. Leverett Library. 413-548-9220. 75 Montague Rd, Leverett, MA. 

PERFORMANCE ART. 4-5:45pm. A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Pioneer Valley Ballet at Park Hill Orchard. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a tale of love, magic, and revelry that’s fanciful and fun for the entire family. This live, walking tour performance event features some of Shakespeare’s best-known characters. Park Hill Orchard. 413-527-6186. 82 Park Hill Road. Easthampton, MA.

Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth

SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021
Graphic for 2021 Summer Camp Directory

DENDROLOGY. 7am. HFVS Trees In Story And Song Episode with Guest DJ Claudia Robin Gunn (Radio Show/Podcast) 

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 9am. Hiking and Bike Riding at Mt. Holyoke Range State Park. 413-253-2883 . 1500 West St. Amherst, MA. 

GEOLOGY. 10am. Self-guided Geology Walking Tour at Skinner State Park. 413-586-0350. 10 Skinner State Park Road, Hadley, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 10:30am. Take a self-guided tour of outdoor public art The Clark Art Institute, MASS MoCA, and WCMA (Northern Berkshire Cty.) 

ART STUDIES. 11am-4pm. Lenox Art Walk. The 2021 Spring Lenox Art Walk will be comprised of small-scale, safely-distanced art “villages” throughout downtown Lenox, showcasing over 40 fine artists and artisans. Downtown Lenox. 

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.

FIBER ARTS. 12:30pm. Learn to Spin with Wool-ology. This is a three-week class to learn to spin on your own wheel. From beginner to someone who needs a review, this is the class for you. Some of the things covered besides spinning will be learning how to take care of your wheel, picking out fleeces, plying, carding, and much more. Wool-ology. 413-350-5158. 242A Greenfield Rd. South Deerfield, MA. 

ART STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 1pm. Fresh Paint Party at Mt. Carmel Church. Help paint the mural that will be going up on La Fiorentina. No need to get on a ladder or have any experience painting. Murals are turned into giant paint-by-numbers on special mural fabric. These sheets are set up on tables, and all you have to do is fill in the lines. After that, they will be glued up permanently to the walls, so you will be able to take a tour a few days later and find the parts you painted! All ages and abilities welcome. Takes place at Mt. Carmel Church. 123 William St, Springfield, MA. 

AGRICULTURE. 2pm. Learn the basis and importance of grapes and grape growing in the Pioneer Valley with a tour of Black Birch Vineyard. 413-247-3300. 108 Straits Rd, North Hatfield, MA. 

ART STUDIES/MURALS. 3pm. Fresh Paint Party for Heritage mural During this paint party, participants will be restoring one of Springfield’s most historic murals, Heritage, painted by Don Blanton in 1968! Artist Kay Douglas will be restoring the mural during the festival. All ages, experiences, and abilities welcome. Mason Square Branch Library. 413-263-6853. 765 State St, Springfield, MA. 

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.  

ART HISTORY. 4pm. Summer Evening Strolls: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Deerfield at Historic Deerfield. Enjoy a special guided evening walking tour along Old Main Street, followed by a discount on dinner and history trivia at Champney’s Restaurant and Tavern at the Deerfield Inn. The June Summer Evening Stroll explores the revitalization of Deerfield at the turn of the 20th century as the Arts and Crafts Movement in Deerfield took hold in the village. Come hear the stories of the women who founded two successful groups of working artisans and craftspeople. Hear how the village was transformed into a vital and vibrant community of artists, writers, weavers, and craftspeople using the houses and street as part of the setting for their work. A special feature of this tour is music played by local fiddler Anna Wetherby who will play some dance tunes that were played at a housewarming ball in 1892 held at Frary House to celebrate its restoration. Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

What is a River?

MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA  

GEOLOGY. 9-11am. Exploring Northampton with a walking tour led by Laurie Sanders. Take a walk along the shoreline of glacial lake Hitchcock and see plants that 12,000 years later are influenced by our region’s glacial history. Historic Northampton. 413-584-6011. 46 Bridge Street. Northampton, MA. 

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

LITERATURE. 9:30am. Breakfast with Du Bois with the W E B Du Bois Center at UMass Amherst. Start your week with W. E. B. Du Bois! Every Monday, the Du Bois Center hosts an informal gathering known as Breakfast with Du Bois. Each week a group of students, faculty, UMass staff, and community members reads a different text by or about Du Bois. An informal discussion follows the reading. These events are a great way to learn more about the life and legacy of Du Bois and how his work relates to our own time. (Virtual) 

ZOOLOGY. 10am. Frog Catching Expedition with Agawam Family and Community Program at the Robinson State Park. 428 North St, Feeding Hills, MA. 

PreK LITERACY. 10am. Babies and Books, Baby Zoom Group with the South Berkshire Kids (Virtual) 

PreK LITERACY. 11am. Spring Story Time on the lawn. Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

PreK LITERACY. 11am & 2pm. Storytime. Amelia Park Children’s Museum. 413-572-4014. 29 S Broad St, Westfield, MA.

PLACEMAKING. 3pm. Help paint murals during the Fresh Paint Springfield festival! No need to get on a ladder or have any experience painting. Murals are turned into giant paint-by-numbers on special mural fabric. These sheets are set up on tables, and all you have to do is fill in the lines. After that, they are glued up permanently to the walls, so you will be able to take a tour a few days later and find the parts you painted. All ages and abilities welcome. Takes place at the Mason Square Branch Library. 413-263-6853. 765 State St, Springfield, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Ukulele Strum-Along with other ukulele enthusiasts in a fun and relaxed atmosphere guided by the Valley’s Ambassador of the Ukulele, Julie Stepanek. Use your uke, or borrow one from the Central Springfield City Library (Virtual) 

LANGUAGE ARTS. 7pm. Poets and Writers Café with The LAVA Center. Share short samples of work, talk craft, and see where the conversation leads. (Virtual) 

TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA  

ICHTHYOLOGY. 9:30am. Migratory Fish Passage Discussion with Connecticut River Conservancy (Virtual) 

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA 

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

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Russell Playground. Chesterfield, 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.  

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

ENTOMOLOGY. 5:30pm. An Introduction to Observing and Identifying Dragonflies and Damselflies. This virtual program is geared for the beginner but will be a good refresher for more experienced observers. The program will begin with a discussion on the origins and life history of the dragons and damsels, followed by a look at the families encountered in Massachusetts with hints on where to find them. The timing of this presentation is designed to get you ready for the beginning of dragonfly emergence in June. (Virtual)  

CULINARY ARTS. 6pm. Join Chef Susan Maddox as she prepares tasty Polish dishes. In this program, guests will learn that using a recipe with only a few ingredients but using them properly provides incredible flavors. She will offer excellent culinary methods and techniques for making time in the kitchen fun and efficient. Hosted by the Chicopee Public Library. (Virtual) 

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR. 7pm. Workshop: Common Cat Problems & Solutions, hosted by River Valley Co-op. Is your cat causing chaos and mischief at home? Spend an hour with cat behaviorist Elise Gouge going over common cat problems and their solutions. Using the positive, science-based methodology, Elise will help you with simple, straightforward ideas to help your cat live its best life and be the best possible companion. (Virtual)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA  

PLAYGROUP. 9:30-11:30am. Preschool Play Program in Great Barrington 

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA 

FIBER ARTS & CRAFTS. 10am. Outdoor Knit & Crafts Circle at the Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, 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.  

PLAYGROUP. 10:30am. At the Conant Park Playground Pavilion. Southampton, MA. PreK MUSIC. 10:30am. Family Jam (Virtual) 

ART STUDIES/PLACEMAKING. 3:30pm & 5pm. Fresh Paint Springfield! Take a tour on a vintage, open-air, double-decker bus to see all the murals designed by artists and what they are trying to convey through their designs. Hear behind-the-scenes anecdotes, cheer the artists on as they work, and see Springfield as you have never seen it before! Tours leave at 3:30pm and 5pm from the Mason Square Branch Library. 413-263-6853. 765 State St, Springfield, MA. 

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

AGRICULTURE. 7pm. Regenerative Agriculture, Food Justice and Nutritional Outcomes with the Charlemont Forum. Forging links between the health of our nation’s soil, having access to healthy food, and its far-reaching nutritional impact will be the themes of the Charlemont Forum’s 2021 opening event. (Virtual) 

PARENTING WORKSHOP. 8pm. Join PJ Library Western Massachusetts and parenting expert Tracie Bernstein for a workshop specifically for parents or caretakers of children ages 0-4. All are welcome. (Virtual)

Naturally Curious : A Photographic Field Guide and Month-By-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England

THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA  

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

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA. 

ANIMAL STUDIES. 10am. Forest Park Zoo on the Go Live Animal Presentation with Agawam Family and Community Program. Families with young children can enjoy a live animal presentation, read a story, and have an animal-themed dance party! Takes place at School Street Park. Agawam, 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. 

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. 

LOCAL HISTORY/GARDENING. 4:30pm. Take a guided landscape tour of Wistariahurst Museum’s historic gardens and grounds. Learn about how the landscape and gardens have evolved over the years. Discover what has historically been planted. Enjoy hearing about the history of this plot of land and stories about the Skinner family. Wistariahurst Museum. 413-322-5660. 238 Cabot St, Holyoke, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 5pm. Perform-a-Thon features Community Music School of Springfield students of all ages, levels, genres, and instruments participate in this year’s perform-a-thon. (Virtual) 

FIBER ARTS. 6pm. Sit & Stitch with Timna Tarr. Spend an evening with your crafty neighbors. Bring your portable handwork of choice – quilting, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitch, etc. – and enjoy the company of fellow slow stitchers while working on a project from the comfort of your own home. Hosted by the Gaylord Memorial Library (Virtual) 

LAWN CONCERT. 6-8pm. The Franklin County Musicians’ Cooperative hosts weekly outdoor concerts. Pack a picnic and bring the kids! Energy Park. 50 Miles St, Greenfield, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES. 7pm. Born in the Pinar del Río province of Cuba, Elio Villafranca is at the forefront of the latest generation of remarkable Cuban musicians. The Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader will showcase his new work Standing by the Crossroads with his six-piece jazz ensemble, the Jass Syncopators. (Virtual) 

MYCOLOGY. 7pm. Workshop: Mysteries of Mushrooms, an introduction to the fascinating aspects of the kingdom of fungi. Survey their life cycles, build a basic understanding of cultivation processes in this workshop, and touch on many mushroom species’ nutritional and medicinal qualities. Hosted by River Valley Co-Op (Virtual) 

LAWN CONCERT. 7pm. West Springfield Summer Concert Series. Bring blankets or folding chairs to relax or move and groove whenever the mood strikes. Morgan Road Pavilion. 413-781-3020. 459 Morgan Road, West Springfield, MA.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021
Naturally Curious : A Photographic Field Guide and Month-By-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Western MA  

GARDENING. 9:30am-4:30pm. Learn about the Native American practice of planting corn, beans, and squash together at the Native American Three Sisters Garden at Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, 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.

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.  

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

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

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. Glendale Rd, Route 183, Stockbridge, MA. 

ART STUDIESMASS MoCA From Home. (Virtual) 

PERFORMANCE ART. 6pm. RE/Emergence, a post-apocalyptic performance that examines grief, initiation, envisioning, and healing as a community after a year of unprecedented upheaval. Takes place outdoors at Park Hill Orchard. 413-527-6186. 82 Park Hill Road. Easthampton, 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.

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