Weekly Suggested Events for January 15-21, 2022

Home > Suggested Events > Weekly Suggested Events for January 15-21, 2022
Learn through the lens of full of moonlight hikes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, winter farmers' markets & more this mid-January in Western MA.

Are you looking for things to do in western Massachusetts? Seeking place-based learning ideas? 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 fun 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!

Springfield, MA ♦ For homeschoolers and schoolers with five museums to mine for information and activities, the Springfield Museums does what few others can—combine art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss into fun-filled, engaging experiences that reinforce critical thinking and observation skills through inquiry-based learning. The Springfield Museums offer a broad range of educational programs for all ages and interest levels, and they are happy to custom-build an experience for your small group. For more information: fieldtrips@springfieldmuseums.org; 413-263-6800 x322; springfieldmuseums.org/groups/school.

Featured School: Hartsbrook. Hadley, MA.

Openings in middle and high school for 2022-23! Beautiful outdoor classrooms, deep academic inquiry, music, and art in everyday learning, active land stewardship, and a culture of compassion: that is the Hartsbrook School. During this time of uncertainty, Hartsbrook has provided students with a grounding and nurturing foundation every day. Discover how meaningful a school experience can be and enjoy a vibrant, active parent community. PreK thru high school. Call 413-586-1908 x116 to begin your exploration and imagine the potential for your child. 193 Bay Road, Hadley, www.hartsbrook.org

FEATURED SCHOOL
The Academy at Charlemont
Charlemont, MA

Virtual Info Session: Wed., Jan. 19 @ 7pm

The Academy at Charlemont is a community-oriented independent day school for grades 6-12. For 40 years, Academy students have become engaged learners and articulate leaders through small classes, rigorous coursework, diverse electives in the arts and beyond, inclusive athletics, personalized advising, and student leadership. Learn more about The Academy at a Virtual Info Session on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 (7-8pm), and visit The Academy’s campus along the Deerfield River for a personalized visit day. Generous financial aid and daily round-trip bus service from Amherst, Northampton, and the Hilltowns are available. Ready to learn more about The Academy family for your family? Find details & Info Session registration at www.charlemont.org.

FEATURED SCHOOL
Amherst Montessori School
Amherst, MA

Amherst Montessori School
Ages 3mo-12yrs

Amherst Montessori School believes your child is inherently intelligent and that hands-on learning is critical to their developing brains. In mixed-age classrooms, your child is empowered to explore, discover, and learn through all five senses. In a beautiful new building designed uniquely for children, classrooms are filled with sunlight, natural materials, and views outside to playgrounds. Trained Montessori teachers nurture each child’s innate curiosity and independence. For more information: 413-253-3101; kedreich@amherstmontessori.org; amherstmontessori.org.

FEATURED SCHOOL
Four Rivers Charter Public School
Greenfield, MA

Virtual Open Houses on Jan 15, 26, & Feb 12

Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield, MA, is accepting applications for Fall 2022. Prospective families can attend a Virtual Open House on Sat., January 15 at 10am, Wed., January 26 at 7pm, or Sat., February 12 at 10am. Four Rivers is a small Expeditionary Learning school for grades 7-12, dedicated to educating young people for lives of learning and service. Four Rivers offers a rigorous college preparatory program aligned with the MA curriculum frameworks and emphasizes character development for moral and social responsibility. Students connect learning to the real world, work hard, and develop the independence and thinking skills needed in college and beyond. For more info & Zoom link, visit FourRiversCharter.org.

FEATURED MUSIC SCHOOL
Berkshire Music School
Pittsfield, MA

Now Enrolling for Winter Session

Berkshire Music School (BMS) in Pittsfield, MA, is now enrolling for private lessons, in-person and online, for all levels and ages starting on January 3, 2022. Lessons may be arranged for 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes each week to meet the individual student’s needs and may begin at any point throughout the year. BMS’s fun Community Group Classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, with a new winter session beginning at the end of January 2022. Visit the BMS website at
www.berkshiremusicschool.org for class offerings and check out their new online registration feature! Share the joy of music and check out why the Berkshire Music School was named the Berkshire Eagle 2021 Best of the Berkshires “Best After-School Program.”

FEATURED SCHOOL
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts
Charter Public School

South Hadley, MA

Accepting applications for 2022/2023
Deadline: Feb 1, 2022


Do you know a student who would thrive in a creative, collaborative, arts-focused learning environment? The Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (PVPA) in South Hadley, MA, is accepting applications for the 2022/2023 school year for students entering grades 7-11. Enrollment to PVPA is open to all MA residents on a space-available basis. Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2022. Enrollment Lottery: Feb 14, 2022. As a public charter school with 400 students from 60+ communities, PVPA offers a free, college-prep education with arts at the heart of all they do. Apply at www.pvpa.org. Info session on Thursday, Jan 20, 2022, from 6:30-8pm. Registration online. For more info, call 413-552-1580 x134 or email
admissions@pvpa.org.

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List of Weekly Suggested Events

SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022

FAMILY RADIO: 9-10am. Hilltown Family Variety Show. WXOJ 103.3FM Northampton, MA. (Radio) 

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING. Daylight. Outdoor ice rink is open at Beacon Field. Greenfield, MA.

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING. Daylight. Outdoor ice skating rink open at Lee Athletic Field. Lee, MA.

AGRICULTURE/FARMERS’ MARKET. 9am-1pm.  Pittsfield Farmers’ Market at Zion Lutheran Church. 74 First Street. Pittsfield, MA. 

LOCAL FOOD/ FARMERS’ MARKET. 10am. Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers Market features locally grown and produced foods, including fruits and vegetables, cheese, meats, breads, and more. Pick up supplies for family dinner night! Cooking together with the kids supports learning while strengthening family connections. Held at Housy Dome, 1064 Main Street, Housatonic, MA.  

AVIATION. 10am-2pm. Open Cockpit Day. Come learn about aviation and vintage aircrafts at the New England Air Museum. 860-623-3305. 36 Perimeter Rd, Windsor Locks, CT. 

LOCAL FOOD/ FARMERS’ MARKET. 10am. Winter Farmers Market. Pick up supplies for family dinner night! Cooking together with the kids supports learning while strengthening family connections. 310 Appleton St, Holyoke, MA. 

CULINARY ARTS. 11am. Communication and Cooking. Cooking is a great way to expand your child’s communication skills. It helps children learn how to follow directions, expands on vocabulary, and creates a shared experience for the adult and the child. Families with kids ages 2-5 will make a recipe for deep-dish pizza cupcakes. While the recipe cooks, a book will be read together and “chat” about the process. Hosted by the Southwick Public Library (Virtual) 

GARDENING/ FLOWERS. 12-2pm. Dreaming of a luscious cutting garden that produces blooms all season long? Join Colie Collen, the grower, and designer behind Flower Scout, for this comprehensive planning course, starting, troubleshooting, and maintaining a prolific cut flower garden. Hosted by Berkshire Botanical Garden. (Virtual) 

ENGINEERING/ LEGOS. 3pm. LEGO Engineering Club. Learn about Gravity Force, Open to children ages 5+.Parent or accompanying adult is required. Held at the Arms Library. 413-625-0306. 60 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls, MA. 

LOCAL HISTORY/ SKIING. 3:30pm. From the 1930s to the 1970s, forty-four ski areas were developed throughout the Berkshires, ranging from community rope tows to all-inclusive resorts. Only seven remain today. An author, skier, and meteorologist, Jeremy Davis will present Lost Ski Areas of the Berkshires at Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA. 

MOONLIGHT WALK. 6:30pm. Moonlight Forest Walk. Enjoy a moonlit evening walking and listening to the sounds of the night with Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-637-0320. 472 West Mountain Road, Lenox, MA.

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Self-Directed Learning: Young Scientist Challenge

Everything that we do has some science behind it. Everyday tasks, like the simple act of boiling water for tea and riding a bicycle, are all powered by scientific principles, offering us a wide array of possibilities for further innovation and change.  Curious about how something works or interested in making a discovery? Research it, and make it happen! Students in grades 5-8 are invited to do just that by participating in the annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge. The challenge asks students to create a short video explaining a solution they’ve found to a problem related to how we work, play, or relax. Read more in our post, Young Scientist Challenge: Encouraging Students to Share Their Passion for Science.

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Self-Directed Learning: Chain Reactions

There are lots of concepts that children learn that involve chain reactions. The interrelatedness of nature is entirely dependent on an intricately woven set of relationships. When one thing changes – the availability of a resource or the population of an animal, perhaps – everything else is affected. Human populations experience a similar phenomenon – such relationships are all around us! However, the abstract nature of interrelated relationships can be challenging for kids to grasp. Explaining complex concepts using metaphor or visual representations can be helpful, but what about something that kids can touch and see themselves? Something that perfectly illustrates the idea of interrelatedness and chain reactions but happens much more quickly than chain reactions do in nature or within human society? Read more in our post, Science & Fun of Chain Reactions.

MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2022

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING. Daylight. Outdoor ice rink is open at Beacon Field. Greenfield, MA.

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING. Daylight. Outdoor ice skating rink open at Lee Athletic Field. Lee, MA.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 9am-4:30pm. 38th Annual MLK Day Celebration. The Resistance Center for Peace and Justice is hosting their 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. This day-long virtual event is free and open to the public. It will include a historic walking tour, a convocation with speakers, community workshops, and opportunities to get involved in social justice work. This year’s event will center around the idea that land justice here fosters justice everywhere. We strive to explore the connections between Dr. King’s legacy and contemporary struggles for peace and justice. We hope to unite the community around actions to fight for civil rights and eradicate the three evils of systemic racism, poverty, and war. (Virtual) 

 

ART HISTORY/ RACE. 1pm. Illustration has been at the forefront of significant, defining events in America from the Civil War and Reconstruction Era to the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movements of the 1960s and today. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day, Robyn Phillips-Pendleton, co-curator of the Norman Rockwell Museum’s upcoming exhibition, Imprinted: Illustrating Race, will discuss her thesis and preview the exhibition focusing on widely circulated published imagery produced over the course of four centuries, which has impacted public perception about race in America. (Virtual)

MOONLIGHT SNOWSHOE HIKE. 5:30pm. January’s full moon rises on Martin Luther King Day. Join other nighttime adventurers for a snowshoe hike under the light of the Wolf Moon. Natural history of the night, quotes, and moon lore will be shared during this two-mile adventure. All levels of experience are welcome for this moderately strenuous outdoor experience. Participants must be 18 years or older and comfortable hiking over moderate terrain. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.  

MOONLIGHT HIKE. 6pm. Full Moon Hike Series with the Berkshire Running Center at the Berkshire Hills Country Club. 500 Benedict Rd, Pittsfield, MA.

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Self-Directed Learning: Martin Luther King, Jr.

During the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for an end to racism and the enacting of civil rights legislation (see the short documentary, The March). From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., King’s speech was delivered to an audience of over 250,000 people. The speech, now known as “I Have a Dream,” is considered one of the most important moments in the American Civil Rights Movement. Read more in our post, Inspiration through Voice: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley 

PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County 

PUPPETS. 10am. Puppets, songs, music, and dancing with Tom Knight! Geat for all ages. Join via Zoom. Hosted by South Berkshire Kids. (Virtual)   

STORYTIME. 10am. Preschool Storytime. Listen to a story and do a craft for children ages 2-5. Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA. 

CULINARY ARTS. 10am. What’s Cooking Cookbook Club. Join the Cookbook Club’s discussion to improve your cooking skills, share great recipes, hear about the latest new cookbooks, and more. Hosted by the Springfield City Library. (Virtual) 

SENSORY PLAY. 10am. Sensory Learning and Play. This live video will offer suggestions and hands-on learning practices for ideas in play, how to incorporate a sensory diet for different ages, and ways to build literacy skills (Virtual)  

PLAYGROUP. 10:30-11:30am. For ages 0-5 at the Edwards Public Library. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 30 East Street, Southampton, MA. 

MUSIC PROGRAM/ PreK. 10:30am. Sing With Me preschool music program at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

STE(A)M/ PreK. 1pm. Pre-School STEAM Program. Learn how to inspire your kids to engineer, create, design, explore, and build at home. Becket Athenaeum. 413-623-5483. 3367 Main St, Becket, MA.  

PLAYGROUP. 3:30-4:30pm. For ages 0-5 at the Westhampton Public Library. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA. 

ART STUDIES. 7pm. For the past several years, museums worldwide have held a campaign called #5: promoting the public’s knowledge of at least five women artists. In this presentation, Women Painters Through the Centuries, explore the highlights of twenty-five women painters over the past five centuries. Hosted by the Forbes Library. (Virtual) 

ASTRONOMY/ ZODIAC. 7pm. AstroQuest. As the universe expands, be sure that your knowledge and appreciation of all things astronomical expands along with it! AstroQuest is a monthly virtual series that features a Q&A segment on a topic in astronomy and a tour of the sights you can observe. Participants will also be treated to photographs from local amateur astronomers highlighting recent observations. Hosted by the Springfield Museums. (Virtual)

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Self-Directed Learning: Intercultural Competence

Food connects us. From the hands and land that grow and nurture our ingredients to the moment we gather together and share a meal, food has the power to reveal the cultural layers that help us learn more about identity and place. Read more in our post, The Universal Language of Food: Cooking for Intercultural Competence and Compassion.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley 

PLAYGROUPSSouth Berkshire County. 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County.

PLAYGROUP. 9:30am. Grow play & learn group hosted by the Storrs Library. (Virtual) 

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Learn n’ Playgroup with Community and Family Engagement West Springfield at Unico Building. 1 Unico Way. West Springfield, MA.  

PLAYGROUP. 10-11am. For ages 0-5 at St. Philip’s Church Parish Hall. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 126 Main St., Easthampton, MA. 

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10am. Storytime with the Montague Center Library. (Virtual)  

MINDFULNESS/ FOREST BATHING. 10am. Forest Bathing/Shinrin Yoku. Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese practice of taking in the forest atmosphere or Forest Bathing. This guided experience leads you on a slow, intentional walk into the woods to de-stress and get reconnected with nature. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.  

NEW PARENT GROUP. 10:30am & 1pm. Beyond Birth groups meet weekly. New babies birth-6mos are at 1pm and older babies 6mos-1 yr are at 10:30am. Amherst, MA. 

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10:30am. Preschool Storytime at the Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.  

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10:30am. Storytime at the Becket Athenaeum. 413-623-5483. 3367 Main St, Becket, MA.   

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10:30am. Storytime at the Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.  

KINDERGARTEN READINESS. 11am. Ready for K with the Wilbraham Library. (Virtual) 

MUSIC STUDIES/ PreK. 11am. You & Me in Music. Join Renee Coro in this developmentally appropriate music class for ages 2-5 years old- engage in the many aspects of music, including singing, playing instruments, and moving in a fun, social group setting on Zoom. (Virtual) 

TRADE CAREERS. 2:30pm. Teen Trade Careers. Explore high-demand careers with shorter paths to a real paycheck. Learn about apprenticeships and different types of trades. For students in 7-12 grade. Hosted by Southwick Public Library. (Virtual) 

STEM/ CHEMISTRY. 3:30pm. Monthly Slime Club for ages 8-12. Join the Berkshire Athenaeum for drop-in slime-making fun. Explore a new type of slime each month. Be sure to wear your messy clothes! Berkshire Athenaeum. 413-499-9480, x111. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.  

PLAYGROUP. 3:30-4:30pm. For ages 0-5 at Goshen Town Hall. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 42 Main St., Goshen, MA. 

STORYTIME/ BIOGRAPHY. 4:15pm. True Tales: Stories about real people & events is an educational and fascinating story program, especially for elementary schoolers! The librarian will share stories of real-life people and events with biographies and other informational books in a friendly, appealing, illustrated picture book format. Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA. 

CHESS. 5:30pm. Play chess and learn how to play chess with Chess In The Parks. They will offer food and crafts for kids and adults too. 117 Main St, Indian Orchard, MA.  

ANIMAL STUDIES/ CATS. 6:30pm. Understanding Your Cat. Do you want to understand why your cats do certain things? Rachel S. Geller, Ed.D. is a cat behavior specialist and will talk about cats and answer questions you may have about your cat’s behavior. Hosted by the East Longmeadow Public Library (Virtual) 

ICE HOCKEY. 7pm. Belchertown @ Easthampton. High school Ice Hockey at Williston Northampton School Lossone Rink. Easthampton, MA. 

DENDROLOGY. 7pm. Restoring the American Chestnut to the U.S. Eastern Forest: Can This Keystone Species Be Brought Back? John Meiklejohn will share his knowledge and experience of being part of The American Chestnut Foundation and their mission to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range. Hosted by the Granville Public Library. (Virtual) 

PARENTING WORKSHOP/ MENTAL HEALTH. 7pm. Parent Training with Peggy Hoime. Even before the COVID pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to 1 in 5 children ages 3-17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. Recently, a coalition of the nation’s leading experts in pediatric health declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. What do our children need now more than ever from the adults in their life? What do they need to prevent the mental challenges that many are experiencing? (Virtual)

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Self-Directed Learning: Sweet Potatoes

Warm, starchy comfort food is a delicious way to enjoy the long nights and cold winds of New England in January, and sweet potatoes are the perfect pick! With a long and interesting history, the sweet potato can be a lens for learning about agricultural history, cultural studies, and culinary arts. Take the kids to pick out sweet potatoes at your local co-op or winter farmers’ market. Ask the farmer how they grew the potatoes and when they were harvested. See how many varieties you can find at the co-op, then head home with these sweet tubers for a lesson in the kitchen and explorations in taste and texture! Discover a sweet recipe for preparing lasagna in our post, Comfort Food: Roasted Sweet Potato Lasagna.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley 

PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County 

PLAYGROUP. 9:30am. Infant Playgroup. Play, read, sing and connect with other families. Opportunities to discuss child development and share learning ideas to do at home. Best for infants ages 0-15mo. Registration required. Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA.  

ANIMAL STUDIES/ HERPETOLOGY. 10am. Virtual Exploration: Your Wild Backyard. Springfield Museums’ Educators explain what makes a reptile a reptile and explore their habitats and adaptations in this live class. Participants will also be introduced to reptiles who make their homes here at the Springfield Museums and who you might meet out in the wild! Classrooms, homeschoolers, and families are welcome to register. Recommended ages 6-12. (Virtual)

PLAYGROUP. 10-11am. For ages 0-5 at St. Philip’s Church Parish Hall. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 126 Main St., Easthampton, MA. 

NEW PARENT GROUP. 10:30am & 1pm. Beyond Birth groups meet weekly in both Northampton (Thurs) and Amherst (Wed)! New babies birth-6 mos are at 1pm and older babies 6 mos to 1 year are at 10:30am. Northampton & Amherst, MA. 

ARTS & CRAFTS. 11am & 2pm. Crafts at Amelia Park Children’s Museum. 413-572-4014. 29 S Broad St, Westfield, MA. 

ART HISTORY/ ANCIENT AMERICAS. 12:15-1:30 pm. Mastery and Materiality in the Ancient Americas. Ji Mary Seo of Harvard University explores artistic traditions of the ancient Americas, from highly sophisticated weaving, carving, and metallurgical practices to notions of material preciousness in the pre-Hispanic world. This talk, which accompanies the exhibition The Body Adorned: Artistry and Legacy of the Ancient Americas at the Springfield Museums, examines artworks from the Andes and Mesoamerica and considers the pre-Hispanic values of these objects made evident through their construction and materiality. Hosted by the Springfield Museums. (Virtual) 

CODING. 4pm. Children in grades 2-5 will enjoy some “unplugged” coding-based activities experiencing algorithms, sequence, and debugging through hands-on activities and play. Southwick Public Library. 413-569-1221. 95 Feeding Hills Road. Southwick, MA. 

FOLK TOYS/ PLAY. 5pm. Kendama Club with the Pioneer Valley Movement Collective at Pulaski Park in Northampton, MA.  

STEM. 6pm. Maker Lab. Explore your creativity with hands-on activities from electric circuits to origami. For children in grades 2-4. Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA. 

HEALTH & WELLNESS. 7pm. Relieving Tension and Pain in Neck and Your Shoulders: The Gentle Power of Somatic Movement and Embodiment. Hosted by River Valley Co-Op. (Virtual) 

PARENTING WORKSHOP. 7pm. Sensory Training for Parents and Caregivers. In this training, you will learn about how a “Sensory Diet” can benefit your child and review “seeker” and “avoiding” behaviors. Suggestions and specific activities shared for you and your child to engage with. The Hampden Library hosts this program. (Virtual) 

MINDFULNESS/ MEDIATION. 7pm. Mindfulness & Meditation. Health care officials and practitioners have consistently recommended mindfulness practice as one of the best skills for building resilience to weather uncertain times. The Pelham Library offers virtual mindfulness and meditation classes that, though designed for beginners, will benefit anyone wanting to continue or reinforce their own practice. (Virtual)

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Self-Directed Learning: Beavers

Not only is winter the ideal season for tracking because of the blank canvas that snow provides, but the cold temperatures also help to open up access to habitats that trackers cannot explore during the rest of the year. In particular, winter is an excellent time to learn about beaver habitat! Read more in our post, Nature Guide for January: Beaver Habitats.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022

PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley 

PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County 

PLAYGROUPSFamily Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County 

PLAYGROUP. 10-11am. For ages 0-5 at St. Philip’s Church Parish Hall. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 126 Main St., Easthampton, MA. 

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10am. Storytime with the Cushman Library (Virtual)  

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Baby Lapsit at the Montague Center Library. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street, Montague, MA. 

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10:30am. Story time at the Gaylord Memorial Library. 413-538-5047. 47 College Street. South Hadley, MA.  

PLAYGROUP. 11am. Grow, play and learn group hosted by the East Longmeadow Library. This program is geared for ages 2-5 years old. (Virtual) 

GRANDPARENTING SUPPORT. 1pm. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Tea Time, every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month, with Community Action’s Family Center. 413-475-1555. 90 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA.

MINDFULNESS. 1pm. Mountain Mindfulness. A winter walk that incorporates elements of forest bathing, mindful breathing, nature connection, tree identification, and tracking, and meditation skills culminating in a fire ceremony and time for sharing and reflection. Leave with inspiration and skills for accessing the healing benefits of nature back home! Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA. 

MUSIC STUDIES/ TEENS. 3pm. Intro to Ukulele for Teens. Instruments are provided. No registration is required. Springfield City Library: Forest Park Branch. 413-263-6843. 380 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA.  

OUTDOOR ICE SKATING. 4-6pm. Family ice skate happens every Friday evening, sponsored by the Worthington Parks and Recreation Committee. Town Pond Park. Worthington, MA

SPORTS/ ICE HOCKEY. 7pm. UMass Hockey vs. Northeastern at the UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave, Amherst, MA.

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Self-Directed Learning: Winter Bird Watching

During the winter, young wildlife enthusiasts can focus their attention on feathered friends, one of the few creatures who are still very visible throughout the coldest months of the year. Whether your family are avid birders or simply enjoy watching feeder visitors, there are lots of ways to learn about the local environment and to participate in citizen science by watching birds this winter! From owls to chickadees, there are many ways to engage with the local landscape and to help contribute information to important studies. Read more in our post, Becoming a Citizen Scientist Opens Your Awareness to Birdlife In Your Backyard.

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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, Buckland, Colrain, Goshen, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Huntington, Palmer, Shelburne, South Hadley, Tyringham, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

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