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!
Family Program: Follow the Flow happens on October 16, 2022, 1–3pm at Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA. Free admission. Explore rivers in art with SCMA Student Museum Educators in the galleries, paint watercolor droplets to take home or add to our collaborative river, discover the historic Mill River flood through the eyes of a fish, and learn about the Mill Riverwalk kits created by educators Karen Bryant and Wendy Stein, available for loan from Forbes Library. Pick up self-guided sample activities from the kits, ready to be tried out with your family along our own Paradise Pond, designed for ages 4-12 and their caregivers. Activities are ongoing at SCMA from 1–3pm. Click to learn more: https://bit.ly/3RFpGQa
InfinityEd is an instructional organization devoted to providing students with what they need to succeed by providing an education that goes beyond the limits of the public school system. By fostering an environment that encourages discussion-based learning over lectures, InfinityEd nourishes a student’s love of learning and promotes a deeper understanding of content. Click here to schedule a free trial/consultation and intro lesson for the program of your choice. They offer programs via multiple formats: remote, in-office (Amherst, MA), and in-center (Hampden, MA). Prospective students also have the choice of individualized, one-on-one instruction or working within a small group of similar-minded students. Remember: education makes life better! Learn more at infinityed.us.
Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA, celebrates the opening of Winter Festival: Solstice Celebration! from Nov 12-Jan 8,featuring a performance by award-winning musicianPaul Winter on Saturday, November 12. The concert begins at 5:30pm in the Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema. Premium tickets include reserved theater seating in prime locations. General admission tickets include access to available theater seats upon arrival. Doors open at 5pm. Following the concert, join others in the second-floor galleries in the Winter Festival exhibits for a reception. See Santa Classics by Philadelphia-based artist Ed Wheeler and Hoots Holiday: A Solstice Tale! Reserve your tickets online at berkshiremuseum.org.
The Common School will hold its annual Children’s Carnival on Saturday, October 15, from 10am-3pm., (rain or shine) on the school’s campus at 521 South Pleasant Street in Amherst, MA. Open to the community, the Children’s Carnival will offer old-fashioned activities, games, and entertainment with local children’s musician, Latin Grammy award winner Mister G. Admission to the carnival is free. Games and activities have a small fee. Breakfast, hearty lunches, and treats such as cotton candy, homemade baked goods, and smoothies will be available for purchase. For more information, call 413-256-8989 or go to www.commonschool.org
The Academy at Charlemont is a community-oriented independent day school for grades 6-PG. For over 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. Visit The Academy’s campus along the Deerfield River in Charlemont, MA, and learn more from students and faculty at their Open House on Sunday, October 23rd, from 1-3pm. 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? Pre-register for their Open House on their website: www.charlemont.org
River Valley Co-op is offering a wide range of FREE community workshops and classes this Fall. Most of these will take place virtually, but they will hold a number in person at one of their locations in the Pioneer Valley. Hosted by various western MA teachers, business owners, authors, and community leaders, classes cover a range of topics such as time management, fermenting your own veggies, soil ecology, yoga, and much more! There are even workshops and classes designed specifically for families with young children – yoga for kids, pumpkin seed savings, natural dyes, and more. To see the complete list of workshops and to register, visit www.rivervalley.coop.
There’s still time to enroll your little one in an exceptional arts education offering an innovative and engaging curriculum for preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten age students. Prelude Preschool of the Arts, an arts-integrated preschool in Springfield, MA, provides a nurturing environment for children and families to explore, learn, and create. Offering a flexible, arts-centered preschool programming for ages 2.9-5, children are cared for by a dedicated team of expert artists, musicians, and educators within the walls of the treasured Community Music School of Springfield. To learn more, call 413-732-8428, or visit online at www.communitymusicschool.com.
Take a private lesson in person at BMS’s historic campus in Pittsfield or online.
Start the new school year off on the right note with lessons at the Berkshire Music School! Take a private lesson in person at BMS’s historic campus in Pittsfield or online from the comfort of your home. Private lessons may be arranged for 30, 45, or 60 minutes each week to meet the individual student’s needs. Interested in taking a music class with others? Try their fun Community Group Classes, offered on a pay-what-you-can basis! BMS private lessons and Community Group Classes are for students of all ages and levels. Check out why Berkshire Music School was named the Berkshire Eagle’s 2021 Best of the Berkshires “After-School Program.” For more info on how to register & class offerings, visit the BMS website: www.BerkshireMusicSchool.org
Celebrate the whole child! The Giving Tree preschool program is thoughtfully designed to support young children’s social-emotional growth, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills. Students enjoy ample outdoor exploration and playtime each day in their rambling and rugged Outdoor Classroom. Only 15 minutes from downtown Greenfield, set among the woods and pastures of Gill. Giving Tree is committed to fostering active, hands-on early learning experiences that are playful and purposeful, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. Licensed by EEC and accredited by NAEYC & HighScope. Sliding scale tuition..
Partner with Hilltown Families in your online advertising! Delivering your message each week to over 35,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers each week, Hilltown Families can bring your message to thousands of families in Western Massachusetts. Serving the region since 2005, Hilltown Families is an award-winning, online communication network, recognized as a leading family strengthening initiative in the region, promoting “positive parenting through the social norm of community social connectedness.” A trusted partner in your online marketing! To find out how we can partner together in your online marketing and outreach, contact us for info on our affordable options and packages: swildfield@hilltownfamilies.org. Have an event, resource, or opportunity you’re ready to promote? Click HERE to submit your information.
The Common School will hold its annual Children’s Carnival on Saturday, October 15, from 10am-3pm., (Rain date is on October 16) on the school’s campus at 521 South Pleasant Street in Amherst, MA. Open to the community, the Children’s Carnival will offer old-fashioned activities, games, and entertainment with local children’s musician, Latin Grammy award winner Mister G. Admission to the carnival is free. Games and activities have a small fee. Breakfast, hearty lunches, and treats such as cotton candy, homemade baked goods, and smoothies will be available for purchase. For more information, call 413-256-8989 or go to www.commonschool.org
With some local cemeteries pushing their 400th birthday, western Massachusetts’ burying grounds are filled with opportunities for hands-on community-based learning. Through self-guided tours and seasonal events, families can explore local cemeteries to deepen their understanding of community history. Read more in our post,Cemeteries Support Learning about Local History & New England Culture.
FEATURED EVENT:Family Program: Follow the Flow happens on October 16, 2022, 1–3pm at Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA. Free admission. Explore rivers in art with SCMA Student Museum Educators in the galleries, paint watercolor droplets to take home or add to our collaborative river, discover the historic Mill River flood through the eyes of a fish, and learn about the Mill Riverwalk kits created by educators Karen Bryant and Wendy Stein, available for loan from Forbes Library. Pick up self-guided sample activities from the kits, ready to be tried out with your family along our own Paradise Pond, designed for ages 4-12 and their caregivers. Activities are ongoing at SCMA from 1–3pm. Click to learn more: https://bit.ly/3RFpGQa
FAMILY RADIO: 7-8am. Hilltown Family Variety Show. WXOJ 103.3FM Northampton, MA. (Radio)
Spiders may not be a popular animal to study, but there is much to learn from these eight-legged neighbors; plus, they’re everywhere in the early autumn, otherwise known as spider season! Learning about the different species of spiders is one place to start. With a field guide in hand (or an online arachnid group), stop to take the time to learn about spiders in their natural habitat, seeking answers to questions like, “What kinds of webs do they spin?” and “How are they beneficial to gardens and ecosystems?” For today’s self-directed learning module, spiders spin a web of interests that connect us to place through amazing arachnids. Here are a few questions and interests to lead the way: Why are we afraid of spiders? (Psychology!) How do spiders spin their webs? (Vibrations!) Can spiders fly? (Yes, sort of, thanks to physics!)
Self-Directed Learning: Pumpkin & Winter Squash Harvest Season
Pumpkins and winter squashes are a traditional harvest in New England. In Western Massachusetts, you’ll find locally grown varieties being sold at roadside stands, co-ops, and local farms this time of year. Memories of pumpkin games at town festivals, the smell of winter squash baking with cinnamon and nutmeg, and gourds decorating dining room tables and front porches conjured up a connection to place through the seasons. In today’s self-directed learning module, let’s use this local harvest to guide our learning about art, science, and culinary arts.
📚 LIBRARY ADVENTURES. Berkshire Libraries Fall Crawl – Explore the Berkshires by visiting libraries across the county! Just pick up a passport at the first library you visit and then drive from library to library, collecting passport stamps, prizes, and making crafts to keep or share. The following libraries will be participating: Adams, Becket, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Williamstown. Berkshire County.
Self-Directed Learning: Mapping Skills/Local History
While old maps are interesting on their own, they provide an excellent entry point for local history studies. The Massachusetts State Department of Education includes local history in its frameworks for third-grade social studies. Still, local history is a topic anyone can learn about at varying depths by self-directed learners of all ages. Read more in our post, “Maps of Massachusetts: Supporting Social Studies & Local History.”
📚 LIBRARY ADVENTURES. Berkshire Libraries Fall Crawl – Explore the Berkshires by visiting libraries across the county! Just pick up a passport at the first library you visit and then drive from library to library, collecting passport stamps, prizes, and making crafts to keep or share. The following libraries will be participating: Adams, Becket, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Williamstown. Berkshire County.
Seeds and their pods appear not only in our natural landscape this time of year, but they also fill our social scenery. Stalks of corn are bundled together with scarecrows as autumn decorations. Pinecones are scented with cinnamon and sold in stores. Sheaves of wheat are gathered with a variety of seed pods and sold as bouquets. Indian corn is hung on doors or added to centerpieces. Illustrations of acorns adorn circulars in the mail or accent classrooms. — But the influence of seeds isn’t always so evident. They often reside in liminal spaces, waiting to be discovered, eager to release their fullest potential, and do not know doubt. Never has a maple tree sprung from where an acorn has been planted. This autumn, let seeds lead and teach valuable life lessons while revealing their social impact and historical significance. Read our post, “Mindful Engagement through the Seasons: Seeds,” and support your interest in fiber arts, plant biology, world history, candy, slavery, food history, snack foods, and theater history.
📚 LIBRARY ADVENTURES. Berkshire Libraries Fall Crawl – Explore the Berkshires by visiting libraries across the county! Just pick up a passport at the first library you visit and then drive from library to library, collecting passport stamps, prizes, and making crafts to keep or share. The following libraries will be participating: Adams, Becket, Cheshire, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Otis, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge, West Stockbridge, and Williamstown. Berkshire County.
Halloween is a holiday that invites us to tell stories through costumes, allowing us to engage in fantasy and role-playing for at least a single night. Traditional costumes for Halloween include ghosts, zombies, iconic monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein, werewolves, etc.), and harvest icons (scarecrows, pumpkins, corn, etc.). Still, costumes, in general, can span the genres of history, reality, and culture. With interest in costumes being one many families consider this time of year, today’s self-directed learning module offers lessons in puppetry, indigenous cultures, history, film studies, costume design, storytelling, fashion design, and much more! Let costumes be your catalyst for learning today!
MUSIC STUDIES/ DRUMMING. 6:45pm. The Hilltown Intergenerational Drum Circle – All ages and beginners are welcome to this biweekly drum circle, led by Rosie Fanale. Call to confirm before heading over. Shelburne Senior Center. 413-625-8470. Shelburne Falls, MA.
One of the best ways to pique children’s interest in classical music is simply through exposure. By combining symphony performances and concerts with an exploration of musical instruments, community-based educational resources, and close listening to recorded classical music, families can support children in gaining a deepened awareness of what defines classical music. The spooky season of Halloween is an excellent opportunity to introduce kids to select performances, like Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens and Funeral March of a Marionette by Gounod. Additionally, families can listen to classical music at home or in the car – beginning with the classical music episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show. Families can test out activities for expanding listening time to keep kids excited about classical music! Check local resources for upcoming performances open to the public this time of year, including Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, and the Pioneer Valley Symphony.
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.
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Agawam, Amherst, Becket, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Chicopee, Colrain, Cummington, Easthampton, Goshen, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Hatfield, Heath, Hinsdale/Peru, Huntington, Leyden, Montgomery, Mount Washington, Northern Berkshire, Orange, Otis, Palmer, Pelham, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Tolland, Tyringham, Westhampton, Windsor, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Hilltown Families 
