Discover ways to support your interests and education through community engagement for the new year!
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
SUGGESTED EVENTS: DECEMBER 31, 2022 – JANUARY 6, 2023
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Monday, January 2, 2023
Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Friday, January 6, 2023
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING IDEAS
COMMUNITY-BASED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Featured Events, Resources, & Opportunities
Image Credit: Eric Carle, Illustration for Do Bears Have Mothers Too? by Aileen Fisher. Collection of Eric and Barbara Carle. © 1973 Penguin Random House LLC.
Bring your art- and book-loving family to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art December 28-31. The Museum, which is devoted to the art of children’s books, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with three special exhibitions: Eric Carle Book Birthdays , The Carle Collection: Recent Acquisitions, and Celebrating Collage, A 20th Anniversary Exhibition . In addition to exploring art in the galleries, drop into their art studio to create 3-D sculptures, join in a storytime, and let the kids go on a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum. (Note: The Carle will be closed Jan 1-13 for routine maintenance.) The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is located at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more info, visit www.carlemuseum.org .
Spring Young Company high school students looking to further their actor training, begins Feb 28 at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA ! This program is designed for high school students looking to begin or continue their actor training. These young actors work on voice, movement, text, and scene work, often finding what they haven’t found elsewhere. Spring Session 2023 runs Feb 28-May 6. Classes meet twice a week. Auditions are required and will be held in-Person at Shakespeare & Company on Fri, Jan 6, from 4-8pm & Sat, Jan 7, from 10am-4pm , at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. Learn more about auditions: www.shakespeare.org/education/spring-young-company . Email schedule an audition: springsyco@gmail.com .
Check out Whole Children’s bright, sunny new center at 11 Village Hill Road in Northampton! Their goal is to create an inclusive environment where every child is successful and valued for who they are, no matter their abilities or disabilities. Winter Sessions include a variety of classes, including friendship band, yoga dance, book club, theater, cooking, and so much more. Whole Children is filling a vital need by creating classes where the hard work of skill-building is made social and fun for children of all abilities and, perhaps just as importantly, by creating a supportive and caring community for their parents. Classes run from January 9, 2023 – March 11, 2023. Register at wholechildren.org !
Registration is open for spring semester classes at Holyoke Community College Classes begin January 17. Flexible. Affordable. Holyoke Community College. Email admissions@ hcc .edu today.
Inspired academics, gifted teachers, music and art in everyday learning, active land stewardship, and a culture of compassion: this is the Hartsbrook School Now accepting applications for 2023-24, pre-K thru high school! For more information, call 413-586-1908 x116 to begin your exploration. Visit the school online at www.hartsbrook.org Hadley, MA.
Collaborating community organizations will host Springfield’s annual citywide Dr. King Day Celebration on Monday, January 16, 2023, from 11am-1pm . This year’s theme, Chasing the Dream, Arriving Together, and Standing in the Light , will engage youth, community leaders, and artists with performances to reflect on the legacy of Dr. King and the struggle for social justice in communities across the country. Held in person at the MassMutual Center , the event is hosted by Martin Luther King Jr Family Services, Community Music School of Springfield, Inclusive Strategies LLC, Springfield College and Focus Springfield, Legacy Sounds, Springfield Cultural Partnership, Focus Springfield, Urban League of Springfield, and Springfield Public Schools.
The 10th Annual Easthampton WinterFest Saturday, February 11, 2023. A major fundraiser to help support the health of Nashawannuck Pond, this event provides a winter celebration for the community near and far. Online events begin in January designed to engage the community, such as the Easthampton trivia contest, photo contest, snowflake-making contest, and more. In-person events begin February 2 with the 10 Days of WinterFest, ending on February 11 for the actual festivities of Winterfest. Look forward to an artisan, craft, and vendor fair, horse-drawn carriage rides, ice harvesting and ice carving demonstrations, magic shows, bingo, and a deca-dance gala featuring Johnny and the Flashback, an ice bar and hors d’oeuvres. More info: www.nashawannuckpond.org/winterfest.html
The Bement School accepting applications for fall 2023 . Attend a virtual open house to learn more about the school! Contact the admission office at admit@bement.org with questions and to receive the Zoom link for the open house.
Amherst Montessori School For more information: 413-253-3101; kedreich@amherstmontessori.org ; amherstmontessori.org .
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School accepting applications for grades 7-11 for the 2023/24 school year at www.pvpa.org/admissions Application deadline: February 10, 2023. Lottery: February 17, 2023. Limited seats available for the 2nd semester of the 2022/23 school year. Applications will be accepted for Grades 7, 10 & 11 until January 2, 2023. Lottery: January 6, 2023. Students will start by January 31, 2023. Questions? Email admissions @pvpa.org
Make music with the Community Music School of Springfield ! CMSS offers high-quality music instruction for students of all ages and levels with flexible scheduling and a choice of online or in-person learning. Whether you’re just starting or are 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 future music lesson is a click or a phone call away! More info: www.communitymusicschool.com
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. Learn more from students and faculty at our Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, from 7-8pm , or email admissions@charlemont.org Pre-register at charlemont.org .
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Partner with HIlltown Families!
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.
List of Weekly Suggested Events
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2022
Image Credit: Eric Carle, Illustration for Do Bears Have Mothers Too? by Aileen Fisher. Collection of Eric and Barbara Carle. © 1973 Penguin Random House LLC.
Bring your art- and book-loving family to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art December 28-31. The Museum, which is devoted to the art of children’s books, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with three special exhibitions: Eric Carle Book Birthdays , The Carle Collection: Recent Acquisitions, and Celebrating Collage, A 20th Anniversary Exhibition . In addition to exploring art in the galleries, drop into their art studio to create 3-D sculptures, join in a storytime, and let the kids go on a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum. (Note: The Carle will be closed Jan 1-13 for routine maintenance.) The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is located at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more info, visit www.carlemuseum.org .
🎿 CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
FAMILY RADIO : 9-10am. Hilltown Family Variety Show. WXOJ 103.3FM Northampton, MA. (Radio )
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/LIBRARY. 9am-1pm. New Year’s Toasting at Chesterfield Library. 413-296-4735. 408 Main Rd, Chesterfield, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/KIDS. 9am-3pm. Noon Year’s Eve at Amelia Park Children’s Museum. 413-572-4014. 29 S Broad St, Westfield, MA.
🎲 GAMES/ INTERGENERATIONAL . 10am-12pm. Board Games and Puzzles at the Meekins Library. 413-268-7472. 2 Williams St, Williamsburg, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/KIDS. 10am-1pm. First Night Junior at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke. 413-536-7048. 444 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA.
🐾 ECOLOGY/ OUTDOOR ADVENTURES. 10am-1pm. Fauna, flora, winter ecology, and tracking snowshoe with Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center at Chapel Brook. Ashfield, MA.
🌟 MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-4pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
🌟 NATURAL HISTORY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES : 10am-5pm. The Beneski Museum of Natural History – One of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display. Step inside the museum, and you’ll find: Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna, an extraordinary collection of local dinosaur footprints, geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area, and dazzling mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth. Beneski Museum of Natural History. 413-542-2165. Amherst College. 11 Barrett Hill Dr, Amherst, MA.
🌟 MUSEUMS ADVENTURES . 10am-3pm. Springfield Museums – The Springfield Museums uses art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss to explore our shared connections and unique perspectives to promote engagement, literacy, and learning. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. The museums are community-based educational resources that can support interests and education in art studies, natural history, STEM, astronomy, zoology, geology, paleontology, ecology, history, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
🦋 ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
🌟 ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.
📖 LITERACY/ STORYTIME . 10:30am. Library Storytime – Story and craft activities. Becket Athenaeum. 413-623-5483. 3367 Main St, Becket, MA.
MAGIC/ PSYCHOLOGY . 11am. Have you ever wondered how magic tricks work? By studying the psychology behind magic, young magicians (and young psychologists) can uncover the “secrets” behind successful magic tricks and learn a lot about the human brain at the same time! Ring in the New Year with the Berkshire Museum! Join award-winning, Boston-based magician George Saterial to perform amazing magic and astonishing illusions. This fast-paced show combines George’s playful persona with jaw-dropping magic, lighthearted humor, and plenty of audience participation for the young and young at heart. Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/ KIDS. 11am-12:30pm. Noon Year’s Eve Storytime and Celebration – Help the Jones Library ring in the new year by counting down to… noon! Julie Stepanek will lead ukulele songs to say farewell to 2022 and welcome 2023. There will also have crafts, stories, dance music, and more! This event is for kids of all ages and their caregivers. Jones Library. 413-259-3223. 43 Amity St, Amherst, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/FAMILIES. 11am-12am. First Night Northampton in Downtown Northampton, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/FAMILIES. 11:30am-1pm. New Year’s Eve Day Kid’s Count Down with live kids music and a cider toast. Champney ’s Restaurant & Tavern. 413-772-3087. 81 Old Main Street. Deerfield, MA.
⛸ ICE SKATING . 1–10 pm. Ice skating at the Ice Rink at MGM Springfield. One MGM Way, Springfield, MA .
🏀 SPORTS/ BASKETBALL. 2pm. UMass Women’s Basketball vs. St. Bonaventure at the Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
🎉 NEW YEAR’S EVE/FAMILIES. 2pm. Sam the Minuteman’s New Year’s Eve Party at the Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
⛸ ICE SKATING. 4-5:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
LIVING MUSEUM/ HOLIDAY NIGHTS. 5–7:30pm. Hancock Shaker Village sparkles in a multi-sensory experience. Stroll through the 19th-century village transformed with festive decorations. Hancock Shaker Village. 413-443-0188. 1843 W Housatonic St, Pittsfield, MA.
NEW YEAR’S EVE . 5-9:30pm. Celebrate German New Year’s Eve with a toast & party favors as the ball drops in GERMANY at 6 pm. Student Prince Cafe and Fort Restaurant. 413-734-7475. 8 Fort St., Springfield, MA.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS . 5-11pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park. 300 Sumner Avenue. Springfield, MA.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Calendars
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2023
FAMILY RADIO : 7-8am. Hilltown Family Variety Show. WXOJ 103.3FM Northampton, MA. (Radio )
🎿 CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 9:30-11am. First Day Hike at Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 10am-12pm. First day hike/snowshoe at Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center. aimee@gaiaroots.com. 1515 Savoy Hollow Rd, Windsor, MA.
🦋 ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 11am. Self-organized First Day Hike at Chesterfield Gorge. Bring your snowshoes or walking traction devices! West Chesterfield, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 12pm. New Year’s Day Hike – Explore the new section of the Mass Central Rail Trail via snowshoe, cross-country skiing, or trekking while looking for tracks. agrandinetti@eqlt.org. 250 Church St. Ware, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 12:30-2pm. First Day Hike at Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.
⛸ ICE SKATING. 12:30-2:20pm & 4-5:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
🥾 FIRST DAY HIKE. 1-3pm. First Day Hike – A leisurely staff-guided three-mile stroll on the Canalside Rail Trail. Discover the abundant natural, historical, and cultural features that make the Discover Center and rail trail. The family-friendly hike follows a gentle, level route. Great Falls Discovery Center. 413-863-3221. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS . 5-11pm. Bright Nights at Forest Park. 300 Sumner Avenue. Springfield, MA.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Time what else might we be able to measure ? Horology , the study and measurement of time through the art of making clocks and watches, is one of many points of entry to learning through the lens of time. Getting curious about time can also support an interest in history , physics , and the humanities .
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MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2023
PLAYGROUP . Northampton Parents Center .
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley
PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Home. City. Families. in Springfield
PLAYGROUP . 8:30-11am. Hilltown Family Center Infant & Toddler Play Group – Starting with Infant Playgroup at 8:30am and families with children 9mo-5yo joining at 9:45am. Families are welcome to eat breakfast at 8:30am for a nominal cost. Takes place at R.H. Conwell Elementary School. 413-667-2203 x311. 147 Huntington Rd, Worthington, MA.
🎿 CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
BOTANY. 9am-4pm. There is much to see at the Smith College Botanic Garden. You can spend many hours exploring the Lyman Plant House exhibitions, the Lyman Conservatory plant collections, the Campus Arboretum, and Campus Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 413-585-2740. 16 College Lane. Northampton MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10-11am. For ages 0-5 at the Meekins Library. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 2 Williams St, Williamsburg, MA.
JEWISH CULTURE/ HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Yiddish Book Center – Learning about Jewish culture and history often leads parents and children to conversations about their family’s history, culture, and traditions. Part of The Center’s mission is to offer engaging learning opportunities for curious visitors of all ages who come to the expansive, sunny museum designed to resemble a shtetl (Eastern European Jewish small town), which sits in an apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus. Visitors don’t need to be able to read or speak Yiddish to enjoy the Center—although, by the visit’s end, they’ll realize they probably knew more Yiddish words than they thought (nosh , schmooze , and shlep are all Yiddish words commonly used in English), and leave knowing even more. Yiddish Book Center. 413-256-4900. 1021 West Street. Amherst, MA.
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-4pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.
⛸ ICE SKATING. 4:30-5:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Card Games favorite family card games , and they had many great games to recommend! But if all you have on hand is a deck of playing cards, knowing the rules to a few popular games can result in hours of fun and a load of learning! Today, our self-directed learning module looks through the lens of playing cards. There are many sociological and emotional developmental benefits for children when playing cards together. Start by getting curious about playing cards, their history , how they are manufactured , the cultural differences between the suites , and the origin of associated folk games. Learn about the different types of card games (i.e., trick-taking, matching, shedding, fishing, etc.), and then select games you’d like to learn to play (or teach to your kids).
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2023
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley
PLAYGROUP . Northampton Parents Center
PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Home. City. Families. in Springfield
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
BOTANY. 9am-4pm. There is much to see at the Smith College Botanic Garden. You can spend many hours exploring the Lyman Plant House exhibitions, the Lyman Conservatory plant collections, the Campus Arboretum, and Campus Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 413-585-2740. 16 College Lane. Northampton MA.
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM . 9am-4pm. The Children’s Museum – Dedicated to enhancing children’s educational and cultural awareness through the arts, sciences, and the world around them. The Museum’s participatory exhibits and educational programming invite children and adults to interact and enjoy learning and self-discovery while at play. Young children almost always want to start on the Curvy Climber. And then, throughout the Museum, there are several other activities that older children might spend more time with, including the Legos Table, The Magna Tile Table, Maxi Rollways, and the Imagination Playground. There is also a state-of-the-art World of Motion room that stimulates children and adults’ curious minds. This room is STEM-based and encourages learning and play. Discover more at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke. 413-536-7048. 444 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 9:30-11:30am. School-readiness program for ages 3-4yo + caregiver. Engagement with young children is modeled through songs, books, circle time, literacy activities, StoryWalks, crafts, STEM activities, free play, cooperative games, take-home activities, and outdoor play. Hilltown Family Center. 9 Russell Road. Huntington, MA .
PLAYGROUP . 10am. Tinker Tots – Each week, children ages 0-2 (siblings welcome) and their caregivers engage in child-centered play, art, music, storytime, and sensory activities to encourage social, fine & gross motor skills, and pre-literacy. Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-3pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
NATURAL HISTORY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES : 10am-4pm. The Beneski Museum of Natural History – One of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display. Step inside the museum, and you’ll find: Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna, an extraordinary collection of local dinosaur footprints, geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area, and dazzling mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth. Beneski Museum of Natural History. 413-542-2165. Amherst College. 11 Barrett Hill Dr, Amherst, MA.
JEWISH CULTURE/ HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Yiddish Book Center – Learning about Jewish culture and history often leads parents and children to conversations about their family’s history, culture, and traditions. Part of The Center’s mission is to offer engaging learning opportunities for curious visitors of all ages who come to the expansive, sunny museum designed to resemble a shtetl (Eastern European Jewish small town), which sits in an apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus. Visitors don’t need to be able to read or speak Yiddish to enjoy the Center—although, by the visit’s end, they’ll realize they probably knew more Yiddish words than they thought (nosh , schmooze , and shlep are all Yiddish words commonly used in English), and leave knowing even more. Yiddish Book Center. 413-256-4900. 1021 West Street. Amherst, MA.
ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
MUSEUMS ADVENTURES . 10am-5pm. Springfield Museums – The Springfield Museums uses art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss to explore our shared connections and unique perspectives to promote engagement, literacy, and learning. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. The museums are community-based educational resources that can support interests and education in art studies, natural history, STEM, astronomy, zoology, geology, paleontology, ecology, history, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10:30am. Sing and Dance – This program includes songs, music, and movement. No registration is required, and drop-ins are welcome! Bushnell-Sage Library. 413-229-7004. 48 Main St, Sheffield, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10:30am. For ages 0-5 at the Edwards Public Library. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 30 East Street, Southampton, MA.
ART STUDIES . 11am-4pm. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) – SCMA is recognized as a leading academic museum. Their collection comprises 27,000+ objects, representing the diversity of art and material culture across periods and geographies. Visitors can discover artworks from across periods and geographies in their permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions, engaging people with first-hand experiences of art, artists, and museum practice. The museum’s collection ranges from ancient Greek vases to contemporary video art. The works in their permanent collection galleries are regularly rotated, so there’s something new to see each time you visit. Special exhibitions highlight a dynamic range of artworks and artists. Smith College Museum of Art. 413-585-2760. 20 Elm Street at Bedford Terrace. Northampton, 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.
GRANDPARENTING SUPPORT . 4-6pm. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group – A group for grandparents actively parenting their grandchildren. A safe and confidential space to share similar experiences with other grandparents. All groups are on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month. Free pizza and childcare provided. Questions or to register: 413-663-7588. Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. 61 Main Street. Ste 218. North Adams, MA.
⛸ ICE SKATING. 4:30-5:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
🏒 SPORTS/ ICE HOCKEY. 7pm. UMass Hockey vs. Brown at the Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Science Songs Sing About Science and Math Project offers an online database of over 7,000 songs that cover an immense variety of topics in technology, biology, environmental science, physics, chemistry, math, engineering, and medicine. Educators and parents supporting self-directed learners can find lesson plans inspired by some of the songs in the database.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2023
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley
PLAYGROUP . Northampton Parents Center
PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County
PLAYGROUPS . South Berkshire County.
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County.
PLAYGROUPS . Home. City. Families. in Springfield
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.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
BOTANY. 9am-4pm. There is much to see at the Smith College Botanic Garden. You can spend many hours exploring the Lyman Plant House exhibitions, the Lyman Conservatory plant collections, the Campus Arboretum, and Campus Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 413-585-2740. 16 College Lane. Northampton MA.
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM . 9am-4pm. The Children’s Museum – Dedicated to enhancing children’s educational and cultural awareness through the arts, sciences, and the world around them. The Museum’s participatory exhibits and educational programming invite children and adults to interact and enjoy learning and self-discovery while at play. Young children almost always want to start on the Curvy Climber. And then, throughout the Museum, there are several other activities that older children might spend more time with, including the Legos Table, The Magna Tile Table, Maxi Rollways, and the Imagination Playground. There is also a state-of-the-art World of Motion room that stimulates children and adults’ curious minds. This room is STEM-based and encourages learning and play. Discover more at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke. 413-536-7048. 444 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA.
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-4:30pm. Historic Deerfield – Founded in 1952, Historic Deerfield is an outdoor museum that interprets the history and culture of early New England and the Connecticut River Valley. Visitors can tour twelve carefully-preserved antique houses dating from 1730 to 1850 and explore world-class collections of regional furniture, silver, textiles, and other decorative arts on display in the authentic period houses; as well as the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, a state-of-the-art museum facility featuring exhibitions and a visible storage area. Support interests in history through the lens of architecture, New England antiques, arts and crafts needlework, ironware and basketry, cooking and baking, gardening, textiles, fashion, furniture, and much more! Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.
STORYTIME . 10am. Story Time – This weekly program is designed to jump-start early literacy skills for preschoolers. No registration is necessary. Please note: Story Time happens outside of normal library hours. Montague Center Library. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street, Montague, MA.
HEALTH CARE. 10-11:30am. Walk-in Wellness Clinic – Provided by Westhampton’s Public Health Nurse, Michael Archbald. Clinics include: Guidance in managing chronic health issues; Medication management/side effects consultations; Sharps and mercury thermometers disposal, COVID-19 symptom management including “Long Covid”; Information regarding Home Health Care and local resources. Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-4pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
JEWISH CULTURE/ HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Yiddish Book Center – Learning about Jewish culture and history often leads parents and children to conversations about their family’s history, culture, and traditions. Part of The Center’s mission is to offer engaging learning opportunities for curious visitors of all ages who come to the expansive, sunny museum designed to resemble a shtetl (Eastern European Jewish small town), which sits in an apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus. Visitors don’t need to be able to read or speak Yiddish to enjoy the Center—although, by the visit’s end, they’ll realize they probably knew more Yiddish words than they thought (nosh , schmooze , and shlep are all Yiddish words commonly used in English), and leave knowing even more. Yiddish Book Center. 413-256-4900. 1021 West Street. Amherst, MA.
NATURAL HISTORY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES : 10am-4pm. The Beneski Museum of Natural History – One of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display. Step inside the museum, and you’ll find: Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna, an extraordinary collection of local dinosaur footprints, geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area, and dazzling mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth. Beneski Museum of Natural History. 413-542-2165. Amherst College. 11 Barrett Hill Dr, Amherst, MA.
ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
MUSEUMS ADVENTURES . 10am-5pm. Springfield Museums – The Springfield Museums uses art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss to explore our shared connections and unique perspectives to promote engagement, literacy, and learning. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. The museums are community-based educational resources that can support interests and education in art studies, natural history, STEM, astronomy, zoology, geology, paleontology, ecology, history, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, 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.
ART STUDIES . 11am-4pm. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) – SCMA is recognized as a leading academic museum. Their collection comprises 27,000+ objects, representing the diversity of art and material culture across periods and geographies. Visitors can discover artworks from across periods and geographies in their permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions, engaging people with first-hand experiences of art, artists, and museum practice. The museum’s collection ranges from ancient Greek vases to contemporary video art. The works in their permanent collection galleries are regularly rotated, so there’s something new to see each time you visit. Special exhibitions highlight a dynamic range of artworks and artists. Smith College Museum of Art. 413-585-2760. 20 Elm Street at Bedford Terrace. Northampton, MA.
ICE SKATING. 12-1:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, 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.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Snowflakes & Frost sledding , but it is also a great creative medium that can support science studies too! The chemistry behind snowflakes and frost is just waiting to be discovered! Kids can use snow, ice, and frost to learn about crystals. Snowflakes are a beautiful form of crystals , each one showing off a microscopic symmetrical design of spears, points, indents, and cutouts. (Be sure to read the book Snowflake Bentley a giant snowflake made out of a Borax solution and homemade rock candy . These experiments create crystals slowly and on a scale that kids can examine for themselves. To maximize the learning possibilities, do both experiments simultaneously and make comparisons – determine which one grows faster, grows larger crystals, and makes the most transparent crystals. Another great topic to include in a study of winter precipitation is frost . See if you can find out the difference between snow and frost, and then see if you can identify the specific types of frost. You might even try creating your own frost flowers by soaking fallen branches or bits of logs and freezing them – a comparison between an outside log and a log frozen in a home freezer might present exciting results! The many different frost types are found during various weather and moisture conditions, and some are very rare.
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THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2023
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley
PLAYGROUP . Northampton Parents Center
PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Home. City. Families. in Springfield
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
BOTANY. 9am-4pm. There is much to see at the Smith College Botanic Garden. You can spend many hours exploring the Lyman Plant House exhibitions, the Lyman Conservatory plant collections, the Campus Arboretum, and Campus Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 413-585-2740. 16 College Lane. Northampton MA.
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM . 9am-4pm. The Children’s Museum – Dedicated to enhancing children’s educational and cultural awareness through the arts, sciences, and the world around them. The Museum’s participatory exhibits and educational programming invite children and adults to interact and enjoy learning and self-discovery while at play. Young children almost always want to start on the Curvy Climber. And then, throughout the Museum, there are several other activities that older children might spend more time with, including the Legos Table, The Magna Tile Table, Maxi Rollways, and the Imagination Playground. There is also a state-of-the-art World of Motion room that stimulates children and adults’ curious minds. This room is STEM-based and encourages learning and play. Discover more at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke. 413-536-7048. 444 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA.
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-4:30pm. Historic Deerfield – Founded in 1952, Historic Deerfield is an outdoor museum that interprets the history and culture of early New England and the Connecticut River Valley. Visitors can tour twelve carefully-preserved antique houses dating from 1730 to 1850 and explore world-class collections of regional furniture, silver, textiles, and other decorative arts on display in the authentic period houses; as well as the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, a state-of-the-art museum facility featuring exhibitions and a visible storage area. Support interests in history through the lens of architecture, New England antiques, arts and crafts needlework, ironware and basketry, cooking and baking, gardening, textiles, fashion, furniture, and much more! Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10am. For ages 0-5 at St. Philip’s Church Parish Hall. Call to register: 413-345-6015. 126 Main St., Easthampton, MA.
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-4pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
JEWISH CULTURE/ HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Yiddish Book Center – Learning about Jewish culture and history often leads parents and children to conversations about their family’s history, culture, and traditions. Part of The Center’s mission is to offer engaging learning opportunities for curious visitors of all ages who come to the expansive, sunny museum designed to resemble a shtetl (Eastern European Jewish small town), which sits in an apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus. Visitors don’t need to be able to read or speak Yiddish to enjoy the Center—although, by the visit’s end, they’ll realize they probably knew more Yiddish words than they thought (nosh , schmooze , and shlep are all Yiddish words commonly used in English), and leave knowing even more. Yiddish Book Center. 413-256-4900. 1021 West Street. Amherst, MA.
NATURAL HISTORY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES : 10am-4pm. The Beneski Museum of Natural History – One of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display. Step inside the museum, and you’ll find: Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna, an extraordinary collection of local dinosaur footprints, geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area, and dazzling mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth. Beneski Museum of Natural History. 413-542-2165. Amherst College. 11 Barrett Hill Dr, Amherst, MA.
ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
MUSEUMS ADVENTURES . 10am-5pm. Springfield Museums – The Springfield Museums uses art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss to explore our shared connections and unique perspectives to promote engagement, literacy, and learning. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. The museums are community-based educational resources that can support interests and education in art studies, natural history, STEM, astronomy, zoology, geology, paleontology, ecology, history, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, 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 STUDIES . 11am-4pm. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) – SCMA is recognized as a leading academic museum. Their collection comprises 27,000+ objects, representing the diversity of art and material culture across periods and geographies. Visitors can discover artworks from across periods and geographies in their permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions, engaging people with first-hand experiences of art, artists, and museum practice. The museum’s collection ranges from ancient Greek vases to contemporary video art. The works in their permanent collection galleries are regularly rotated, so there’s something new to see each time you visit. Special exhibitions highlight a dynamic range of artworks and artists. Smith College Museum of Art. 413-585-2760. 20 Elm Street at Bedford Terrace. Northampton, MA.
LITERACY/ STORYTIME . 3:30pm. Storytime with Julie – Storytime plus crafts and singing for children up to age 5. Tyler Memorial Library. 413-339-4335. 157 Main St, Charlemont, MA.
ICE SKATING. 4:30-5:50pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
🏀 SPORTS/ BASKETBALL. 5pm. UMass Women’s Basketball vs. Rhode Island at the Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
PARENTING SUPPORT GROUP. 5pm. The Brick House Community Resource Center is hosting a parenting support group for any parents and guardians who want to connect. Free childcare. The Brick House. 413-800-2496. 24 3rd Street. Turners Falls, MA.
🌟THREE KINGS DAY . 5-8pm. 23rd Annual Three Kings Day Celebration – Celebrated in Spanish-speaking cultures worldwide (and in many communities in western Massachusetts), Three Kings Day celebrates the biblical arrival of the kings in Jerusalem, bearing gifts for the baby Jesus. Learn about the extended holiday season and the traditions and celebrations accompanying Three Kings Day through reading, baking, crafting, and celebrating! Nueva Esperanza exists to be a catalyst and partner for a vibrant, sustainable, and powerful Puerto Rican/Afro-Caribbean community in Holyoke. Join them for this annual celebration at Morgan Elementary School. 596 South Bridge Street. Holyoke, MA.
ROLLER SKATING . 7-9:30pm. Interskate 91. 413-586-8344. 367 Russell Street, Hampshire Mall, Hadley, MA .
🏀 SPORTS/ BASKETBALL. 7:30pm. UMass Men’s Basketball vs. St. Louis at the Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Hydroponics What is required for plants to grow ? This simple question can steer learning in many directions, including botany and agriculture. In the winter, getting curious about ways to grow food indoors can support learning about agriculture. Experiments like growing a bean plant with only a paper towel, paper cup, and a little bit of water offer lessons in botany. Building your own hydroponic system at home gives a hands-on opportunity to learn. Researching how ancient cultures grew food on floating mats dive deep into cultural studies and human history. Hydroponics! A lovely winter lesson when the days are cold and the nights are long.
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2023
Spring Young Company high school students looking to further their actor training, begins Feb 28 at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA ! This program is designed for high school students looking to begin or continue their actor training. These young actors work on voice, movement, text, and scene work, often finding what they haven’t found elsewhere. Spring Session 2023 runs Feb 28-May 6. Classes meet twice a week. Auditions are required and will be held in-Person at Shakespeare & Company on Fri, Jan 6, from 4-8pm & Sat, Jan 7, from 10am-4pm , at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. Learn more about auditions: www.shakespeare.org/education/spring-young-company . Email schedule an audition: springsyco@gmail.com .
PLAYGROUPS. Family Centers & Playgroups in Hilltowns & Pioneer Valley
PLAYGROUP . Northampton Parents Center
PLAYGROUPS. Family Center & Playgroups in Franklin County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in south Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Family Center & Playgroups in north Berkshire County
PLAYGROUPS . Home. City. Families. in Springfield
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING . 8:30am-4pm. Ski Notchview – Renowned for its Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, there is something for everyone. Ski Notchview this winter and enjoy over 25 miles of trails. Half of the trails are groomed and track-set for classical cross-country skiing, and 5 miles are groomed for skate skiing. A separate trail system is for “skijoring” (aka skiing with dogs). Visitors can also snowshoe alongside the ski trails or go off track and explore the backcountry. Rentals are available. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.
BOTANY. 9am-4pm. There is much to see at the Smith College Botanic Garden. You can spend many hours exploring the Lyman Plant House exhibitions, the Lyman Conservatory plant collections, the Campus Arboretum, and Campus Gardens. The Botanic Garden of Smith College. 413-585-2740. 16 College Lane. Northampton MA.
CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM . 9am-4pm. The Children’s Museum – Dedicated to enhancing children’s educational and cultural awareness through the arts, sciences, and the world around them. The Museum’s participatory exhibits and educational programming invite children and adults to interact and enjoy learning and self-discovery while at play. Young children almost always want to start on the Curvy Climber. And then, throughout the Museum, there are several other activities that older children might spend more time with, including the Legos Table, The Magna Tile Table, Maxi Rollways, and the Imagination Playground. There is also a state-of-the-art World of Motion room that stimulates children and adults’ curious minds. This room is STEM-based and encourages learning and play. Discover more at The Children’s Museum at Holyoke. 413-536-7048. 444 Dwight St, Holyoke, MA.
NEW ENGLAND HISTORY. 9:30am-4:30pm. Historic Deerfield – Founded in 1952, Historic Deerfield is an outdoor museum that interprets the history and culture of early New England and the Connecticut River Valley. Visitors can tour twelve carefully-preserved antique houses dating from 1730 to 1850 and explore world-class collections of regional furniture, silver, textiles, and other decorative arts on display in the authentic period houses; as well as the Flynt Center of Early New England Life, a state-of-the-art museum facility featuring exhibitions and a visible storage area. Support interests in history through the lens of architecture, New England antiques, arts and crafts needlework, ironware and basketry, cooking and baking, gardening, textiles, fashion, furniture, and much more! Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10am Playgroup – Nurture your child’s social skills and school readiness at our weekly playgroup for preschoolers (older siblings are also welcome)! Opportunities for free and guided play. No registration is necessary. Please Note: Playgroup happens outside of regular library hours. Montague Center Library. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street, Montague, MA.
PLAYGROUP . 10am. Preschool Play & Learn – Join Miss Jenn from Pittsfield’s CFCE for Preschool Play & Learn, a parent/child program centered around a theme from children’s literature and integrates pre-literacy, math, and fine and gross motor skills. There are a variety of exploration stations for children 3 to 5 years old to discover. Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.
FIBER ARTS/KNITTING . 10am. Knitting Club at Old Creamery Co-op. 413-634-5560. 445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA.
MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-4pm. Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum – Ventfort Hall is an imposing Jacobean Revival-style mansion built in 1893 for Sarah Morgan, the sister of J. P. Morgan. It was one of the approximately seventy-five so-called “Cottages” built in Lenox in the late 19th century when the village became a popular Gilded Age resort. The museum can support interests in history and architecture, photography, film, art, and botany. Photography and film students can test their skills in the house, finding interesting areas to photograph. Art students are welcome to find a spot they enjoy and sketch, paint, and/or interpret the site as it fits their interests and studies. History classes may compare and contrast the architectural elements of Ventfort Hall with observations in their community. Botany students can investigate and identify trees and plants on the property that are of the era. And much more! Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.
JEWISH CULTURE/ HISTORY. 10am-4pm. Yiddish Book Center – Learning about Jewish culture and history often leads parents and children to conversations about their family’s history, culture, and traditions. Part of The Center’s mission is to offer engaging learning opportunities for curious visitors of all ages who come to the expansive, sunny museum designed to resemble a shtetl (Eastern European Jewish small town), which sits in an apple orchard adjacent to the Hampshire College campus. Visitors don’t need to be able to read or speak Yiddish to enjoy the Center—although, by the visit’s end, they’ll realize they probably knew more Yiddish words than they thought (nosh , schmooze , and shlep are all Yiddish words commonly used in English), and leave knowing even more. Yiddish Book Center. 413-256-4900. 1021 West Street. Amherst, MA.
NATURAL HISTORY/MUSEUM ADVENTURES : 10am-4pm. The Beneski Museum of Natural History – One of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display. Step inside the museum, and you’ll find: Dramatic displays of fossil skeletons, from fish to dinosaurs to Ice Age megafauna, an extraordinary collection of local dinosaur footprints, geological specimens and immersive exhibits that tell the history of the local landscape through geologic time, including when dinosaurs inhabited the area, and dazzling mineral specimens from around the world and meteorites from beyond Earth. Beneski Museum of Natural History. 413-542-2165. Amherst College. 11 Barrett Hill Dr, Amherst, MA.
ENTOMOLOGY/ BUTTERFLIES . 10am-4:30pm. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory – An 8000 square-foot tropical conservatory with nearly 4000 free-flying tropical and native butterflies from all over the world. Learn about butterflies along with exotic reptiles, frogs, fish, birds, and insects! Ask about their guided tours. Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory. 413-665-2805. 281 Greenfield Road. South Deerfield, MA.
MUSEUMS ADVENTURES . 10am-5pm. Springfield Museums – The Springfield Museums uses art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss to explore our shared connections and unique perspectives to promote engagement, literacy, and learning. Located in the heart of downtown Springfield, the Springfield Museums offer access to five world-class museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. The museums are community-based educational resources that can support interests and education in art studies, natural history, STEM, astronomy, zoology, geology, paleontology, ecology, history, and, of course, Dr. Seuss. Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.
ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-6pm. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) – One of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues, MASS MoCA embraces all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification. MASS MoCA offers various participatory learning opportunities, including hands-on art-making classes and docent-guided tours. A must-visit for families is Kidspace, a child-centered art gallery and hands-on studio that offers in-depth art education. Visit the ArtBar, a hands-on studio space in Kidspace, to make art or take a project home with you. MASS MoCA. 413-662-2111.1040 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA.
ART STUDIES . 11am-4pm. Smith College Museum of Art (SCMA) – SCMA is recognized as a leading academic museum. Their collection comprises 27,000+ objects, representing the diversity of art and material culture across periods and geographies. Visitors can discover artworks from across periods and geographies in their permanent collection galleries and temporary exhibitions, engaging people with first-hand experiences of art, artists, and museum practice. The museum’s collection ranges from ancient Greek vases to contemporary video art. The works in their permanent collection galleries are regularly rotated, so there’s something new to see each time you visit. Special exhibitions highlight a dynamic range of artworks and artists. Smith College Museum of Art. 413-585-2760. 20 Elm Street at Bedford Terrace. Northampton, MA.
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 .
⛸ ICE SKATING. 3:30-5:20pm. Public Ice Skate – Ice skating sessions for the public at UMass Mullins Center. Skate rentals are provided. Great opportunity to get moving on cold New England days! UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave. Amherst, MA.
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.
⚖️ LIVING HISTORY. 7pm. Sheryl Faye’s One-Woman Portrayal of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, supported by the Agawam Cultural Council. (Virtual )
MORE EVENTS : Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.
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Self-Directed Learning: Three King’s Day Three King’s Day Offers Multi-Cultural Learning Rosca de Reyes (Three Kings Bread) at home and discover this delicious food tradition!
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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, 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.
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