🍁 SUGAR SHACK/FAMILY MEAL. 7am-1pm. Maple Season Breakfast – Bring the family for a maple season breakfast that includes demonstrations of maple syrup rendering, tastings, and tours. North Hadley Sugar Shack. 413-585-8820. 181 River Drive. Hadley, 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.

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

NATURALIST SKILLS/ TRACKING. 9am-12pm. Winter Wildlife Tracking –  Explore woodlands, meadows, and streams at a leisurely pace with some rough terrain and likely stream crossings. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.

COMMUNITY EVENT. 9am-12pm & 2-4pm. Kids & Family Fun Day – As part of Northfield MA’s 350th Anniversary, families can enjoy the music of Roger Tinknell and see Tom Ricardi’s raptors! Northfield Elementary PTO is offering children’s activities and food! Indoors in the gym and cafeteria from 9am-12pm Then 2-4pm at Northfield Mountain! Northfield, MA.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING. 9am-4:30pm. Cross-Country Skiing at Northfield Mountain – Northfield Mountain has more than 25 miles of trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing and groomed for both classical and free-style skiing. Their trails offer some of the finest Nordic skiing in the region, from beginner trails to the demanding 800-foot vertical climb of Tenth Mountain Trail. A seasonal rental program for cross-country skis and snowshoes is available. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.

ART STUDIES. 9am-5pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY/ MAPLE. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days – For many, the first whiff of spring isn’t the aroma of spring flowers; it’s the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, 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.

ART STUDIES. 10am. Drop-In Art Making – Berkshire Art Center. 141 North St, Pittsfield, MA.

LITERACY. 10am. Reading with Dogs – Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, MA.

NATURALIST SKILLS/ TRACKING. 10-11:30am. Tracking and Animal Signs – Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. 413-584-3009. 789 Main St, Hampden, MA.

INTERGENERATIONAL/ GAMES. 10am-12pm. Board Game: Party Edition – Games on offer will include: Sushi Go, Codenames, Codenames Pictures, Pictomania, Say Anything, Telestrations, Wits & Wagers, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, and more! Meekins Library. 413-268-7472. 2 Williams St, Williamsburg, MA.

FARMER’S MARKET. 10am-1pm. Greenfield Farmers’ Winter Market – Discover what’s available from local farmers in the winter, from bread to jam, roots to fiber art. Takes place at the Second Congregational Church. 16 Court Square. Greenfield, MA

AGRICULTURE/ LOCAL FOOD  10am-2pm  Berkshire Grown Winter Farmers’ Market – Winter farmers’ markets provide a fresh and colorful oasis during the winter months, reminding us that farm-fresh foods of all kinds are still available despite the blustery, snow drift-covered fields that surround us Connecting to the local food chain year-round is healthy for your body, your family, and your community, and it can be educational as well! Exposing children to the vast array of foods available from winter farmers’ markets can help them recognize that there are many different methods for growing and producing food while connecting them to where their food comes from Housy Dome 1064 Main St., Housatonic, MA.

CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM. 10am-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.

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.

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.

POETRY. 10:30am. Make it New (Again): An Introduction to Radical Revision – Do you have a poem you can’t get right? Sometimes the best way to get past a creative block is to throw caution to the wind and destroy what you’ve built. Join Straw Dog Writers Guild and author Adam Grabowski at the Lily Library. 413-587-1500.19 Meadow Street, Florence, MA.

HIKE. 11am-1:30pm. Exploring the West Side of the Quabbin Watershed – Join DCR staff for a 3.4-mile out/back hike on Quabbin’s west side of the watershed. Quabbin Reservoir’s Gate 11. Pelham, 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.

My Neighbor Totoro

Satsuki and Mei move with their father to a new house in the countryside. They soon discover that the surrounding forests are home to a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who are seen only by children.

Sat, 2/18

12:45 pm

ART STUDIES. 12-3pm. Winter Paint Out – Kestrel and Amherst Plein Air Society are partnering to offer a 4-part Plein Air Landscape Painting series, one for each season. Kestrel Land Trust. 413-549-1097. 37 Bay Road, Amherst, MA.

NATURALIST SKILLS/ TRACKING. 12:30-3:30pm. Winter Wildlife Tracking –  Explore woodlands, meadows, and streams at a leisurely pace with some rough terrain and likely stream crossings. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.

FILM STUDIES/ ANIME. 12:45pm. My Neighbor Totoro – Hilltown Families is a proud sponsor of Amherst Cinema’s $5 Family Film series. Designed with the youngest moviegoers in mind, this series is a kid-friendly program with the goals of cultivating an early love of cinema, reducing financial barriers to theatrical experiences, and supporting the wellness of our community. – One of the most endearing and internationally renowned films of all time,  My Neighbor Totoro is a deceptively simple tale of two girls who move with their father to a new house in the countryside. Please note that this screening presents the English dub of the film. Amherst Cinema. 413-253-2547. 28 Amity St, Amherst, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY/ INDUSTRY. 1-3pm. Crossroads Talk: Franklin County Industrialization – Find out what industries were created throughout Franklin County before, during, and after the industrialization of the Turners Falls canal. Museum of Our Industrial Heritage. 2 Mead Street. Greenfield, MA.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 1-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE. 2pm. Magic Tree House: The Knight at Dawn KIDS – Colonial Theatre. 413-997-4444. 111 South St., Pittsfield, MA.

CARDBOARD BOX RACE. 2pm. 4th Annual Cardboard Box Race – An excellent opportunity for kids to combine creativity and engineering with community participation. Otis Ridge Ski Area. 413-269-4444. 159 Monterey Rd, Otis, 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.

🎳 SPORTS/ BOWLING. 4-11pm. Vintage Candlepin Bowling & Bar – Bowling is a fun way to practice math skills and statistics while observing physics concepts, such as friction, torque, velocity, and gravity. Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley. 413-625-6179. 43 Bridge Street. Shelburne Falls, MA.

🪐 ASTRONOMY/ PLANETARIUM  6:30pm  A Night Under the Stars A planetarium show by Kevin Collins – Black Birch Vineyard 413-247-3300 108 Straits Rd, North Hatfield, MA.

SPORTS/ ICE HOCKEY. 7pm. UMass Hockey vs. Boston College – UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave, Amherst, MA.

DANCE STUDIES. 7pm. Zydeco Dance Lessons – Learn some basic beginning dance steps, including zydeco and New Orleans-style dancing. A performance by Zydeco Connection and The Bourbon Street Blasters will follow the lessons. Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center. 413-774-0150. 289 Main Street, Greenfield, MA.

THEATER STUDIES. 8-11pm. Exit 7 Players Presents: Clue – The classic board game is brought to life in Clue! Exit 7 Players Theater. 413-583-4301. 37 Chestnut St, Ludlow, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

FAMILY RADIO: 7-8am. Hilltown Family Variety Show. WXOJ 103.3FM Northampton, MA. (Radio)

🍁 SUGAR SHACK/FAMILY MEAL. 7am-1pm. Maple Season Breakfast – Bring the family for a maple season breakfast that includes demonstrations of maple syrup rendering, tastings, and tours. North Hadley Sugar Shack. 413-585-8820. 181 River Drive. Hadley, MA. 

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

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING. 9am-4:30pm. Cross-Country Skiing at Northfield Mountain – Northfield Mountain has more than 25 miles of trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing and groomed for both classical and free-style skiing. Their trails offer some of the finest Nordic skiing in the region, from beginner trails to the demanding 800-foot vertical climb of Tenth Mountain Trail. A seasonal rental program for cross-country skis and snowshoes is available. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.

ART STUDIES. 9am-5pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY/ MAPLE. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days – For many, the first whiff of spring isn’t the aroma of spring flowers; it’s the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, 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.

ECOLOGY/ TRACKING. 10am-12pm. Boreal Forest Winter Ecology and Tracking – Take a 2-mile trek with naturalist Aimee Gelinas will feature the unique high-elevation ecology of the boreal forest in winter as well as wildlife tracking, winter tree ID, and winter ecology. Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center. aimee@gaiaroots.com. 1515 Savoy Hollow Rd, Windsor, MA.

WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET  10am-2pm  Easthampton Farmers’ Market – Winter farmers’ markets provide a fresh and colorful oasis during the winter months, reminding us that farm-fresh foods of all kinds are still available despite the blustery, snow-drift-covered fields that surround us Connecting to the local food chain year-round is healthy for your body, your family, and your community, and it can be educational as well! Exposing children to the vast array of foods available from winter farmers’ markets can help them recognize that there are many different methods for growing and producing food while connecting them from where their food originates Eastworks. 116 Pleasant St, Easthampton, 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.

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.

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.

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.

SPORTS/ BASKETBALL. 12pm. UMass Women’s Basketball vs. Davidson – UMass Mullins Center. 413-545-3040. 200 Commonwealth Ave, Amherst, MA.

ART STUDIES/ STAINED GLASS. 12-2pm. Intro to Stained Glass – Join Glass Visions for an introduction to the beauty and history of Stained Glass Art! The first part of this class will give a history of the art, and in the second part of the class, you’ll get some hands-on time to try glass cutting, grinding, foiling, and soldering. Make-It Springfield. 413-342-1681. 168 Worthington St, Springfield, MA.

CREATIVE FREE-PLAY/ INTERACTIVE MUSEUM. 12-4pm.  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.

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 1-2:30pm. Cabin Fever Story Time – Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 413-499-4262. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA.

ECOLOGY/ TRACKING. 1-3pm. Notchview Boreal Forest Ecology and Wildlife Tracking Snowshoe – Winter wildlife tracking and tree identification snowshoe trek in the spruce-fir forest at Notchview. Learn how to identify wildlife tracks, signs of wildlife, spruce-fir forest ecology, and tree ID along the way. Notchview. 413-684-0148. 83 Old Route 9, Windsor, MA.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 1-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY. 2pm. The Sokoki: Their Response to Colonization and Their Role in Northfield’s Beginnings – Archaeologist Peter Thomas of South Deerfield will talk about the Squakheag/Sokoki people who lived here before the English arrived. Peter uses written English and French sources, plus information based on the last Sokoki village in this part of the Connecticut River Valley, which he partially excavated in the 1970s. Northfield Trinitarian Church. 147 Main St. Northfield, MA.

THEATER STUDIES. 2-5pm. Exit 7 Players Presents: Clue – The classic board game is brought to life in Clue! Exit 7 Players Theater. 413-583-4301. 37 Chestnut St, Ludlow, MA.

ART STUDIES/ GALLERY. 2-5pm. Hampshire College Art Gallery – The Hampshire College Art Gallery is a dynamic space for contemporary art and collections-based exhibitions, uniting innovative curatorial approaches with a focus on teaching and learning. Families can visit the gallery to check out traditional exhibitions, along with more interactive programs. Many objects in their small, eclectic permanent collection were donated when founders first built the college, so there are among them some quintessentially “’60s” artworks, alongside fine art photography. The gallery is located in the Harold F. Johnson Library Building, Ground Floor, on the campus of Hampshire College. 893 West Street. Amherst, MA.

MUSIC STUDIES. 2:30pm. Entering the World of Music – Dan Pena-Ariel of the Berkshire Music School presents a survey of musical instruments from various historical, cultural, and geographical points of origin. Several instruments will be used in tactile, hands-on, audience-participation demonstrations! 

ICE SKATING. 2:30-4:20pm. 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.

⛸ ICE SKATING. 3-5pm. Williston Lossone Rink. BYO Skates. Greenwood Ct. Easthampton, MA.

🎳 SPORTS/ BOWLING. 4-8pm. Vintage Candlepin Bowling & Bar – Bowling is a fun way to practice math skills and statistics while observing physics concepts, such as friction, torque, velocity, and gravity. Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley. 413-625-6179. 43 Bridge Street. Shelburne Falls, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

FEATURED MUSEUM
Historic Deerfeld
Deerfield, MA

Are you looking for an exciting family outing during school vacation this month? Drop in at Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center for their Fun in February: School Vacation Week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day. Play and have fun in their 1786 Hall Tavern. Dress up, write with a quill pen, play games, make a craft, and experience a hearth cooking demonstration! Since it is a drop-in program, you can come anytime between 10am-3pm. Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

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

LOCAL HISTORY/ MAPLE. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days – For many, the first whiff of spring isn’t the aroma of spring flowers; it’s the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA.

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-5pm. The Curiosity Challenge –Leonardo da Vinci was renowned for his curiosity. He even conceptualized modern inventions such as airplanes and solar power all the way back in the 1400s. Use your curiosity to solve challenges throughout the Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, 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.

ART STUDIES/ GALLERY. 10:30am-4:30pm. Hampshire College Art Gallery – The Hampshire College Art Gallery is a dynamic space for contemporary art and collections-based exhibitions, uniting innovative curatorial approaches with a focus on teaching and learning. Families can visit the gallery to check out traditional exhibitions, along with more interactive programs. Many objects in their small, eclectic permanent collection were donated when founders first built the college, so there are among them some quintessentially “’60s” artworks, alongside fine art photography. The gallery is located in the Harold F. Johnson Library Building, Ground Floor, on the campus of Hampshire College. 893 West Street. Amherst, MA.

SCIENCE/ BUBBLES. 11am & 1pm. Big Bubble Bonanza – See the newest, funniest, zany spectacular from world-famous, Guinness Book of World Records-holding, master bubble wrangler Jeff Boyer as he takes bubbles to the max with big bubble flair. Mixing comedy, music, and interactive bubble-magic, Jeff engages and delights audiences of all ages. It’s a sensory-friendly bubble extravaganza for the whole family! Berkshire Museum. 413-443-7171. 39 South St, Pittsfield, MA.

MAKERSPACE. 2-4:30pm. Makerspace Collaboratory Drop-In – The East Forest Park Branch Makerspace is a place you can visit for free to use their selection of equipment to create, craft, tinker, and experiment! From traditional crafts to digital tinkering. The East Forest Park Makerspace is your place to create, invent, and learn. Each week there is a drop-in project or two based on a theme. All ages. East Forest Park Branch. 413-263-6836. 136 Surrey Road. Springfield, MA. 

PUPPETRY. 3:30pm. Marionette Show: “The Princess and the Pea” – Puppeteer Carl Sprague returns to the mansion to charm all ages with the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

Head to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for February vacation!
Open weekends and February 21-24, their galleries include a new exhibition by award-winning artist Christian Robinson. Move your body with Center Dance Studio and laugh with the Happier Family Comedy Show (Feb 18). Enjoy storytimes and book signings with authors and illustrators, including Hayley and John Rocco (Feb 18), Astrid Sheckels (Feb 22), and Circle Round’s Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis (Feb 24). Make The Carle your February vacation destination! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more information on scheduled events, visit www.carlemuseum.org.

FEATURED MUSEUM
Historic Deerfeld
Deerfield, MA

Are you looking for an exciting family outing during school vacation this month? Drop in at Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center for their Fun in February: School Vacation Week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day. Play and have fun in their 1786 Hall Tavern. Dress up, write with a quill pen, play games, make a craft, and experience a hearth cooking demonstration! Since it is a drop-in program, you can come anytime between 10am-3pm. Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

FEATURED WINTER
VACATION CAMP
STEAM Camp at
LaunchSpace Makerspace
Orange, MA

February Vacation STEAM Camp at LaunchSpace Makerspace in Orange, MA. Come out of the cold this February vacation & join LaunchSpace Makerspace makers, inventors & artists in 4 days of hands-on STEAM Maker Camp fun! Experiment with acrylic painting, hand building with clay, mechanical engineering, and Rube Goldberg not-so-simple machines. These workshops are designed for ages 8-12 and are held February 20-24, 1-3pm. Cost: $25 for all 4 days of workshops & Thursday is free for everyone! Click here to register. For more info, email
sid@launchspace-orange.com, or visit online: www.launchspace-orange.com. 
These programs are made possible through generous sponsorship from community partners at Walmart & the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

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

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

ART STUDIES. 9am-5pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, 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.

FIBER ARTS & CRAFTS. 10am. Knit & Crafts Circle – Bring a portable craft (knitting, crochet, spinning, rug-hooking, mending, etc.) and get support and camaraderie. Best for lifelong and self-directed learners. Registration is required. Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, 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.

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-5pm. The Curiosity Challenge –Leonardo da Vinci was renowned for his curiosity. He even conceptualized modern inventions such as airplanes and solar power all the way back in the 1400s. Use your curiosity to solve challenges throughout the Springfield Museums. 413-263-6800. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA.

LITERACY/ STORYTIME. 10:30am. Story Time – All ages and abilities are welcome! Drop in for a relaxed story hour, listen to books, play, make a seasonal craft, and chat with other grown-ups. Tilton Library. 413-665-4683. 75 North Main Street. South Deerfield, MA.

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

ICE SKATING. 11:30am-1:20pm. 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.

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.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

ANIMAL STUDIES. 1pm.Wildlife on Wheels – Stop in the library to meet the animals of the Forest Park Zoo. Grace Hall Memorial Library. 413-862-3894. 161 Main Road, Montgomery, 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.

STEM. 1-2:30pm. Slime & Shine – STEM workshop for ages 9-12. Community Action’s Family Center. 413-475-1555. 90 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA.

MAKERSPACE. 2-4pm. Artful Mechanisms – Makers-space and build-along workshop. Kids will be given materials and guidance to create mechanical linkages and automaton toys out of everyday materials. Ages 8-12. Monson Library. 413-267-3866. 2 High Street, Monson, MA.

MAKERSPACE. 2-4:30pm. Makerspace Collaboratory Drop-In – The East Forest Park Branch Makerspace is a place you can visit for free to use their selection of equipment to create, craft, tinker, and experiment! From traditional crafts to digital tinkering. The East Forest Park Makerspace is your place to create, invent, and learn. Each week there is a drop-in project or two based on a theme. All ages. East Forest Park Branch. 413-263-6836. 136 Surrey Road. Springfield, MA. 

CHEMISTRY. 3pm. Make Cloud Slime – Learn how to make Cloud Slime! for ages 5 & up. Hubbard Memorial Library. 413-583-3408. 24 Center St, Ludlow, MA.

LEGOS. 3pm. LEGO Club Special Event at Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.

LEGOS. 3pm. LEGO Club – Playing with LEGOs offers an excellent opportunity for kids to practice problem-solving and spatial skills while engaging in semi-complex tasks. Children ages 6-10 are invited to build with the library’s impressive collection of LEGO Bricks at the Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, 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. 

TECH/ 3D PRINTING. 4:30pm. 3D Printing for Kids – Children ages 8-11 are invited to learn about 3D printing technologies by designing their own 3D objects and having it printed for them. Registration required. Westfield Athenaeum. 413-568-7833. 6 Elm Street, Westfield, MA.

ART STUDIES/ MOSAICS. 6:30-9:30pm. Intro to Mosaics: Glass & Ceramic Creations – Make-It Springfield. 413-342-1681. 168 Worthington St, Springfield, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

Head to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for February vacation!
Open weekends and February 21-24, their galleries include a new exhibition by award-winning artist Christian Robinson. Move your body with Center Dance Studio and laugh with the Happier Family Comedy Show (Feb 18). Enjoy storytimes and book signings with authors and illustrators, including Hayley and John Rocco (Feb 18), Astrid Sheckels (Feb 22), and Circle Round’s Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis (Feb 24). Make The Carle your February vacation destination! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more information on scheduled events, visit www.carlemuseum.org.

FEATURED MUSEUM
Historic Deerfeld
Deerfield, MA

Are you looking for an exciting family outing during school vacation this month? Drop in at Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center for their Fun in February: School Vacation Week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day. Play and have fun in their 1786 Hall Tavern. Dress up, write with a quill pen, play games, make a craft, and experience a hearth cooking demonstration! Since it is a drop-in program, you can come anytime between 10am-3pm. Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

FEATURED WINTER
VACATION CAMP
STEAM Camp at
LaunchSpace Makerspace
Orange, MA

February Vacation STEAM Camp at LaunchSpace Makerspace in Orange, MA. Come out of the cold this February vacation & join LaunchSpace Makerspace makers, inventors & artists in 4 days of hands-on STEAM Maker Camp fun! Experiment with acrylic painting, hand building with clay, mechanical engineering, and Rube Goldberg not-so-simple machines. These workshops are designed for ages 8-12 and are held February 20-24, 1-3pm. Cost: $25 for all 4 days of workshops & Thursday is free for everyone! Click here to register. For more info, email
sid@launchspace-orange.com, or visit online: www.launchspace-orange.com. 
These programs are made possible through generous sponsorship from community partners at Walmart & the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

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

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

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING. 9am-4:30pm. Cross-Country Skiing at Northfield Mountain – Northfield Mountain has more than 25 miles of trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing and groomed for both classical and free-style skiing. Their trails offer some of the finest Nordic skiing in the region, from beginner trails to the demanding 800-foot vertical climb of Tenth Mountain Trail. A seasonal rental program for cross-country skis and snowshoes is available. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.

ART STUDIES. 9am-5pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY/ MAPLE. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days – For many, the first whiff of spring isn’t the aroma of spring flowers; it’s the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, 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.

WORLD LANGUAGES/ SPANISH. 10am. Libros y canciones/Bilingual Storytime – Sing songs and read books in English and Spanish. Best suited for children ages 1.5-3. ¡Canta canciones y lee libros en ingles y español! Este evento es apropriado para niños de edades 1.5-3. Reuniremos en la sala de comunidad y se limitará asistencia a 30. Forbes Library. 413-587-1011. 20 West St, Northampton, 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.

LOCAL HISTORY/ WALK. 10am-1pm. Road to the Past: Walk to Dana Common – Explore the road to Dana Common and look for signs of lives past. DCR Quabbin Gate 40, Hardwick Rd, Petersham, 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.

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-5pm. The Curiosity Challenge –Leonardo da Vinci was renowned for his curiosity. He even conceptualized modern inventions such as airplanes and solar power all the way back in the 1400s. Use your curiosity to solve challenges throughout the 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.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE/ PUPPETRY. 10:30am. Pumpernickel Puppets: Sir George and the Dragon – Join an adventurous princess as she journeys to Mystery Mountain to visit the Great Green Dragon. Presented with large colorful hand puppets and live voices, and sound effects. Storrs Library. 413-565-4181. 693 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, 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. Storytime – Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, 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.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

ICE SKATING. 11:30am-1:20pm. 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.

ART STUDIES/ GLASS BLOWING. 1:30pm. Glass Blowing Demonstration – During Winter Vacation Week, the Agawam Senior Center invites families to see how glass is made during a Glass Blowing Demonstration. Agawam Senior Center. 413-821-0604. 954 Main Street. Agawam, MA.

MAGIC. 2pm. Magic Comedy Show – North Adams Public Library. 413-662-3133. 74 Church St, North Adams, MA.SCIENCE. 2pm. The Science Behind Superheroes – Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.

PHYSICS. 3pm. Make Your Own Marble Run – Meekins Library. 413-268-7472. 2 Williams St, Williamsburg, MA.

CULTURAL STUDIES. 4pm. World Explorers – Want to learn about different countries and cultures worldwide? Learn about different cultures by enjoying some of their stories, music, food, and art. Ages 7-13. Springfield City Library: East Springfield Branch. 413-263-6840. 21 Osborne Terrace, Springfield, MA. 

FILM STUDIES/ ANIME. 4pm. Teen Anime Club – Teens are invited to watch anime, check out the library’s growing manga collection, and make fan art with library craft supplies. Forbes Library. 413-587-1011. 20 West St, Northampton, MA. 

PASTRY ARTS. 5:30pm. Cupcake Wars – Clapp Memorial Library. 413-323-0417. 19 South Main Street, Belchertown, MA. 

ASTRONOMY. 5:30pm. Starry Starry Night: Telescope Fun – Cushman Library. 413-648-5402. 28 Church St, Bernardston, MA. 

BIOLOGY. 6pm. Sensational Spores: Lethal Success of a Frog-Killing Fungus by SciTech Cafe. Abandoned Building Brewery. Easthampton, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

Head to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for February vacation!
Open weekends and February 21-24, their galleries include a new exhibition by award-winning artist Christian Robinson. Move your body with Center Dance Studio and laugh with the Happier Family Comedy Show (Feb 18). Enjoy storytimes and book signings with authors and illustrators, including Hayley and John Rocco (Feb 18), Astrid Sheckels (Feb 22), and Circle Round’s Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis (Feb 24). Make The Carle your February vacation destination! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more information on scheduled events, visit www.carlemuseum.org.

FEATURED MUSEUM
Historic Deerfeld
Deerfield, MA

Are you looking for an exciting family outing during school vacation this month? Drop in at Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center for their Fun in February: School Vacation Week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day. Play and have fun in their 1786 Hall Tavern. Dress up, write with a quill pen, play games, make a craft, and experience a hearth cooking demonstration! Since it is a drop-in program, you can come anytime between 10am-3pm. Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

FEATURED WINTER
VACATION CAMP
STEAM Camp at
LaunchSpace Makerspace
Orange, MA

February Vacation STEAM Camp at LaunchSpace Makerspace in Orange, MA. Come out of the cold this February vacation & join LaunchSpace Makerspace makers, inventors & artists in 4 days of hands-on STEAM Maker Camp fun! Experiment with acrylic painting, hand building with clay, mechanical engineering, and Rube Goldberg not-so-simple machines. These workshops are designed for ages 8-12 and are held February 20-24, 1-3pm. Cost: $25 for all 4 days of workshops & Thursday is free for everyone! Click here to register. For more info, email
sid@launchspace-orange.com, or visit online: www.launchspace-orange.com. 
These programs are made possible through generous sponsorship from community partners at Walmart & the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

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

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

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING. 9am-4:30pm. Cross-Country Skiing at Northfield Mountain – Northfield Mountain has more than 25 miles of trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing and groomed for both classical and free-style skiing. Their trails offer some of the finest Nordic skiing in the region, from beginner trails to the demanding 800-foot vertical climb of Tenth Mountain Trail. A seasonal rental program for cross-country skis and snowshoes is available. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.

ART STUDIES. 9am-10pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, MA.

LOCAL HISTORY/ MAPLE. 9:30am-4pm. Maple Days – For many, the first whiff of spring isn’t the aroma of spring flowers; it’s the smell of wood smoke and maple syrup, a sure sign that the sap is rising and spring is on the way. Old Sturbridge Village. 800-733-1830. 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, 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.

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.

PLAYGROUP. 10am. Playgroup – Free play, crafts, storytime, and songs for children ages birth to 5 years old with South Berkshire Kids at Monterey Public Library. 413-528-3795. 452 Main Rd, Monterey, 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.

MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 10am-5pm. The Curiosity Challenge –Leonardo da Vinci was renowned for his curiosity. He even conceptualized modern inventions such as airplanes and solar power all the way back in the 1400s. Use your curiosity to solve challenges throughout the 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.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE. 10:30am. Children’s Concert – Mark “Moomaw” Jackson will present a fun-filled concert for children at the library. Moomaw will sing his humorous original songs for families. He uses amusing gags and props to entertain the youngsters that attend. South Hadley Public Library. 413-538-5045. 2 Canal St., South Hadley, 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.  

ICE SKATING. 11am-1:20pm. 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.

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.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

MAKERSPACE. 3-5pm. Kids’ Low-Tech Makerspace – Using tape, glue guns, recycled stuff, clothes pins, popsicle sticks, and more, imagine what you can create and make it happen! The Worthington Library. 413-238-5565. One Huntington Rd, Worthington, MA.

FAMILY PERFORMANCE. 2pm. Spyjinks! With Nutshell Playhouse – Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.

PUPPETRY. 3:30pm. Marionette Show: “The Princess and the Pea” – Puppeteer Carl Sprague returns to the mansion to charm all ages with the classic fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.” Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum. 413-637-3206. 104 Walker Street. Lenox, 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.

ASTRONOMY. 6:30pm. Star Lab – A traveling planetarium will be at the library, bringing the night sky and all of its wonders to the Hall Memorial Library. 413-862-3894. 161 Main Road, Montgomery, MA.

ROLLER SKATING. 7-9:30pm. Interskate 91. 413-586-8344. 367 Russell Street, Hampshire Mall, Hadley, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.

Head to The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for February vacation!
Open weekends and February 21-24, their galleries include a new exhibition by award-winning artist Christian Robinson. Move your body with Center Dance Studio and laugh with the Happier Family Comedy Show (Feb 18). Enjoy storytimes and book signings with authors and illustrators, including Hayley and John Rocco (Feb 18), Astrid Sheckels (Feb 22), and Circle Round’s Rebecca Sheir and Eric Shimelonis (Feb 24). Make The Carle your February vacation destination! The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is at 125 W Bay Rd in Amherst, MA. For more information on scheduled events, visit www.carlemuseum.org.

FEATURED MUSEUM
Historic Deerfeld
Deerfield, MA

Are you looking for an exciting family outing during school vacation this month? Drop in at Historic Deerfield’s Visitor Center for their Fun in February: School Vacation Week, open February 20-24 from 10am-3pm each day. Play and have fun in their 1786 Hall Tavern. Dress up, write with a quill pen, play games, make a craft, and experience a hearth cooking demonstration! Since it is a drop-in program, you can come anytime between 10am-3pm. Children 17 and under are free but must be accompanied by an adult (admission is $7 for adults). Historic Deerfield. 413-774-5581. 84 Old Main St, Deerfield, MA.

FEATURED WINTER
VACATION CAMP
STEAM Camp at
LaunchSpace Makerspace
Orange, MA

February Vacation STEAM Camp at LaunchSpace Makerspace in Orange, MA. Come out of the cold this February vacation & join LaunchSpace Makerspace makers, inventors & artists in 4 days of hands-on STEAM Maker Camp fun! Experiment with acrylic painting, hand building with clay, mechanical engineering, and Rube Goldberg not-so-simple machines. These workshops are designed for ages 8-12 and are held February 20-24, 1-3pm. Cost: $25 for all 4 days of workshops & Thursday is free for everyone! Click here to register. For more info, email
sid@launchspace-orange.com, or visit online: www.launchspace-orange.com. 
These programs are made possible through generous sponsorship from community partners at Walmart & the Community Foundation of Western Mass.

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

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

🍁 SUGAR SHACK/FAMILY MEAL. 7am-1pm. Maple Season Breakfast – Bring the family for a maple season breakfast that includes demonstrations of maple syrup rendering, tastings, and tours. North Hadley Sugar Shack. 413-585-8820. 181 River Drive. Hadley, 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.

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING/ SNOWSHOEING. 9am-4:30pm. Cross-Country Skiing at Northfield Mountain – Northfield Mountain has more than 25 miles of trails designed specifically for cross-country skiing and groomed for both classical and free-style skiing. Their trails offer some of the finest Nordic skiing in the region, from beginner trails to the demanding 800-foot vertical climb of Tenth Mountain Trail. A seasonal rental program for cross-country skis and snowshoes is available. Northfield Mountain. 413-659-3714. 99 Millers Falls Road, RT 63, Northfield, MA.

ART STUDIES. 9am-5pm. Mead Art Museum – Search for secret doors in a seventeenth-century paneled room. Puzzle over a cuneiform inscription that praises a powerful Assyrian king. Marvel at a hanging sculpture spinning in a still gallery. Visitors to the Mead Art Museum do so much more than see objects—at the Mead, art is experienced, investigated, and explored. The Mead offers a world of resources for connecting art across countless cultures, mediums, and eras, set on Amherst College’s beautiful main quadrangle and flanked by a fascinating, stand-alone stone steeple. Mead Art Museum. 413-542-2335. 41 Quadrangle Dr, Amherst, 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.

ANIMAL STUDIES/ WILDLIFE. 10am. Bears, Foxes, & Coyotes… Oh, My! – Children ages 5-10 can learn about wildlife safety and participate in arts & crafts, including an animal mask craft and card making. This event will be presented by a local Girl Scout working on her Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. South Hadley Public Library. 413-538-5045. 2 Canal St., South Hadley, MA. 

FAMILY YOGA. 10am. Family Yoga Friday – Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA.

PARENTING SUPPORT GROUP. 10am. New Baby, New Feelings – A free, safe, confidential drop in support group for mothers with infants. Community Action Family Center. 413-475-1555. 90 Federal Street. Greenfield, 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.

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.

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.

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.

ART STUDIES/ MUSEUM ADVENTURES. 11am-5pm. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum – Located on the Mount Holyoke College campus, this Museum is one of the oldest teaching museums in the country, dedicated to providing firsthand experience with works of significant aesthetic and cultural value. The Museum offers pre- and post-visit educational materials designed for kids of all ages to maximize their learning potential while exploring the galleries and connecting art with their personal experiences, including walking and activity guides and educator resources. Mount Holyoke College Art Museum. 413-538-2245. 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA.

PUPPETRY. 1:30pm. Tom Knight Musical Puppet Show – Springfield City Library: Forest Park Branch. 413-263-6843. 380 Belmont Ave, Springfield, MA.

BIOLOGY. 2pm. Kids Terrariums Workshop – North Adams Public Library. 413-662-3133. 74 Church St, North Adams, MA.

FIBER ARTS/ NEEDLE FELTING. 2:30pm. Needle Felt a Heart – Gaylord Memorial Library. 413-538-5047. 47 College Street. South Hadley, MA.

PLACEMAKING/ CREATIVE ECONOMY. 5-8pm. Greenfield Arts Walk. On every last Friday of the month, downtown Greenfield comes alive in a celebration of the local creative community. The Greenfield Arts Walk is a town-wide event featuring a cohort of local arts organizations. Downtown Greenfield, MA. 

🎳 SPORTS/ BOWLING. 6-11pm. Vintage Candlepin Bowling & Bar – Bowling is a fun way to practice math skills and statistics while observing physics concepts, such as friction, torque, velocity, and gravity. Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley. 413-625-6179. 43 Bridge Street. Shelburne Falls, MA.

FILM STUDIES. 6:30pm. Movie Night: Black History Month – Westhampton Public Library. 413-527-5386. 1 N Rd, Westhampton, 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.

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

THEATER STUDIES. 8-11pm. Exit 7 Players Presents: Clue – The classic board game is brought to life in Clue! Exit 7 Players Theater. 413-583-4301. 37 Chestnut St, Ludlow, MA.

MORE EVENTS: Discover more events on Hilltown Families’ Facebook page.