Hilltown Families 
Get your hands on a skein of local wool and learn about the history of merino sheep and the nature of their wool!
Citizen science can connect us with nature, learn about phenology, practice gathering data, and learn the basics of experimental design.
A delicious project your family can try at home is to purchase a few bottles of different types of honey from a local hobby apiarist, farmers' market, or food co-op for...
Have you ever noticed how the chorus of frogs & toads change through the season? Pay attention to their chorus & let it guide your learning!
Gardening is a multidisciplinary activity embedded with learning every step along the way, from botany to soil science to meteorology.
Pick up rhubarb from a local farm stand! A local delicacy, rhubarb, has been enjoyed globally for thousands of years in sweet & savory dishes.
The fall is the season for harvesting wheat and corn. The word “harvest” is originally derived from the Old English “haerfest,” meaning “autumn.” In ancient Britain and other European communities, the...
Called “pompions” by the first European colonists, pumpkins were a food essential to winter survival – and they were grown in many more varieties than they typically are today. The custom...
Towns across Western Massachusetts have tales of haunted historic buildings, ghost sightings, and supernatural suspicions that lead people to wonder whether a place is haunted or not. Haunted tales are sometimes...
Halloween is a holiday that invites us to tell stories through costumes, allowing us to engage in fantasy and role-playing for at least a single night. Traditional costumes for Halloween include...
Lessons in science and the humanities are integrated when using seeds to teach about botany, history, and culinary arts. Seeds and their pods appear not only in our natural landscape, but...
Throughout the year, those interested in the art and technique of film-making can support their interests through intergenerational community-based educational resources and events, including libraries, online resources, local non-profit organizations, independent...
Farmers’ markets are community builders and are intrinsically a part of New England culture and traditions. In Western Massachusetts, many farmers’ markets have expanded to not only include agricultural products but...
Native species & natural habitat are excellent community-based resources! Download our free lesson to learn about beavers and their habitats.
Plant sales & swaps are terrific community events for learning tips on plants and gardening from both home gardeners and experts in the field!
In Barbara Cooney’s book Miss Rumphius, the woman lovingly know as the Lupine Lady spreads beauty throughout her community by keeping a pocketful of seeds to distribute –...
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech speaks to the value & importance of kindness via civic engagement & community service.
Explore local poets' homes and writing places from the past, such as the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA.
Celebrated annually as part of National Poetry Month, Poem in Your Pocket Day encourages people to share writing and connect with others by spreading poems throughout their communities. Celebrated by literally...
Often, math and art are seen as opposites: structure and the lack thereof. At the intersection of the two, however, lies quilting: an art form that is inherently mathematical. Families can...
Food connects us. From the hands and land that grow and nurture our ingredients to the moment we gather together and share a meal, food has the power to reveal...
Learning to sew allows children is discover a new creative medium and can lead to studies of local history and local culture!
While almost all food scraps make great compost, certain scraps can make something even more wonderful - more food! Families can engage in hands-on experiential learning by collecting bits of these...
Have you ever wondered how magic tricks really work? By studying the psychology behind magic, young magicians (and young psychologists) can uncover the “secrets” behind successful magic tricks and learn lots...
While the learning of a verbal and written language can open international possibilities, the learning of American Sign Language opens possibilities within the local community. The pursuit of a second language...