Hilltown Families

Now that we have turned the corner from May to June, notice the changes through your senses. Your senses can tell you what time of the year it is without even...

Garden-Based Learning

Gardening is a multidisciplinary activity embedded with learning every step along the way, from botany to soil science to meteorology.

What Is a River? approaches the inquiry at its heart from all sides and angles, creating a richly imagined story woven of many answers, rather than a single explanation....

With this delightful nonfiction picture book, follow the annual life cycle of the spotted salamander through the seasons and through the lens of ecology.

Families can explore and map local vernal pools all on their own! The process of inspecting, mapping, and tracking present species is quite a project to undertake as a family, but...

'Tis the season for amphibians on the move, especially on warm, rainy nights. Salamanders, spring peepers, wood frogs, and toads will be hopping and crawling across our roadways on warm...

Are you looking for lessons in biology & ecology with your students? Try making your very one tabletop biosphere at home or in the classroom!

Fall in Western Mass is when nature literally takes center stage; a destination visitors outside the area flock to because of the gorgeous dynamism of the season. The trees and...

The number Pink Lady's Slipper orchids (sp. Cypripedium acaule) popping up in the NE woodlands this season is amazing! This plant can live up to 25+ years but not produce its...

Now that we have turned the corner from May to June, notice the changes through your senses. Your senses can tell you what time of the year it is without even...

On the heels of a New England winter, spring in Western MA can be very engaging to the senses. This week, take inventory through your senses and notice...

It was Albert Einstein, who said, “Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” During the spring, as nature bursts into bloom, help deepen your connection to...

Late summer means thunderstorms and, sometimes, hurricanes, too. Our collection of storm-themed books can be used to learn courage in the face of bad weather and to find resilience in...

Paleontology to Contemporary Art. Forensics to Cosmology. Literature in Translation to Robotics. These are just a few of the community-based learning highlights we’re featuring this week. Peruse our list and...

QUESTION AND ANSWERS Where’s a good place to pick pumpkins with the kids in Western MA? Patricia McCarthy Krutiak recommends, “Whitney’s Farm Stand. Route 8. Cheshire, MA.” (Berkshire Co.) Heather Dunham...

Animals are a common interest among children. Whether they’re in love with cats of all shapes and sizes or fascinated by the destructive power of a shark’s jaws, children can learn...