Hilltown Families 
For many, New Year's Day is a time for peace, quiet, and calmness. Though it's the beginning of something new, it's also a time to reflect on all that life brought...
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...
In celebration of the Trustees of Reservations' 125th anniversary, the organization is offering the Hike 125 challenge, setting local hikers to the task of hiking 125 miles of Trustees trails before...
Hiking with children is not only great exercise, but helps to provide important exposure to the outdoors! But what about when children aren't yet big enough to hike on their own?...
Western Mass is home to an incredible array of community-based resources that offer a diversity of embedded learning opportunities. From historical societies to libraries, trails to art galleries, there are numerous...
Nature-based learning through naturalist activities in the winter offer experiential learning that is place-based within the seasons.
Explore the hills of Western Massachusetts - spend an afternoon hiking at one of the many local state forests and parks! The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) offers...
Western MA State Forests: Where Shall We Go Today? How can families enjoy our state parks… let me count the way! Gini Traub, Regional Environmental Education Coordinator at Massachusetts Department of...
UPDATE: WINTER TRAILS DAY AT NOTCHVIEW RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, JAN 22, 2011 Due to the thin snow cover, most Winter Trails Day events are being rescheduled from Saturday, January 8 to...
DCR Sponsors First Day Hikes The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will sponsor free “First Day” family hikes in 14 state parks across the Commonwealth on New Year’s Day, as...
Great Park Pursuit: The MA State Park Family Adventure The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is launching its fourth annual Great Park Pursuit, a summer-long series of free family adventures...
Pittsfield City Hoopla Comes Spinning Back into Town! Pittsfield City Hoopla returns for its second annual all day hoop-fest this summer on July 24th, 2010. This year it boasts all-day programming...
QUESTION AND ANSWERS Can anyone recommend a New England BEACH worth taking a day trip to? Teresa Barents Van Bramer responds: Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island. Maria Sansalone responds: Rhode Island...
Making Memories There’s nothing better than a good old red white and blue, wrapped yourself up in an American flag, July fourth holiday. And nothing says July fourth better than a...
QUESTION AND ANSWERS Can anyone recommend an outdoor swimming pool to take the kids to in Western Massachusetts? Julie Gouldman Russell responds: If you happen to know someone who is a...
School’s Out School’s out! The last time it was this hot, my family and I had just moved to Northampton from a sleepy Connecticut suburb, there were two weeks until school...
Hosts Needed for the Highland Unusual Games Triathlon at the Hilltown Spring Festival on May 15th, 2010 For the past two years, competitors from across the Hilltowns – ranging in age...
Birding Beyond Your Backyard Anyone who wants to learn how to identify local birds by sight and sound will be interested in this new free program, “Birding Beyond Your Backyard,” organized...
Can a Full Moon Have More Than One Name? In many cultures a folklore name is associated with each full moon of the year. January’s full moon was called the Wolf...
Winter Trails Day at Notchview in Windsor, MA Free Outdoor Snow Sports Fun For All The Trustees of Reservations invite everyone to try out a snow sport on Winter Trails Day....
Christmas Bird Count: Citizen Science in Action December 14th – January 5th For three weeks beginning December 14th, 2009, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an...
Gorge aprés Gorge Community Walk/Run in West Chesterfield, MA Sunday, November 29, 2009, 10AM The Sunday morning following your Thanksgiving dinner gorge, rise and shine to join friends and neighbors for...
Letterboxing: A Crafty Outdoor Adventure By Jessica Branciforte Letterboxing involves a mixture of artistry, adventure, navigation, and secrecy. All in all, it’s a great big treasure hunt with art lying in...
Great Park Pursuit: The MA State Park Family Adventure The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is launching its third annual Great Park Pursuit, a summer-long series of free family adventures...
If You Give a Kid a Shovel by Joe Gillespie Have you ever watched kids dig potatoes for the first time? It is like a treasure hunt. Or experienced the joy...
Nicolas Frischer of Chesterfield, MA writes: “Let Freedom Ring” will be the theme of this year’s July 4th parade and promises all the fun and family attractions that have made this...
Nicolas Frischer of Chesterfield, MA writes: “Let Freedom Ring” will be the theme of this year’s (2009) July 4th parade in Chesterfield, MA, and promises all the fun and family attractions...
Ratios as a Sweet Treat! By CISA As one of his first orders of business, CISA’s new Executive Director, Phil Korman, has offered to share a maple syrup-based math lesson that...
Cold-Weather Checklist Keep kids warm when the temperature drops. When the weather outside is frightful but your child thinks going out is delightful, it’s important to follow a few simple guidelines...