Hilltown Families

Bees and flowers have an amazingly close relationship. Flowers need bees to reproduce, and bees need flowers to feed their colonies. Take away one, and the other would disappear too. It...

From museums and galleries to community-based organizations and art-making spaces, western Massachusetts is filled with opportunities to explore the arts. By utilizing community-based learning opportunities, families can explore the local art...

FYI: Childcare Subsidies Are Available Now! The Hilltown Community Development Corporation, funded by a Community Development Block Grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development and the Town of...

Snow can make you feel as though the world has stopped around you. During snowstorms, travel is suspended, and, for a day or two, the quiet of the outdoors reminds...

One way to get some inspiration for your next winter culinary adventure is to visit living history museums to experience daily living routines and food preparations from the 19th century. ...

The holiday season is a beautiful time of year, sometimes covered in a blanket of snow, and the perfect time to get outside and enjoy! Sienna Wildfield, Founder of HilltownFamilies.org, told...

En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air.” It’s used in English to describe a painting style that occurs outdoors. Made possible historically by the manufacturing of...

Hilltown Families on Mass Appeal: Foliage, Pumpkins & Hauntings Hilltown Families and Mass Appeal (a weekday, hour-long lifestyle program on NBC) have teamed up to offer a live monthly segment on...

Interested in learning a domestic art skill to share and exhibit at next year’s agricultural fairs? Explore and engage in community resources to support your interests and education, and get...

Hilltown Families and Mass Appeal (a weekday, hour-long lifestyle program on NBC) have teamed up to offer a live monthly segment on WWLP 22News! Each month, Hilltown Families’ Founder &...

An interest in studying astronomy can develop from an interest in mathematical calculation, or a simple appreciation for the beauty of the sky. Observing the stars can be an act of...

It's back to school season for many. Some families are buying school supplies and adjusting to new schedules. Autumn is a time for learning, no matter your age. Western Massachusetts is...

Offering a wealth of space-based information presented in a playful way, NASA's online Kids' Club presents opportunities for studies of a fascinating yet largely inaccessible realm. Relevant for most ages and...

3D printing, a type of industrial robot which can synthesize three dimensional objects for a variety of purposes, is one of the most exciting technological, scientific, and creative innovations of recent...

Summer, a time of hiking, biking, camping, and swimming, can be a joyful time. For children sensitive to sensory integration, however, it can be an overwhelming season full of stimulation....

Though western Massachusetts isn't known as a sports mecca, it's filled with community-based resources for exploring sports and the history behind them. As the birthplace of at least two major sports...

Hilltown Families and Mass Appeal (a weekday, hour-long lifestyle program on NBC) have teamed up to offer a live monthly segment on WWLP 22News! Each month, Hilltown Families’ Founder &...

A handful of local paths and trails provide access to the natural and human history contained on the banks of western Massachusetts rivers. From short, interpretive paths to remnants of ancient...

From studies of history and culture to cutting edge science, Great Big Story's videos get to the roots of the modern human experience. Publishing new videos daily, the news-like resource offers...

No matter what age we are, humans spend lots of our time making observations and learning from them. We learn about each other in this way, too - but sometimes observation...

Western Massachusetts is a treasure trove for community-based studies of literature and literary history! Including historic homes, local landmarks, beautiful trails, and more! Here in the western half of the state,...

A support group for families in which a relative parents another relative's children, Grandfamilies offers support for adults navigating both the joy and challenges of such a family structure.

The past helps to explain the present, and by examining history from multiple perspectives, much can be learned about the struggle for equal rights. Using radio series Beyond Affliction and resources...

Looking at your community through the lens of an interest is just one point of entry to community-based education. With back-to-school in the air we wanted to encourage our readers, parents,...

Exploring is the greatest learning asset. A new well-thought out online program called Maker Camp offers a uniquely accessible learning opportunity for kids- all for the grand fee of zero dollars!...

Using film to teach children about philosophy, "What's the Big Idea?" helps to promote the development of critical thinking skills in middle school learners. Providing them with resources from which to...

Calling all budding botanists... Smith College's Lyman Conservatory has an audio tour for kids & adults! With ten different indoor exhibits to explore, the learning possibilities offered by the conservatory are...