Archives

Kindness Eggs: Spring Idea to Inspire Compassion & Community Engagement

You may have heard of the spreading of joy and creativity via yarn bombs, seed bombs, art bombs, play bombs … but how about kindness bombs?

Category: Hilltown Families Tags: compassion, Easter, Egg Hunts, kindness, Kindness Bombs, Play, Random Acts of Kindness, Seed Bomb, Spring Traditions, Yarn Bomb

Learning Ahead: Spring Traditions & Celebrations

The reemergence of flora and fauna in the outdoor world gives cause for celebration as the months turn warmer and new life abounds. For many, it is a time of celebration linked to spring’s seasonality as reflected in the types of food prepared in holiday celebrations, including Easter and Passover.

Category: Hilltown Families, Holidays, Supplement Tags: Easter, Learning Ahead 32, Learning Ahead Seasons Mar Apr, Mass Humanities, Passover

Easter Events in Western MA, 2016

During Easter many towns host egg hunts for their residents. Check our list of Easter events for an egg hunt nearest you, along with Easter craft opportunities, brunch and Easter Bunny appearances.

Category: Hilltown Families, Suggested Activity Tags: Easter, easter egg hunt, Easter Egg Hunts in Western Massachusetts, Easter Events for Families, Easter Events in Massachusetts, Holidays, Things to do in Western Massachusetts for Easter

Easter Events in Western MA, 2015

Easter Events in Western MA 2015 Community events that celebrate Easter take place over the next few week. We’ll be adding to this list as events come in, so be sure to check back:

Category: Berkshire County, Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Suggested Activity Tags: Berkshire County, Easter, easter egg hunt, Easter Egg Hunts in Western Massachusetts, Easter Events for Families, Easter Events in Massachusetts, franklin county, Greenfield, Hampden County, hampshire county, Southwick, Springfield, Things to do in Western Massachusetts for Easter, western massachusetts, Westfield

Suggested Events for April 19th-25th, 2014

Our list of Weekly Suggested Events is up, your go-to resource for educational, community building and cultural events happening throughout western Massachusetts! Check our comprehensive list of events for Easter, Earth Day and April Vacation Week…

Category: Hilltown Families, Suggested Events, Western MA Events, Western Massachusetts Events Tags: April Vacation Week, Community Based Education, Earth Day, Easter, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts

Suggested Events for April 12th-18th, 2014

Check our comprehensive list of Weekly Suggested Events and discover community building and educational opportunities happening all over the region for all ages! Event highlights this week include vernal pool explorations, egg hunts, Earth Day celebrations, theater, fundraisers, community service opportunities, and much MUCH more!

Category: Hilltown Families, Suggested Events, Western MA Events, Western Massachusetts Events Tags: Community Based Education, Easter, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Vernal Pools, Western MA, western massachusetts

Suggested Events for April 5th-11th, 2014

Our list of Weekly Suggested Events is up for this weekend and next week! Discover fun and educational events happening this week in western Massachusetts, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast…

Easter Events in Western MA, 2014

Easter is around the corner. During Easter many towns host egg hunts for their residents. Find an egg hunt nearest you, along with Easter craft opportunities, brunch and Easter Bunny appearances and make your family plans to get out into your community and celebrate…

Recap Map: Western MA Weekend Summary & Family Guide for March 30th, 2013

Here’s a recap of news and information posted on Hilltown Families this past week, along with a map for finding out what’s happening this weekend and upcoming week throughout Western MA! MAP Peruse our list of Suggested Events for March 30th-April 5th, 2013 for a comprehensive list of events happening throughout the four counties of Western MA, including: Best Bets, Mark Your Calendars and Bulletin Board. Also check our weekly column, Learn Local. Play… Read More

Category: Recap Map, Suggested Activity Tags: Berkshire County, Berkshires, Easter, Family Guide, franklin county, Hampden County, hampshire county, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, Spring, western massachusetts

22 Community Highlights: Laura Ingalls Wilder to the Beatles. Vernal Pools to Hot Cross Buns.

Laura Ingalls Wilder to the Beatles. Vernal Pools to Boreal Forests. Legally Blonde to Anything Goes… These are just a few of the learning highlights we’re featuring this week! Get out into your community and learn while you play! And be sure to check our list of supporting book titles to supplement the learning on the different topics highlighted each week. Purchase them for your family library, or check them out from… Read More

Category: Highlights, Suggested Activity Tags: Berkshires, Community Based Education, Community Service Based Learning, Easter, education for sustainability, environmental education, experiential education, Family Activities in Western Massachusetts, Massachusetts, New England, pedagogy of place, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, place-based learning, Science, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Tourisim, Travel, western massachusetts

Recap Map: Western MA Weekend Summary & Family Guide for March 23rd, 2013

Here’s a recap of news and information posted on Hilltown Families this past week, along with a map for finding out what’s happening this weekend and upcoming week throughout Western MA! MAP Peruse our list of Suggested Events for March 23rd-29th, 2013 for a comprehensive list of events happening throughout the four counties of Western MA, including: Best Bets, Mark Your Calendars and Bulletin Board. Also check our weekly column, Learn Local. Play Local…. Read More

27 Community Highlights: Bread to Sushi. Beekeeping to Bird Houses.

Beekeeping to Bird Houses. Latino Folktales to Ukrainian Pysanky. Bread to Sushi… These are just a few of the learning highlights we’re featuring this week! Get out into your community and learn while you play! Sustainability ♦ Nature Science/Animal Studies ♦ Culinary Arts ♦ Musical/Theater ♦ Parent Workshops ♦ Art ♦ Culinary Studies Easter Sunday in next weekend, March 31st, but egg hunts are happening this weekend and next! Check out our post, Easter Events in Western MA for… Read More

Category: Highlights, Suggested Activity Tags: arts, Berkshires, Community Based Education, Community Service Based Learning, Easter, education for sustainability, environmental education, experiential education, Family Activities in Western Massachusetts, Hilltown Families, Massachusetts, Musicals, New England, pedagogy of place, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, place-based learning, Science, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Tourisim, Travel, vacation, Western MA, western massachusetts

Berkshire Family Fun for Late March, Early April, 2013

Berkshire County Highlights for Families: March 23 – April 5, 2013 While there still might be fresh snow on the ground, it is officially spring… and there’s proof! High school spring musicals are happening at both Taconic High School in Pittsfield and Mount Everett Regional High School in Sheffield; Spring egg hunts are scheduled in several towns throughout the county; there’s even the annual Spring Tonic happening at the Lenox Library! Find… Read More

Category: Berkshire County, Berkshire Family Fun, Suggested Activity Tags: Berkshire County, Berkshires, Community Based Education, Easter, Family Activities in Western Massachusetts, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, New England, North Adams, place-based education, Spring, Stockbridge, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts, Williamstown

Easter Events in Western MA, 2013

Easter Events in Western MA 2013 Community events that celebrate Easter take place through April 13th. We’ll be adding to this list as events come in, so be sure to check back. Saturday, March 16th In Great Barrington at 3pm, earn to make naturally-dyed eggs with the Berkshire Co-op! Families will learn how to use food, flowers, leaves, and more to create beautifully decorated, all-natural holiday eggs. You’ll get to take the… Read More

Learn How to Make Pisanski Eggs in Western MA

The Tradition of Pisanski Eggs We all know about the American tradition of Easter eggs – the three dimensional ovals that come in many varieties, from jelly beans to hard boiled. They’re no match, however, for Pisanski eggs. These eggs – that you would never dream of eating – are beautifully decorated using beeswax and vibrant (yet non-edible) dyes. A tradition from eastern Poland and Ukraine, rich in history, Pisanski eggs are… Read More

Category: Berkshire County, Franklin County, Hampden County, Hampshire County, Suggested Activity, Video Tags: decorated easter eggs, Easter, Easter Egg, Folk Art, Pisanski, Pisanski eggs, tradition of easter eggs, Ukraine

Suggested Events for April 7th-13th, 2012

Discover fun and educational events happening this week in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast. SUGGEST AN EVENT If you have a family friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening,… Read More

Suggested Events for March 31st-April 6th, 2012

Easter Events For Families in Western MA

Easter Events in Western MA 2012 Community events that celebrate Easter begin this weekend. We’ll be adding to this list as events come in, so be sure to check back. Saturday, March 31st In Easthampton at 10am, an annual Egg Hunt of 18,000 eggs (many with prizes) happens at Millside Park. Hunt begins promptly, so arrive early and BYO basket! Easter Bunny will make an appearance too. Great photo opportunity. 413-529-1440. 2 Ferry… Read More

Suggested Events 04/23/11-04/29/11

Create an Eco-Savvy Basket for Spring

Eco-Savvy Basket for Spring Celebrate Green by making an easy Easter basket that can become an heirloom This basket is simple to make and as cute as they come. Children as young as three can help and most six or seven-year-olds can make it themselves. Find out how at Celebrate Green.

Category: Craft Ideas, Family, Holidays, Press This Tags: Basket, DIY, Easter, Spring

Suggested Events 03/22/08 – 03/28/08

Spring is here, officially arriving early Thursday morning. My daughter asked me if this meant that the sun would be coming home now … how can I tell her not to hold her breath (remember last year in April when it snowed and schools were closed)? Yesterday when we were down in Hadley in the rain, I could see in her face the gloom of these past few cold and gray days… Read More

Category: Entertainment, Family, Hilltown Families, Holidays, Outdoor Activities, Spring Customs, Suggested Events Tags: Easter, Spring

Legends & Lore of Easter Icons

Many traditions of Easter, a religious holiday, have their origins in pagan rituals and beliefs. The result is lots of legends and lore behind the popular icons, symbols and customs that are part of the Easter celebration.