Saturday, May 2 • Sunday, May 3
Monday, May 4 • Tuesday, May 5 • Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7 • Friday, May 8
Saturday, May 9 • Sunday, May 10
Monday, May 11 • Tuesday, May 12 • Wednesday, May 13
Thursday, May 14 • Friday, May 15
Diary of a Wombat Reading Live on Facebook: After having to cancel Monkey Baa Theatre’s production of Diary of Wombat, due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the UMass Fine Arts Center is hosting a digital pajama party with the company for a live event on the FAC’s Facebook page, Tuesday, May 5 at 7pm. Based in Australia, company Director Eva Di Cesare will share a bedtime reading of Diary of a Wombat and also answer questions. As a bedtime story, children are asked to put on their favorite PJs and join in for a wonderful story about Mothball, the naughtiest wombat in Australia. In advance of the reading, the FAC invites young participants to draw a photo of their favorite animal wearing PJs and share it on Facebook during the live event. Those who share will be entered to win a super Wombat prize pack including a copy of the book, stuffed wombat, and swag from our friends at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. For more information, visit www.fineartscenter.com/wombat or the Fine Arts Center’s Facebook page.
This time every year, many families start to think about tending to their gardens, growing their own food, and being able to access locally grown food easily. Gardening connects families with the seasons and is a multidisciplinary activity embedded with learning every step along the way, from botany to soil science to meteorology. At home, gardening can take place in either a garden plot, porch containers, and/or window sills, becoming a learning laboratory for all members of the family. Now is the time to order your plants, and Bare Roots Farm in West Chesterfield is open for pre-orders via their online store. Bare Roots Farm is a locally owned family greenhouse growing useful organic plants. Orders can be picked up at their Farm Stand (329 Ireland Street) beginning the 2nd week of May. Place your order now at Barerootsfarm.com.
Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Summer Youth Programs. Northampton, MA. Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School is pleased to announce its 2020 Summer Program offerings for students entering grades 6, 7, and 8. Programs include: Entering the World of Cosmetology; Tour de Cuisine: Cultivating the Young Culinarian; Criminal Justice League; Build Your Own Longboard. Weekly programs from July 6-July 23 half-day runs 8:30am- 12:30pm. Full-day programs run 8:30am – 3:30pm. Students can prepare amazing food, practice beauty techniques, build longboards, or learn about law enforcement. For full course descriptions, including which weeks they will run and to register for a Summer Youth Program, please see their website. Dates: Jul 6-23; Age Range of Participants: 11-14yo. Contact: 413-587-1414 x3406. dcarver@smithtec.org. www.smithtec.org/summer.
Are you planning your garden for this spring? Make sure to plant local, organic, and heirloom varieties! Where to get your plants? River Valley Co-op in Northampton, of course! During their annual Mother’s Day Weekend Spring Plant Sale they will be selling flower, veggie, and herb starts for your home garden from local farms, including Windy Ridge Farm, High Meadows Farm, and Bare Roots Farm. A great selection is available at River Valley Co-op during Mother’s Day weekend: May 8th, 9th, 10th from 10am-7pm. River Valley Co-Op. 413-584-2665. 330 N King St, Northampton, MA.
Online Classes. Chad Stewart, former Disney Animator and veteran homeschool Dad, offers Online Animation or Drawing Classes for ages 11-18. Weekly classes are one hour long, and industry professionals complete video reviews of homework as a part of every class they teach. The cost is $350 for the full 12-week session, and the Summer Session begins June 1st. Classes tend to fill up quickly so you can hold your child’s spot with a $50 deposit at the time of registration! Classes are held during Summer, Fall, and Spring Sessions, so if you can’t join them now, check back with again! Chad has worked on films such as Tarzan, Emperor’s New Groove, and The Polar Express, and has much to share with students of his Drawing or Animation Classes. Contact: 661-755-5775. kayla@theanimcourse.com. theanimcourse.com.
Saturday, April 25 • Sunday, April 26
Monday, April 27 • Tuesday, April 28 • Wednesday, April 29
Thursday, April 30 • Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2 • Sunday, May 3
Monday, May 4 • Tuesday, May 5 • Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7 • Friday, May 8
FOOD & FARMING:
Culinary Arts ♦ Early American Cuisine ♦ Pie Crust ♦ Scones ♦ Fermented Foods ♦ Backyard Chickens ♦ Plant Sale ♦ Organic Gardening ♦ Fruit Trees ♦ Agriculture
NATURE-BASED LEARNING:
Nature-Based Learning ♦ Phenology ♦ Geology ♦ Biospheres ♦ Weather & Erosion ♦ Meteorology ♦ Galaxies ♦ Vernal Pools ♦ Forests ♦ Forest Ecology ♦ Sky
ANIMALS & INSECTS:
Animal Studies ♦ Herpetology ♦ Ichthyology ♦ Ornithology ♦ Bobolink ♦ Frogs ♦ Bird-Watching ♦ Peregrine Falcon ♦ Marine Biology ♦ Oysters ♦ River Herring ♦ Merino Sheep ♦ Entomology ♦ Symbolic Relationships ♦ Beetles ♦ Butterflies
STEM:
Science ♦ Math ♦ Kitchen Science ♦ Zymology ♦ STE(A)M ♦ Astronomy
MUSIC, ART, THEATER, DANCE STUDIES:
Music Studies ♦ Symphony ♦ Classical Music ♦ Art Studies ♦ Museum Tours ♦ Art History ♦ Color History ♦ Sculpture ♦ Printmaking ♦ Dr. Seuss ♦ Theater Studies ♦ Shakespeare ♦ Sword Fighting ♦ Dance Studies ♦ World Folk Dances ♦ Contemporary Dance Studies ♦ Canadian Stepdance
LANGUAGE ARTS:
Language Arts ♦ Literature ♦ National Poetry Month ♦ Ecopoetry ♦ Poem in Your Pocket Day ♦ Children’s Literature ♦ Cartography ♦ Virtual Mapping ♦ Communication Skills
HISTORY:
History ♦ U.S. History ♦ Local History ♦ Food History ♦ Guilded Age ♦ Renaissance History ♦ Gender Studies ♦ Women’s History ♦ Fashion History ♦ Art History ♦ Aviation History ♦ History of Personal Hygiene ♦ Social Movements
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Community Service ♦ Virtual Food Drive ♦ Homelessness ♦ Sewing Masks ♦ Citizen Science ♦ Nature’s Notebook ♦ Light Pollution
LOCAL RESOURCES:
Walking Tours ♦ Becket Land Trust ♦ Kestrel Land Trust ♦ The Trustees ♦ Old Sturbridge Village ♦ Berkshire Museum ♦ Community Experts ♦ Small Businesses ♦ Northeast Organic Farming Association of Massachusetts ♦ Food Bank of Western MA ♦ Springfield Symphony Orchestra ♦ Emily Dickinson Museum ♦ Norman Rockwell Museum ♦ The Trustees ♦ New England Air Museum ♦ Ventfort Hall ♦ Historic Northampton ♦ Naumkeag ♦ Regreen Springfield ♦ Hitchcock Center ♦ Great Barrington Land Conservancy ♦ Jacob’s Pillow ♦ Smith College Museum of Art ♦ Hampden Gallery ♦ The Clark ♦ IS183 Art School of the Berkshires ♦ Springfield Museums ♦ Cooley Dickinson Hospital ♦ Mass Audubon ♦ Best Buddies ♦ Common Good ♦ Veterans ♦ Curly Willow
EARLY CHILDHOOD:
PreK ♦ Vision Boards ♦ Creative Free-Play ♦ Play Ideas
OPPORTUNITIES:
Online Tutoring ♦ Online Animation Class ♦ Cinco De Mayo ♦ National Poetry Month ♦ Earth Day
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ReddPrep online tutoring: Northampton, MA. For more than fifteen years, ReddPrep has been preparing students to excel in school and maximize their scores on standardized tests. They offer a wide range of small classes and individual tutoring programs online for middle and high school students, specializing in standardized test preparation and college admissions counseling. Whether your student needs a little academic support or a full-time college admissions coach, ReddPrep is ready to help. Contact ReddPrep today for a free consultation and to craft an online study plan for your student. Mention Hilltown Families and receive a 20% discount on online tutoring. risher@reddprep.com. www.reddprep.com.
Online Classes. Chad Stewart, former Disney Animator and veteran homeschool Dad, offers Online Animation or Drawing Classes for ages 11-18. Weekly classes are one hour long, and industry professionals complete video reviews of homework as a part of every class they teach. The cost is $350 for the full 12-week session, and the Summer Session begins June 1st. Classes tend to fill up quickly so you can hold your child’s spot with a $50 deposit at the time of registration! Classes are held during Summer, Fall, and Spring Sessions, so if you can’t join them now, check back with again! Chad has worked on films such as Tarzan, Emperor’s New Groove, and The Polar Express, and has much to share with students of his Drawing or Animation Classes. Contact: 661-755-5775. kayla@theanimcourse.com. theanimcourse.com.
PARTNER WITH HILLTOWN FAMILIES: Are you offering virtual classes or lessons? Are you facilitating online social, learning, or entertainment opportunities? Is your local business offering new ways for customer engagement? Partner with Hilltown Families in your online outreach, delivering your message to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers. Hilltown Families is committed to our community and supporting one another in times of need. Our sponsors and advertising partners allow us to keep delivering this community-based educational resource to our readers for free (since 2005!). Local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our new and exciting opportunities!
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Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Summer Youth Programs. Northampton, MA. Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School is pleased to announce its 2020 Summer Program offerings for students entering grades 6, 7, and 8. Programs include: Entering the World of Cosmetology; Tour de Cuisine: Cultivating the Young Culinarian; Criminal Justice League; Build Your Own Longboard. Weekly programs from July 6-July 23 half-day runs 8:30am- 12:30pm. Full-day programs run 8:30am – 3:30pm. Students can prepare amazing food, practice beauty techniques, build longboards, or learn about law enforcement. For full course descriptions, including which weeks they will run and to register for a Summer Youth Program, please see their website. Dates: Jul 6-23; Age Range of Participants: 11-14yo. Contact: 413-587-1414 x3406. dcarver@smithtec.org. www.smithtec.org/summer.
College for Kids. Westfield, MA. College for Kids provides innovative and creative educational programs for kids ages 5-14, promoting and maintaining an enjoyable learning environment. Each week will feature different classes, giving the option for parents to enroll their child in a morning session, afternoon session, or both. College for Kids offers a range of subjects including science, computers, magic, cooking, and the arts. In addition to returning favorites such as Digital Nature Photography, Science Discovery for Curious Kids, Broadway Bound, and The Art of Magic, they are excited to offer brand new classes in 2020 including Pie Making, Charcoal Drawing, Bucket Drumming for Beginners, Biodiversity in the World, and more! Dates: Jul 6-31; Age Range of Participants: 5-14yo. Contact: 413-572-8557. collegeforkids@westfield.ma.edu. westfield.ma.edu/cfk.
Saturday, April 25 • Sunday, April 26
Monday, April 27 • Tuesday, April 28 • Wednesday, April 29
Thursday, April 30 • Friday, May 1
Saturday, May 2 • Sunday, May 3
Monday, May 4 • Tuesday, May 5 • Wednesday, May 6
Thursday, May 7 • Friday, May 8
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Saturday, April 18 • Sunday, April 19
Monday, April 20 • Tuesday, April 21 • Wednesday, April 22
Thursday, April 23 • Friday, April 24
Mark your calendars: Local Virtual Opportunities
Suggest a distant learning event!
LOCAL RESOURCES:
Emily Dickinson Museum ♦ Hampden Gallery ♦ The Clark ♦ IS183 Art School of the Berkshires ♦ Hancock Shaker Village ♦ Naumkeag ♦ Smith College Museum of Art ♦ Bike Paths ♦ Great Barrington Land Conservancy ♦ Regreen Springfield ♦ Jacob’s Pillow ♦ Historic Northampton ♦ Hitchcock Center ♦ Cooley Dickinson Hospital ♦ Ventfort Hall ♦ Springfield Symphony Orchestra ♦ Springfield Museums ♦ Berkshire Museum ♦ New England Air Museum ♦ Norman Rockwell Museum ♦ Mass Audubon ♦ The Trustees ♦ Grow Food Northampton ♦ Science Cafes ♦ Best Buddies ♦ Girl Scouts ♦ Curly Willow
MUSIC, DANCE, ART, LANGUAGE:
Sculpture ♦ Printmaking ♦ Folk Art ♦ Visible Mending ♦ Music Studies ♦ Historic Blues & Folk Music ♦ Contemporary Dance Studies ♦ World Folk Dances ♦ Symphony ♦ Classical Music ♦ Museum Tours ♦ Art History ♦ Language Art ♦ Poetry ♦ Literature ♦ Communication Skills ♦ National Poetry Month ♦ Virtual Mapping ♦ Cartography
HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES:
Walking Tours ♦ Gender Studies ♦ Massachusetts History ♦ Fashion History ♦ Guilded Age ♦ Women’s History ♦ Aviation History ♦ Art History ♦ Early American Cuisine ♦ Renaissance History ♦ Social Movements ♦ Social Studies ♦ Cultural History ♦ History of Toilet Paper ♦
FOOD & FOOD SYSTEMS:
Learning in the Kitchen ♦ International Foods ♦ Local Recipes ♦ International Rice Dishes ♦ Hoe Cakes ♦ Scones ♦ Agriculture ♦ Community Sustainable Agriculture
SCIENCES & NATURE-BASED LEARNING:
Dental Hygiene ♦ Staying Healthy ♦ STE(A)M ♦ Mathematical Reasoning ♦ Fibonacci ♦ Maillard Reaction ♦ Zymology ♦ Meteorology ♦ Astronomy ♦ NASA ♦ Aeronautics ♦ Sundials ♦ Solar Flares ♦ Galaxies ♦ Black Holes ♦ Phenology ♦ Biospheres ♦ Vernal Pools ♦ Forest Ecology ♦ Watershed Ecology ♦ Zoology ♦ Ornithology ♦ Ichthyology ♦ Herpetology ♦ Entomology ♦ Marine Biology ♦ Bird-Watching ♦ Peregrine Falcon ♦ Bobolink ♦ River Herring ♦ Frogs ♦ Butterflies ♦ Beetles
CITIZEN SCIENCE:
Nature’s Notebook ♦ Solar Storm Watch ♦ Galaxy Zoo ♦ CoCoRaHS ♦ Loss of Night ♦ Vernal Pools
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Virtual Food Drive ♦ Sewing Masks ♦ Homelessness
PEOPLE:
Walter Cudnohufsky ♦ Safia Elhillo ♦ Robert Frost ♦ Robert Strong Woodward ♦ Jane Austen ♦ Shakespeare ♦ Dr. Seuss ♦ Veterans
Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday?
Click here to subscribe!
Want to have your resource featured on Hilltown Families?
Click here to inquire.
Want to receive our new Hilltown Families Daily?
Support us on Patreon!
Saturday, April 18 • Sunday, April 19
Monday, April 20 • Tuesday, April 21 • Wednesday, April 22
Thursday, April 123 • Friday, April 24
ReddPrep online tutoring: Northampton, MA. For more than fifteen years, ReddPrep has been preparing students to excel in school and maximize their scores on standardized tests. They offer a wide range of small classes and individual tutoring programs online for middle and high school students, specializing in standardized test preparation and college admissions counseling. Whether your student needs a little academic support or a full-time college admissions coach, ReddPrep is ready to help. Contact ReddPrep today for a free consultation and to craft an online study plan for your student. Mention Hilltown Families and receive a 20% discount on online tutoring. risher@reddprep.com. www.reddprep.com.
Online Classes. Chad Stewart, former Disney Animator and veteran homeschool Dad, offers Online Animation or Drawing Classes for ages 11-18. Weekly classes are one hour long, and industry professionals complete video reviews of homework as a part of every class they teach. The cost is $350 for the full 12-week session, and the Summer Session begins June 1st. Classes tend to fill up quickly so you can hold your child’s spot with a $50 deposit at the time of registration! Classes are held during Summer, Fall, and Spring Sessions, so if you can’t join them now, check back with again! Chad has worked on films such as Tarzan, Emperor’s New Groove, and The Polar Express, and has much to share with students of his Drawing or Animation Classes. Contact: 661-755-5775. kayla@theanimcourse.com. theanimcourse.com.
Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Summer Youth Programs. Northampton, MA. Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School is pleased to announce its 2020 Summer Program offerings for students entering grades 6, 7, and 8. Programs include: Entering the World of Cosmetology; Tour de Cuisine: Cultivating the Young Culinarian; Criminal Justice League; Build Your Own Longboard. Weekly programs from July 6-July 23 half-day runs 8:30am- 12:30pm. Full-day programs run 8:30am – 3:30pm. Students can prepare amazing food, practice beauty techniques, build longboards, or learn about law enforcement. For full course descriptions, including which weeks they will run and to register for a Summer Youth Program, please see their website. Dates: Jul 6-23; Age Range of Participants: 11-14yo. Contact: 413-587-1414 x3406. dcarver@smithtec.org. www.smithtec.org/summer.
Roots Youth Summer Programs. Westfield, MA. Roots Summer Vacation Programs offer full-day activities for ages 5-12 years old. Regular hours are from 9am-4pm. All summer program attendees will participate in activities at the three major facilities on the Roots campus: 1) Roots Gymnastics Center, 2) Roots Aquatics Center, and 3) Roots Athletics Center. Attendees will rotate between the three facilities each day participating in activities such as gymnastics, swim, soccer and other turf sports, S.T.E.M., crafts, games, water slide, and so much more! Early Drop Off is available at 7:30am, and Late Pick-Up ends at 5pm. Dates: Jun 29-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 5-12yo. Contact: 413-562-2333 & 413-568-2782. rootssummer@gmail.com. rootsvacation.com. rootscamp.campbrainregistration.com.
College for Kids. Westfield, MA. College for Kids provides innovative and creative educational programs for kids ages 5-14, promoting and maintaining an enjoyable learning environment. Each week will feature different classes, giving the option for parents to enroll their child in a morning session, afternoon session, or both. College for Kids offers a range of subjects including science, computers, magic, cooking, and the arts. In addition to returning favorites such as Digital Nature Photography, Science Discovery for Curious Kids, Broadway Bound, and The Art of Magic, they are excited to offer brand new classes in 2020 including Pie Making, Charcoal Drawing, Bucket Drumming for Beginners, Biodiversity in the World, and more! Dates: Jul 6-31; Age Range of Participants: 5-14yo. Contact: 413-572-8557. collegeforkids@westfield.ma.edu. westfield.ma.edu/cfk.
Amherst Montessori School Summer Discovery. Amherst, MA. Amherst Montessori’s Summer Discovery offers playful adventures tailored to children ages 12 months to 12 years. Preschool/kindergarten children will have so much fun jumping through sprinklers, playing outside, and exploring weekly themes, including Geology, Insects, Building, and more. Infants/toddlers ages three and below will love AMS’s nurturing environment with outdoor play, songs & movement, water play, and sensory exploration, all with emphasis on building independence. The amazing Michelle Risch leads three weeks of Lego building and creativity with millions of Legos for Elementary children to build wherever their imagination takes them. Varying schedules with extended hours. Dates: Jun 8-Aug 7; Age Range of Participants: 15mos-12yo. Contact: 413-253-3101. sthompson@amherstmontessori.org. amherstmontessori.org.
Rockin’ the Summer. Goshen, MA. IMA’s residential music programs give girls access to top-notch facilities & instruments, to veteran professional musicians & teachers, and musical exploration & collaboration. Explore Rock ‘n Roll (Jun 24–28; Aug 19-23) offers girls 9-12 opportunity to explore instruments, to begin writing songs, and to participate in a concert. Rock ‘n Roll Performance (Jul 10-19; Jul 24-Aug 2) offers girls 13-19 an opportunity to speak their truth through the medium of rock ‘n roll, gain confidence in performance abilities, improve musicianship, and develop collaborative leadership skills. Studio Recording & Production (Aug 6-16) offers hands-on studio recording seminar for women 16-22 who are ready to record their work and/or interested in engineering and producing. Dates: Jun 26-Aug 18; Age Range of Participants: Girls/Young Women 9-22yo. Contact: 413-268-3074. info@ima.org. www.ima.org.
Summer at The Academy at Charlemont in Charlemont, MA. The Academy at Charlemont Summer Programs. Multiple programs for grades 3-12 running from late June to late August. Week of June 29-July 3 – Arts and Crafts for grades 3-6, 9am-3pm. Week of July 6-July 10 – Maker’s Camp 8:30am-11:30am and Ultimate Frisbee 12:30pm-3:30pm, grades 7-12. Week of August 3-7 – Music Camp 9am-12pm. Week of August 17-21 – Arts and Crafts for grades 7-12, 9am-12pm. Financial aid is available. Participants are asked to bring water bottles, snacks and/or lunch.Dates: Jun 29-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-339-4912. jmitchell@charlemont.org. www.charlemont.org
Riotous Youth. Lenox, MA. These fun and inspiring 2-week summer theatre programs introduce students ages 7-17 to Shakespeare’s language, his stories, characters, and themes using imaginative and playful methods. Each session ends with a performance piece based on the kids’ experience of the play, which they share with family, friends, and Company members on the final day of the session. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 7-17yo. Contact: 413-637-1199 x172. mmarchione@shakespeare.org. www.shakespeare.org
Claws, based out of Northampton, MA.Claws camping trips take students 11-17 into wild places. They climb mountains, ford rivers and sea kayak. Students test their edges and boundaries as they learn skills needed to overcome challenges. They move through fascinating terrain and waters, having fun while practicing mindfulness. They gain the ability to control their thoughts and movements, like seal, fish, and birds, bears, and bobcats do. They learn to read the great patterns of biomes, of weather, witnessing grand forces and elements expressing themselves. Claws go into the wild because the wild is where they can grow—where they can grasp life, grip it tight and carry it aloft. This year they’re going to the White Mountains and Casco Bay in Maine. There are trips to the Sierras, too. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 28; Age Range of Participants: 11-17yo. Contact: 413-320-0522. info@biocitizen.org. ma.biocitizen.org.
“Brave” Dance Camp with Celtic Heels & Devine Dance in Greenfield, MA. Experience the joy of dance at the “Brave” themed dance camp. Celtic Heels & Devine Dance are offering students the opportunity to attend a four-day workshop incorporating Irish Step, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and more. In addition to dance classes, students will create craft projects, learn new rhythms and cadences and improve their balance, posture, and flexibility. With such a variety of styles, there is something for everyone, and a summer workshop is a great way to experience their individually tailored lesson plans as well as the inclusive atmosphere they create with and for their students. Dates: Jun 29-Jul 2; Age Range of Campers: 7-12yo. Contact: 413-475-4726. celticheels@gmail.com. www.CelticHeelsDance.com.
The Bement School offers summer programs for children from 4 to 15 years old. Children have the opportunity to enjoy the fun of a traditional day camp and help create their own schedule by choosing from our wide range of unique activities. Digging into Nature at Pine Hillprovides outdoor education for ages 5-12. The Junior Camp provides a safe, nurturing camp experience for our youngest campers. The Adventure Day Camp offers activity choices that include cooking, movie-making, sports, nature, arts and crafts, and swimming. The Counselor-in-Trainingprogram gives young teenagers experience working with children and developing valuable job skills while still enjoying the fun of summer camp. Summer programs run from June 17 to August 9.
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Saturday, April 11 • Sunday, April 12
Monday, April 13 • Tuesday, April 14 • Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16 • Friday, April 17
Mark your calendars: Local Virtual Opportunities
Suggest a distant learning event!
LOCAL RESOURCES
Smith College Museum of Art ♦ Bike Paths ♦ Great Barrington Land Conservancy ♦ Regreen Springfield ♦ Jacob’s Pillow ♦ Historic Northampton ♦ Hitchcock Center ♦ Cooley Dickinson Hospital ♦ Ventfort Hall ♦ Springfield Symphony Orchestra ♦ Springfield Museums ♦ Berkshire Museum ♦ New England Air Museum ♦ Norman Rockwell Museum ♦ Mass Audubon ♦ The Trustees ♦ Grow Food Northampton ♦ Science Cafes ♦ Best Buddies
MUSIC, DANCE, ART, LANGUAGE
Folk Art ♦ Visible Mending ♦ Easter Eggs ♦ Music Studies ♦ Historic Blues & Folk Music ♦ Contemporary Dance Studies ♦ World Folk Dances ♦ Symphony ♦ Brahms ♦ Museum Tours ♦ Art Studies ♦ Art History ♦ Impressionism ♦ Symbolism ♦ Language Art ♦ Poetry ♦ Literature ♦ Communication Skills ♦ National Poetry Month ♦ Virtual Mapping ♦ Cartography
FOOD & FOOD SYSTEMS
Learning in the Kitchen ♦ International Foods ♦ Local Recipes ♦ Pancakes Around the World ♦ International Rice Dishes ♦ Chicken Tikka Masala ♦ Fermented Foods ♦ Kombucha ♦ Waffles History ♦ Pancake Recipes ♦ Hoe Cakes ♦ Scones ♦ Solar Ovens ♦ Agriculture ♦ Community Sustainable Agriculture
HISTORY & SOCIAL STUDIES
Gender Studies ♦ Massachusetts History ♦ Fashion History ♦ Guilded Age ♦ Women’s History ♦ Aviation History ♦ Food History ♦ Art History ♦ Early American Cuisine ♦ Renaissance History ♦ Social Movements ♦ Social Studies ♦ Cultural History ♦ History of Toilet Paper ♦ Sword Fighting
SCIENCES
Dental Hygiene ♦ Staying Healthy ♦ STE(A)M ♦ Mathematical Reasoning ♦ Fibonacci ♦ Maillard Reaction ♦ Zymology ♦ Meteorology ♦ Astronomy ♦ NASA ♦ Aeronautics ♦ Solar Energy ♦ Sundials ♦ Solar Flares ♦ Galaxies ♦ Black Holes ♦ Phenology ♦ Biospheres ♦ Vernal Pools ♦ Forest Ecology ♦ Watershed Ecology ♦ Zoology ♦ Ornithology ♦ Ichthyology ♦ Herpetology ♦ Entomology ♦ Marine Biology ♦ Bird-Watching ♦ Peregrine Falcon ♦ Bobolink ♦ River Herring ♦ Frogs ♦ Butterflies
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Nature’s Notebook ♦ Solar Storm Watch ♦ Galaxy Zoo ♦ CoCoRaHS ♦ Loss of Night ♦ Vernal Pools
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Virtual Food Drive ♦ Sewing Masks ♦ Homelessness
PEOPLE
Walter Cudnohufsky ♦ Safia Elhillo ♦ Robert Frost ♦ Robert Strong Woodward ♦ Gustav Klimt ♦ Jane Austen ♦ Shakespeare ♦ Dr. Seuss ♦ Veterans
Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday?
Click here to subscribe!
Want to have your resource featured on Hilltown Families?
Click here to inquire.
Want to receive our new Hilltown Families Daily?
Support us on Patreon!
Saturday, April 11 • Sunday, April 12
Monday, April 13 • Tuesday, April 14 • Wednesday, April 15
Thursday, April 16 • Friday, April 17
Mark your calendars: Local Virtual Opportunities
Suggest a distant learning event!
SALE: 50% OR MORE OFF! Are you offering virtual classes or lessons? Are you facilitating online social, learning, or entertainment opportunities? Is your local business offering new ways for customer engagement, gift certificates, or curb side delivery? Partner with Hilltown Families in your online outreach, delivering your message to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers. Offering 50% or more off of our regular advertising options, Hilltown Families is committed to our community and supporting one another in times of need. Our sponsors and advertising partners allow us to keep delivering this community-based educational resource to our readers for free (since 2005!). Local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our new and exciting opportunities!
Amherst Montessori School Summer Discovery. Amherst, MA. Amherst Montessori’s Summer Discovery offers playful adventures tailored to children ages 12 months to 12 years. Preschool/kindergarten children will have so much fun jumping through sprinklers, playing outside, and exploring weekly themes, including Geology, Insects, Building, and more. Infants/toddlers ages three and below will love AMS’s nurturing environment with outdoor play, songs & movement, water play, and sensory exploration, all with emphasis on building independence. The amazing Michelle Risch leads three weeks of Lego building and creativity with millions of Legos for Elementary children to build wherever their imagination takes them. Varying schedules with extended hours. Dates: Jun 8-Aug 7; Age Range of Participants: 15mos-12yo. Contact: 413-253-3101. sthompson@amherstmontessori.org. amherstmontessori.org.
Rockin’ the Summer. Goshen, MA. IMA’s residential music programs give girls access to top-notch facilities & instruments, to veteran professional musicians & teachers, and musical exploration & collaboration. Explore Rock ‘n Roll (Jun 24–28; Aug 19-23) offers girls 9-12 opportunity to explore instruments, to begin writing songs, and to participate in a concert. Rock ‘n Roll Performance (Jul 10-19; Jul 24-Aug 2) offers girls 13-19 an opportunity to speak their truth through the medium of rock ‘n roll, gain confidence in performance abilities, improve musicianship, and develop collaborative leadership skills. Studio Recording & Production (Aug 6-16) offers hands-on studio recording seminar for women 16-22 who are ready to record their work and/or interested in engineering and producing. Dates: Jun 26-Aug 18; Age Range of Participants: Girls/Young Women 9-22yo. Contact: 413-268-3074. info@ima.org. www.ima.org.
Summer at The Academy at Charlemont in Charlemont, MA. The Academy at Charlemont Summer Programs. Multiple programs for grades 3-12 running from late June to late August. Week of June 29-July 3 – Arts and Crafts for grades 3-6, 9am-3pm. Week of July 6-July 10 – Maker’s Camp 8:30am-11:30am and Ultimate Frisbee 12:30pm-3:30pm, grades 7-12. Week of August 3-7 – Music Camp 9am-12pm. Week of August 17-21 – Arts and Crafts for grades 7-12, 9am-12pm. Financial aid is available. Participants are asked to bring water bottles, snacks and/or lunch.Dates: Jun 29-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-339-4912. jmitchell@charlemont.org. www.charlemont.org
Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Summer Youth Programs. Northampton, MA. Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School is pleased to announce its 2020 Summer Program offerings for students entering grades 6, 7, and 8. Programs include: Entering the World of Cosmetology; Tour de Cuisine: Cultivating the Young Culinarian; Criminal Justice League; Build Your Own Longboard. Weekly programs from July 6-July 23 half-day runs 8:30am- 12:30pm. Full-day programs run 8:30am – 3:30pm. Students can prepare amazing food, practice beauty techniques, build longboards, or learn about law enforcement. For full course descriptions, including which weeks they will run and to register for a Summer Youth Program, please see their website. Dates: Jul 6-23; Age Range of Participants: 11-14yo. Contact: 413-587-1414 x3406. dcarver@smithtec.org. www.smithtec.org/summer.
Riotous Youth. Lenox, MA. These fun and inspiring 2-week summer theatre programs introduce students ages 7-17 to Shakespeare’s language, his stories, characters, and themes using imaginative and playful methods. Each session ends with a performance piece based on the kids’ experience of the play, which they share with family, friends, and Company members on the final day of the session. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 7-17yo. Contact: 413-637-1199 x172. mmarchione@shakespeare.org. www.shakespeare.org
Claws, based out of Northampton, MA.Claws camping trips take students 11-17 into wild places. They climb mountains, ford rivers and sea kayak. Students test their edges and boundaries as they learn skills needed to overcome challenges. They move through fascinating terrain and waters, having fun while practicing mindfulness. They gain the ability to control their thoughts and movements, like seal, fish, and birds, bears, and bobcats do. They learn to read the great patterns of biomes, of weather, witnessing grand forces and elements expressing themselves. Claws go into the wild because the wild is where they can grow—where they can grasp life, grip it tight and carry it aloft. This year they’re going to the White Mountains and Casco Bay in Maine. There are trips to the Sierras, too. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 28; Age Range of Participants: 11-17yo. Contact: 413-320-0522. info@biocitizen.org. ma.biocitizen.org.
“Brave” Dance Camp with Celtic Heels & Devine Dance in Greenfield, MA. Experience the joy of dance at the “Brave” themed dance camp. Celtic Heels & Devine Dance are offering students the opportunity to attend a four-day workshop incorporating Irish Step, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and more. In addition to dance classes, students will create craft projects, learn new rhythms and cadences and improve their balance, posture, and flexibility. With such a variety of styles, there is something for everyone, and a summer workshop is a great way to experience their individually tailored lesson plans as well as the inclusive atmosphere they create with and for their students. Dates: Jun 29-Jul 2; Age Range of Campers: 7-12yo. Contact: 413-475-4726. celticheels@gmail.com. www.CelticHeelsDance.com.
The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. Theater & Dance Summer Camp/Summer Dance Intensive in Hadley, MA. The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. offers two separate dance camps this year! Theater and Dance Summer Camp (ages 4-8) provides a variety of dance forms, arts and crafts, play, swimming, set design and more! Summer Dance Intensive (ages 9-15) offers Ballet, Pre-Pointe/Pointe, Acro Dance, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Yoga, and more! Both camps are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm with Full Day and Half Day options. Whether your child is new to dance or a seasoned dancer, Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. dance camps are sure to please! Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 4-15yo. Contact: 413-478-1944. cassieferr@gmail.com. www.childrensballetmovement.com
LSSE Summer Sports Programs and Day Camps. Amherst, MA. Spend the summer with Amherst Leisure Services! At the LSSE Sports Programs and Day Camps, children will have the opportunity to participate in arts, crafts, games, nature activities, sports programs, and swimming lessons. Their caring and experienced staff will make this a summer to remember. They offer free breakfast and lunch to Early Adventures and Adventure Playground day campers thanks to the ARPS School Nutrition Department. Visit the LSSE website for more information and to find the perfect sports or day camp for your child. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 21; Age Range of Campers: 5-14yo. Contact: 413-259-3065. lsse@amherstma.gov. LSSE.org.
Rattlesnake Adventure Camps at Morse Hill Outdoor Center. Shutesbury, MA. This is Morse Hill’s 30th year offering fun outdoor activities that facilitate children’s self-awareness, confidence, trust, communication, problem-solving, & teamwork skills. With a foundation in physical & emotional safety, our programs include on-site low & high ropes courses & team-building initiatives, as well as off-site rock climbing, canoeing, raft building, mountain biking, caving, hiking, & more. The 85-acre property by Lake Wyola in Shutesbury includes bike trails, campsites, cabins, and discovery elements. Transportation is available from Amherst & Northampton. Whether campers choose day, overnight, or expedition camps, they will develop their outdoor skills & knowledge while building relationships with counselors & friends. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 28; Age Range of Campers: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-253-1807. summer@morsehill.com. www.morsehill.com
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Saturday, April 4 • Sunday, April 5
Monday, April 6 • Tuesday, April 7 • Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 9 • Friday, April 10
Mark your calendars: Local Virtual Opportunities
Suggest a distant learning event!
FOOD & FOOD SYSTEMS
Learning in the Kitchen ♦ International Foods ♦ Local Recipes ♦ Pancakes Around the World ♦ International Rice Dishes ♦ Chicken Tikka Masala ♦ Fermented Foods ♦ Kombucha ♦ Waffles History ♦ Pancake Recipes ♦ Hoe Cakes ♦ Scones ♦ Solar Ovens ♦ Agriculture ♦ Community Sustainable Agriculture ♦ Maple Syrup
HISTORY
Women’s History ♦ Aviation History ♦ Food History ♦ Art History ♦ Early American Cuisine ♦ Renaissance History ♦ Social Movements ♦ Social Studies ♦ Cultural History ♦ History of Toilet Paper ♦ Sword Fighting
MUSIC, DANCE, ART, LANGUAGE
World Folk Dances ♦ Experimental Music ♦ Symphony ♦ Brahms ♦ Museum Tours ♦ Art Studies ♦ Art History ♦ Impressionism ♦ Symbolism ♦ Language Art ♦ Poetry ♦ Literature ♦ Literature Guide ♦ Communication Skills ♦ National Poetry Monty ♦ Virtual Mapping ♦ Cartography
SCIENCES
STE(A)M ♦ Mathematical Reasoning ♦ Fibonacci ♦ Maillard Reaction ♦ Zymology ♦ Meteorology ♦ Astronomy ♦ NASA ♦ Aeronautics ♦ Solar Energy ♦ Sundials ♦ Solar Flares ♦ Galaxies ♦ Black Holes ♦ Phenology ♦ Botany ♦ Biospheres ♦ Vernal Pools ♦ Forest Ecology ♦ Maple Trees ♦ Watershed Ecology ♦ Zoology ♦ Ornithology ♦ Ichthyology ♦ Herpetology ♦ Marine Biology ♦ Bird-Watching ♦ Peregrine Falcon ♦ Bobolink ♦ River Herring ♦ Frogs
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Nature’s Notebook ♦ Solar Storm Watch ♦ Galaxy Zoo ♦ CoCoRaHS ♦ Loss of Night ♦ Vernal Pools
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Virtual Food Drive ♦ Sewing Masks ♦ Homelessness
LOCAL RESOURCES
Springfield Symphony Orchestra ♦ Springfield Museums ♦ Berkshire Museum ♦ New England Air Museum ♦ Norman Rockwell Museum ♦ Mass Audubon ♦ The Trustees ♦ Grow Food Northampton ♦ Science Cafes ♦ Best Buddies ♦ Summer Camps
PEOPLE
Robert Strong Woodward ♦ Gustav Klimt ♦ Jane Austen ♦ Laurie Berkner ♦ Shakespeare ♦ Dr. Seuss ♦ Veterans
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Saturday, April 4 • Sunday, April 5
Monday, April 6 • Tuesday, April 7 • Wednesday, April 8
Thursday, April 9 • Friday, April 10
SALE: 50% OR MORE OFF! Are you offering virtual classes or lessons? Are you facilitating online social, learning, or entertainment opportunities? Is your local business offering new ways for customer engagement, gift certificates, or curb side delivery? Partner with Hilltown Families in your online outreach, delivering your message to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers. Offering 50% or more off of our regular advertising options, Hilltown Families is committed to our community and supporting one another in times of need. Our sponsors and advertising partners allow us to keep delivering this community-based educational resource to our readers for free (since 2005!). Local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our new and exciting opportunities!
Check out our Summer Directory for nearly
60 summer camps & programs in and around Western MA!
Amherst Montessori School Summer Discovery. Amherst, MA. Amherst Montessori’s Summer Discovery offers playful adventures tailored to children ages 12 months to 12 years. Preschool/kindergarten children will have so much fun jumping through sprinklers, playing outside, and exploring weekly themes, including Geology, Insects, Building, and more. Infants/toddlers ages three and below will love AMS’s nurturing environment with outdoor play, songs & movement, water play, and sensory exploration, all with emphasis on building independence. The amazing Michelle Risch leads three weeks of Lego building and creativity with millions of Legos for Elementary children to build wherever their imagination takes them. Varying schedules with extended hours. Dates: Jun 8-Aug 7; Age Range of Participants: 15mos-12yo. Contact: 413-253-3101. sthompson@amherstmontessori.org. amherstmontessori.org.
Rockin’ the Summer. Goshen, MA. IMA’s residential music programs give girls access to top-notch facilities & instruments, to veteran professional musicians & teachers, and musical exploration & collaboration. Explore Rock ‘n Roll (Jun 24–28; Aug 19-23) offers girls 9-12 opportunity to explore instruments, to begin writing songs, and to participate in a concert. Rock ‘n Roll Performance (Jul 10-19; Jul 24-Aug 2) offers girls 13-19 an opportunity to speak their truth through the medium of rock ‘n roll, gain confidence in performance abilities, improve musicianship, and develop collaborative leadership skills. Studio Recording & Production (Aug 6-16) offers hands-on studio recording seminar for women 16-22 who are ready to record their work and/or interested in engineering and producing. Dates: Jun 26-Aug 18; Age Range of Participants: Girls/Young Women 9-22yo. Contact: 413-268-3074. info@ima.org. www.ima.org.
Summer at The Academy at Charlemont in Charlemont, MA. The Academy at Charlemont Summer Programs. Multiple programs for grades 3-12 running from late June to late August. Week of June 29-July 3 – Arts and Crafts for grades 3-6, 9am-3pm. Week of July 6-July 10 – Maker’s Camp 8:30am-11:30am and Ultimate Frisbee 12:30pm-3:30pm, grades 7-12. Week of August 3-7 – Music Camp 9am-12pm. Week of August 17-21 – Arts and Crafts for grades 7-12, 9am-12pm. Financial aid is available. Participants are asked to bring water bottles, snacks and/or lunch.Dates: Jun 29-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-339-4912. jmitchell@charlemont.org. www.charlemont.org
Riotous Youth. Lenox, MA. These fun and inspiring 2-week summer theatre programs introduce students ages 7-17 to Shakespeare’s language, his stories, characters, and themes using imaginative and playful methods. Each session ends with a performance piece based on the kids’ experience of the play, which they share with family, friends, and Company members on the final day of the session. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 7-17yo. Contact: 413-637-1199 x172. mmarchione@shakespeare.org. www.shakespeare.org
Claws, based out of Northampton, MA.Claws camping trips take students 11-17 into wild places. They climb mountains, ford rivers and sea kayak. Students test their edges and boundaries as they learn skills needed to overcome challenges. They move through fascinating terrain and waters, having fun while practicing mindfulness. They gain the ability to control their thoughts and movements, like seal, fish, and birds, bears, and bobcats do. They learn to read the great patterns of biomes, of weather, witnessing grand forces and elements expressing themselves. Claws go into the wild because the wild is where they can grow—where they can grasp life, grip it tight and carry it aloft. This year they’re going to the White Mountains and Casco Bay in Maine. There are trips to the Sierras, too. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 28; Age Range of Participants: 11-17yo. Contact: 413-320-0522. info@biocitizen.org. ma.biocitizen.org.
“Brave” Dance Camp with Celtic Heels & Devine Dance in Greenfield, MA. Experience the joy of dance at the “Brave” themed dance camp. Celtic Heels & Devine Dance are offering students the opportunity to attend a four-day workshop incorporating Irish Step, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and more. In addition to dance classes, students will create craft projects, learn new rhythms and cadences and improve their balance, posture, and flexibility. With such a variety of styles, there is something for everyone, and a summer workshop is a great way to experience their individually tailored lesson plans as well as the inclusive atmosphere they create with and for their students. Dates: Jun 29-Jul 2; Age Range of Campers: 7-12yo. Contact: 413-475-4726. celticheels@gmail.com. www.CelticHeelsDance.com.
The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. Theater & Dance Summer Camp/Summer Dance Intensive in Hadley, MA. The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. offers two separate dance camps this year! Theater and Dance Summer Camp (ages 4-8) provides a variety of dance forms, arts and crafts, play, swimming, set design and more! Summer Dance Intensive (ages 9-15) offers Ballet, Pre-Pointe/Pointe, Acro Dance, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Yoga, and more! Both camps are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm with Full Day and Half Day options. Whether your child is new to dance or a seasoned dancer, Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. dance camps are sure to please! Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 4-15yo. Contact: 413-478-1944. cassieferr@gmail.com. www.childrensballetmovement.com
LSSE Summer Sports Programs and Day Camps. Amherst, MA. Spend the summer with Amherst Leisure Services! At the LSSE Sports Programs and Day Camps, children will have the opportunity to participate in arts, crafts, games, nature activities, sports programs, and swimming lessons. Their caring and experienced staff will make this a summer to remember. They offer free breakfast and lunch to Early Adventures and Adventure Playground day campers thanks to the ARPS School Nutrition Department. Visit the LSSE website for more information and to find the perfect sports or day camp for your child. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 21; Age Range of Campers: 5-14yo. Contact: 413-259-3065. lsse@amherstma.gov. LSSE.org.
Rattlesnake Adventure Camps at Morse Hill Outdoor Center. Shutesbury, MA. This is Morse Hill’s 30th year offering fun outdoor activities that facilitate children’s self-awareness, confidence, trust, communication, problem-solving, & teamwork skills. With a foundation in physical & emotional safety, our programs include on-site low & high ropes courses & team-building initiatives, as well as off-site rock climbing, canoeing, raft building, mountain biking, caving, hiking, & more. The 85-acre property by Lake Wyola in Shutesbury includes bike trails, campsites, cabins, and discovery elements. Transportation is available from Amherst & Northampton. Whether campers choose day, overnight, or expedition camps, they will develop their outdoor skills & knowledge while building relationships with counselors & friends. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 28; Age Range of Campers: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-253-1807. summer@morsehill.com. www.morsehill.com
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Saturday, March 28 • Sunday, March 29
Monday, March 30 • Tuesday, March 31 • Wednesday, April 1
Thursday, April 2 • Friday, Apri 3
PARTNER WITH HILLTOWN FAMILIES: Are you offering virtual classes or lessons? Are you facilitating online social, learning, or entertainment opportunities? Is your local business offering new ways for customer engagement? Partner with Hilltown Families in your online outreach, delivering your message to over 25,000 subscribers, web visitors, and social media followers. Hilltown Families is committed to our community and supporting one another in times of need. Our sponsors and advertising partners allow us to keep delivering this community-based educational resource to our readers for free (since 2005!). Local and online businesses, virtual and local service providers, non-profit organizations, and individuals are encouraged to reach out to find out about our new and exciting opportunities!
Signature Sounds Presents announces The Parlor Room Home Sessions: A curated on-line concert series featuring some of their favorite artists. Watch The Suitcase Junket on Fri. March 27 at 8 PM. Little Roots entertain the whole family on Sat. March 28 at 10:30 AM. Jeffrey Foucault performs on Sun. March 29 at 8:00 PM and Mark Erelli on Thurs. April 9 at 8 PM. All show times are EST and more artists are being added all the time. There is no pay wall, but donations are highly encouraged for both the artist and venue. Access all the shows via www.signaturesounds.com/homesessions.
Families are invited to discover the warm, welcoming community at Amherst Montessori School, with dedicated teachers, administrators, and fellow parents who strive to create a sense of belonging for each child and family. Set-up a tour, explore the hands-on, child-centered Montessori curriculum, and learn about the engaging community of Amherst Montessori School. Applications for the 2020-21 school year are now being accepted. Schedule options from partial day to full day with extended hours. Set-up a tour by emailing Susanna at sthompson@amherstmontessori.org or by calling 413-253-3101.
“Brave” Dance Camp with Celtic Heels & Devine Dance in Greenfield, MA. Experience the joy of dance at the “Brave” themed dance camp. Celtic Heels & Devine Dance are offering students the opportunity to attend a four-day workshop incorporating Irish Step, Tap, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and more. In addition to dance classes, students will create craft projects, learn new rhythms and cadences and improve their balance, posture, and flexibility. With such a variety of styles, there is something for everyone, and a summer workshop is a great way to experience their individually tailored lesson plans as well as the inclusive atmosphere they create with and for their students. Dates: Jun 29-Jul 2; Age Range of Campers: 7-12yo. Contact: 413-475-4726. celticheels@gmail.com. www.CelticHeelsDance.com.
The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. Theater & Dance Summer Camp/Summer Dance Intensive in Hadley, MA. The Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. offers two separate dance camps this year! Theater and Dance Summer Camp (ages 4-8) provides a variety of dance forms, arts and crafts, play, swimming, set design and more! Summer Dance Intensive (ages 9-15) offers Ballet, Pre-Pointe/Pointe, Acro Dance, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Yoga, and more! Both camps are Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm with Full Day and Half Day options. Whether your child is new to dance or a seasoned dancer, Children’s Ballet & Movement Co. dance camps are sure to please! Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 4-15yo. Contact: 413-478-1944. cassieferr@gmail.com. www.childrensballetmovement.com
LSSE Summer Sports Programs and Day Camps. Amherst, MA. Spend the summer with Amherst Leisure Services! At the LSSE Sports Programs and Day Camps, children will have the opportunity to participate in arts, crafts, games, nature activities, sports programs, and swimming lessons. Their caring and experienced staff will make this a summer to remember. They offer free breakfast and lunch to Early Adventures and Adventure Playground day campers thanks to the ARPS School Nutrition Department. Visit the LSSE website for more information and to find the perfect sports or day camp for your child. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 21; Age Range of Campers: 5-14yo. Contact: 413-259-3065. lsse@amherstma.gov. LSSE.org.
Rattlesnake Adventure Camps at Morse Hill Outdoor Center. Shutesbury, MA. This is Morse Hill’s 30th year offering fun outdoor activities that facilitate children’s self-awareness, confidence, trust, communication, problem-solving, & teamwork skills. With a foundation in physical & emotional safety, our programs include on-site low & high ropes courses & team-building initiatives, as well as off-site rock climbing, canoeing, raft building, mountain biking, caving, hiking, & more. The 85-acre property by Lake Wyola in Shutesbury includes bike trails, campsites, cabins, and discovery elements. Transportation is available from Amherst & Northampton. Whether campers choose day, overnight, or expedition camps, they will develop their outdoor skills & knowledge while building relationships with counselors & friends. Dates: Jun 22-Aug 28; Age Range of Campers: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-253-1807. summer@morsehill.com. www.morsehill.com
Summer at The Academy at Charlemont in Charlemont, MA. The Academy at Charlemont Summer Programs. Multiple programs for grades 3-12 running from late June to late August. Week of June 29-July 3 – Arts and Crafts for grades 3-6, 9am-3pm. Week of July 6-July 10 – Maker’s Camp 8:30am-11:30am and Ultimate Frisbee 12:30pm-3:30pm, grades 7-12. Week of August 3-7 – Music Camp 9am-12pm. Week of August 17-21 – Arts and Crafts for grades 7-12, 9am-12pm. Financial aid is available. Participants are asked to bring water bottles, snacks and/or lunch.Dates: Jun 29-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 8-18yo. Contact: 413-339-4912. jmitchell@charlemont.org. www.charlemont.org
Riotous Youth. Lenox, MA. These fun and inspiring 2-week summer theatre programs introduce students ages 7-17 to Shakespeare’s language, his stories, characters, and themes using imaginative and playful methods. Each session ends with a performance piece based on the kids’ experience of the play, which they share with family, friends, and Company members on the final day of the session. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 21; Age Range of Participants: 7-17yo. Contact: 413-637-1199 x172. mmarchione@shakespeare.org. www.shakespeare.org
Claws, based out of Northampton, MA.Claws camping trips take students 11-17 into wild places. They climb mountains, ford rivers and sea kayak. Students test their edges and boundaries as they learn skills needed to overcome challenges. They move through fascinating terrain and waters, having fun while practicing mindfulness. They gain the ability to control their thoughts and movements, like seal, fish, and birds, bears, and bobcats do. They learn to read the great patterns of biomes, of weather, witnessing grand forces and elements expressing themselves. Claws go into the wild because the wild is where they can grow—where they can grasp life, grip it tight and carry it aloft. This year they’re going to the White Mountains and Casco Bay in Maine. There are trips to the Sierras, too. Dates: Jul 6-Aug 28; Age Range of Participants: 11-17yo. Contact: 413-320-0522. info@biocitizen.org. ma.biocitizen.org.
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Amherst, Bernardston, Buckland, Chester, Gill, Goshen, Hadley, Heath, Hinsdale-Peru, Holyoke, Montgomery, Mt. Washington, New Salem, Northern Berkshire, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Springfield, Washington, Westhampton, and Windsor Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Of all of the subjects that are taught in elementary school, math can be the hardest one to explore creatively at home; however, Halloween presents an opportunity for some fun informal at-home math studies, including basic logic, data collection, and statistical analysis…
Where in western Massachusetts can families sample international cuisine, learn about world history and science, examine foreign landmarks, and collect passport stamps? The annual Geography and Science Expo offers all this and more – and now is the time to become a part of this unique educational celebration!
Introducing the concept of homeschooling to young audiences, Jonathan Bean’s loosely autobiographical book takes a close look at a day in the life of a busy and constantly learning homeschooling family. The concise text and dense illustrations offer up a fascinating tale of nontraditional education, and paired with our literary guide, the book offers itself as a portal into the examination of nontraditional education and personal learning style.
Speaking to teenagers’ desire for freedom, The Homeschool Liberation League chronicles a young teen’s quest for educational independence. Teaching readers about nontraditional education and the importance of relying on friends, family, and community when engaging in self-directed studies, the story promotes self confidence and educational independence in teens.
Our summer series of literary guides written by graduate students in the Integrated Learning teacher preparation program at Antioch University New England are designed to maximize your child’s reading experience, and mobilize critical thinking.
This week’s guide helps us navigate William Steig’s “Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” under the banner of ‘be careful what you wish for.’ The illustrations offer first and second graders challenges to find clues linking to the overall narrative, and a wealth of new words to discover. They’ll also be inspired to construct that verbally watertight wish (we’ve all done it!) and to imagine where it could take them. Literally an inspiring read that will enrich your child’s literary development.
Our summer series of literary guides written by graduate students in the Integrated Learning teacher preparation program at Antioch University New England are designed to maximize your child’s reading experience, and mobilize critical thinking.
This week’s lit guide to Arthur Dorros’ story, “Abuela,” inspires young readers to connect to Hispanic culture, learn Spanish phrases and also to recognize illustrative patterns. The great concept of ‘journey’ is also open to exploration.
Read on and see how “Abuela” can lead your child’s literary development!
Our series of literary guides written by graduate students in the Integrated Learning teacher preparation program at Antioch University New England are designed to maximize your child’s reading experience. A quality outlook to your child’s reading unlocks so much in terms of a child’s learning and ability to build theme connections. This week’s guide covers a topic a bit light on the cover, a firefighting cat, but has a lot of relatable themes.
“The Fire Cat” by Esther Averill is designed for 2nd grade students and while a bit unrealistic in terms of the subject matter (a cat who works in a fire station,) it contains many relatable themes such as how to come to term with what skills you have, and how to fit into society. Big questions right there! The writing style lends itself to greater phonetic development.
Read on and see how Pickles the cat can lead your child’s literary development!
Every time a child picks up a book, they gain so much in terms of literary enrichment through development of vocabulary and critical thinking, and much more. Our series of literary guides written by graduate students in the Integrated Learning teacher preparation program at Antioch University New England are designed to maximize your child’s reading experience. This week’s guide covers a topic familiar to so many people from so many perspectives: the relationships between siblings when growing up.
“My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother” by Patricia Polacco outlines the dynamic between a younger sister and older brother in a family still steeped in Ukrainian culture, from their immigrant background. It looks at sibling relationships and explores the concept of family through a different lens. It’s an enriching summer read that will help your children draw upon their own observations and experiences and match them up with the themes in the book. The educational guide gives pointers on setting the scene for a reading connection between you and your child.
Summer is the perfect reading season, and we’re making literary guides available for you to encourage your child to expand and deepen their reading experience. Each guide contains a featured book with guidelines in how to stimulate critical thinking.
This week’s book is Elly Mackay’s “If You Hold a Seed” covers the author’s experience with pregnancy and her core desire for growth. Pre-discussion with your child can help sharpen their experience before they start to read and connect to the themes of growth.
Maximizing a literary engagement experience is a crucial tool in a child’s development. Like the featured book, you can really explore the theme of growth through these guides.
Looking for ways to enhance your family reading time? Hilltown Families has a wealth of resources for supporting families with kids of all ages in expanding the stories that they read together into deeper learning experiences. Check out these literary guides…
Our Summer Reading Resource series is coming to a close with our seventh and final installment, Astrid Lindgren’s “Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter.” The accompanying literature guide is written for 4th grade students with lessons and exercises in finding context clues and understanding characters. The guide also includes a rich list of questions to ponder for each chapter in the story…
“Make Way for Ducklings,” written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey, is our featured title this week in our Summer Reading Resource series. This downloadable literature guide, written for use with 1st & 2nd grade students, includes outlines for activities that call for readers to create their own list of rhyming family names, write a new adventure for the Mallard family, and gain practice reading aloud. The guide also includes suggestions for post-reading discussions about the historical context of the story, the book’s illustrations, protecting animals, and the relationship that animals have with humans when they live so close to each other…
This week as part of our Literature Guide Series, “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse” is featured. The literature guide accompanying the story includes lesson plans for helping children use the book as a platform for expanding their understanding of descriptive language and developing their skills in summarizing a text. The guide also includes questions for pre-reading discussion, and a list of possible topics to discuss after reading to help children understand the story and learn from it…
Our Summer Reading Resource Literary Guide series continues this week with Kate Banks’ book, “Max’s Words,” illustrated by Boris Kulikov. The literature guide provided for “Max’s Words” is written for six- and seven-year-old first graders, but the activities – which focus mainly on defining words and creating connections to text – could easily be used with students of any elementary age. There are mini-lesson outlines for activities that can be done to encourage young students to make text-to-text and text-to-self connections during and after reading, an exercise that helps students to make what they have read meaningful and to extract themes from a text…
Our Summer Reading Resource Literary Guide series continues this week with Roald Dahl classic, “Danny the Champion of the World.” The literature guide is written with 4th grade students in mind, but the story can be easily read and appreciated by younger students who have begun reading chapter books… a fun book for bedtime read-aloud time or to absorb aurally on CD during summer travel!
Our Summer Reading Resource literary guide series continues this week with Western Massachusetts author Mo Willems’ “City Dog, Country Frog.” This downloadable literary guide pairs Willems’ book with suggestions for ways to help children expand their thinking, create connections to the text, and allow their literacy skills to grow. Download the guide while finding out about other opportunities in Western MA to supplement studies via Mo Willems’ “City Dog, Country Frog.”
Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen, Illustrated by Barbara Cooney Our new Summer Reading Resource series will be featured here on Hilltown Families every week throughout the end of August, sharing downloadable guides of children’s literature from graduate students in the Integrated Learning teacher preparation program at Antioch University New England. Each literary guide pairs a featured book with suggestions for ways to help children expand their thinking, create connections to… Read More
Asian Studies Supplemented in the Pioneer Valley Exhibit, Educator Workshop, Guided Tours, Performance Art & Free Family Day Educational opportunities are numerous over the next few months for those interested in teaching and learning about Asian art! The Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton, MA will be opening a new exhibit on Asian art beginning February 1st through May 26th, 2013. Titled, Collecting Art of Asia, the exhibit celebrates the 100th anniversary… Read More