Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event Gives Back!
This past Saturday, May 4th, was the second Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event, a one of a kind event for families to volunteer together at seven different community service stations in a single morning!
From teens to tots to grandparents, together families were able to generate 450 hours of community service at this intergenerational event for different non-profit and community organizations in our region that work on behalf of animal welfare, conservation and food security. Held at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton, MA, families traveled from station to station with Passport in hand, participating in facilitated hands-on projects:
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Thank you to all of the families, volunteers and facilitators who joined us! The event was a great success with 150 folks participating in a fun morning of community service. And thank you to WGGB ABC 40 for coming out and covering the event for the 6 o’clock news!
Braid 50 fleece chews to donate to Kane’s Krusade to be distributed in their C.A.R.E. (Canine Assistance, Resources and Education) Kits!
Fill a couple bags full of handmade catnip toys for cats waiting for adoption at the Dakin Humane Society!
Upcycle & take 50 old tshirts into Giving Bags to collect nonperishable food to donate to local food pantries!
Make & take egg cartons full of seed bombs for promoting conservation!
Plant & take 50 seedlings and seeds while promoting the idea of sowing an extra row of food in family gardens to grow and harvest for local food pantries.
Write letters to legislators on issues of animal welfare, conservation and food security.
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
We look forward to hosting another Family Community Service Event, but we can’t do it without your help! Want to join our Community Service Committee? We want to hear from you: Read the rest of this entry »
Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event
Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm
Leeds Elementary School in Northampton, MA
Volunteer with your family to help local non-profits in a single free event on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm during the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event, held at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton— a one of a kind event for families to volunteer together while educating children about animal welfare, conservation efforts and the value of community service. Space is limited, so reserve a spot for your family today! – “Our mission is to give families service based learning experiences by collaborating with local non-profits and community organizations in a single event,” says Sienna Wildfield, Executive Director of Hilltown Families. “Many families are interested in volunteering together but may find it difficult due to either a limit in time or to a lack of opportunities. Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event is for all ages and is a fun way for families to volunteer together. It’s also an avenue for parents to discuss and educate their children on important community issues and the value of volunteering on behalf of animals and the environment.”
Join Hilltown Families for a Saturday morning of volunteering together with your family during our spring Family Community Service Event on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm in Northampton, MA!
This past fall at our inaugural Family Community Service Night we focused on human service organizations and families had a great time working together in support of several local non-profits.
Our spring event on Saturday, May 4th will be held at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton. We will be offering seven volunteer stations for families to participate in hands-on service projects for ALL AGES that support animal welfare organizations, conservation efforts and food security. Families will also be able to bring home several of their service projects to continue their community service together from home.
With a Community Service Passportin hand, families can travel to each station and have their Passport stamped after completing their service project. In their Passports parents will find conversation starters, online resources and recommended reading lists for each station, and children can share what they liked best about each project by filling in their Passport. Parents can use the Passport to help guide youth participants in learning about animal welfare, conservation efforts and food security.
Our Spring Volunteer Stations include:
BIRD HOUSE BUILDING: Bluebird houses will be constructed on site to be donated to the Franklin Land Trust. Families can help assemble & sand houses… something for all ages. (Facilitated by the Northampton High School Woodworking Club)
FELINE FUN: Make catnip toys for cats to be donated to the Dakin Humane Society for cats waiting for adoption. (Facilitated by Dakin Humane Society)
FLEECE CHEWS FOR CANINES: Make and donate chew toys for dogs of families in need with Kane’s Krusade. (Facilitated by Give a Hoot Pets)
SOW AN EXTRA ROW: Learn about growing extra food in your family garden plot or container gardens to harvest and donate to a local food pantry. Go home with a plant starter and seeds to plant and nurture this summer. (Facilitated by Grow Food Northampton)
SEED BOMBS: Create dirt bombs with native wildflower seeds to use for promoting natural habitats for pollinators. Go home with your very on seed bombs! (Facilitated by Help Yourself!)
GIVING BAGS: Upcycle old t-shirts into giving bags to take home for collecting food for animal shelters, food pantries or other service organization in need of donations. (Facilitated by Knack)
LETTER WRITING: Learn about the work of participating organizations and write letters of appreciation, or participate in letter writing campaigns. (Facilitated by the Northampton High School Key Club)
Donation Stations: In addition to our volunteer stations, we will have several opportunities for families to bring and donate items from home, including:
Cat food & cat toys to be donated to Dakin Humane Society.
Dog food to be donated to Kane’s Krusade, including: new, unopened dry dog good (no Beneful or Ol’ Roy, please); canned dog food; and dog treats (no treats form China, please).
Baby blankets, receiving blankets, baby wipes & kids polar fleece hats to be donated to Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Pet Adoption: Stop by and visit Dakin Humane Society’s pet adoption station. Families can learn more about Dakin’s services and programs, and the adoption process. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your new furry friend! If a family meets an animal they would like to adopt, they can complete their adoption process at either Dakin’s Springfield or Leverett Adoption Centers.
Food: Cup & Top Cafe will be joining us with food to fuel our volunteering families, selling coffee/tea, beverages, pastries and light lunch fare. So be sure to come hungry (and thirsty!).
Park Clean Ups & Community Service Activities for Families this Spring in Western MA
In addition to these volunteer park clean-ups and trail maintenance opportunities, Hilltown Families will be hosting a Family Community Service Event on May 4th bringing families together under one roof to participate in hands-on volunteer projects for seven non-profit and community organizations in Western MA. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
As spring warms the landscape across western Massachusetts, opportunities for outdoor adventures increase exponentially. What would have been a snowshoe trek and bark inspection a month ago has become a woods hike where families can identify plants, trees, and wildlife of all shapes and sizes.
All of these volunteer opportunities, and many other community service work days, aim to bring together community members for a day of reconnecting with nature and cooperative work while providing service based learning experiences! Community service is a great way to show your appreciation for local resources as a family, and participating in volunteer work can help kids develop a strong commitment to their community and their surroundings. Kids can use volunteer work to learn useful skills for everything from hands-on tasks (like trail maintenance) to social skills (such as working in intergenerational settings).
20 Community Service Opportunities in Western MA this Spring
Wednesday, April 10th from 5:30-7pm: Families with older children and train with the Housatonic Valley Association to be part of their Stream Team Project volunteer crew. Walk or paddle a stretch of the river and report your findings. Interest meeting at the Dewey Memorial Building. 413-394-9796. Sheffield, MA
Saturday, April 13th from 9am-12noon: Look Park is open for the season, but the grounds need some attention! There are leaves & down branches galore from the October blizzard that need to be cleaned up. Bring your family and come to the park ready to work (BYO rake and gloves). Your help ensures that the park remains a valued community resource! 413-727-8457. 300 North Main Street. Florence, MA.
Sunday, April 14th from 1-4pm: Looking for a way to give back to your community by volunteering with your family? How about a spring clean-up? Greenfield Energy Park’s opening performance will be its annual spring clean-up. Greenthumbers invites families with children of all ages to come and join the fun. Some tools will be provided, but please bring your favorite clippers, rake, shovel, tarp or bucket. 413-774-5667. Energy Park. Greenfield, MA
Wednesday, April 17th from 5-6:45pm: Families with older children can train with the Housatonic Valley Association to be part of their Stream Team Project volunteer crew. Walk or paddle a stretch of the river and report your findings. Interest meeting at the Mason Library. 413-394-9796. Great Barrington, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 8am-1pm Earth Day Cleanup! Meet at the Masonic Lodge and volunteer for the morning cleaning up the environment. Families welcomed. Bring waterproof boots, work gloves, and a desire to help clean the environment! Meet at the Masonic Lodge. 413-572-6281. 72 Broad Street. Westfield, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9-11am: Clean up Whately for Earth Day! Bring the kids and pick up roadside litter debris. Meet outside of the Town Hall (rain date: 4/21). Whately, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9am-12noon: Families with children ages 10 and older are invited to the annual Meadows Spring clean-up at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Working out in the field, wear work clothes and bring gloves & water. Pre-register. 413-584-3009. 127 Combs Road. Easthampton, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9am-1pm: Clean up the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail! Families with children ages 8yo and older can assist with cleaning up the trail and landscaping. Call for exact location: 413-499-7003. Cheshire, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9am-1pm: Chicopee State Park clean up! Families with children ages 8yo and older can help plant flowers, spread mulch, stain picnic talbes and do general trail maintenance. Meet at the DCR Park Headquarters. 413-594-9416. 570 Burnett Rd. Chicopee, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9am-1pm: Lend a hand to The Trustees of Reservations sprucing up Peaked Mountain. Bring work gloves, water & snack. Call to pre-register. : 413-532-1631 x21. Butler Road. Monson, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9am-2pm: Join the patrons of the Ramsdell Library for a day of cleaning up along the banks of the Housatonic River. Meet at the library for an assigned route to clean-up. Pizza at the Brick House at noon for all volunteers. Screening of “Fold, Crumple, Crush” in the library theater at 2pm. 413-274-3738. 1087 Main Street. Great Barrington, MA
Saturday, April 20th from 9:30am-1pm: Families with older children can help clean up DAR State Forest. Help prepare for the upcoming camping season by raking campsites & day use picnic areas. Meet at the campground pavilion. 413-268-7098. Route 112. Goshen, MA
Support Neighbors in Transition
Volunteer with Gray House in Springfield
Looking for community service opportunities to do as a family? Whether you’re hoping to fill a few free afternoons with an engaging activity or are planning to make a long-term commitment to lending a hand with a community organization, opportunities for service learning abound at The Gray House! Located in Springfield’s North End, The Gray House offers a thrift shop and food pantry twice a week, along with after school programming and a place-based summer program for Springfield students.
Families can spend time sorting donations at the thrift shop or food pantry on Mondays and Wednesday-Friday. Volunteers on these days help to sort donations, prepare distribution bags, and fill displays of food, household items, and clothing – activities that are all necessary to keep the services running smoothly. Both the shop and the pantry are always in need of volunteers, but families don’t have to commit to regular visits – perfect for busy families, or those with regularly changing schedules.
If you’re hoping to become involved in a long-term service learning project, volunteers are also always needed to help out with The Gray House’s Community Education Support Program (CESP) and the Kids’ Club after school and summer programs. Best for teens and parents, these programs offer valuable education-related resources to the community. People from more than 16 countries utilize the English language and literacy skills classes that CESP offers, and the Kids’ Club provides a fun, safe, and engaging after-school environment for students (not to mention that participants also get free dinner!). No experience with education is necessary in order to volunteer for either program, but volunteers must make at least a 4-week commitment and will receive training before beginning.
Volunteering for a community organization is a great hands-on, experiential way for families to learn about supporting their community. Kids old enough to participate will learn valuable lessons about helping their neighbors and giving back. There are many powerful lessons that can be learned through community service!
The Gray House is located at 22 Sheldon Street in Springfield. Contact Katie Manning at 413-734-6696 for information on volunteering and the services offered.
Project BudBurst
Citizen Scientist Opportunity for Families & Students
For younger children, BudBurst Buddies is a companion to Project BudBurst that encourages young learners to follow the seasons by making simple botanical observations. Check it out at www.budburstbuddies.org – (Photo credit: Dennis Ward)
Students can learn so much by following the seasonal patterns of plants found here in New England. Each plant’s cycle is different, and varies depending on factors like location and weather patterns. Tracking a plant through its seasonal changes can help us to better understand the subtle changes that take place in our environment, and says a lot about where we live.
This spring, families can track these plant cycles by volunteering as Citizen Scientists for Project BudBurst, a national project that tracks buds, blooms, and leaves as the seasons change. The project is used to generate useful ecological data that can be used in studies of the environment and to track annual changes of seasons and climate. The project is open to families and educators living in any of the 50 states, and participation can be a one time project or a year-long educational expedition.
Working together to gather information to submit to Project BudBurst is a great way for youth to develop useful nature-related skills and to gain knowledge and experience in plant identification, while volunteering as citizen scientists. Students will need to learn the anatomy of plants in order to check for specific growth patterns, and they will gain practice using field guides while working to identify the plants that they find. They will also begin to understand the biodiversity present in the area, and will examine the relationship that changes in the sky bring to their environment. Recording data will help with development of basic data analysis, and presenting data in a useful format is excellent practice for nonfiction writing. Students of all ages can learn by participating in Project BudBurst, and it could be used by homeschoolers, K-12 classrooms, and higher education.
Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event
Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm
Leeds Elementary School in Northampton, MA
Volunteer with your family to help local non-profits in a single free event on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm during the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event, held at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton— a one of a kind event for families to volunteer together while educating children about animal welfare, conservation efforts and the value of community service. Space is limited, so reserve a spot for your family today! – “Our mission is to give families service based learning experiences by collaborating with local non-profits and community organizations in a single event,” says Sienna Wildfield, Executive Director of Hilltown Families. “Many families are interested in volunteering together but may find it difficult due to either a limit in time or to a lack of opportunities. Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Event is for all ages and is a fun way for families to volunteer together. It’s also an avenue for parents to discuss and educate their children on important community issues and the value of volunteering on behalf of animals and the environment.”
Join Hilltown Families for a Saturday morning of volunteering together with your family during our spring Family Community Service Event on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-1pm in Northampton, MA!
This past fall at our inaugural Family Community Service Night we focused on human service organizations and families had a great time working together in support of several local non-profits.
Our spring event on Saturday, May 4th will be held at Leeds Elementary School in Northampton. We will be offering seven volunteer stations for families to participate in hands-on service projects for ALL AGES that support animal welfare organizations, conservation efforts and food security. Families will also be able to bring home several of their service projects to continue their community service together from home.
With a Community Service Passportin hand, families can travel to each station and have their Passport stamped after completing their service project. In their Passports parents will find conversation starters, online resources and recommended reading lists for each station, and children can share what they liked best about each project by filling in their Passport. Parents can use the Passport to help guide youth participants in learning about animal welfare, conservation efforts and food security.
Our Spring Volunteer Stations include:
BIRD HOUSE BUILDING: Bluebird houses will be constructed on site to be donated to the Franklin Land Trust. Families can help assemble & sand houses… something for all ages. (Facilitated by the Northampton High School Woodworking Club)
FELINE FUN: Make catnip toys for cats to be donated to the Dakin Humane Society for cats waiting for adoption. (Facilitated by Dakin Humane Society)
FLEECE CHEWS FOR CANINES: Make and donate chew toys for dogs of families in need with Kane’s Krusade. (Facilitated by Give a Hoot Pets)
SOW AN EXTRA ROW: Learn about growing extra food in your family garden plot or container gardens to harvest and donate to a local food pantry. Go home with a plant starter and seeds to plant and nurture this summer. (Facilitated by Grow Food Northampton)
SEED BOMBS: Create dirt bombs with native wildflower seeds to use for promoting natural habitats for pollinators. Go home with your very on seed bombs! (Facilitated by Help Yourself!)
GIVING BAGS: Upcycle old t-shirts into giving bags to take home for collecting food for animal shelters, food pantries or other service organization in need of donations. (Facilitated by Knack)
LETTER WRITING: Learn about the work of participating organizations and write letters of appreciation, or participate in letter writing campaigns. (Facilitated by the Northampton High School Key Club)
Donation Stations: In addition to our volunteer stations, we will have several opportunities for families to bring and donate items from home, including:
Cat food & cat toys to be donated to Dakin Humane Society.
Dog food to be donated to Kane’s Krusade, including: new, unopened dry dog good (no Beneful or Ol’ Roy, please); canned dog food; and dog treats (no treats form China, please).
Baby blankets, receiving blankets, baby wipes & kids polar fleece hats to be donated to Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation.
Pet Adoption: Stop by and visit Dakin Humane Society’s pet adoption station. Families can learn more about Dakin’s services and programs, and the adoption process. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your new furry friend! If a family meets an animal they would like to adopt, they can complete their adoption process at either Dakin’s Springfield or Leverett Adoption Centers.
Food: Cup & Top Cafe will be joining us with food to fuel our volunteering families, selling coffee/tea, beverages, pastries and light lunch fare. So be sure to come hungry (and thirsty!).
Volunteer as a Parent Aid with Berkshire Children & Families
The PAVE program pairs trained volunteers with Hampshire County families in order to provide one-to-one, relationship-based home visiting support. PAVE volunteers commit to approximately one year of service to one family.
Marylou Spaulding of Berkshire Children & Families writes:
Become a Parent Aide! For over 32 years, the PAVE program has been providing home-based support to Hampshire County parents who are stressed and often isolated from a supportive community. The program’s goal is to strengthen and empower parents by giving them new tools to help them in their parenting journey. Compassion, common sense and the ability to listen to a parent are required.
Berkshire Children & Families will provide the training and supervision. Volunteer 3 to 5 hours per week. Spring training is now forming and we hope you can join us! No commitment required until after you have completed our interesting and informative training. Please join the next PAVE training and discover how you can make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in your community.
For more information, call Berkshire Children & Families 413-584-5690 x114 for Gail Fries, or x115 for Mary Benedetti. E-mail gfries@bcfcma.org or mbenedetti@bcfcma.org. Families are waiting for you!
“411 in the 413” Youth Conference
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Becket, MA
Volunteer as a workshop facilitator at the “411 in the 413″ 6th annual Youth Conference happening on April 11 in Becket, MA! Organizers are seeking creative, dynamic speakers and interactive workshop facilitators. Applications are due January 31st, 2013.
The Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, along with the Railroad Street Youth Project and the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, are once again offering 411 in the 413, a day of youth engagement on a wide range of topics.
This year’s theme is, “Journey of Discovery: A Day of Exploring Philosophy, Your Identity, and the Outdoors.”
The conference takes place at the Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA in Becket, MA on April 11th, 2013, and offers youth a chance to share their ideas and make their voices heard!
In preparation for the event, workshop facilitators are sought – facilitators would help participating teens learn about and work through ideas about culture, philosophy, the outdoors, and even themselves! Facilitators will not be paid – it’s a volunteer position, but one that provides a great service to the community. For more information or to submit a proposal, visit nbccoalition.org.
One of our readers sent us this video, “Give a Little Love,” which has gone viral, inspiring families by illustrating how consideration of others can spread to many:
In The Huffington Post article, “Give A Little Love: Video Shows Us The Importance Of Giving To Others,” they write: “‘If you give a little love, you can get a little love of your own.’ Using this quote as the inspiration for a video that has gone viral, this four-minute clip, which looks to be the work of non-profit Christian organization Křižovatka Olomouc in Czech Republic or talented YouTube user Graham Kervin, shows us the importance of doing good deeds. And a good deed can mean anything from holding the elevator for a stranger, helping your neighbour rake leaves or even cleaning up a spill in the office kitchen.”
Gather your kids around to screen this clip together, pointing out how a simple act of kindness from one person can spread to many… A great thing to think about and to put into practice on Martin Luther King Day of Service.
Pittsfield Resilience Circle Host a Repair Café
Saturday, January 19th, 2013
The Repair Café concept was formulated in 2009 in the Netherlands by journalist and publicist Martine Postma and sustainability accelerator Peter van Vliet. Since January 2011, the Repair Café Foundation has provided support to local groups in the Netherlands and other countries wishing to start their own Repair Cafe (repaircafe.org). [Image: First Repair Café held in Brussels.]
Janet Henderson writes:
What do you do with a broken toaster? Or with a bike that needs repair? Or with a pair of pants when a seam rips? Or a partially dysfunctional umbrella? Throw it away? Certainly not!
The Pittsfield Resilience Circle is organizing the Berkshires’ first ever Repair Café. It will be held in Pittsfield on Saturday, Jan. 19 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the St. Stephen’s Church basement at 67 East St. The event is entirely free.
[The Repair Café] involves people in the community giving to other people in the community, making needed repairs of all kinds. Various repair persons will be available to fix small appliances, clothing and other fabric items, bicycles, toys, small furniture items, computers, and so on. Anyone with a broken item in need of repair may bring it to the Repair Café between 1 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 19th. We will fix as many articles as we can during that time. We’re also offering free refreshments for those waiting in line.
The Pittsfield Resilience Circle could use more volunteers for the Repair Cafe. Persons with experience in any kind of repair craft or who would like to provide general help, please call Tom Harter at 413-212-8589 or email Janet Henderson at jmh227@hotmail.com. The Repair Café is looking for more sponsors (those who donate $20 or more). We are thankful for our sponsors, including the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT), who is contributing both money and time!
By holding a Repair Café, the Pittsfield Resilience Circle wants to help reduce waste, promote repair skills, teach us all to be more self-sufficient, have fun, come together in a non-consumerist way, forge bonds of friendship through mutual dependency, and make Pittsfield a better place to live.
ABOUT RESILIENCE CIRCLES
Members of the Pittsfield Resilience Circle meet twice a month to learn together and become better friends through doing things for and with each other. The Resilience Circle is based on information available at localcircles.org. The group also has an informal Gift Circle. Information about Gift Circles can be found on the OpenCollaboration’s Blog.
Connecting and Supporting Community with Bread (and Biscuits!)
“Through tradition, culture, religion, taste or memory, we all share a connection to bread.” – www.spreadthebread.org
Does your family do a lot of baking during the holidays?
Why not make an extra loaf or two and share with someone in need or a local hero?
Spread the Bread, a global grassroots bread-spreading initiative, is encouraging families to do just that!
Community members are encouraged to bake (or buy) bread, wrap it with a note of hope, inspiration or gratitude, and offer that bread to honor a hero (firemen, veterans, first responders), donate to a food pantry, share with an elder in your community… offering a gift and connecting with your community.
Download these cards to color and attach to your “small loaves of kindness!”
Another initiative is Spread the Biscuits, to honor our animal heroes and animals in need. Download a Spread the Biscuits Starter Kit to get started
Homemade for the Holidays
Spreading Seasonal Cheer in Your Community
Looking for a creative way to participate in community service this holiday season? Does your family make holiday decorations together? Maybe you make garlands of popcorn & cranberries, pomanders (clove studded oranges), salt dough ornaments, mini gingerbread houses out of graham cracker, or decorate your home with paper snowflakes?
Why not make a few extra this holiday season and then take them to your nearest nursing home, children’s hospital or food pantry to add some holiday cheer there too? Get the kids thinking about how to share the joy that happens at home out into their community.
Want to start a new tradition in your home? Here are some links to get you started:
Hilltown Families event at Bridge Street School
links community service and family fun
By Barbara Solow, Daily Hampshire Gazette
NORTHAMPTON (Dec 3, 2012) — City resident Margaret Martin said she brought her two granddaughters, 9 and 6, to a community event at Bridge Street School last Friday to “get them out and about and helping people.”
Victoria Worth of Ashfield was there with her 9-year-old daughter to learn more about the work of local social service agencies.
Phoebe Burch, also 9, of Petersham, said she came with her mom and two younger siblings because “it’s important to make other people happy.”
The Nov. 30 Community Service Night, hosted by Hilltown Families, drew more than 150 families to the city elementary school on Parsons Street. From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., Bridge Street’s cafeteria was transformed into a one-stop volunteer station, where participants worked on simple, hands-on service projects for local nonprofits.
Organizations benefiting from the first-time service night were the Northampton Survival Center, Highland Valley Elder Services, Safe Passage and Baystate Children’s Hospital.
Tabletop projects ranged from tying knots for “no sew” fleece blankets to creating care bags for sick children. After visiting each station, participants got special service “passports” stamped by members of the Northampton High School Key Club, who were volunteer staffers for the event. Read the rest of this entry »
When Hilltown Families asked Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse to come up with a creative (and decorative) way to help families plant Paperwhite bulbs donated by Hadley Garden Center at the first ever Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night, we put our clever minds to work. Our goal was to have an activity that was easy enough for people of all ages, and messy wasn’t an option. Families would be traveling with their Community Passports to help out at a total of five volunteer stations, so we wanted to keep things simple yet creative. Our solution was yarn wrapped tin can planters… and it turned out to be quite a success!
Yarn wrapping tin cans is the perfect small group activity. After decorating the cans, families filled them with one-third gravel, set a Narcissus papyraceus bulb on top, and attached an eco-friendly gift tag & care instructions. Families got to take home lovely decorated tin can planters to donate to a community center or give to a person of their choice. Everyone really loved the activity and Macey and I enjoyed facilitating the Winter Blossom Station, answering questions and seeing all of the colorfully wrapped cans that went home with participating families.
If you don’t have any bulbs to plant, you could also make cans to be used as an organizer for the…kitchen (chopsticks)…office (pens, pencils)…kids’ creative space (crayons, markers)…craft space (buttons, corks, glue sticks, paint chips)….share any other thoughts or comments you may have below. Also, you don’t have to stick with yarn– try fabric scraps, twine, or ribbon!
DIY Tutorial: Yarn Wrapped Tin Cans
Here are the instructions, so you can do-it-yourself (DIY) or with your friends, family, or classroom. Enjoy!
Materials Needed
Clean & empty tin can*
Yarn (great project for leftovers!)
Double-sided tape
Scissors
Gift tags (optional)
Gather your materials: Clean & Empty Tin Cans; Yarn/Twine; Scissors; Double-Sided Tape; Gift Tags (optional).
Step 1: Place a strip of double-sided tape on opposite sides of can. Length should be determined by the area you would like to wrap in yarn.
Step 2: Begin wrapping yarn around can. Make sure to leave a little extra at the beginning that gets tucked under to prevent unraveling. – When you reach the bottom of the can, wrap the yarn under a few rows & tie off a small knot. Trim or tuck any loose yarn ends
Step 3 (optional): If you would like to layer a second color or variation of yarn, place a few small strips of the double-sided tape on top of the yarn where you want to wrap your second layer (see photo) and then wrap the new color of yarn.
Tie a bow and have a festive planter to plant in and give to brighten someone’s day!
Here are other examples. Wrap just the center with a natural color twine, or use a combination of colored yarn and cover the entire can. Go a step further and use a hot glue gun to adhere shells or buttons to the yarn!
Add gravel, Paperwhite bulb and water.
Tie on a gift tag and donate your planter to a community space (ex: library, post office, town hall) or give to a person of your choice (ex: elder in your life/neighborhood, teacher, receptionist at the children’s hospital).
Need a home for your household plants? These make great containers!
*Be careful when handling can, edges may be sharp. It is helpful to grind down the inside rim with a grinding stone or dremel, or you can pinch the rim with needle-nose pliers, or cover it with duct tape. Adults should handle removing sharp edges before giving the can to a small child. Older children should be reminded not to stick their hand in the can to prevent getting cut.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Amber Ladley – Amber enjoys creating everything from food, to crafts, to websites. She is a mom of two young boys, Jack and William, who are currently being homeschooled by her husband, Tim. Amber and her friend, Macey, are co-founders of Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse, a new socially responsible for-profit business on a mission to open a creative reuse center for the Pioneer Valley.
Thank you to all of the families who joined us for the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night this past Friday evening, November 30, 2012! The event was a great success with nearly 150 folks joining us for a fun evening of community service. By spending a couple of hours helping out in hands-on projects at five different stations, participating families were able to give 300 hours of service to our community!
Together we were able to:
Make 10 blankets to donate to Safe Passage!
Fill 50 bags with personal care items to donate to Northampton Survival Center!
Decorate over 100 place mats to give to homebound elders through the Meals on Wheels program!
Create cards & fill 50 bags with fun items for kids at Bay Sate Children’s Hospital!
Decorate 50 pots planted with paperwhites to pass along to a community member or community space!
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AT HOME: Equally as important, families learned how they can be of service to their community on their own:
Families can fill ziplock bags with personal care items or healthy snacks & water to carry with them to give to a person in need they might meet while traveling around town.
A family can make no-sew fleece blankets as a family project to donate to a local shelter.
Cards can be made at home to be sent to a child in the hospital, or homebound elders in their community.
A random act of kindness, like giving a planted paperwhite to your library, nursing home, school, or elder in your neighborhood, can bring joy and beauty to others, and is a fun creative project families can do together.
Christmas Bird Count: An Annual Citizen Scientist
24 Hour Hunt for Bird Species
This beautiful Cedar Waxwing is a year-round resident and a commonly seen during the Christmas Bird Count. (Photo credit: Leslie Reed-Evans)
Leslie Reed-Evans writes:
Imagine standing at the edge of a frosty field on a chill December morning. Out of the corner of your eye you see an electric flash of blue- a male Eastern Bluebird flying to a wild rose bush to munch on its fruit1 – This is a scene played out all over New England, and indeed the country, as bird enthusiasts get out to find, identify and count as many individual birds and species as possible as members of the annual Christmas Bird Count.
According to the National Audubon, prior to the turn of the century people engaged in a holiday tradition known as the Christmas “Side Hunt.” They would choose sides and go afield with their guns; whoever brought in the biggest pile of feathered (and furred) quarry won. Conservation was in its beginning stages around the turn of the 20th century, and many observers and scientists were becoming concerned about declining bird populations. Beginning on Christmas Day 1900, ornithologist Frank Chapman, an early officer in the then budding Audubon Society, proposed a new holiday tradition -a “Christmas Bird Census”-that would count birds in the holidays rather than hunt them. One hundred and thirteen years later, hundreds of citizen scientists head for the woodlands, fields, ponds and rivers to compete with fellow participants and find the most number of birds, building on the tradition started so long ago. Everyone is looking for the most exciting and unusual species, but every bird sighted is a special one.
Counts may take place anytime between December 14 and January 5, and each count area is a circle extending from a center point with a 15-mile diameter, taking in as many habitats as possible. The count period is 24 hours. The north Berkshire count averages between 45 and 55 species, depending on the weather of the day, and the weather leading up to the count day. This year there have been many reports of winter finches, such as Pine Grosbeaks and crossbills, which in some years come from the north when cones or other food is in short supply.
Each of the citizen scientists who annually braves snow, wind, or rain to take part in the Christmas Bird Count makes an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations – and to help guide conservation action. Everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition — and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.
If you are interested in finding a Christmas Bird Count to take part in, visit birds.audubon.org (or contact the organizers below).
You will be participating in a tradition that you just might adopt as your own!
Western MA Area Christmas Bird Count Dates & Organizers:
Springfield Area Christmas Count: Saturday, December 15th, 2012. Contact: George Kingston. 413-525-6742. gcking@yahoo.com
North Berkshire Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 15th, 2012. Contact: Leslie Reed-Evans. 413-458-5150. lre@wrlf.org.
Central Berkshire Christmas Bird Count: Saturday, December 15th, 2012. Contact: Tom Collins. tcbirder@nycap.rr.com.
Westfield Area Christmas Count: Saturday, December 22nd, 2012. Contact: Seth Kellogg. 413-569-3335. skhawk@comcast.net.
South Berkshire Christmas Bird Count: Tuesday, January 1st, 2013. Contact: Rene Laubach. rlaubach@massaudubon.org.
Cheri Hardy, Children’s Librarian at the Hatfield Public Library writes:
Youth volunteers wanted for Gingerbread House Contest on Saturday, December 15th at 11am at the Hatfield Public Library. Stations for different age groups will be set and and all materials provide. Kids will build a graham cracker gingerbread house and use icing and candy to decorate it. All ages welcomed. RSVP.
Youth Action Committee (YAC), the youth subcommittee of the Friends of the Hatfield Public Library, is recruiting new members. YAC gets together for an hour on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of every month at 11am at the Hatfield Public Library to have fun together and to plan and carry out action projects pertaining to the library. An action project could be anything from volunteering at a story hour to shelving books to fundraising for library improvements.
In December we have 2 volunteer opportunities — one on Saturday, Dec. 15th at 11am at the library’s Gingerbread House Contest, and the second is on Sunday, Dec. 23rd at 5pm at our yearly Luminarium Storytime.
In January, we’ll have games and pizza on the 2nd Saturday, Jan. 12th, and then the kids will figure out their next Action Project for the 3rd Saturday, Jan. 19th. Please RSVP for the club to kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com or 413-247-9097 so that we have an email address and/or phone number.
The Gingerbread House Contest will take place on Saturday, December 15th at 11am at the Hatfield Public Library. We will have stations for different age groups and provide all materials necessary. Kids will build a graham cracker gingerbread house and use icing and candy to decorate it. Prizes will go to Best Book Scene, Best Fantasy House, Best Farm House, Best Fairy House, Best Holiday Lights, Best Skyscraper, and More! All ages welcome. Please RSVP if possible (so that we know how much to buy) to kids.hatfieldlibrary@gmail.com or call 413-247-9097.
Cheri will be joining the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night this Friday, Nov. 30th in Northampton, reading stories from our recommended reading list of book titles about the social issues each of our beneficiary organizations address. If your family is attending (must pre-register), stop by to see her and to find out more about their Youth Action Committee!
Does your local library, civic organization, school or community organization have a youth volunteer club? We want to hear about it! Share the exciting news with us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
Build a House Out of Gingerbread for Habitat for Humanity
On December 8th, from 2-4:30, at the Eastworks Building in Easthampton, teams of families, children, and professionals will build gingerbread homes to raise money for Habitat. River Valley Market Co-op is donating the gingerbread home pieces and the frosting “glue.” Every team is asked to raise at least $100 for their build. After the Build, teams have the option to donate their houses to Habitat, which auction them to raise additional funds. Register your team(s) by November 21st by emailing jean@pvhabitat.org. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity (PVHH) is hosting a gingerbread house competition on Dec. 8th in Easthampton, MA. Teams of gingerbread architects are asked to raise $100 for PVHH from their community in order to participate in the event, and will be provided with gingerbread pieces and frosting donated by River Valley Market Co-op with which to create their gingerbread homes or historical building!
Each team should bring their own edible decorations (the more unique, the better!) with which to dress their gingerbread structure. Youth teams can be formed too with at least one adult team member, practicing basic principles of architecture and explorations of spatial relations… all while being creative! Teams can pick a theme in which to decorate their house, or pick a home or historic building to model their gingerbread structures after.
Pastry arts is a fun creative medium! Families can compete together as a team, making the event part of their holiday celebrations – spend time discussing the role that Habitat for Humanity plays in the community, and discuss how the money raised in order to participate will benefit the organization. Kids will enjoy participating even more once they understand the true value of the event!
The gingerbread build will take place at 2pm on December 8th at the Eastworks Building in Easthampton. Community members not participating are invited to stop by at 4pm to view the creations and bid on a house to take home! Teams can register before the event via phone (413-586-5430) or e-mail (jean@pvhabitat.org) – groups with members under the age of 12 must include at least one adult.
News & Information on Service Learning, Community Service, & Family Volunteering Opportunities Around Thanksgiving Day
Looking for ways to give back to your community during the holidays. Here are 10 ideas we’ve shared this week on the Hilltown Families Facebook Page. Ideas range from volunteering with your family for a single evening to hosting an elderly person in your home, and span the four counties of Western MA. There’s also information to share with families in need that you may know.
Do you have a volunteer or community service opportunity for families, children or teens you’d like to share, or have an idea on how families can give back to their community? We want to hear from you! Email us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
FAMILY SERVICE NIGHT
Volunteering as a family is a great way to make memories together & helps teach kids about the importance of giving back. This holiday season join us for Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night on Fri, Nov 30 for a fun evening visiting 5 different volunteer stations, each offering a simple, hands-on service project for all ages. Space is limited & preregistration required for this free event. Sign up soon! Big thank you to our sponsors, Northampton Public Schools/CFCE through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, Florence Savings Bank & Greenfield Savings Bank for making this night possible! – Want to join us for this special night of community service? Space is limited, so sign up now!
TIN CAN DRIVE
How many tin cans might you have to recycle after preparing your Thanksgiving Dinner? Rather than recycle, why not REUSE? Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse is holding an empty can drive for a volunteer station they are facilitating at the Hilltown Families Family Community Service Night. Please drop off clean tin cans at the Knack Holiday Pop-up shop this Saturday, November 24th from 10am-4pm in the gorgeous space of the Parlor Room, a new music venue at Signature Sounds Recordings, 32 Masonic Street, Northampton, MA.
FOOD DRIVE
On-air Food Drive… Stop by the WHAI or WPVQ studios on Tuesday, November 20 from 6am – 11am to drop off your non-perishable food items for The Food Bank of Western MA. Breakfast items and coffee will be served.
TURKEYS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and the Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry still has turkeys available for families in need! If you need assistance this holiday season or know of a family in need, please send them to the Community Center. Pantry hours for Nov 19-21: Monday from 9am-12noon & 4-7pm; Tuesday from 9am-12noon; Wednesday 9am-5pm.
COMMUNITY DINNER
Do you or someone you know need a hot, home-cooked meal on Thanksgiving Day? Come and enjoy a congregate meal at the William J O’Brien Dinner at the Athol American Legion, corner of Exchange Street and Pequoig Avenue in Athol. Great company, great food, and drop-in’s are welcome. Come early and enjoy a cup of coffee. Transportation is available. For reservations, please call the Athol Council on Aging at 978-249-8986.
MITTEN TREE
The Springfield City Library system will be collecting new mittens, gloves, scarves, and hats in its annual Library Mitten Tree project. Help warm the hearts and hands of area children by making a donation at the Central Library Children’s Room or at any Springfield City Library branch. Donated items are distributed to area groups such as the Red Cross – Pioneer Valley Chapter, the Gray House, and Springfield Partners for Community Action, Inc.. Donations will be accepted from Dec 1 until Jan 6, 2013. Many of this year’s donations will be handmade by the “Knit Lits,” a group of knitters and crocheters who meet every Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. at the East Springfield Branch Library, and also by the “Knit Alongs,” who meet Wednesdays at 1 p.m. at the East Forest Park Branch Library, 122 Island Pond Road. Newcomers are welcome to join either of the groups, with current members willing to teach knitting and crocheting. For more information about the Mitten Tree Project call the Central Library Children’s Room, 413-263-6828, x201, or stop in: 220 State Street, Springfield.
COMMUNITY BUILD
The Monterey, Massachusetts ice skating rink behind the fire station will be assembled next Saturday, Nov 24th, from 10am-12noon. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are needed to help attach the side boards and prepare the rink for the January-March season. Hundreds of children, parents, and hockey players enjoy the rink which is managed entirely by volunteers. Its a community effort that needs greater participation to be successful. Please come help and bring a broom, dolly, or cordless drill if possible. For more information, contact Steve at sgraves8@yahoo.com anytime.
PARENT SUPPORT
Parent-child Home Program brings a Home visitor to your home twice a week to show you fun ways to help your child learn through play… Community Action Family Center Programs currently have openings in Greenfield, Turners Falls and Orange areas. Families in the Franklin County town can call for more information or to enroll 413-475-1550.
SOCKS FOR ELDERS
Do you have extra unused socks laying around the house? This year Florence Savings Bankis once again joining forces with Highland Valley Elder Services and other local banks to support the “Socks for Seniors” program to help low-income seniors in the area with new socks. If you wish to contribute to this program, you can drop off pairs of unused socks as at one of our FSB branches or at one of the other participating bank locations between November 1st – 30th. For more information on this great program, visit www.socksforseniors.com
HOST FAMILIES
Adult Family Care (AFC) from Franklin County Home Care (FCHCC) seeks nurturing community homes for young adults and elderly persons unable to live safely at home alone. Host family receives support, monthly stipend and paid vacation. Contact FCHCC to find out more at info@fchcc.org or 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259.
Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night
Friday, November 30th from 4:30-7:30pm
Bridge Street School in Northampton, MA
Volunteer with your family to help local non-profits in a single event on Friday, November 30th from 4:30-7:30pm during the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night— an ideal way for families to have fun together while educating children about social issues and the value of community service. Space is limited so reserve a spot for your family today! – “We were inspired to create this service based learning event as a way of bridging families interested in volunteering together with local human service organizations,” says Sienna Wildfield, Hilltown Families Executive Director. “Many families are interested in volunteering together but may find it difficult due to either a limit in the amount of time they can commit to volunteering or to a lack of opportunities available to them if their children are younger. Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night is for all ages and is a fun way for families to volunteer together and an avenue for parents to discuss and educate their children on important social issue and the value of helping others.”
Join Hilltown Families for an evening of volunteering together with your family during our first ever Family Community Service Night! On Friday, November 30th from 4:30-7:30pm in Northampton, families can come together for a fun evening visiting five different volunteer stations, each offering a simple, hands-on service project for all ages. Participants can volunteer at all five stations or just a couple, learning about the different human service organizations each station benefits and how they contribute to the greater good of our community.
With a Community Service Passport in hand, families can travel to each station and have their passport stamped after completing a simple community service project. In their passports parents will find conversation starters, online resources and recommended reading lists for each station, and children can share what they liked best about each project by filling in their passport. Parents can guide youth participants in learning about the social issues like hunger, elder services, and supporting families in transition, while making a real difference in our community.
The Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night is a free event, but limited in space. Participating families are required to pre-register for this evening of community service. Slices of pizza will be available for a small donation for participating families.
SIGN UP! WE’RE FULL!
Wow!!! What a great response! Unfortunately, due to limited space, we are no longer accepting new registrations. However, if you would like to be added to our cancellation list (we’ll contact you if space becomes available), or would like to join us for our next Family Community Service Night, complete this form:
Be sure to click SUBMIT. Thank you for your interest. We will contact you if we have an opening for our Nov 30th Family Community Service Night, and will let you know about any future nights.
SPONSORS Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night is a Hilltown Families event and is co-sponsored by Northampton Public Schools/CFCE through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, Florence Savings Bank and Greenfield Savings Bank.
PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES
Thank you to all of the business who have donated products to the Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night, including:
Here are 10 ways families and teens can support their community and others post Hurricane Sandy and leading up to the holidays. All of these suggestions were posted to the Hilltown Families Facebook page over the past week. We offer daily updates and announcements on our Facebook page for families living throughout Western MA! If you haven’t already, be sure you not only “Like” our page, but that you add us to your Facebook News Feed and Interest Lists!
HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF EFFORTS
Is your family looking to volunteer in the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts? There is a Staten Island Relief project happening all week in the Pioneer Valley. A tractor trail is being filled with donated relief items and both donations and volunteers to load are needed. Locations include: Technique Studio of Dance (470 Newton St.) in South Hadley on Tues. (11/6) and Wed. (11/7) from 4:30-7:30pm; Nuvo Bank in Springfield (1500 Main St.) during regular business hours from 8am-5pm; and Hukelau Restaurant parking log (705 Memorial Dr.) in Chicopee on Fri. (11/9) from 9am-7pm. Suggested donation items include: water, blankets, contractor bags, clothing, shoes, boots, flashlights, batteries, cleaning supplies, baby needs (clothing, diapers), children’s toys and ready to eat food (pretzels, chips, cookies, etc.). Anything and everything is needed! – Email Darlene Sattler at TSD1997@aol.com to volunteer or to donate.
The Minerva Tag Sale Center in north Berkshire County is currently accepting donations for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Minerva Arts Center writes, “We have sent a delivery of donations down today and are planning another in 10 days. Donations are accepted everyday.”
PARK CLEAN UP
On Saturday (11/10), bring the family and head to Springside Park, Pittsfield’s largest public park, and volunteer together with your community to clean up the park before the snow falls. Bring gloves and park at the upper playground (near the old zoo). Rain date: 11/11.
COMMUNITY DINNER
Saturday night (11/10) join the families from the Berkshire Trail Elementary School in Cummington for a community pasta supper with locally made sauce from Ooma Tesoro & bread from Bread Euphoria Bakery & Cafe. There will even be gluten free pasta for those who can’t have wheat. Two seatings. Follow the link for details:
DONATING USED TOYS
Looking for a place to donate your child(ren)’s used toys? Alison Webster asks, “Does anyone know where I could donate used, very good condition toys and they would go directly to kids/families?” Check out what our readers recommended and share your own ideas:
THANKSGIVING DONATIONS & VOLUNTEERS
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is now accepting turkey donations for their 21st Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov 15th at the Club for youth members and their families, free of charge! With over 200 people expected, volunteers are needed too to help serve and clean If your family is interested in volunteering please contact Kellie or at 413-562-2301 or lerryn@comcast.net.
YOUTH INTERNSHIPS
Internships Needed for Local Youths! The North Quabbin Community Coalitionis looking to fill paid and unpaid internship positions for local youth from both Athol High School and Ralph C. Mahar Regional Schools. These positions would offer the youth an opportunity to explore possible career opportunities and exploration, give them experience in a certain field and offer them the opportunity to learn. Some benefits to local businesses who are willing to hire youth can range from enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, creativity and adaptability. Youth thrive with change and are open to it, and most importantly they are consumers. If you are interested in hosting a youth internship, please contact Jennifer Desjardins at the North Quabbin Community Coalition at 978-249-3703 or Jennifer@nqcc.org.
FOOD DRIVE
The Emily Williston Library will offer its popular “Food for Fines” program the first three weeks of November to benefit the Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry. Patrons with outstanding fines for overdue materials may have their fines erased by donating canned food items, diapers, and toiletries. Follow the link to find out more:
WINTER COATS
Child Care of the Berkshires, Inc.‘s Family Resource Center in North Adams is in need of donations of children’s winter coats for their clothing exchange. Sizes ranging from infant through size 10 are needed. FRC will have donation boxes at their Play and Learn Groups and inside the door at Haskins Center in North Adams. Questions? Give them a call at 413-664-4821.
TEEN VOLUNTEERS
Moments House is looking for teens interested in being on their Jr. Board of Directors. If you know a teen who would be interested in becoming involved in any way with their mission to ensure no one faces a cancer diagnosis alone, call 413-443-6800. Moments House is a non-profit organization based out of South Lee, working to open a homelike gathering place where all Berkshire County families impacted by a cancer diagnosis can come together to gather information, and comfort and support one another. www.momentshouse.org
18th Annual Search Under Way for Nation’s Top Youth Volunteers
Find out more about The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, meet past and current honorees, and get ideas and information on how you can make your community a better place to live at spirit.prudential.com.
Over the past 17 years, Prudential Spirit of Community Awards have been given to more than 10,000 middle and high school students across the country for helping the less fortunate, promoting health and safety, protecting the environment, and serving their communities through many other volunteer activities. The search has begun to identify thousands more who have made meaningful contributions to their communities over the past 12 months, as the awards program kicks off its 18th year.
These awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial, Inc. in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), honor outstanding community service by students in grades 5 through 12 at the local, state and national level.
Young volunteers can apply online at spirit.prudential.com or at www.nassp.org/spirit. Applications must be completed by November 6, 2012 and then submitted to a middle or high school principal, Girl Scout council, county 4-H agent, American Red Cross chapter, YMCA, or affiliate of HandsOn Network. Paper versions of the application form are available by calling 877-525-8491 (toll- free).
Hilltown Families Event
Volunteer Opportunity: Citizen Scientist
Wednesday, October 17th @ 3:30pm
West Branch of the Westfield River
“Giving families a hands-on opportunity to be engaged in the study of their local ecosystem, can stimulate an interest in science in children and an investment in their local environment,” says Sienna Wildfield, Executive Director of Hilltown Families. “By offering field experiences that supplement the education of our children, we can help foster a connection and investment in local community.” (Collecting samples from the Westfield River last year. Photo Credit: Sienna Wildfield.)
For the third year in a row, Hilltown Families will be partnering with Biocitizen in collaboration with the MA DEP in our long-term commitment to their stream monitoring project. Families with kids interested in science, including biology and ecology, are invited to join us on the banks of the Westfield River on Wednesday, October 17th at 3:30pm (rain date: 10/21). We will be collecting and inventorying benthic invertebrates (water bugs) using the rapid biotic assessment (RBA) technique. The type of bugs found in our collection will give us a gauge of the river’s health.
“How many times have you looked at a river thinking, how beautiful—and pulled out your camera to capture the swells of whitewater, a striking blue heron, or blazing maple tree in the autumn overhanging its banks?” says Kurt Heidinger, Executive Director of Biocitizen School of Westhampton, MA. “A river is not just beautiful, though; it’s alive, and those who witness this life, this bios, never look at or appreciate a river the same way again,”
“Stonefly nymphs are a bug we want to catch,” shares Heidinger. “They are a primary food source for brook trout and, like trout, require clear, clean, cold oxygen-rich water. If there is too much nitrogen or potassium (from fertilizer run off) in the water, algae will bloom and suck the oxygen out of the river. You won’t find many stonefly nymphs—and therefore trout.”
Sorting though collected samples. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
By doing a Rapid Bioassessment, we will continue to monitor a section of the West Branch of the Westfield River by netting benthic macro invertebrates (underwater bugs) and inventorying them. The percentage of certain insects we collect will quickly allow us to assess the quality of the river.
Last year in the wake of Hurricane Irene, samples collected were missing the large stoneflies and teeming samples of writhing, boisterous bugs found the year before. This year we’re looking forward to samples that speak of how the river is a superorganism whose health changes in respond to climatic influences.
“Giving families a hands-on opportunity to be engaged in the study of their local ecosystem, can stimulate an interest in science in children and an investment in their local environment,” says Sienna Wildfield, Executive Director of Hilltown Families. “By offering field experiences that supplement the education of our children, we can help foster a connection and investment in local community.”
This is a free volunteer opportunity, however, space is limited. Appropriate for kids 7yo and older. Directions will be given following sign up. Families interested in participating in this citizen scientist opportunity, or similar opportunities in the area, can contact us here:
Source-to-Sea Clean-Up in Hampden County
Sunday, Sept. 30th
Ellie Lobovits, Holyoke Education Coordinator for the Trustees writes, “The river is such a spectacular resource in Holyoke. From restoring ecological habitat along its banks to leading kayaking trips we really want to keep it healthy and make sure people are enjoying it.” (Photo source: CT River Watershed Council)
The Trustees of Reservations (The Trustees), United Water, and Holyoke Friends of the River have joined forces this fall to organize a river clean-up volunteer day on the banks of the Connecticut River. On Sunday, September 30th, from 9am-Noon, folks of all ages and abilities are invited to meet at the American Legion next to Pulaski Park (50 St. Kolbe Dr., Holyoke, MA) to walk down to the river, picking up trash and debris along the way. The trash will then be organized into categories (metal, wood, etc.) and picked up by the Holyoke DPW. Much of the trash will be recycled… even tires get recycle! This clean-up is part of a larger effort organized by the Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) called “Source-to-Sea,” a clean-up that will run all weekend and will span all four states through which the Connecticut River runs.
This volunteer day is a great opportunity for youth groups, student groups, and other local organizations to come together to help clean-up the river and to make this precious resource safer for all. The river is used for all sorts of recreational activities, including boating and fishing, and is an important ecological resource, providing habitat for bald eagles, turtles, herons, and various fish. Last year, 1,500 Source-to Sea volunteers pulled over 51 tons of trash from 60 miles of shoreline throughout Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Connecticut!
Looking for an existing group in your area to join? Check the CRWC website for groups still looking for volunteers, including the Friends of the Green River for the 9th Annual Green River Clean-Up on Saturday, Sept 29th from 9am-3pm.
Everyone Has Something of Value to Share With a Young Person
Likely you or someone you know has been inspired by a mentor…or by being one. Through mentoring, young people are brought together with caring adults who, along with family, offer guidance, support, and encouragement, nurture social, emotional and problem solving skills, and serve as a role model and advocate. Mentoring definitely makes a big difference, helping school-aged youth stay in school, reduce alcohol and substance abuse, improve self-esteem, academic skills and relationships and find new resources that they might not have found on their own. The time and attention of reliable, patient and dedicated mentors support youth through the most pivotal and challenging times in their lives.
Northern Berkshire Youth Mentoring Program is part of Child Care of the Berkshire’s Family Support Program, working to strengthen our village of enriching community relationships and support services for youth and their families. Our Youth Mentoring Program focuses on building dynamic mentoring relationships in 1:1 and small group settings to expand youths’ interests, joys, strengths and possibilities for the future.
Our Youth Mentoring Program is currently accepting requests for Mentors from youth, ages 8-14, and their families. We are also carefully interviewing kind, dedicated adult volunteers whose experiences, interests, and knowledge will enrich the life of a child. Either in or outside the classroom at local schools, youth or community centers, dedicated community members can volunteer 1-2 hours a week participating in multiple, fun and interesting activities, while receiving ongoing training and support along the way.
If you are interested in joining our village and making a difference in a child’s life…and yours, please call 413-663-6593, or find us on Facebook at North Berkshire Youth Mentoring Program.
- Rachelle Smith, MSW Youth Mentoring Program Director
Springfield Non-Profits Working Together!
“Habitat Goes to the Zoo!” Volunteer Event
Saturday, Sept. 22nd
Laura Browne of Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) chats up a friendly camel during her site visit to the Zoo in Forest Park. (Courtesy photo)
Teens ages 16yo and older and their parents are invited to participate in the volunteer opportunity event, “Habitat Goes to the Zoo!” on Saturday, Sept. 22nd!
Jennifer Schimmel, Executive Director of GSHFH says, “Our primary mission is to provide decent, affordable housing to families, usually human families,” she laughs. “Although this project falls outside of our typical mission, we are Springfield neighbors with the Zoo and the animals that live there need a little help with their housing as well.” Schimmel adds, “GSHFH is very adept at mobilizing and managing volunteers and we are glad to be leveraging that talent on behalf of the Zoo.”
John Lewis, Executive Director of the Zoo in Forest Park says “We have spent much of this season recovering from big property damage from the storms of last year. We are so grateful that we were able to connect with Greater Springfield Habitat to put the finishing touches on many of our exhibits. Habitat volunteers will focus on painting fourteen of our wooden buildings & animal sheds which will really look great when finished.”
The date for the “Habitat Goes to the Zoo!” event is Saturday, Sept. 22nd from 8:30am-3pm (rain date: Sunday, Sept 23). Teens ages 16-18yo are welcomed as volunteers along with an adult chaperone. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit habitatspringfield.org or call 413-739-5503.
ABOUT PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center is more than 80 years old and located in Forest Park in Springfield, MA. They depend on the support of the community, memberships & educational programs to thrive. They have approximately 175 animals with over 85,000 annual visitors. Forestparkzoo.org
Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through homeownership opportunities. HabitatSpringfield.org
Cloud Rover Observers Wanted
As Citizen Scientists
Tracking clouds is a great way for kids to learn about meteorology! Watch the skies from home and anywhere else you adventure to this summer, and compare changes in conditions based on your location! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
What shapes do you see in the clouds? There may be rabbits, eggs, vines, airplanes, and shoes… and no matter what you see in the sky, NASA wants to hear about it! The organization’s S’COOL program uses data provided by Citizen Scientists, as well as official weather reports, to track cloud cover across the country.
By collecting data on the type of clouds, height they are at, thickness of cover, and related weather conditions, NASA is able to work to create a more comprehensive understanding of the earth as a system.
Scientists use submitted data to track patterns in weather and atmospheric conditions, which then contributes to their understanding of the atmosphere as a whole.
Kids can contribute their observations on the project’s website, science-edu.larc.nasa.gov. Participants, called Rover Observers, can set up a schedule of times to submit observations or send information periodically as it is gathered – students can use the site as a tool to help them track weather patterns in their community over a long period of time, or just spend a few days tracking clouds and share what they noticed.
Before heading out, show your kids/students this video from NASA to learn how clouds are formed. In this video, watch an experiment to make a cloud using liquid nitrogen, and find out how scientists classify clouds according to their altitude and how clouds reflect and absorb light, giving them different colors:
Rachel’s Table brings young volunteers into the fields where they can harvest surplus produce from local farms and bring it directly to our agencies. In addition to feeding the hungry, the Gleaning Project educates the community about hunger, food security, and agriculture.
When food is grown, often a significant amount is left behind in fields after the harvest. Families can help to harvest food and contribute to local efforts to combat hunger by volunteering with Rachel’s Table Gleaning Project! The project organizes community members to visit local farms and glean fields once farmers have finished their harvest.
Over the past five years, Rachel’s Table has offered over $100,000 worth of gleaned produce to local families dealing with food insecurity. Gleaning trips include not only harvesting, but a session with an educator who helps the group to learn about the importance of their efforts, and how they are helping to care for their environment and their community.
To participate, volunteers must be at least 11 years old. Gleaning events can be set up for homeschool groups, scout troops, classes, etc., or families can contact the project to find out about upcoming dates and locations for gleans. For more information, contact Jessica Harwood at 617-599-7711, or by e-mail at jnanharwood@gmail.com.
Families Can Help Grow Food for Hunger Relief
in Greenfield this Summer
Just Roots’ Food for All Garden awaits volunteer to help plant starts donated by local farmers.
Western Massachusetts is lush with farms, making locally grown and produced foods relatively easy to find. However, there are many local families who are not able to enjoy locally grown produce, for a variety of reasons.
Just Roots, a Greenfield organization whose mission is to provide the community with the knowledge of farming necessary for food production, is growing a “Food for All Garden.” The purpose of the one-acre garden is to produce, through community effort, locally grown food to donate to local hunger relief organizations.
However, the veggies can’t be grown without volunteers! Currently, the garden is waiting to be planted with starts donated by local farmers. Throughout the summer, volunteers will be needed to help with weeding, harvesting, etc. Participating in community service with your family at the Food for All Garden can help kids and their adults learn about hunger in our community, and how access to food (especially local food) can depend on economic status. It’s a great summer community service project! Work sessions will take place weekly on Wednesdays from 4-7pm and Sundays from 9am-12pm through the harvest. For more information on volunteering, visit justroots.org.
Families as Citizen Scientists this Saturday
BioBlitz at Northfield Town Forest
Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust is joining with the Town of Northfield to host a BioBlitz on Saturday, June 9th, at the Northfield Town Forest. Volunteers are invited to come down and join the BioBlitz—an event in which people gather to survey a property and compile an extensive list of species, both plants and animals, present in the area.
Help to identify plant and animal species and to provide a foundation for future stewardship at the Northfield Town Forest. The Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and the town of Northfield are hosting a BioBlitz on this Saturday, June 9th at the forest. A BioBlitz is an event where community members volunteer as citizen scientists (alongside experts in wildlife biology, forestry, etc.) to survey an area and compile an extensive list of the plant and animal species present there. Not new to Western MA, Berkshire County and Hampden County have played host to a BioBlitz in year’s past, and now Franklin County will have one happening in Northfield.
Northfield’s BioBlitz will feature two “shifts,” one during the morning and one in the afternoon. The first part of the event is a bird walk, which takes place from 7:30-9:30am, while the second takes place from 1-5pm and will focus on identification of plants, fungi, and small (and maybe large!) non-avian creatures.
Citizen scientists of all ages and levels of experience are welcome – there will be plenty of people and resources available to help out with proper identification of specimens. There will also be a craft table for kids, where they can create illustrations of the species they found and help to design a logo for the forest.
Participating in the BioBlitz is a great supplement to studies of local ecology, habitats, and ecosystems, and can provide students of all ages with a new perspective on their local environment and help them to develop awareness of the many different organisms that live and grow nearby. For more information, visit www.mountgrace.org.
Directions to the Northfield Town Forest: From the Northfield Town Hall, head south on 63, turn east (left) onto Maple St. Continue onto Gulf Rd for about 2.2 miles. The event headquarters will be at the parking area for the Brush Mountain Conservation Area.
Welcome to Hilltown Families, a grassroots communication network for families living in Western Mass, established in 2005 by hilltown mother and long time activist Sienna Wildfield.
"Hilltown Families keeps us connected with all the amazing educational and cultural activities and resources that abound here in W. Mass and curates them in a way to let us know just what’s out there for the many varied interests of our young families and communities,while creating networks of support and growth." - Kara Kitchen (Plainfield, MA)
The Hilltown Family Variety Show (HFVS) airs Saturday mornings on Valley Free Radio, 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA from 9-10am with encores on Sunday from 7-8am. Playlist and podcasts are posted immediately following broadcast. Listen to our archived shows at any time: HFVS Archived Shows.
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Information provided on Hilltown Families (HF) is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Reasonable efforts are made to provide the most accurate information, but no guarantees of any kind can be made. Information can be changed without prior notice. Please check with 3rd parties to confirm all listings for date/time, cost, location and age appropriateness before attending. Opinions expressed on HF are that of the writer and not necessarily that of HF. In no event shall HF be liable (directly or indirectly) for any losses or damages causes (or allegedly caused) in connection with HF. All health and wellness related information is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used to substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. All provided links are provided as a courtesy and not as an endorsement.
The exhibit will be on display at the Forbes Library in Northampton for the month of February 2013, and at the City Hall Gallery in Easthampton from Sept 13-Dec 11, 2013. - We're currently booking shows for the Spring/Summer of 2013 and for 2014. Each exhibit is a unique showcase of images that correspond with the season and venue. Contact us to inquire about hosting this fundraising exhibit for Hilltown Families in your town/venue.
Looking for a creative way to participate in community service this holiday season? Does your family make holiday decorations together? Maybe you make garlands of popcorn & cranberries, pomanders (clove studded oranges), salt dough ornaments, mini gingerbread houses out of graham cracker, or decorate your home with paper snowflakes?
When Hilltown Families asked 
Amber Ladley – Amber enjoys creating everything from food, to crafts, to websites. She is a mom of two young boys, Jack and William, who are currently being homeschooled by her husband, Tim. Amber and her friend, Macey, are co-founders of 
Hilltown Families’ Family Community Service Night is a Hilltown Families event and is co-sponsored by Northampton Public Schools/CFCE through a grant from the MA Department of Early Education and Care, 
