Events for Working Parents for May 21st-25th, 2012
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Events for working parents either begin at 4pm, or run past 4pm and are for families with children of all ages. These events are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending ( ♦ indicates events that happen every week).
6:30-8:30pm - NATURE STUDIES: Learn to identify the mysterious things found outside in nature! Bring your our “unidentifiable” mystery item to the Westhampton Library to learn how to identify it, along with the mystery leaves, rocks, bones, rocks, shells, etc. of other visitors. Not only will kids learn to identify their specific item, but they’ll learn information and skills necessary for identifying a variety of types of natural treasures. Pairs well with studies of local ecology and geology. 413-527-5386. 1 North Road. Westhampton, MA. (FREE)5:30pm – PLAYGROUP: Childcare of the Berkshires hosts gym group at the Haskins Center! 413-664-4821. 210 State Street. North Adams, MA. (FREE) ♦
1-5pm – ART: The Art Garden has drop-in art making every afternoon! Kids can experiment with new mediums and materials- it’s an art adventure! 413-625-2782. 14 Depot Street. Shelburne Falls, MA. (<$)
5:30-6:30pm – LEGOS: The Central Library hosts LEGO Club tonight! Kids in grades 1-5 are invited to experiment with architecture and create a masterpiece. 413-263-6828. 220 State Street. Springfield, MA. (FREE) ♦
6:30pm – SING-A-LONG: Families are invited to the Montague Center Library for a community sing-a-long with librarian/musician Linda Hickman. 413-367-2852. 17 Center Street. Montague, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012
6pm – COMMUNITY SERVICE: Interested in volunteering at the Dakin Animal Shelter? There will be an information session at the Leverett Library tonight! Families (with older children) can attend to learn about the many different activities that volunteers do and what is required of helpers. 413-548-9220. 75 Montague Road. Leverett, MA. (FREE)6pm – WORKSHOP/CHICKENS: Learn about raising backyard chickens at the Monson Library! The workshop is for adults, but older students interested in farming or raising their own chickens are welcome, too. 413-267-3866. 2 High Street. Monson, MA. (FREE)
5:30-6:30pm – PLAYGROUP: Childcare of the Berkshires hosts a gym group at Florida Elementary School! There will be free play, circle time, and a snack. 413-664-4821. 56 North Country Road. Florida, MA. (FREE) ♦
1-5pm – ART: The Art Garden has drop-in art making every afternoon! Kids can experiment with new mediums and materials- it’s an art adventure! 413-625-2782. 14 Depot Street. Shelburne Falls, MA. (<$) [CLOSED ON MAY 1 & 2]
1:30-6:30pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: The Tuesday Market is today! It takes place behind Thornes Marketplace, and there are tons of locally grown and produced foods and goods to be had. Live music, fun for kids, and more! Armory Street. Northampton, MA. (MARKET) ♦
4:30-5:30pm – PHYSICS: Learn yo-yo tricks at A2Z this afternoon! Lead by world class pros, Yo-Yo School teaches kids basic yo-yo tricks. Learning to yo-yo is a great supplement to studies of motion and physics! 413-586-1611. 57 King Street. Northampton, MA. (FREE) ♦
6pm – GAMES: The 4th Tuesday of every month is Scrabble night at the Monson Library! All ages are welcome. Scrabble can help kids practice spelling an work on their vocabulary. 413-267-3866. 2 High Street. Monson, MA. (FREE) ♦
6:30pm – BINGO: The Hinsdale Lions Club hosts Bingo every Tuesday evening. Though it’s generally an adult game, your kids can come too for a fun intergenerational evening. If they’re learning to count, they can get some great practice matching numbers on your card. Doors open at 5, and dinner is available inexpensively beforehand. 413-655-2973. Maple Street (Route 143). Hinsdale, MA. (<$) ♦
7-11pm – CHESS: The Pittsfield Chess Club meets every Tuesday night! Kids of all chess abilities can join for an intergenerational opportunity to learn and practice the game. Meets in the cafeteria at Hillcrest Hospital. 413-448-6165. West Street. Pittsfield, MA. (FREE)♦
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012
9am-5pm – ANIMAL ADVENTURE: During the spring, anadromous fish (those who live in rivers but spawn in the ocean) make their way to their Atlantic breeding grounds – watch them make their way down the Connecticut River at the Turners Falls Fishway! The fishway offers kids a chance to see directly into the river through a special viewing window, an experience that can serve as the foundation for building an understanding of the life cycle of fish and/or river ecosystems. 800-859-2960. 1 Avenue A. Turners Falls, MA. (FREE)
7pm – GENEALOGY: Older students can visit the Sunderland Library for a workshop on ways to do genealogical research! There are tons of tools that are free and relatively easy to access that can help students do research on their families. Learning about family history can help students to put their family members into historical context, and can help them develop a more critical understanding of history. Older students can work to develop a “critical family history,” a project designed to help students look critically at their family and work to understand the socioeconomic context in which they and their families have lived/live in. 413-665-1435. 20 School Street. Sunderland, MA. (FREE)
4-5pm – STORYTIME: Visit the North Amherst Library for storytime and crafts! 413-259-3099. 8 Montague Road. Amherst, MA. (FREE)
4-5pm – STORYTIME: At the Cushman Library! Stories, crafts, snack. 413-413-648-5402. 28 Church Street. Bernardston, MA. (FREE) ♦
6:30pm – STORYTIME: Hop into your pajamas and visit the East Longmeadow Library for Pajama Night Storytime before bed. For kids ages 3-6. 413-525-5432. 60 Center Square #2. East Longmeadow, MA. (FREE) ♦
1-5pm – ART: The Art Garden has drop-in art making every afternoon! Kids can experiment with new mediums and materials- it’s an art adventure! 413-625-2782. 14 Depot Street. Shelburne Falls, MA. (<$) [CLOSED ON MAY 1 & 2]
1-5pm – LOCAL HISTORY: Visit the Crane Museum of Papermaking to learn about the history of papermaking at Crane since the early 1800’s. Located on the banks of the Housatonic River, the building itself is a museum! This is a great opportunity to learn about local history. If you can’t make it today, the museum is open all weekdays during the same hours. 413-684-2600. 30 South Street. Dalton, MA. (FREE)
2-6pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: Shop for local food and goods at the Florence Famers’ Market! Takes place on the lawn at the Florence Civic Center. North Maple Street. Florence, MA. (MARKET) ♦
3:30-5pm – CRAFTS: Drop-in crafts at the Indian Orchard Branch Library. 413-263-6846. 44 Oak Street. Springfield, MA. (FREE) ♦
4:45-6pm – KNITTING: Is your yarn all knotted? Do your needles refuse to behave? Get some help (or, if you’re a skilled knitter, offer support) at Forbes Library’s Knitting Clinic. Knitters of all ages and abilities are welcome- no pattern problem is too big or small. 413-587-1011. 20 West Street. Northampton, MA. (FREE) ♦
Thursday, May 24th, 2012
9am-5pm - ANIMAL STUDIES: During the spring, anadromous fish (those who live in rivers but spawn in the ocean) make their way to their Atlantic breeding grounds – watch them make their way down the Connecticut River at the Turners Falls Fishway! The fishway offers kids a chance to see directly into the river through a special viewing window, an experience that can serve as the foundation for building an understanding of the life cycle of fish and/or river ecosystems. 800-859-2960. 1 Avenue A. Turners Falls, MA. (FREE)
4-6:30pm - COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Celebrate a year’s worth of great playgroups and family programs at the Northampton Parents’ Center at the year-end picnic! Bring a potluck dinner to the Dow Pavillion at Look Park and eat, play, and celebrate with other families. 300 North Main Street. Florence, MA. (<$)
7-9pm – CONCERT: Enjoy an evening of ukelele music at the Jones Library! The concert features tons of uke musicians and bands, and is a benefit for the MN Spear Library. Kids can learn about the unique sound and qualities of the ukelele. 413-259-1213. 43 Amity Street. Amherst, MA. ($)
7-8:30pm – CONCERT: See the West Side Senior Showstoppers perform at the West Springfield High School Auditorium. 425 Piper Road. West Springfield, MA. (FREE)
1-5pm – ART: The Art Garden has drop-in art making every afternoon! Kids can experiment with new mediums and materials- it’s an art adventure! 413-625-2782. 14 Depot Street. Shelburne Falls, MA. (<$)
3:30-5pm – CRAFTS: Drop-in crafts at the Brightwood Branch Library. 413-263-6805. 359 Plainfield Street. Springfield, MA. (FREE) ♦
4:30-5:30pm – PHYSICS: Learn yo-yo tricks at A2Z this afternoon! Lead by world class pros, Yo-Yo School teaches kids basic yo-yo tricks. Learning to yo-yo is a great supplement to studies of motion and physics! 413-586-1611. 57 King Street. Northampton, MA. (FREE) ♦
5-7pm – KNITTING: Dottie’s Coffee Lounge host a beginner’s knitting group every Thursday. All ages and experiences welcomed. 444 North Street. Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
5:30-7pm – CHESS: The Monson Library’s chess club meets on the 4th Thursday of every month. Kids in middle school and older can participate! 413-287-3866. 2 High Street. Monson, MA. (FREE) ♦
Friday, May 25th, 2012
9am-5pm - ANIMAL STUDIES: During the spring, anadromous fish (those who live in rivers but spawn in the ocean) make their way to their Atlantic breeding grounds – watch them make their way down the Connecticut River at the Turners Falls Fishway! The fishway offers kids a chance to see directly into the river through a special viewing window, an experience that can serve as the foundation for building an understanding of the life cycle of fish and/or river ecosystems. 800-859-2960. 1 Avenue A. Turners Falls, MA. (FREE)
1-5pm – ART: The Art Garden has drop-in art making every afternoon! Kids can experiment with new mediums and materials- it’s an art adventure! 413-625-2782. 14 Depot Street. Shelburne Falls, MA. (<$)
6-7pm – BABY SIGN LANGUAGE: Sign Loud and Clear presents an info session on the benefits of baby sign language! Babies are sometimes able to begin communicating via sign language before they are able to communicate verbally- learn how to start signing with your baby! Takes place at Baystate Medical Center. Springfield Street. Springfield, MA. (FREE)
6:30-9pm – COFFEEHOUSE: Hilltown Coffeehouse happens every Friday night at the Village Church. Bring the family to enjoy and participate in music and games. An excellent intergenerational opportunity for fa
7:30pm – ASTRONOMY: Milham Planetarium at Williams College hosts an observatory show tonight! The planetarium’s Zeiss Skymaster can show phases of the moon, retrograde motions of planets, temperatures of planets and stars, the location of nearby galaxies, and more! The show is entertaining and also a great learning opportunity. 413-597-2188. 829 Main Street. Williamstown, MA. (FREE) ♦
8:30pm-12:30am - COMMUNITY DANCE: Dance Spree is a community family-friendly (and barefoot!) dance event – kids of all ages are welcome to attend with guardians. Great way to get moving! 25 Main Street, 4th Floor (above Fitzwilly’s). Northampton, MA. (<$) ♦
