Adapted Story Episode with Guest DJs, Lee & Katie of the Story Pirates
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The Story Pirates take stories written by real kids and turn them into sketch comedy, songs, books, and a podcast. In today’s show, hosted by Lee from the Story Pirates, they play some of their songs based on kids’ stories, plus the songs that inspired them!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am May 25 & 26, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “All 8 Unicorns,” based on an original story by Cece, age 4, from Brooklyn, NY.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am May 11 & 12, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “So we have Weather and Climate… but are they the same thing? No, no they are not. But they are both super important to how the geosphere is shaped. In this episode of Crash Course Kids, Sabrina chats with us about the differences between Weather and Climate.” – Crash Course Kids
Mr. Billy of the Minnesotan children’s music group The Jolly Pops is joined in studio by his two young daughters to guest DJ. The three of them spin an hour long mix of family favorites while discussing what music means to them and how the songs make them feel.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am May 4th & 5th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
What do David Bowie, Harry Belafonte, and Sara Lovell have in common? They are fantastic, and they are on this playlist! GRAMMY Award-winning artist, Lucy Kalantari, Guest DJ’s this episode about the constant flux in life, changes, and transitions.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am April 27th & 28th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: From the GRAMMY Award Winning Album, All the Sounds by Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats, a young cellist, Darius Kalantari, plays this little tune teaching listeners musical terms and the joy of making music.
Animal Fun! Join Flor Bromley as she takes you on a journey through all of the different kinds of animals. We will learn about animals and dance to songs about farm animals, pet animals, jungle animals… all sorts of animals!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am April 6 & 7, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: In this video, Flor tells the story of a tiny mouse and a big lion. Will they get to be friends? Illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. Let’s have fun storytelling!
Frank is back to ring in the spring with Rolie Polie Guacamole‘s new Baseball song “Ay Batta Batta” as well as playing songs about friends, including some of his own friends, like his dad Lou Gallo, Dean Jones, and Brady Rymer, who are all playing on the kindie super group Like Father Like Son’s debut album “Sun is a Star”. The show also features songs about aquatic and flying friends.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am March 30 & 31, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Sharks and Dinosaurs” by Like Father Like Son
Office Hours Episode with Guest DJ,
Jack Forman of Recess Monkey
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Jack Forman hosts this week’s Hilltown Family Variety Show, but forgot to ask Sienna Wildfield if it was okay to remodel the studio with 1970s wood paneling and inspirational posters. In celebration of his second album Office Hours, Jack takes us on a high-energy musical romp through the workday. Though he really won’t be very useful with questions about your homework or last night’s reading, he can certainly fill the hour with fun!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am March 23rd & 24th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
The moment that we have been waiting for all winter is here: Sugar Season! The ground is thawing, and the sap is running. Maple sugaring is everywhere, giving great reason to get out with your family to sing about all things maple! Along with sugar season comes the shearing of the sheep. Two seasonal markers of the coming of spring in the northeastern region of the United States. In this week’s episode, learn songs not only about maple syrup but sheep shearing and spring traditions in New England. — Download Hilltown Families Season: March & April issue of Learning Ahead to discover more about the seasonal markers that connect us to place in Western MA.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am March 16th & 17th, 2019 Original broadcast: Feb 2009
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Do you know what a skeuomorph is? You can find them all over your electronic and computer devices: the letter icon for your email; the trashcan symbol on your computer; the shutter sound you hear when taking a digital image; old-school telephone icons and rings on your cell phone. These are examples of skeuomorphs, features that echo the design of an outdated or lesser used artifact or physical object. What does that have to do with maple syrup? Take a guess and then find out in this video from Tech Insider.
Ben Rudnick, the bandleader for the band Ben Rudnick and Friends, has put together a show featuring several of his songs mixed in with songs that he just really likes. With seven Parents’ Choice Awards to their credit, Ben Rudnick and Friends have been entertaining entire families since 2000. Their broad influences bring the strains of Americana, early rock and roll and psychedelia into an original sound all their own. This week’s episode is an hour of good songs and good vibes. Fun for all!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am March 9th & 10th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “New World in Sight” by Ben Rudnick and Friends. Video direction and animation by Remy Chanfreau.
Louisiana Dance Party Episode
with Guest DJ, Johnette Downing
Listen to the Podcast:
Hey, mudbugs, get ready to romp in the swamp and boogie on the bayou! Johnette Downing and Scott Billington take you on a rollicking ride through the landscape of Louisiana dance music, from the brass bands of New Orleans to the joyous Cajun and zydeco music of the southwest part of the state, to the rock and roll “big beat” of The Big Easy in the 1950s. Featured are such iconic artists as Fats Domino and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, along with selections from Johnette and Scott’s own Swamp Romp album. Laissez les bon temps roulez (let the good times roll)!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am March 2nd & 3rd, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Bamboula Rhythm” – The bamboula rhythm is truly the heartbeat of New Orleans music, celebrated in all its spontaneous joy in this video, directed by the award-winning film maker Lily Keber. Accompanying Johnette Downing with Scott Billington are Roger Lewis, Kevin Harris and Kirk Joseph of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, along with the drummers from the Treme Brass Band, along with Mardi Gras Indian “Honey” Bannister and second line dancer Nicole Tate. “Bamboula Rhythm” brings the exuberance of a New Orleans street parade directly to you– perfect for children and their adults to dance along.
Award-winning Peruvian-American Kindie Rocker, Twinkle Time, shares her favorite message…L-O-V-E…LOVE! This week, Twinkle’s spinning the best family music with songs teaching kids about spreading love, peace, and happiness, globally!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am February 16 & 17, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Acoustic version of “L-O-V-E LOVE” by Twinkle Time
Winter Wonderland Episode with Guest DJ, Flor Bromley
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Let’s add music and story to our winter fun! Join HFVS guest DJ, Flor Bromley, as she takes us on an adventure through her favorite winter songs. She will share music and stories about playing in the snow, learning about migration and hibernation, and dancing to keep ourselves warm.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am February 9th & 10th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Kitty” by Flor Bromley off of the album Chiqui Music Boom
HFVS Sharing is Caring Episode with Guest DJ, Josh Friedman (a.k.a. Purple Fox Josh of Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies)
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We already know our Manners, no need to teach them, but here is the perfect playlist to practice that love and caring. Purple Fox Josh of Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies brings some of his favorite songs about Pleases, Thank Yous, and kindness to others, right to your ears, because Sharing is Caring!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am February 3rd & 4th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Live Like a Champion” by Purple Fox and the Heebie Jeebies
Who doesn’t love a good story? This episode of the HFVS is chock full of funny, silly stories set to upbeat music. Guest DJ, Dana has put together some of her favorite story songs from her own recordings and those of her favorite singing storytellers. From familiar tales like Dana’s rockin’ version of “The Gingerbread Man” and “On Top of Spaghetti” (given a groovy twist by Steve Blackwood) to entertaining yarns like “The Pizza That Ate Chicago” by Tom Paxton, each story will engage listeners young and old. Popular storytelling artists Bill Harley and Dan Crow are included among other delightful performers.
Listen to Podcast:
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am January 26th & 27th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
HFVS Love Activist Episode
with Guest DJ, Charity Kahn
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What does it mean to be a Love Activist? Charity Kahn from Charity and the JAMband takes listeners on a musical and philosophical journey examining how we all, whether young or old, can use our love, kindness, time, resources and gifts to bring positive change to the world.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am January 19th & 20th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Valentine” by Charity and the JAMband.
“New Year Dance Party” with Award-winning Peruvian-American bilingual kindie music phenomenon Twinkle. Twinkle brings all genres of dance music -pop, electronic dance, rock, and hip-hop as she spins the hottest dance tracks for the kindie generation. – www.twinkleandfriends.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am January 5th & 6th, 2019 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
HFVS Peace & Love Episode with Guest DJ’s Wendy & DB
Wendy & DB show us the way to Peace & Love listening to some of their favorite songs and by telling us some stories about Peace that have touched their lives. All Aboard the Peace Train! — www.wendyanddb.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am November 24th & 25th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Peace and love start right where you are. Join the Kindie Music Duo Wendy & DB on their adventure in their “Way Is Peace” music video filmed in partnership with wonderful organizations: Shelley Nyzynski-Reese of A Better Life for Kids (ABLFK) was able to help by providing sign language from students in ABLFK homes for orphans in Ghana, Africa. Throughout the creation of the video, producers Wendy Morgan & David Box were able to draw from many organizations that help young students from pre-school age programs such as Easterseals Early Head Start as well as, high-school-age students in the MYA VX Recording Choir led by Gary Fry & HHW Gospel Choir directed by Daniel Henry and Jean Pinkerton-Hendricks.
HFVS Songs of Gratitude Episode with Guest DJ, Eric Herman
Eric Herman gets downright happy in this show featuring songs that celebrate feeling good about yourself and about life, and being positive and grateful. — www.erichermanmusic.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am November 17 & 18, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video:
What makes you happy? Have you ever wondered why? Join SoulPancake as they take an experimental approach to what makes people happier and then it a try yourself with your kids this holiday season:
Food, glorious food!!! We all eat it, so why not sing some songs about it! Heather Hirshfield and Eddie RosenBerg III, otherwise known as The Green Orbs, take you on a musical culinary journey with songs from artists like Weird Al, The Pop Ups, and Cookie Monster on the menu. — www.TheGreenOrbs.net
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am November 10th & 11th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: The Green Orbs – “The Suction Cup Shuffle” [Thumb Wrestling Champions]
Weird Al Yankovic – “Eat It” [Greatest Hits]
Mike Phirman – “What Makes The Breakfast” [Songs To Sing At Children]
Gunnar Madsen – “10,000 Pancakes” [I Am Your Food]
They Might Be Giants – “Nine Bowls Of Soup” [Here Come the 1, 2, 3’s]
Shirley Temple – “Animal Crackers In My Soup” [Remember Shirley]
The Green Orbs – “Soup (An Epilogue)” [Thumb Wrestling Champions]
Jumpin’ Jamie – “I Wanna Be Healthy” [Kookie]
The Green Orbs – “Twelve Steps To Eating Your Veggies” [Thumb Wrestling Champions] Brian Wilson – “Vega-Tables” [Smile]
The Green Orbs – “Robert Broccoli” [Thumb Wrestling Champions]
Dan Zanes ft. Loudon Wainwright III – “All Around The Kitchen” [Family Dance]
Lucy Kalantari – “Our Garden” [Big Things]
The Beatles – “Wild Honey Pie” [The White Album]
Cookie Monster – “C Is For Cookie” [Sesame Street: Sing The Alphabet]
Dee Dee Sharp – “Mashed Potato Time” [Cameo Parkway-The Best of Dee Dee Sharp] Laurie Berkner – “Victor Vito” [Victor Vito]
Yosi – “On Top Of Spaghetti” [What’s Eating Yosi?]
Joanie Leeds – “Sushi” [City Kid]
Raffi – “Apples And Bananas” [One Light, One Sun]
The Pop Ups – “Banana” [Radio Jungle]
The Wiggles – “Fruit Salad” [Lachy!]
The Hit Crew Kids – “Party In My Tummy” [Kids Just Wanna Have Fun]
HFVS Being Bilingual Rocks Episode with Guest DJ, Hamlet Meneses of Mi Amigo Hamlet
Being Bilingual Rocks! is what musician-educator Hamlet Meneses (a.k.a. Mi Amigo Hamlet) is all about. In this episode he shares a great variety of bilingual songs from his bilingual friends, as well as other artists who have influenced and inspired some of his songwriting. And through the music he takes you in a journey of learning about numbers, days of the week, family, things being connected, being happy, coming together and dance, about love, and he closes beautifully with a statement of empowerment, “Sí Se Puede / Yes We Can” a song by his friend and Western MA musician, Mister G. — miamigohamlet.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am November 3rd & 4th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Laila” off of Happy Land Is Tierra Feliz
HFVS Happy Haunted Halloween Episode with Guest DJ, Mr. Singer of the Sharp Cookies
HFVS Happy Haunted Halloween Episode with guest hosts Mr. Singer and his 10-year-old nephew, Connor Thomas Martin, is an hour of fun, silly, spooky, songs that celebrate one of children’s very favorite holidays, HALLOWEEN! Mr. Singer plays some of his original spooky tunes and reads a story about Mary Shelley the teenaged author of Frankenstein, as well as playing a song by his friends in the Deep Fried Pickle Project. Connor tells stories of what scares him and what he does about it and gives a little tutorial on the eery sounding musical saw. It’s a rock-n-roll Halloween radio fun show that will get the whole clan psyched about HAAALLLLLOOOOWWWEEEEENNNN!!! – www.MrSingerAndTheSharpcookies.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am October 27th & 28th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Mr. Singer & the Sharp Cookies’ Halloween Concert playing the Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” LIVE
Autumn means harvest time in the northeastern United States. But what are people harvesting in other parts of the country, and around the world? Join guest DJ Story Laurie for some lively songs (including two that were written by elementary school kids!); a crazy tale about a girl sailing around the world on a cabbage; and we’ll even check in with some folks in the Philippines, Finland, and Korea about what they’re harvesting right now. — www.storylaurie.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am MONTH DAY & DAY, YEAR WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: John Green investigates the dawn of human civilization, looking into how people gave up hunting and gathering to become agriculturalists, and how that change has influenced the world we live in today. [via CrashCourse]
Mike & Peggy Seeger – “Oh, John The Rabbit” [American Folk Songs for Children]
Story Laurie – “The Cabbage That Sailed Around The World” [Live in Studio]
Field recording of a group of girls from Michoacan, Mexico, recorded by Henrietta Yurchenko – “La Bella Hortelana” [Latin American Children Game Songs]
Story Laurie & Friends – “Picking Pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch” [single]
Leadbelly – “Pick a Bale of Cotton” [Leadbelly Sings for Children]
Jay Ungar & Molly Mason – “Bound for Another Harvest Home” [Harvest Home]
Story Laurie & Friends – “Homegrown Tomatoes” [Groovin’ in the Garden]
Getting Along Episode with Guest DJs, David Ladon and Seth Adams (a.k.a. Animal Farm)
Explore themes of friendship and community with musician-educators David Ladon and Seth Adams, the singer/songwriter team behind the children’s music band Animal Farm. David and Seth share some Animal Farm tunes from their albums Run Free and We Are One, as well as songs by everyone from Nina Simone to Kermit the Frog. These are songs that celebrate not only getting along but learning to love and share with one another. After all, we’re all riding on this rollercoaster trip around the sun! You and me are we, and we are one! — www.animalfarmband.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am October 12th & 13th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Inspiration. What is it? Where does it come from? What inspires us to make music? In this episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show, Jamie Broza takes us through a diverse array of fantastic songs and singers that have inspired him to make music, and hopefully will inspire some of our listeners to start writing their own songs! – www.jamielawrenceproductions.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am October 6 & 7, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Intro to the History of Rock Episode with Guest DJs, Ari & Ezra from The Oot n’ Oots
Ari and Ezra from The Oot n’ Oots play songs and tell stories to highlight the evolution of rock music from the 1950s to the 1970s, covering major trends and introducing listeners of all ages to a distinctly American musical tradition. – www.theootnoots.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am September 29th & 30th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: 10-year-old Oot n’ Oot lead singer Ruth Cipes belts out the rock n’ roll classic “Too Much Monkey Business.” Originally by Chuck Berry, this version features alternate lyrics told from a kid’s perspective.
World Languages Episode with Guest DJ, Sarah Aroeste
Sarah Aroeste, a children’s singer and songwriter in the rare and eclectic dialect of Spanish called Ladino, will take listeners around the globe to explore some contemporary kids music in lesser-known dialects. From Quechua to Yup’ik to Amharic and more, Aroeste hopes listeners will agree that good music is good music, no matter the language! — www.saraharoeste.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am September 23 & 24, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Over the course of human history, thousands of languages have developed from what was once a much smaller number. How did we end up with so many? And how do we keep track of them all? Alex Gendler explains how linguists group languages into language families, demonstrating how these linguistic trees give us crucial insights into the past.” View full lesson: How languages evolve – Alex Gendler (TED-Ed)
Pirate Episode with Guest DJ, Tom Mason of the Blue Buccaneers
Captain Tom Mason of the Blue Buccaneers takes the helm as our guest DJ for an hour of songs about pirates and the sea. Listen to songs from islands the pirates visited, dance to both the peg-leg jig and the peg-leg tango, and sing along to sea shanties old and new. Captain Tom also gives a brief lesson in how to talk like a pirate, as well as a few words about fine dining on the deep sea. – tommason.net
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am September 15 & 16, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Are Ghost Ships Real?
According to TED-Ed, “In 1884, the British steamer “Rumney” crashed into the French ship “Frigorifique.” Seeing their ship filling with water, the French crew climbed aboard the “Rumney.” But as they sailed towards port, a silent form emerged from the fog – the abandoned “Frigorifique,” seemingly back for revenge. So what happened? Peter B. Campbell investigates the fascinating phenomenon of ghost ships.”
Science & Education Episode with Danny Weinkauf of They Might Be Giants
Danny Weinkauf guest DJs our science and education episode, demonstrating though song examples and commentary his love of both, and how it has influenced his favorite songs and personal writing style. − www.dannyweinkauf.coma
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am September 8 & 9, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Electric Car” by They Might Be Giants off of their album, Here Comes Science.
Back to School Episode with Guest DJ, Joanie Leeds
Joanie Leeds of Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights guest DJs HFVS Back To School Episode. Joanie hand-picked all of the school themed songs including a few from her CD, Bandwagon as well as from artists such as: Pop Ups, Dizzy Gillespie, Justin Roberts, Bari Koral, Recess Monkey, Lunch Money, Astrograss, Miss Nina, They Might Be Giants, The Verve Pipe, Chuck Berry, Trout Fishing in America and Rocknoceros.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am September 1 & 2, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video:
According to The School of Life, a global organization dedicated to fostering emotional well-being, the greatest problem of the modern education system is that it doesn’t focus on systematically preparing students for many aspects of the real challenge out there: Life itself.
HFVS Wildlife Episode with Guest DJs, Casey & Kevin from The Whizpops
Kevin and Casey of The Whizpops have put together a fun educational show about wildlife and imagination seamlessly weaving songs about animals both real and make-believe. Join them on a musical journey through endangered species, mustaches, and even unicorns! — www.thewhizpops.com
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am August 25th & 26th, 2018 WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio Northampton, MA
Featured Video: “Experience the continent with the most diverse environments in this episode of “Destination World.” North America stretches from the polar Arctic to the tropical Caribbean, and you’ll find almost all major habitats on this continent.” – National Geographic Kids
The Tokens – “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)” [The Lion Sleeps Tonight]
The Pop Ups – “The Bat” [Radio Jungle]
The Whizpops – “Monarch” [Ranger Rick’s Trail Mix Vol. 1]
Caspar Babypants – “Butterfly Driving A Truck” [Sing Along!]
The Whizpops – “Pika” [Ranger Rick’s Trail Mix Vol. 1]
The Big Wu – “Kangaroo” [Tracking Buffalo Through The Bathroom]
The Pop Ups – “Elephant” [Radio Jungle]
The Whizpops – “Everything’s Better With A Mustache (Walrus Song)” [Ranger Rick’s Trail Mix Vol. 1]
FunkeyMonkeys – “Mustache” [[Mustache]
The Salamanders – “Please Don’t Eat My Guitar” [[The Salamanders]
Ylvis – “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?)” [The Fox (What Does The Fox Say?) – Single]
The Whizpops – “Swift Fox” [Ranger Rick’s Trail Mix Vol. 1]
Blitzen Trapper – “Furr” [Furr]
Sallie Ford and the Outside Sound – “Not an Animal” [Dirty Radio]
Brent Holmes – “I Can’t Wait To Hibernate” [Bear Tunes for Kids]
Recess Monkey – “Lovestruck Unicorn” [Novelties]
Find your place this summer with our comprehensive directory of summer camps, programs, and opportunities in Western MA!
Want to add your listing to our summer directory, the regions go-to online resource for summer opportunities? There’s still time! Click here to find out how.
Welcome to Hilltown Families, an award-winning community-based education network, serving the four counties of Western Massachusetts.
Founded in 2005 by Sienna Wildfield, Hilltown Families believes in creating resilient and sustainable communities by strengthening a sense of place through methods of community engagement that supports interests and values.
By highlighting the embedded learning found in community-based resources, events, and opportunities, learning becomes inclusive, accessible, and intergenerational while remaining relevant to the learner. When community members are brought together through shared interests, meaningful connections are fostered through a shared history based in community engagement.
Awarded the "Essential Agent of Change Award" by the MDPH's Massachusetts Essentials for Childhood, Hilltown Families is recognized as a leading family strengthening initiative in the region, promoting "positive parenting through the social norm of community social connectedness."
“We try to go to at least one of the Hilltown Families recommended events each weekend to keep our son experiencing new, educational, and community oriented experiences. Hilltown Families supports my interests in education through community engagement by providing a network of families with similar interests in the same area…a sense of belonging to a group that supports my goals and interests.” – Yi-Lo Yu (Southampton, MA)
"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.
Posting a comment to Hilltown Families will automatically add you to the Hilltown Families mailing list to receive our weekly update. Email addresses are never rented or sold. To be removed from our mailing list, email info@hilltownfamilies.org to request to be removed.
disclaimer
Information provided on Hilltown Families (HTF) 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 HTF are that of the writer and not necessarily that of HTF. In no event shall HTF be liable (directly or indirectly) for any losses or damages causes (or allegedly caused) in connection with HTF. 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. HTF is not responsible for the content of external websites.
