Conversation Highlights: The Sunday Edition, October 27, 2019
October 27, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
HFVS Sweets & Treats Episode with Guest DJ, Again Again (Radio Show/Podcast)
October 26, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast, Video, Videos)
Tags: Family Radio Show, podcast
Listen to Podcast:
HFVS Sweets & Treats Episode with
Guest DJ, Again Again
In this episode of the Hilltown Family Variety Show, Anne and Jen from Again Again take you on a sweet musical journey exploring how sugar and treats make their way into song. Keep your ears open for some tidbits on fruits and veggies, just to keep the hour balanced.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am
October 26th & 27th, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
FEATURED VIDEO: What can kids do when they’re bored? Use their imaginations and let a whole exciting world come to life! “Bubble Gum and Cheese” by Again Again.
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- The Chordettes – “Lollipop” [Lollipop/Baby Come-A Back-A]
- Eurythmics – “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” [Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)]
- Again Again – “Bubble Gum and Cheese” [Listen. Love. Repeat.]
- The Beach Boys – “Vegetables” [Smiley Smile]
- The Beatles – “Strawberry Fields Forever” [Magical Mystery Tour]
- Again Again – “Camping (Lullaby)” [Listen. Love. Repeat.]
- Little Richard – “Tutti Frutti” [Here’s Little Richard]
- Renee and Friends – “Starfish and Coffee” (ft. Maya Rudolph)- [Simpatico]
- Again Again – “Dinosaur Party” [Listen. Love. Repeat.]
- The Archies – “Sugar Sugar” [Everything’s Archie]
- Kacey Musgraves – “Spoonful of Sugar” [We Love Disney]
- Again Again – “Families Come in Blended Way” [Listen. Love. Repeat.]
- Sammy Davis Jr. “Candy Man” [Sammy Davis Jr. Now]
- Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline” [Sweet Caroline]
- Abba – “Honey Honey” [Waterloo]
- James Taylor – “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” [Gorilla]
- New Edition – “Candy Girl” [Candy Girl]
- Grateful Dead – “Sugar Magnolia” [American Beauty]
- Jack Johnson – “Banana Pancakes” [In Between Dreams]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Halloween to Dia de los Meurtos. Owl Banding to Ghosts Stories.
October 25, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Spooky Safari ♦ Spooktacular ♦ Monsters Ball ♦ Haunted Hangar ♦ Haunted Train Ride ♦ Rag Shag Parade ♦ Trick-or-Treat ♦ Gravestone Carving ♦ Haunted Farm ♦ Horror Film ♦ Paranormal ♦ Night Tour ♦ Day of the Dead ♦ Halloween Fest ♦ Dia de los Meurtos ♦ Spiders ♦ Bats ♦ Owls ♦ Dance Studies ♦ Music Studies ♦ Film Studies ♦ Orchestra ♦ Contra Dance ♦ Biology ♦ Animal Studies ♦ Ornithology ♦ Zoo Adventures ♦ Local Food ♦ Vegetarian ♦ Butchery ♦ Apples & Cider ♦ Apple Picking ♦ Aviation ♦ Museum Adventures ♦ Archaeology ♦ Pottery ♦ Woodworking ♦ STEM ♦ Women Engineering ♦ Date Night ♦ Parents’ Night Out ♦ Rural Heritage ♦ Placemaking
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, October 26-November 1, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: October 26-November 8, 2019
October 24, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Suggested Activity)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With over 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.6+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Bulletin Board
Oct 26
On Saturday, October 26, the New England Air Museum will host a Haunted Hangars Trick or Treat event from 10am-3pm. Ghosts, Witches, Princesses, and Superheroes are invited to tour the museum and collect a treat when they sit in the pilot’s seat of our “spooky themed” historic aircraft. A costume contest will be held where the winning Trick or Treater will receive a free family membership to the museum. Both children and adults are welcome for this kid-friendly, un-scary event. Visitors will also have the chance to climb aboard historic aircraft, plus receive Halloween treats. Other activities include flight simulators and the opportunity to construct your own flying machine during the Build and Fly activity. More information at www.NEAM.org.
Nov 1
Join Friends of Children on Friday, November 1, 6-9pm for FOCUS On The Arts, an event celebrating the arts and supporting Friends of Children’s FOCUS program, bringing essential resources to young adults in MA who have aged out of foster care. This event takes place in the Northampton Center For The Arts space. Enjoy live music, delicious catered food, cash bar, and more! Bid on the work of local & regional artists, fun experiences, and other exciting items in their silent & live auctions, including: Artwork by artists Laura Radwell, Patricia Parker, Valerie Bunnell & Peter Max; Improv Party by Heidi Haas; Cocktails & Conversation in the library of cookbook editor Lisa Ekus. Tickets at friendsofchildreninc.org.
Oct 18 – 20 & Oct 25 – 27
Ghouls and Goblins beware! The Look Park Haunted Train has returned for more rides of lightly frightful fun! The fun starts at 5pm and the frights stop at 9pm. The first hour is the calm and the monsters do not chase after the train, best suited for kids who may be most likely to be scared. As the night progresses the creatures begin to run after the train and pop out of the dark! Best for ages 5 and up but all ages are welcome! There is no fee to enter the park, just pay for tickets for your ride. Ages 12 and up $5. Ages 2-11: $4. 2 and under: Free. Friday to Sunday October 25-27. For more information visit: www.lookpark.org or call 413-584-5457.
Nov 2
Making time for self-care helps the entire family! Celebrate Wellness, Saturday, November 2, 8:30am-5pm at The Hartsbrook School, Hadley. Hands-on sessions with some of the Pioneer Valley’s best practitioners, with a focus on diversifying self-care toolkits. Some skills covered will be: simple seasonal yoga practices and essential oil recipes for fall; immune-boosting herbal tonics; the Feldenkrais Method (think stress, sitting, snow-shoveling); learning first-hand how mindset affects daily outcomes; and the Daily Energy Routine (DER). There will be a Healing Arts panel ready to answer questions. Bring lunch or pre-order with registration. Learn more and register at www.comecelebratewellness.com. 20% off for HF readers – use code “Hilltown”
Begins Nov 3
Skate with the Skating Club of Amherst, the oldest figure skating club in Western MA. They are offering professional instruction at all levels, beginner to advanced. Basic Skills group lessons for ages 4 to adult are offered September to June on Sundays from 5:50-6:30pm at UMass-Amherst Mullins Center practice rink in Amherst. Additional instruction in free-skate, moves in the field, and ice dance for skaters interested in competing and testing. The club is a member of United States Figure Skating and is a private, non-profit organization managed by volunteers. Join them at the rink! Registration forms for sessions beginning in September, November, January and April at www.scamherst.org, email info@scamherst.org or by calling 413-253-6388.
Accepting applications for fall 2020. The Bement School founded in 1925 and located in Deerfield is a co-educational junior boarding and day school serving 225 students in kindergarten through grade 9. At Bement, the innovative educational approach and rigorous curriculum prepare students well for competitive secondary schools and to tackle the challenges of life. Students work hard, learn to overcome obstacles, persevere with joy and optimism, develop a strong sense of self, and find ways to help others. Children and adults at Bement work together to create a community where all members cultivate mutual respect and understanding within the school and the world. For info on how to arrange a campus visit, call 413-774-4209 www.bement.org.
Western Massachusetts is rich in learning opportunities to supplement the interests of children, teens, and lifelong learners! Hilltown Families Class Directory features classes, lessons, enrichment programs, and membership opportunities across Western Massachusetts and throughout the year. Our Class Directory makes it easier to find these gems while connecting families with resources that support their interests and education, including theater, music, dance, art, and much more. — Have a class, private lesson, or program you’d like to include in our directory? More Information. | Reserve a spot. | Submit your listing.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
October 26-November 8, 2019
Saturday, Oct 26 • Sunday, Oct 27
Monday, Oct 28 • Tuesday, Oct 29 • Wednesday, Oct 30
Thursday, Oct 31 • Friday, Nov 1
Saturday, Nov 2 • Sunday, Nov 3
Monday, Nov 4 • Tuesday, Nov 5 • Wednesday, Nov 6
Thursday, Nov 7 • Friday, Nov 8
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
The events below are shared as a courtesy. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm date, time, place, age appropriateness, registration requirements, and costs before attending. Read the rest of this entry »
7 Books to Support Talking To Your Kids About Puberty
October 23, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Lisa Woods)
Mindful Engagement through the Seasons: Autumn Icons
October 21, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Learning through the Lens of Autumn Icons
Once school is back in session, the transition from summer to autumn is signaled by a steady stream of fall icons appearing across the region that mark the season. We begin to find ourselves behinds school buses in the early morning hours while dodging squirrels racing across the roads in search of acorns before the cold settles in. Pumpkin lattes and apple cider donuts appear on cafe menus. Scarecrows, mums, and gourds decorate storefronts and front porches. The leaves of deciduous trees bloom into hues of red, orange, and yellow. And apple orchards invite families to pick-their-own apples or the convenience of 1/2 pecks of locally grown fruit for homemade apple pies and cobbler. Signs of autumn not only mark the season and engage our senses, but they are also embedded with limitless community-based educational opportunities and value-based methods for community engagement. Let’s take a quick look at three different signs of autumn that are connected to the weather, local harvest, and cultural heritage of the region and how they can support learning while strengthening a sense of place. Read the rest of this entry »
HFVS Connection Episode with Guest DJ, Kare Strong (Radio Show/Podcast)
October 19, 2019 at 6:00 am (Family Radio Show, Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast)
Listen to Podcast:
HFVS Connection Episode with
Guest DJ, Kare Strong (Radio Show/Podcast)
In this episode you’ll hear loving, fun and poetic songs about special ways of being in relationship, with each other, with animals and with the earth. Along the way you’ll meet amazing animals, grandparents, children and more.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am
October 19th & 20th, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
FEATURED VIDEO: What Wolves Can Teach us About Human Connection.
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- Kare Strong & Josh Goforth “Two Toads & a Bee” [Rivers of Love]
- Nick Cope “Have You Heard About Hugh?” [Have You Heard about Hugh?]
- Sarah Pirtle “Colors of the Earth” [The Wind is Telling Secrets]
- Sarah Goslee Reed “Katydid Waltz” [SongFest]
- Kare Strong & Josh Goforth “To the Country We Will Go” [Beneath the Cherry Tree]
- Dave Kinnoin & Jimmy Hammer “Tookie Tookie” [All I Do Is Hop]
- Timmy Abell “Like Love” [Little Red Wagon]
- Kari Kovick “Howdjadoo” [It’s You I Like]
- Kare Strong & Josh Goforth “A Party For Pig” [Beneath the Cherry Tree]
- Sarah Pirtle “Mama’s Weaving” [Pocket of Wonder]
- Elizabeth Mitchel & Suni Paz “ Cantaras Una Canción” [Tu Eres Mi Flor: Children’s Songs in
- Spanish] Elizabeth Mitchel “ Los Pollitos Dicen” (The Little Chicks) [You Are My Little Bird]
- Lui Collins “Waltzing With Bears” [North of Mars]
- Kare Strong & Josh Goforth “The Flower Faeries” [Beneath the Cherry Tree]
- Kare Strong & Josh Goforth “Sing, I Love You” [ Rivers of Love]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Pumpkin Festival to Sukkot. Dressmaking to Origami.
October 18, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Relationships ♦ Sense Of Place ♦ Experiential Theater ♦ Family Dance ♦ Performance Art ♦ Qi Gong ♦ Drumming ♦ History ♦ Clock Tower ♦ Stone Walls ♦ Train Ride ♦ Cemetery ♦ Fall Harvest ♦ Fall Festival ♦ Harvest Festival ♦ Town Festival ♦ Pumpkin Festival ♦ Scarecrows ♦ Apples ♦ Trees ♦ Sukkot ♦ Yiddish ♦ Polish Parade ♦ Immigration ♦ Carnival ♦ Halloween Show ♦ Halloween Parade ♦ Night Tour ♦ Occult ♦ Mini Golf ♦ Trivia ♦ Origami ♦ Nature Studies ♦ Biodiversity ♦ Literary Studies ♦ Fashion History ♦ Folk Traditions ♦ Dressmaking ♦ Shoemaking ♦ Blacksmith ♦ Letterpress Printing ♦ Dinosaurs ♦ Health Care ♦ Date Night
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, October 19-25, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: October 19-November 1, 2019
October 17, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With over 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.6+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Bulletin Board
Oct 19 & 26
All aboard, paranormal enthusiasts! Berkshire Scenic Railway’s Spirit Trains will be departing North Adams for a lantern-lit walk through Southview Cemetery with psychic medium Julie MacDonald on October 19th & 26th. The 2-hour train ride leaves promptly at 5:30pm from the platform near the Adams Visitor Center. Passengers are advised to dress weather appropriately; reservations required! Tickets can be purchased online at www.berkshiretrains.org. Be sure to check out the many other seasonal train rides offered throughout the year! Board a one-hour, round-trip excursion in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Western MA and learn about the rich railroad history of the region and see the Berkshires from a unique new vantage point.
Oct 20
Lightwire Theater: DINO-LIGHT. Sunday, October 20, 2pm, UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, MA. A famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “absolutely incredible, this glow-in-the-dark adventure has been praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance by audiences all over the world. Family Fest in the lobby starting at 1pm. $15-$35; Youth 17 & Under: $10-$15. Family Pack: $75 (2 adults, 2 youth). @ 1 hour. Appropriate for all ages. More at fineartscenter.com/dinolight or call 800-999-UMAS
Oct 26
On Saturday, October 26, the New England Air Museum will host a Haunted Hangars Trick or Treat event from 10am-3pm. Ghosts, Witches, Princesses, and Superheroes are invited to tour the museum and collect a treat when they sit in the pilot’s seat of our “spooky themed” historic aircraft. A costume contest will be held where the winning Trick or Treater will receive a free family membership to the museum. Both children and adults are welcome for this kid-friendly, un-scary event. Visitors will also have the chance to climb aboard historic aircraft, plus receive Halloween treats. Other activities include flight simulators and the opportunity to construct your own flying machine during the Build and Fly activity. More information at www.NEAM.org.
Nov 1
Join Friends of Children on Friday, November 1, 6-9pm for FOCUS On The Arts, an event celebrating the arts and supporting Friends of Children’s FOCUS program, bringing essential resources to young adults in MA who have aged out of foster care. This event takes place in the Northampton Center For The Arts space. Enjoy live music, delicious catered food, cash bar, and more! Bid on the work of local & regional artists, fun experiences, and other exciting items in their silent & live auctions, including: Artwork by artists Laura Radwell, Patricia Parker, Valerie Bunnell & Peter Max; Improv Party by Heidi Haas; Cocktails & Conversation in the library of cookbook editor Lisa Ekus. Tickets at friendsofchildreninc.org.
Oct 18 – 20 & Oct 25 – 27
Oct 19
The Common School will hold its annual Children’s Carnival, open to the wider Pioneer Valley community, on Saturday, October 19, from 10am-2pm, on the school’s campus at 521 South Pleasant Street in Amherst, MA. Open to the community, the Children’s Carnival will offer old-fashioned activities, games, and entertainment, including a bounce house and live music. Admission to the carnival is free. Games and activities have a small fee. Breakfast, hearty lunches, and treats such as cotton candy, homemade baked goods, and smoothies will be available for purchase. This event will happen, rain or shine! For more information, call 413-256-8989 or go to www.commonschool.org.
Open House: Oct 20 & Dec 8
The Academy at Charlemont (1359 Route 2 in Charlemont, MA) will host two Admissions Open House events for interested families on Sunday, October 20, and Sunday, December 8, with presentations starting at 1pm. Meet students, teachers, and current parents, and get a feel for their creative and rigorous academic programs and warm and inclusive community. The Academy offers vibrant arts, athletics, and an emphasis on critical thinking and ethical leadership. The Academy offers generous financial aid and daily round trip bus service from Greenfield, Amherst, Northampton, and the Hilltowns. Imagine loving school every day. Details at www.charlemont.org.
Oct 20
Sukkot Harvest Festival at Abundance Farm! Sunday, October 20th from 10am-2pm at 253 Prospect Street, Northampton. Celebrate the harvest with a puppet show by Page to Stage, apple cider pressing, pizza baking in a cob oven, nature crafts, the Holyoke Hummus Truck, and live klezmer music. Rain or shine! Suggested donation: $5.00. See their Facebook Event for more information or email info@abundancefarm.org.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
October 19-November 1, 2019
Saturday, Oct 19 • Sunday, Oct 20
Monday, Oct 21 • Tuesday, Oct 22 • Wednesday, Oct 23
Thursday, Oct 24 • Friday, Oct 25
Saturday, Oct 26 • Sunday, Oct 27
Monday, Oct 28 • Tuesday, Oct 29 • Wednesday, Oct 30
Thursday, Oct 31 • Friday, Nov 1
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
The events below are shared as a courtesy. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm date, time, place, age appropriateness, registration requirements, and costs before attending. Read the rest of this entry »
Children’s Literature Supports a Sense of Place through Local Connections
October 14, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: community connections, Literacy, Literature, Sense of Place
Community Resources Support Place-Based Explorations of Children’s Literature
Drawing inspiration from the pages of a favorite picture book, families can embark on place-based studies of children’s literature, local history, and the local landscape.
Thanks to western Massachusetts’ incredibly high concentration of resident children’s authors and illustrators, as well as the many picture books set in the area, the region is chock full of opportunities to engage in place- and community-based studies of exciting and engaging children’s literature.
From landmarks to landscapes, museums to meet-the-author events, families can utilize local resources in order to deepen their understanding of stories, explore the role of the local landscape in specific children’s books, and learn about the methods employed by local authors and illustrators.
HFVS Inspiration Episode with Guest DJ, Jamie Broza (Podcast/Radio Show)
October 12, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families)
Tags: podcast, Radio Show
Listen to Podcast:
Inspiration Episode with Guest DJ, Jamie Broza
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 12 & 13, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
Featured Video: Waters of March
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- Aretha Franklin – Respect
- Pete Seeger – If I Had a Hammer
- Bonnie Raitt – Baby Mine
- Ivor Cutler – Good Morning How Are You
- Jamie Broza – I Want a Dog
- Tom Chapin – Don’t Play with Bruno
- Jamie Broza -Little Sister
- The Beach Boys – Sloop John B
- Jamie Broza – Waters of March
- They Might Be Giants – John Lee Supertaster
- Nora York – What I Want
- Jamie Broza – Stop I Dad You’re Embarrassing Me
- Jamie Broza – I Can’t Go to School Today
- Jack Broza – Contigo En La Distancia
- Otis Redding – Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
[Original broadcast: October 6 & 7, 2018]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Pumpkins to Bats. Felting to Perfumery.
October 11, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Highlights)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Inspiration ♦ Halloween ♦ Trick-Or-Treating ♦ Spiritualism ♦ Pumpkin Festival ♦ Fall Festival ♦ Harvest Festival ♦ Scarecrows ♦ Creative Placemaking ♦ Sense of Place ♦ Nature-Based Learning ♦ Local Habitat ♦ Botany ♦ Outdoor Adventures ♦ Canoeing ♦ Bogs ♦ Herbariums ♦ Zoology ♦ Paleontology ♦ Astronomy ♦ Bats ♦ Dinosaurs ♦ Culinary Arts ♦ Vegetarianism ♦ Local Harvest ♦ Apples ♦ Apple History ♦ Corn ♦ Dairy ♦ Butchery ♦ Craft Fair ♦ Arts & Crafts ♦ Folk Traditions ♦ Blacksmithing ♦ Coopering ♦ Grist Milling ♦ Fiber Arts ♦ Felting ♦ Fashion History ♦ Medicine History ♦ Perfumery ♦ Social Studies ♦ Language Arts ♦ Writing Workshop ♦ Theater Studies ♦ Art Studies ♦ Museum Adventures ♦ Van Gogh ♦ Drama ♦ Surrealism ♦ Telescopes
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, October 12-18, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: October 12-25, 2019
October 10, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Suggested Events)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With over 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.6+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Bulletin Board
Oct 16 – Dec 18
“Sense of Place: Life Reflections Through the Seasons” an autumn writing workshop series with Hilltown Families founder, Sienna Wildfield. Understanding how we are a part of our changing landscape year after year as we move through the seasons strengthens our sense of place. Our experiences of autumn in New England as a child, teenager, young adult, parent, and grandparent are very different. Connecting our stages of life experiences through the seasons give us a better understanding of who we are in relation to where we are in the world. This intergenerational 8-week series will be held every Wed at 6pm at the Senior Center Café in Williamsburg. Classes begin Oct 16 and run through the end of the year. RSVP: 413-268-8407. Cost: $10/class.
Oct 19 & 26
All aboard, paranormal enthusiasts! Berkshire Scenic Railway’s Spirit Trains will be departing North Adams for a lantern-lit walk through Southview Cemetery with psychic medium Julie MacDonald on October 19th & 26th. The 2-hour train ride leaves promptly at 5:30pm from the platform near the Adams Visitor Center. Passengers are advised to dress weather appropriately; reservations required! Tickets can be purchased online at www.berkshiretrains.org. Be sure to check out the many other seasonal train rides offered throughout the year! Board a one-hour, round-trip excursion in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Western MA and learn about the rich railroad history of the region and see the Berkshires from a unique new vantage point.
Oct 20
Lightwire Theater: DINO-LIGHT. Sunday, October 20, 2pm, UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, MA. A famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “absolutely incredible, this glow-in-the-dark adventure has been praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance by audiences all over the world. Family Fest in the lobby starting at 1pm. $15-$35; Youth 17 & Under: $10-$15. Family Pack: $75 (2 adults, 2 youth). @ 1 hour. Appropriate for all ages. More at fineartscenter.com/dinolight or call 800-999-UMAS
Oct 12
Saturday, October 12th 10am to 4pm, come enjoy a family friendly fun-filled fall day at Look Park Pumpkin Festival. Bounce houses, carnival games, pumpkin painting and a great juggling and variety show by Steve Corning! Wristbands for unlimited carnival games and a pumpkin to paint: $10. Individual Tickets: $.50 cents each. Visit www.lookpark.org or call 413-584-5457 for details.
Oct 12
Piti Theatre & PVMA bring the 3rd annual Great Greenfield DinoFest back to the Second Congregational Church, 16 Court Square and Hawks & Reed, 289 Main Street in downtown Greenfield on Saturday, October 12. Blending science, arts, and local dino-themed food, DinoFest 2019 features Piti’s musical “Greenfield’s Grumpiest T-Rex, Episode 2: Very Big Sister Blues” at 11am, a Dino Parade, DinoMovies with Live Music, interactive dino exhibits, games and more. You can even check out some of the local fossil finds and learn more about local paleontology pioneer Dexter Marsh at the Greenfield Historical Society from 2-5pm. Events kick off at 9:30am downtown outside the Second Congregational Church. Admission is free. More at www.ptco.org/dino.
Oct 12 & 27
Amherst Leisure Services 50th Annual Halloween Fest happens on Sunday, October 27th starting at 12noon with downtown trick-or-treating. In addition to providing a family-friendly program and showcasing downtown Amherst, all proceeds raised will be used for youth program scholarships. Halloween Fest 2019 includes traditional Downtown Trick-or-Treat, a Halloween Parade, Live Entertainment, Anniversary Scavenger Hunt and Pharaoh’s Haunted Tomb! Halloween Window Painting happens on Saturday, October 12th from 9am-1pm. Bring the fall festivities to life by painting one of the generously donated windows of a Downtown Amherst business. Register today! $5 per person.
Oct 13
Join OnTrend Crafts for their Fall Craft Fair on Sunday, October 13 at the beautiful Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley, MA. They’ll have 60 the region’s top crafters and makers selling their high-quality handmade goods. You’ll find jewelry, paper goods, wood crafts, housewares, ceramics, knitted apparel, and much more. Free admission; 10am to 4pm. For more information, visit ontrendcrafts.com or email Jennifer at jennifer@ontrendcrafts.com.
Oct 19
Open House: Oct 20 & Dec 8
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
October 12-25, 2019
Saturday, Oct 12 • Sunday, Oct 13
Monday, Oct 14 • Tuesday, Oct 15 • Wednesday, Oct 16
Thursday, Oct 17 • Friday, Oct 18
Saturday, Oct 19 • Sunday, Oct 20
Monday, Oct 21 • Tuesday, Oct 22 • Wednesday, Oct 23
Thursday, Oct 24 • Friday, Oct 25
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
The events below are shared as a courtesy. While we do our best to share accurate and up-to-date information, please take the time to confirm date, time, place, age appropriateness, registration requirements, and costs before attending. Read the rest of this entry »
Halloween Inspired Hands-On Science Ideas
October 9, 2019 at 3:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: Halloween, self-directed learning, STEM
In the spirit of the creepy, gruesome, and vaguely terrifying elements of the Halloween season, why not engage in some similarly creepy, gruesome, and relatively terror-free hands-on science experiments! From candy chromatography and glowing drinkables to flying ghosts and gooey eyeballs, click here for 8 Halloween science ideas which connect to numerous science concepts and promote hands-on learning.
Value of Boredom & Self-Directed Play
October 7, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: boredom, Creative Free Play, Creativity
Benefits of Boredom
There is great value to letting our kids be bored! Read more in our post about boredom. But can boredom benefit adults too? You betcha! Find out about the benefits of being bored:
Boredom leads to great imagination! We have a couple of columns that have great ideas for generating both facilitated and self-directed play. Check out these posts:
HFVS Intro to the History of Rock Episode with Guest DJs, Ari & Ezra from The Oot n’ Oots (Podcast/Radio Show)
October 5, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast)
Tags: podcast, Radio Show
Listen to Podcast:
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
October 5th & 6th, 2019
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.
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- Little Richard – “Tutti Frutti” [Single]
- Chuck Berry – “Roll Over Beethoven” [Chuck Berry Is on Top]
- Wanda Jackson – “Let’s Have a Party” [Wanda Jackson]
- The Coasters – “Charlie Brown” [Single]
- The Oot n’ Oots – “Little Sammy Davis” [Electric Jellyfish Boogaloo]
- The Beatles – “I Want to Hold Your Hand” [Meet the Beatles!]
- The Kinks – “Picture Book” [The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society]
- Aretha Franklin – “Respect” [I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You]
- The Byrds – “Mr. Tamborine Man” [Mr. Tamborine Man]
- The Oot n’ Oots – “Where the Purple Geese Fly” [Electric Jellyfish Boogaloo]
- Carole King – “Beautiful” [Tapestry]
- David Bowie – “Starman” [The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars]
- The Oot n’ Oots – “I Like It Saucy” [Electric Jellyfish Boogaloo]
- Stevie Wonder – “Sir Duke” [Songs in the Key of Life]
- Ramones – “Sheena Is a Punk Rocker” [Rocket to Russia]
- The Oot n’ Oots – “Animal Sounds” [Electric Jellyfish Boogaloo]
- The B-52’s – “Rock Lobster” [The B-52’s]
[Original broadcast: 9/29/18]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Potatoes to Poetry. Sign Language to Fiber Optics.
October 4, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Fashion History ♦ Music History ♦ Rock & Roll ♦ Afro Cuban ♦ Jazz ♦ Piano ♦ Theater Studies ♦ Art Studies ♦ Post-Impressionism ♦ Figure Drawing ♦ Surrealism ♦ Drama ♦ Art Installation ♦ Picture Book Art ♦ Art Museum ♦ Nature-Based Learning ♦ Zoology ♦ Entomology ♦ Bats ♦ Squirrels ♦ Pollinators ♦ Beekeeping ♦ Homeschool ♦ Science Museum ♦ Fiber Optics ♦ Geology ♦ Paranormal ♦ Anthropology ♦ Language Arts ♦ Sign Language ♦ Poetry ♦ Writing Club ♦ Open Mic ♦ Upcycling ♦ Skillsharing ♦ Folk Traditions ♦ Tinsmithing ♦ Letterpress Printing ♦ Broom Making ♦ Scarecrows ♦ Rural Culture ♦ Urban Culture ♦ Rural Heritage ♦ Fall Harvest ♦ Fall Festival ♦ Autumn Parade ♦ Food Culture ♦ Food Tradition ♦ Potatoes ♦ Pudding ♦ Pumpkin Pie ♦ Vegetarian Cooking ♦ Wine & Cheese
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, October 5-11, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: October 5-18, 2019
October 3, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Suggested Events)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With over 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.6+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Bulletin Board
Open House Oct 5
Come to Oak Meadow’s Open House Party on October 5 from 11am-1pm in Brattleboro, VT! Learn about their flexible, progressive homeschooling curriculum and distance learning school for grades K to 12. Speak with teachers, browse curriculum materials, and network with other families. Crafts and activities for students of all ages. Free and open to anyone interested in learning more about independent learning. For more info, visit oakmeadow.com/open-house.
Field Trips
Expand your classroom at the Springfield Museums. With 5 museums to mine for information and activities, the Springfield Museums does what few others can—combine art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss into fun-filled, engaging experiences that reinforce critical thinking & observation skills through inquiry-based learning. The Museums offer a broad range of school programs for all grades and interest levels, and all programs link directly to the MA State Curriculum Frameworks and help students prepare for standardized testing. Learn more at SpringfieldMuseums.org/groups/school. Fall Field Trip Discount: Visit between Oct 1 & Dec 31 for $1 off per student when booking 2+ programs. Contact 413-263-6800 x322 or fieldtrips@springfieldmuseums.org.
Oct 16 – Dec 18
“Sense of Place: Life Reflections Through the Seasons” an autumn writing workshop series with Hilltown Families founder, Sienna Wildfield. Understanding how we are a part of our changing landscape year after year as we move through the seasons strengthens our sense of place. Our experiences of autumn in New England as a child, teenager, young adult, parent, and grandparent are very different. Connecting our stages of life experiences through the seasons give us a better understanding of who we are in relation to where we are in the world. This intergenerational 8-week series will be held every Wed at 6pm at the Senior Center Café in Williamsburg. Classes begin Oct 16 and run through the end of the year. RSVP: 413-268-8407. Cost: $10/class.
Oct 20
Lightwire Theater: DINO-LIGHT. Sunday, October 20, 2pm, UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall in Amherst, MA. A famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “absolutely incredible, this glow-in-the-dark adventure has been praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance by audiences all over the world. Family Fest in the lobby starting at 1pm. $15-$35; Youth 17 & Under: $10-$15. Family Pack: $75 (2 adults, 2 youth). @ 1 hour. Appropriate for all ages. More at fineartscenter.com/dinolight or call 800-999-UMAS
Oct 12
Oct 12 & 27
Oct 13
Oct 19
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
October 5-18, 2019
Saturday, Oct 5 • Sunday, Oct 6
Monday, Oct 7 • Tuesday, Oct 8 • Wednesday, Oct 9
Thursday, Oct 10 • Friday, Oct 11
Saturday, Oct 12 • Sunday, Oct 13
Monday, Oct 14 • Tuesday, Oct 15 • Wednesday, Oct 16
Thursday, Oct 17 • Friday, Oct 18
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
Studies on Screen: Community-Based Resources for Film Studies
September 30, 2019 at 10:00 am (Hilltown Families)
Tags: film studies
Studies on Screen: Community-Based Resources for Film Studies
Throughout the year, those interested in the art and technique of film-making can support their interests through intergenerational community-based educational resources and events, including libraries, online resources, local non-profit organizations, independent cinemas, and annual events catering to a variety of ages and interests. All community-based educational opportunities encourage appreciation of the creative process behind the making of films and the use of film to support learning. Read the rest of this entry »
HFVS Good Fortune Episode with Guest DJ, Dave Kinnoin (Radio Show/Podcast)
September 28, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast)
Tags: Dave Kinnoin, Good Fortune, Grin Brigade, Law of Attraction
Listen to Podcast:
HFVS Good Fortune Episode with Guest DJ,
Dave Kinnoin from Grin Brigade (Radio Show/Podcast)
In this episode, join HFVS Guest DJ, Dave Kinnoin from Grin Brigade for a show about good fortune. Listen to songs about things you like that you have some control over, and other things that are just plain lucky. Along the way, you’ll hear a few Spanish words which you may or may not know, think about what you can and can’t be, get tips on getting a high-paying job, mix some concrete, and eat a delicious taco. We’ll explore ways of being kind and generous that lead to wonderful feelings … good fortune, indeed.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am
September 28th & 29th, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
FEATURED VIDEO: “Dog Alphabet Song” by Grin Brigade
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- Grin Brigade – “Just Like Magic” [All I Do Is Hop] featuring Randy Sharp
- Kare Strong and Josh Goforth – “The Happy Groundhog” [Beneath the Cherry Tree]
- Jonathan Sprout – “Chocolate King” [American Heroes #3]
- Sarah Goslee Reed – “Garden of Plenty” [Plenty]
- Grin Brigade – “High-Paying Job” [All I do Is Hop] featuring Dave Kinnoin
- Nathalia – “Baila Conmigo” [En La Radio]
- Craig N’ Company – “Every Little Bit” [My Jewish Discovery]
- Grin Brigade – “What Can’t Be” [All I Do Is Hop] featuring Oliver Kinnoin
- Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could – “Under the Big Umbrella” [Under the Big Umbrella]
- Tracy Newman – “Did You Ever Once Feel Like I Feel?” [I Can Swing Forever]
- The Lucky Band- “Taco Tuesday” [Buenos Diaz] featuring Lucky Diaz
- Kare Strong and Josh Goforth – “The Family Over the Hill” [Rivers of Love]
- Grin Brigade – “Mi Pelota” [All I Do Is Hop] featuring Melanie Browoleit
Learn Local. Play Local.: Basket Making to Scarecrows. Contra Dancing to Japanese Storytelling.
September 27, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Folk Music ♦ Contra Dancing ♦ Theater Studies ♦ Historical Comedy ♦ Experiential Theater ♦ Japanese Theater ♦ Japanese Storytelling ♦ Bullet Journaling ♦ Textile History ♦ Women’s History ♦ Fashion History ♦ Local Heritage ♦ Trolley Festival ♦ Country Fair ♦ Local Agriculture ♦ Food Traditions ♦ Shaker Heritage ♦ Puerto Rican Food Traditions ♦ Folk Traditions ♦ Culinary Traditions ♦ Pies ♦ Silversmithing ♦ Stoneware Pottery ♦ Basket Making ♦ Scarecrows ♦ Local Harvest ♦ Seed Saving ♦ Apple Picking ♦ Garlic ♦ Corn Maze ♦ Botany ♦ Herbalism ♦ Natural History ♦ Geography ♦ River Clean Up ♦ Citizen Science ♦ Biology ♦ Zoology ♦ Animal Studies ♦ Hawk Migration ♦ Bears ♦ Reptiles ♦ Food Security ♦ Community Meal ♦ Charity Bike Ride ♦ Parent’s Night Out ♦ Arts Night Out ♦ Parenting Workshop ♦ STEM ♦ 5K ♦ Art Studies ♦ Drawing ♦ Installation Art ♦ Rural Placemaking ♦ Urban Placemaking ♦ Outdoor Film ♦ Civics
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, September 28 – October 4, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: September 28-October 11, 2019
September 26, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Suggested Activity, Suggested Events)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With over 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.6+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Class Directory
More Information. | Reserve a spot. | Submit your listing.
Bulletin Board
Open House Oct 5
Come to Oak Meadow’s Open House Party on October 5 from 11am-1pm in Brattleboro, VT! Learn about their flexible, progressive homeschooling curriculum and distance learning school for grades K to 12. Speak with teachers, browse curriculum materials, and network with other families. Crafts and activities for students of all ages. Free and open to anyone interested in learning more about independent learning. For more info, visit oakmeadow.com/open-house.
Field Trips
Expand your classroom at the Springfield Museums. With 5 museums to mine for information and activities, the Springfield Museums does what few others can—combine art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss into fun-filled, engaging experiences that reinforce critical thinking & observation skills through inquiry-based learning. The Museums offer a broad range of school programs for all grades and interest levels, and all programs link directly to the MA State Curriculum Frameworks and help students prepare for standardized testing. Learn more at SpringfieldMuseums.org/groups/school. Fall Field Trip Discount: Visit between Oct 1 & Dec 31 for $1 off per student when booking 2+ programs. Contact 413-263-6800 x322 or fieldtrips@springfieldmuseums.org.
Oct 16 – Dec 18
“Sense of Place: Life Reflections Through the Seasons” an autumn writing workshop series with Hilltown Families founder, Sienna Wildfield. Understanding how we are a part of our changing landscape year after year as we move through the seasons strengthens our sense of place. Our experiences of autumn in New England as a child, teenager, young adult, parent, and grandparent are very different. Connecting our stages of life experiences through the seasons give us a better understanding of who we are in relation to where we are in the world. This intergenerational 8-week series will be held every Wed at 6pm at the Senior Center Café in Williamsburg. Best for lifelong learners & self-directed teens. Classes begin Oct 16 and run through the end of the year. RSVP: 413-268-8407. Cost: $10/class.
Sep 28
The second annual Arcadia Folk Festival returns on September 28th with Dar Williams, Anaïs Mitchell, Martin Sexton, and many more! This outdoor fall musical event will bring the community together around music in the heart of the Pioneer Valley to celebrate 75 years of Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Little Roots and The Mammals will perform music for the entire family. There will be nature activities, nature arts and craft projects, and a nature walk just for kids. The festival will also feature the best in local food vendors and Makers Market craft vendors making work inspired by nature or environmentally friendly / up-cycled art. Kids 10 and under are free! Tickets: www.arcadiafolkfest.com.
Sep 28 & 29
The 21st Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is the weekend of September 28 & 29, 10am-5pm in Orange, MA! There’s something for everyone at this fabulous family destination on a beautiful farm. Over 100 booths are vibrant with local artists, farmers, fabulous food, chef demos, and skills for local living. Enjoy amazing music, performance, spoken word, and dance on three stages — art and environmental activities for all ages. Admission is good for the weekend! Adults: $10; Students, Seniors, EBT cardholders $5; Kids 12 and under free. Visit www.garlicandarts.org for travel/parking info and full program; follow enjoyable festival updates daily on Facebook!
Fall Sales
Shop local and smart! There’s still time to stock up and save at River Valley Co-op this Fall during their amazing sale events. Get huge deals on full case discounts and more. September 18-October 1, Squirrel Away Savings: Great deals on items perfect for the pantry or freezer. Stock up and enjoy them for months to come! For information on these amazing sales and more, visit River Valley Co-op online at www.rivervalley.coop or call 413-584-2665. Or better yet, stop by! Open from 8am-10pm. River Valley Co-op is located at 330 North King St. in Northampton.
Oct 12
Oct 13
Oct 19
Experience the very best with a YMCA in Greenfield Family Membership. When you and your family become members of the YMCA in Greenfield, you become part of Y family; full of caring members and dedicated, supportive staff. Your membership represents an investment in your family, as well as the mission of our Y; as they Y seeks to serve both members and the community, by enhancing the quality of life in Franklin County. Find your healthy – find your community – find yourself – at your YMCA in Greenfield. Free ChildWatch for ages 8 week-7 years. Free Game Room fun for children ages 6+. Fun Family events on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons at no extra cost. Free Dodgeball & Floor Hockey for ages 6-10. Discounts on summer camps, classes, and more! 413-773-3646. info@ymcaingreenfield.org. ymcaingreenfield.org.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
September 28 – October 11, 2019
Saturday, Sept 28 • Sunday, Sept 29
Monday, Sept 30 • Tuesday, Oct 1 • Wednesday, Oct 2
Thursday, Oct 3 • Friday, Oct 4
Saturday, Oct 5 • Sunday, Oct 6
Monday, Oct 7 • Tuesday, Oct 8 • Wednesday, Oct 9
Thursday, Oct 10 • Friday, Oct 11
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
CBEdu Resource: Native Trees & Forests
September 23, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: Dendrology, Forest Bathing, Native Species, Trees
Understanding our Native Tree Species
German author Peter Wohlleben’s recent book The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate has sold more than 800,000 copies in Germany and is now on the best-seller list in the United States and elsewhere. Wohlleben’s book is popularizing revolutionary new scientific research demonstrating conclusively that trees communicate with each other. Through what some scientists are calling the ‘wood wide web,’ intricate underground fungal networks that connect them, trees actually exist in colonies, which share a collective intelligence, like ants. The fungi, which grow from the tiny tips of tree roots, consume around 30 percent of the sugars that trees gather through photosynthesis, almost like a form of payment. This fungal communication system is vital to the survival of many younger trees, particularly in the darkness of the deep forest. Without access to rain and sunshine, these trees are actually supported by the rest of the colony, by transferring much-needed sugars to the youngsters through the fungal network.
Want to experience the forests and trees here in Western MA? Check out our list of places to discover in your community with friends, family, or on your own, in our post, Self-Guided Hikes in Western Massachusetts.
HFVS Transportation Episode with Guest DJ, Camille Harris. (Radio Show/Podcast)
September 21, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast)
Tags: Camille Harris, transportation
Listen to Podcast:
HFVS Transportation Episode
with Guest DJ, Camille Harris.
Musician and comedian, Camille Harris, explores the word “transportation” and the various ways in which we move around the world each day. Songs and stories about cars, buses, trains, trolleys, planes, rockets, and subways are all featured in this fun educational episode.
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am
September 21st & 22nd, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
FEATURED VIDEO: “Baby on the Subway” by Camille Harris.
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- Camille Harris – “Wheels on the Bus” [Baby on the Subway]
- Camille Harris – “Baby on the Subway” [Baby on the Subway]
- Judy Garland – “The Trolly Song” [Meet Me in St. Louis]
- The Who – “Magic Bus” [Magic Bus: The Who on Tour]
- Gladys Knight and the Pips – “Midnight Train to Georgia” [Imagination]
- Ozzy Ozbourne – “Crazy Train” [Blizzard of Oz]
- Camille Harris – “Get Up and Try Again” [Baby on the Subway]
- Queen – “Bicycle Race” [Jazz]
- Peter, Paul, and Mary – “Leaving on a Jet Plane” [Album 1700]
- Julie London – “Fly Me to the Moon” [The End of the World]
- Elton John – “Rocketman” [Honky Château]
- Dick Van Dyke – “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” [Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]
- The Beach Boys – “Little Deuce Coupe” [Little Deuce Coupe]
- The Beatles – “Baby You Can Drive My Car” [Rubber Soul]
- Camille Harris – “Jiggly Wiggly” [Baby on the Subway]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Homesteading to Skillsharing. Bread Festival to Science Cafe.
September 20, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Transportation ♦ Bike Riding ♦ Boat Cruise ♦ Kayaking ♦ Trains ♦ Robotics ♦ Food Chemistry ♦ Science Cafe ♦ Permaculture ♦ Forest Bathing ♦ Native Fauna ♦ Entomology ♦ Geology ♦ Local Heritage ♦ Agricultural Fair ♦ Autumn Equinox ♦ Rosh Hashanah ♦ Social Justice ♦ Museum Adventures ♦ Film Studies ♦ Music Studies ♦ Grassroots Music ♦ Arabic Music ♦ Art Installation ♦ Language Arts ♦ Poetry ♦ Word Games ♦ Story Hour ♦ Bread Festival ♦ Harvest Festival ♦ Apple Festival ♦ Apple Harvest ♦ Apple Picking ♦ Agricultural Heritage ♦ Corn Maze ♦ Nutritional Anthropology ♦ Fermentation ♦ Guided Tours ♦ Homesteading ♦ Colonial History ♦ Folk Traditions ♦ Butter Making ♦ Seed Saving ♦ Skillsharing ♦ Citizen Science ♦ Sustainability ♦ Silk ♦ Fashion History ♦ Fiber Arts
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, September 21-27, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: September 21-October 4, 2019
September 19, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.5+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Class Directory
More Information. | Reserve a spot. | Submit your listing.
Bulletin Board
Sep 21 & 22
Celebrate farm life & homesteading at the Homestead Harvest Festival on Sept. 21 & 22 from 10am-4pm at the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington. This 2-day event is a fun celebration of local agricultural traditions! Children’s farm and garden activities, live music, artisan vendors, special talks and presentations, pony rides, draft horse demonstrations, and more. Picnic on the grounds and soak in the beautiful views surrounding this 19th-century farmstead. Check out their tentative event schedule for the weekend. Activities include butter making, apple press, seed saving, cooking demos, food preservation, hayrides, artisan market and many others. Cost: Member Adult: $9; Member Child: $3; Nonmember Adult: $15; Nonmember Child: $6.
Field Trips
Expand your classroom at the Springfield Museums. With 5 museums to mine for information and activities, the Springfield Museums does what few others can—combine art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss into fun-filled, engaging experiences that reinforce critical thinking & observation skills through inquiry-based learning. The Museums offer a broad range of school programs for all grades and interest levels, and all programs link directly to the MA State Curriculum Frameworks and help students prepare for standardized testing. Learn more at SpringfieldMuseums.org/groups/school. Fall Field Trip Discount: Visit between Oct 1 & Dec 31 for $1 off per student when booking 2+ programs. Contact 413-263-6800 x322 or fieldtrips@springfieldmuseums.org.
Sep 19-22
Discover the fun of poetry during the 7th Annual Amherst Poetry Festival! The Festival features family-friendly readings and workshops around Amherst from September 19-22. Workshops include “Drawing Poems and Writing Pictures: A Workshop for Children and Adults” and “Calling All Poets!” a workshop for writers of all ages who wish to spend an afternoon writing poetry in Emily Dickinson’s garden. Advance registration for some of these events is strongly suggested. Visit their website for more information and to register for these and other events: www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org.
Sept 28
Sep 28 & 29
Nonotuck Community School is accepting applications for children 15 mos. to 5 years for a September start date in their 12-month program. Open from 7:30am-5:30pm and located in Northampton, Nonotuck has well-appointed classrooms, daily access to indoor and outdoor play spaces an art studio, yoga instruction, Kaboom! Imagination Play equipment, gardening & more. The curriculum is play-based and impaired by progressive early childhood education theory. A parent cooperative, Nonotuck emphasizes community, emotional intelligence, and resilience, and provides ample opportunities for cognitive, artistic, social, emotional, and physical development throughout the school day. Contact info@nonotuck.org, 413-586-5996, or online at www.nonotuck.org.
Fall Sales
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
September 21 – October 4, 2019
Saturday, Sept 21 • Sunday, Sept 22
Monday, Sept 23 • Tuesday, Sept 24 • Wednesday, Sept 25
Thursday, Sept 26 • Friday, Sept 27
Saturday, Sept 28 • Sunday, Sept 29
Monday, Sept 30 • Tuesday, Oct 1 • Wednesday, Oct 2
Thursday, Oct 3 • Friday, Oct 4
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
Discover Fine Art: Legendary & Local
September 16, 2019 at 12:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: Art Studies, Fine Art
Legendary Artists Spark Interests in Local Art in Western MA
Gustav Klimt is one of the most significant figures of the Symbolist movement and created some of the most recognizable paintings of the fin de siecle in Central Europe, especially his sumptuous golden 1907 piece “The Kiss.” Something of an eccentric, Klimt wore nothing but long, flowing robes when he worked and his studio was filled with cats. In an ill-advised experiment, Klimt covered his sketchbook with cat urine, believing that it would act as a fixative. It did not, and the stinking sketchbook was literally and figuratively “consigned to the dustbin of history.” Want to learn more about Gustav Klimt? Here is a brief introduction to Gustav Klimt’s life and some of his paintings:
Want to learn more about fine art and amazing artists via local resources? Check out our post, Local Resources Support Community-Based Studies of Art, for opportunities to support your interests and education in art!
HFVS Hispanic Heritage Month Episode with Guest DJs, Andrés and Christina (Radio Show/Podcast)
September 15, 2019 at 8:00 am (Family Radio Show, Hilltown Family Variety Show, podcast)
Tags: Lisa Loeb
Listen to Podcast:
HFVS Hispanic Heritage Month Episode with Guest DJs, Andrés and Christina
What does it mean to be bilingual? Can songs help us learn a new language? Andrés and Christina from 123 Andrés are guest DJs for this episode, and they are tell us about the languages they speak and we get to hear some of the songs that helped them learn!
Saturday from 9-10am & Sunday from 7-8am
September 14th & 15th, 2019
WXOJ LP – 103.3 FM – Valley Free Radio
Northampton, MA
FEATURED VIDEO: ¡Salta, Salta! | música infantil | movimiento para la familia | Ganador del Latin Grammy 123 Andrés
Archived Podcasts ♦ Radio ♦ Facebook ♦ Twitter
Listen to Podcast:
PLAYLIST
- 123 Andrés – “¡Salta, Salta!” [¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! en español y en inglés]
- Palavra Cantada – “Sopa” – [Vamos Brincar]
- Papaoutai – Stromae – [Racine carrée]
- Ronda de las Vocales – “Canticuentos” [Los 60 Mejores Canticuentos]
- Kermit the Frog and Ladysmith Black Mambazo – “African Alphabet” [Sesame Street: Lyrical Letters]
- 123 Andrés – “El abecedario” [Canta las Letras]
- Leonor Gonzalez Mina – “Yo me llamo Cumbia” [Lo Mejor de Mi Vida]
- BBC English By Radio – “Ernest the Elephant” [Inglés Junior]
- Emmanuel – “Toda la Vida” [Emmanuel: 20 Exitos Originales]
- Queen – “We Will Rock You” [The Platinum Collection (Greatest Hits I, II & III)]
- 123 Andrés – “My friend Manuel” [¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! en español y en inglés]
- Cher – “Believe” [Believe]
- José Feliciano – “Feliz Navidad” [FELIZ NAVIDAD]
- Elmo and Romeo Santos – “Quiero Ser Tu Amigo” [The Best of Elmo 3]
- 123 Andrés – “Hola Amigo” [¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! en español y en inglés]
Learn Local. Play Local.: Block Party to Poetry Festival. Chili Peppers to Pollinators.
September 13, 2019 at 4:00 pm (Hilltown Families)
Tags: CBEdu, Community Based Education, Community Development, Experiential Learning, Lifelong Learning, Personalized Learning, place-based education, Placemaking, self-directed learning, Sense of Place
Community-Based Education Highlights
for Western Massachusetts
Hispanic Heritage Month ♦ Puerto Rican Parade ♦ Mardi Gras Parade ♦ Rural Heritage ♦ Harvest Festival ♦ Agricultural Fair ♦ Local Heritage ♦ Guided Tours ♦ Historical Museum ♦ Textile History ♦ Industrial History ♦ Fashion History ♦ Cooking for Teens ♦ Colonial Cooking ♦ Farm Festival ♦ Rosh Hashanah ♦ Apple Picking ♦ Corn Maze ♦ Chili Peppers ♦ Hawk Migration ♦ Monarch Butterflies ♦ Tagging Butterflies ♦ Bioblitz ♦ Silk Worms ♦ Pollinators ♦ Dinosaurs ♦ Citizen Science ♦ Biology ♦ Astronomy ♦ Textiles ♦ Community Gathering ♦ Block Party ♦ Community Meal ♦ Creative Free-Play ♦ Safety ♦ Language Arts ♦ Rural Public Art ♦ Experiential Art ♦ Pop Culture ♦ Poetry ♦ Date Night ♦ Parenting Workshop ♦ Film Studies ♦ Music Studies ♦ Family Podcast ♦ Cajun Music ♦ Grassroots Music ♦ Kirtan ♦ Canoeing
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, September 14-20, 2019. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥ Want to have our highlights and spotlights delivered to your inbox every Thursday? Click here to subscribe!
Learn Local. Play Local. is supported in part by a grant from the Agawam, Buckland, Deerfield, Gill, Hadley, New Salem, Plainfield, Shelburne Southampton, Tolland, and Westhampton Cultural Councils, local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
100+ Suggested Events in Western MA: September 14-27, 2019
September 12, 2019 at 6:00 am (Hilltown Families, Suggested Events)
Tags: Community Based Education, Family Activities, Family Events, Hilltowns, Massachusetts, New England, Pioneer Valley, place-based education, Things to do in Western Massachusetts, Western MA, western massachusetts
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.” Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families continues to support the development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, farms, individuals, schools, and non-profit organizations are invited to collaborate with Hilltown Families in their community outreach. With 9,000 opt-in subscribers and 2.5+ million visits to our web site alone, Hilltown Families can deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out about our affordable advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by contacting us at info@hilltownfamilies.org… and scroll down to discover community-based educational events and community building opportunities happening this weekend and next week in Western MA!
SUBSCRIBE to our eNewsletter to stay up-to-date!
Class Directory
More Information. | Reserve a spot. | Submit your listing.
Bulletin Board
Play School
The Bloom Family Center is a unique childcare and early education environment in Northampton, MA. Their inclusive Play School program provides working parents flexible drop-in childcare for all ages. Bloom’s approach includes low child to caregiver ratios and a gentle play-to-learn model that reflects Montessori, Waldorf, and attachment parenting styles, integrating a natural learning curriculum designed to encourage and support skill-building, cooperation, and empathy across all age tiers. To schedule a tour or claim a free day pass, call 413-341-2184 or email familycenter@thebloomcommunity.org. For more information, visit online at www.thebloomcommunity.org. All September 2019 signups get 30% off their first month’s membership fees!
Field Trips
Expand your classroom at the Springfield Museums. With 5 museums to mine for information and activities, the Springfield Museums does what few others can—combine art, history, science, and Dr. Seuss into fun-filled, engaging experiences that reinforce critical thinking & observation skills through inquiry-based learning. The Museums offer a broad range of school programs for all grades and interest levels, and all programs link directly to the MA State Curriculum Frameworks and help students prepare for standardized testing. Learn more at SpringfieldMuseums.org/groups/school. Fall Field Trip Discount: Visit between Oct 1 & Dec 31 for $1 off per student when booking 2+ programs. Contact 413-263-6800 x322 or fieldtrips@springfieldmuseums.org.
Nonotuck Community School is accepting applications for children 15 mos. to 5 years for a September start date in their 12-month program. Open from 7:30am-5:30pm and located in Northampton, Nonotuck has well-appointed classrooms, daily access to indoor and outdoor play spaces an art studio, yoga instruction, Kaboom! Imagination Play equipment, gardening & more. The curriculum is play-based and impaired by progressive early childhood education theory. A parent cooperative, Nonotuck emphasizes community, emotional intelligence, and resilience, and provides ample opportunities for cognitive, artistic, social, emotional, and physical development throughout the school day. Contact info@nonotuck.org, 413-586-5996, or online at www.nonotuck.org.
Fall Sales
Sep 14
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment invites the community to Pollinator Celebration Day on Saturday, Sept 14, 10am-2pm in Amherst. Family activities include face painting, a pollinator scavenger hunt, and a monarch migration obstacle course. See live butterflies from Magic Wings. Learn how to tag monarchs, as a citizen scientist. Make pennants and streamers, or bring your own pollinator costume for marching in the pollinator parade! Learn from Western Mass Pollinator Network how to make gardens friendly to pollinators and take home milkweed seeds! Bring a picnic, buy a Crooked Stick pop, and stay for the whole event. Rain or shine. For schedule & tickets, visit www.hitchcockcenter.org or call 413-256-6006. Sponsored by Shumway Services.
Sep 14 & 15
The Pioneer Valley’s hottest farm festival is back! Kitchen Garden Farm’s annual Chilifest is a celebration of hot peppers and all things spicy on Saturday, September 14th & Sunday, September 15th from 12noon-5pm at Mike’s Maze in Sunderland, MA. Enjoy great live music, local brews, and spicy food all weekend long! Try some of the world’s hottest peppers grown right here in Sunderland. Taste and vote in the Chili Cook-Off Saturday and Hot Sauce Competition Suhttps://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48624620286_4653d3cfc4_m.jpgnday, and check out the new Hot Sauce Alley featuring local hot sauce makers. Plus, chef demos, DIY pickles and button making, chili crowns and pepper pops, and fun for all ages. Tickets and the full schedule of events at kitchengardenfarm.com/chilifest.
Sep 19
The 8th Annual Celebrate Amherst Block Party returns to downtown Amherst on Thursday, September 19 from 5-9pm. This free, fun street party features something for young & old. Two stages of music, acrobats on the high wire, demonstrations, and fun activities presented by downtown businesses & community groups, including the Poetry Vending Machine at the Emily Dickinson Museum table. Shoot hoops with athletes from UMass and Amherst College Basketball Teams. Marvel at the incredible acrobats in the air and on the ground. Sample delicious food from downtown restaurants & cafes set up along the street. The Amherst Block Party is a great event for the whole family to enjoy while welcoming in the fall. For more info, visit www.amherstdowntown.com.
Sep 19-22
Sep 28
CyclePottery Wheel Throwing and Handbuilding Classes. Florence, MA ♦ Kids, Teens, and Adults! Join new friends and neighbors this Fall for Wheel Throwing and Hand Building classes at CyclePottery, beginning the second week in September. Fall/Winter session starts in late October. All levels of instruction are offered. Holiday & Vacation Workshops, Weekend Workshops, Private Lessons, Birthday Parties, Friends’ Night Out, and Cycle Sampler Classes are all offered throughout the year and upon request. For more information, visit their website or on Instagram: @CyclePottery. For questions and inquiries, send an email to cyclepottery01062@gmail.com. 413-333-8893. www.cyclepottery.com.
Barrington Stage Company. Pittsfield, MA. ♦ The Barrington Stage Company Education Department mission is to awaken the minds, imaginations, and creative power of children, teenagers, and young adults by providing opportunities to experience the joy of live theatre as performers, writers, technicians, and audience members. KidsAct! & TeensAct! are summer camps for ages 7–14 to create new musical plays. KidsAct! Jr. is in the fall and spring for ages 4–6. Auditions for Youth Theatre are in January, which extends the professionalism of an Equity production to local youth, 13-19, with performances in summer. The renowned Playwright Mentoring Project starts in October, for local young people, 13–19, to create plays based on their lives. More info: barringtonstageco.org/education-bsc
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
September 14-27, 2019
Saturday, Sept 14 • Sunday, Sept 15
Monday, Sept 16 • Tuesday, Sept 17 • Wednesday, Sept 18
Thursday, Sept 19 • Friday, Sept 20
Saturday, Sept 21 • Sunday, Sept 22
Monday, Sept 23 • Tuesday, Sept 24 • Wednesday, Sept 25
Thursday, Sept 26 • Friday, Sept 27
Subscribe to Our Weekly eNewsletter ♦ Advertising & Partnership Opportunities
Class Directory ♦ Preschool Directory ♦ Birthday Party Venue Directory
Cultural Itineraries ♦ Museum Passes ♦ Farmers’ Markets ♦ Storyhour & Playgroups
Suggest an Event ♦ en Español
