Learning through the lens of our community not only supports interests and education, but it also strengthens a sense of place. This feeling of connection to where you live and the places you visit is vital to creating sustainable and resilient communities. In this TEDx Talk, Supporting Education Through Community Engagement, Hilltown Families Founder, Sienna Wildfield, shares the story of the history and mission of Hilltown Families.
During a time when families are being asked to practice social distancing, and curriculum-based learning is online, community-based resources accessible to everyone can also help families support their children’s education through nature-based experiential learning. A few things to highlight:
Food, habitat, and heritage are useful points of entry when looking for community resources to support learning.
Suitable nature-based resources include wildlife sanctuaries, conservation properties, native species, and local weather.
Nature-based resources can support a wide variety of interests, including local history & natural history, map skills & geography, botany & zoology, and phenology & scientific study.
The trick to benefiting from these learning opportunities is to be curious, ask questions, and to follow your interests. Read the rest of this entry »
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, March 14-20, 2020. Click through, peruse our list, and make plans to get out into your community and learn while you play! ♥
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These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, March 7-13, 2020. 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!
Want to have your event or resource featured on Hilltown Families? Click here to inquire.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, February 29-March 6, 2020. 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!
Want to have your event or resource featured on Hilltown Families? Click here to inquire.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, February 22-28, 2020. 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!
Want to have your event or resource featured on Hilltown Families? Click here to inquire.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, February 15-21, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, February 8-14, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, February 1-7, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, January 25-31, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, January 18-24, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, January 11-17, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, January 4-10, 2020. 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!
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, December 28, 2019 – January 3, 2020. 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, December 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, December 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, December 7-13, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, November 30-December 6, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, November 23-29, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, November 16-22, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, November 9-15, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, November 2-8, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, September 7-13, 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.
These are just a few of the community-based education (CBEdu) highlights we featured this week in our eNewsletter for the week, Aug 31-Sept 6, 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.
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Since 2005, Hilltown Families has been sharing local resources, events, and opportunities with families across Western MA to support their interests and education through community engagement. Check out our special offerings for folks who support us through Patreon:
“Hilltown Families is a newfound little gem that helps connect my bigger city family to our hilltown minds. What a wonderful surprise to find this site!” – Wesley J. (Chicopee, MA)
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.
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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.
