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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS |
ADULT PROGRAMS
- Monarch Butterfly Tagging
- Qi, Nature's Energy All Around Us
- Tricks Traps and Goo: Using Nature's Tools to Grow an Orchard
- The Natural History of Massachusetts: A Course for Teachers
- Herb Walk: Wild Plants and their Roles as Medicines and Foods
- Nature's Art and You: Pastels
- An Evening Insect Walk
- QiGong, Nature's Energy and You
- A Small Dose of Toxicology: How Chemicals Affect your Health
- Fall Birding Trip: Plum Island Region
- The 6th Annual Larch Hill English Style X-Country Classic
- Falconry Up Close
- PV Primer
- Three Cs at Three Colleges: Carbon, Cogeneration, and Conservation
- Energy Investigations in Schools
- The Tightest House We've Ever Seen: Green House Tour
CHILDREN AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
- Nature Play Afterschool (Ages 6-9)
- Hitchcock Homeschool: The "Ology" of "Ologists" (Ages 6-8)
- Hitchcock Homeschool: Geology -- How Was the Earth Made? (Ages 8-11)
- Monarch Butterfly Tagging
- Nature Discovery Preschool: A Tree and Me (Ages 3-5)
- Pumpkin Carving Night
- Enchanted Forest: Who's Around Underground -- A Non-Scary Halloween Event
- Falconry Up Close (Ages 8 and Up)
ADULT PROGRAMS
MONARCH BUTTERFLY TAGGING
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QI, NATURE'S ENERGY ALL AROUND US
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TRICKS, TRAPS AND GOO: USING NATURE'S TOOLS TO
GROW AN ORCHARD
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THE NATURAL HISTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS: A COURSE FOR
TEACHERS
Jennifer Unkles
Tuesday, September 14, 4-5:30 p.m. at the Hitchcock Center
Sunday,
September 19, 1-2 p.m. at Mount Pollux
September is when the amazing Monarch Butterfly starts its 2,500-mile migration to central Mexico. Help Jennifer catch and tag the butterflies as part of ongoing research across North America coordinated by Monarch Watch. Get up close and personal with some Monarchs and learn how to attach the super strong yet super light stickers to the Monarchs' wings and then let them safely continue their flight. The program will start with a short introduction, followed by in-the-field tagging. All ages are welcome.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Thursday, September 16, 7-8:30 p.m.
What is Qi (Chi)? Taoists recognized it long ago as life force, energy that rises from the Earth and descends from the universe, that can be felt, and used for healing and well-being. The practices that arose from that understanding began as early as 2200 B.C. with
Qigong, Qi cultivation. We are experiencing a revival of that practice now, in many forms, all geared to heal our selves and our world. In this lecture/workshop, learn how
Qigong, Taoist philosophy, poetry, art and nature work together to offer peace and healing, personally and globally. Rema Boscov is a certified
Qigong teacher, poet, and artist, with many years experience teaching all three.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Saturday, September 18, 8:30-10 a.m. at Small Ones Farm in Amherst
Take a tour of Small Ones Farm where owners Bob and Sally Fitz grow apples, peaches and pears on 63 acres using earth-friendly and people-friendly growing practices (i.e., no synthetic chemicals). Walk the orchard of over 300 fruit trees and 40 different varieties of apples with Farmer Bob and get an up-close look at pest and disease management using natural techniques, and hear about the challenges and rewards of using sustainable farming practices to grow tree fruit. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Saturdays, September 18, October 2, November 13, December 4, January 22,
February 26, March 26, April 9, June 11, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 14, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. (coastal trip to Plum Island)
Wednesdays, September 29, October 23, May 25, June 8, 3:30-5 p.m.
Rain dates: October 30, March 5, June 4
Have you wanted to take your students outdoors but felt uncertain about your own knowledge of what's out there? Have you been seeking to deepen your knowledge of plants and animals and the land?
This course is designed to be fun, engaging, and content rich. It is designed primarily for elementary and middle school teachers, but all formal and informal educators are welcome. Three graduate credits (optional) through UMass Division of Continuing Education will be offered in addition to 67.5 professional development points. There will be a total of 37.5 hours of instructional time over the school year.
Time will be spent building a strong foundation of natural history identification skills and knowledge of habitats and local ecology. The course will be held largely outdoors observing and identifying plants and animals and keeping a record of your observations. Some of our field time will be spent on the school grounds of participating teachers. Each participant will create an independent project where they explore more deeply one aspect of local nature of their choosing. Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
ABOUT TED WATT: Ted Watt is a highly skilled naturalist and
environmental educator with more than 30 years of field and classroom experience. He has worked extensively with schools and school districts throughout the region to strengthen science and nature education using the outdoors. His area of specialization is in birds and plants of New England. Ted has a degree in biology and has continued his professional development, both informally and formally, through the New England Wild Flower Society, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Humboldt Field Research Institute at Eagle Hill, and the Great Smoky Mountains Wildflower Pilgrimage. Ted has worked at the Hitchcock Center since 1984 and, prior to that, at two other wildlife sanctuaries of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Over the years, he has mentored hundreds of people in their lifelong pursuit to become well-rounded naturalists.
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HERB WALK: WILD PLANTS AND THEIR ROLES AS
MEDICINES AND FOODS
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$900 for 67.5 PDPs & 3
UMass graduate credits
Register
Chris Marano, Herbalist
Sunday, September 19, 9 a.m. to noon
Throughout all times and cultures, people and plants have shared an inseparable bond. In our present culture, however, many people are unaware of the beauty, innate wisdom, and important uses of our fellow travelers from the plant world. During our walk, Chris will introduce a number of useful plants found at Larch Hill.
He will describe how different cultures view the relationship between
our human species, plants, and nature. Participants will learn the different characteristics of
edible, medicinal, and poisonous plants along with some basic plant taxonomy. You will leave knowing more about how to identify plants with field guides and scientific keys. Chris is also an accomplished story-teller and will share Native American stories and myths about particular plants and trees. Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
NATURE'S ART AND YOU: PASTELS
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AN EVENING INSECT WALK
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QIGONG, NATURE'S ENERGY AND YOU
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A SMALL DOSE OF TOXICOLOGY: HOW CHEMICALS AFFECT YOUR
HEALTH
Rema Boscov, Naturalist and Artist
Sundays, September 19 and 26, 2-4:30 p.m.
Come celebrate nature, and give yourself a gift of carefully observing. With pastels in hands, we will let the energy flow, and at the same time learn techniques to use this beautiful medium. Pastels are pigments held in a gum binder. Without oil or water, they cling to paper as tiny crystals, able to catch light. Using no brushes, our fingers can both paint and draw, an immediacy that is joyful. Rema Boscov has 40 years teaching and working in pastel
and offers skill-enhancing tools, joy and her love of the natural world.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
John Green, Naturalist and Teacher
Thursday, September 23, 5-7 p.m. at Quabbin Reservoir
Late summer evenings are wonderful times to listen to the many varied sounds made by members of the Orthoptera order of insects, which includes grasshoppers, crickets and katydids. You may know some of the singers. It's hard to miss the Common True Katydids repeating from the treetops their three syllable name endlessly through the night. Join John Green in his favorite habitat, Quabbin Reservoir, to see what this special time of day and year has to offer.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Thursdays, September 23, 30, October 7, 21, 28 (no class October 14)
7-8:30 p.m.
Qi is life-force, nature's energy. It can be felt, and moved through the body, as an acupuncturist would do. With simple movements, meditation and self-applied massage, we learn ways to bring about well-being and tranquility, using the healing energy of nature. Millions in China and now throughout the world, do these easy exercises, often outside, as a way to ground themselves to Earth and to encourage good health.
Qigong teaches focus and calm and offers a way and philosophy that can absorb the stresses of our lives. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Rema Boscov is a certified
Qigong teacher with years of study and teaching experience, locally and elsewhere.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Thursday, September 30, 6-8:30 p.m.
You're invited to a special evening with Steve Gilbert, founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND), as he covers the principles of toxicology and health effects of chemical agents. This seminar is designed for those who may have little background in toxicology yet must deal with chemicals and their health effects in the home, at work or at school. It is layman friendly and selectively includes toxic product hazards of everyday life. The common chemicals include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, pesticides, lead, mercury, arsenic, heavy metals, solvents and radiation for starters: all products of human ingestion, inhalation or dermal absorption in everyday life. You will learn the potential health hazards of toxic chemicals and methods for preventing exposure. For more information about Steve Gilbert and his work, please visit
www.asmalldoseof.org and
www.toxipedia.org.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
ABOUT STEVE GILBERT: Steve Gilbert, Ph.D., DABT is the Director and Founder of the Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND) in Seattle, Washington. INND is a non-profit (501(c)3 institute dedicated to research and education in the neurosciences.
Dr. Gilbert consults and lectures on issues related to toxicology, drug development and bioethics. He is particularly interested in making toxicology and biomedical research accessible to the public and policy makers. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications as well as numerous abstracts, several book chapters, articles, and his book Small Dose of Toxicology. He continues to teach and has given more than 300 invited presentations.
"I believe that all living things have a right to an environment that allows them to reach and maintain their full potential. The salmon have a biological need and a right to get up stream to bear their young so they too may reach their potential. Each of us and especially our leaders have anethical responsibility to ensure that offspring of all species can grow and develop in an environment that is not robbing them of their potential. It is no longer a question whether or not exposure to chemicals damages the developing infant. The research has largely been done. We have the knowledge and now must face the challenge of turning this knowledge into action."
Steve is the creator of
toxipedia.org. Toxipedia.org
is a portal for information on toxic chemicals, environmental health,
and toxicology. Its emphasis is to present scientific information in a
clear and compelling way and to empower people to make choices that
protect their own health and the health of families, communities, and
the environment. It offers articles and resources about toxic chemicals (such as pesticides and persistent pollutants), diseases, laws and regulations, consumer products, ethical issues, the history of toxicology, and more.
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FALL BIRDING TRIP: PLUM ISLAND REGION
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THE 6th ANNUAL LARCH HILL ENGLISH STYLE X-COUNTRY
CLASSIC
Saturday, October 30, 5:30 a.m. An all-day trip carpooling from the
Hitchcock Center
Join birder extraordinaire Scott Surner for a fall birding trip to the coast. Depending on current bird reports, the group will visit Plum Island and maybe the Cape Ann area. Waterfowl will be the main theme of this trip, and good numbers should be encountered throughout the day. Also, early Rough-legged Hawks, Snowy Owls, and Northern Shrikes could be seen. Late season sparrows and shorebirds will also be around. Dress for the weather and bring your lunch. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Saturday, October 30, at the Bramble Hill Farm, Amherst (adjacent to the
Hitchcock Center)
Start Time: Kids' Fun Run (1 mile or dash) between 9 & 9:30 a.m.;
Adults' run to follow kids' run
For both experienced and less experienced runners, this fun community event will challenge your coordination and speed as you leap hay barriers and fences along the three-mile cross-country course. Prizes and post-race refreshments are included in the fun. Proceeds benefit the Larch Hill Collaborative, a partnership between the Bramble Hill Farm, The Common School, and the Hitchcock Center. Event parking at the Hitchcock Center and Common School parking lots.
To register and for more information, contact Nick Hopley at (413)
256-0234.
The Larch Hill Collaborative's mission statement is: Joined by common values and borders, the members of the Larch Hill Collaborative share resources, land, and facilities to enrich their educational programs and to promote stewardship of the land.
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FALCONRY UP CLOSE
PV PRIMER
THREE Cs AT THREE COLLEGES: CARBON, COGENERATION &
CONSERVATION
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ENERGY INVESTIGATIONS IN SCHOOLS
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THE TIGHTEST HOUSE WE'VE EVER SEEN: GREEN HOUSE
TOUR
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CHILDREN AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL (AGES 6-9)
Maximum of three children per adult
Register
HITCHCOCK HOMESCHOOL:
THE "OLOGY" OF "OLOGISTS" (Ages 6-8)
HITCHCOCK
HOMESCHOOL: GEOLOGY -- HOW WAS THE EARTH MADE?
(Ages 9-11)
NATURE DISCOVERY PRESCHOOL: A TREE AND ME (Ages
3-5)
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PUMPKIN CARVING NIGHT
ENCHANTED FOREST: WHO'S AROUND UNDERGROUND -- A
NON-SCARY HALLOWEEN EVENT
This is one of the most popular and fun events we hold all year and often sells out in advance. Reservations for a specific date and time are required. Call early to register by phone. Indoor activities close promptly at 8:30 p.m. so if you are registered for a later walk, please arrive with enough time to participate in the indoor activities before your walk.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
No charge for children 2
years of age and under
Chris Davis, Master Falconer
Sunday, November 7, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Chris's New England Falconry provides you the extraordinary opportunity to observe up close the handling and free-flying of a trained hawk. You will experience the ancient art of falconry while learning about the life history of raptors, their role in the environment, and the efforts underway to ensure their survival and conservation. Each flight is unpredictable and exciting. Don’t miss this chance to get an up-close look into the lives of these birds and their handler! The program will be held outdoors. Appropriate for ages 8 and up accompanied by an adult. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Children (over 8 with adult): Member,
$15 Non-member, $20
Register
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Philippe Rigoliaud, PV2
Tuesday, October 5, 7-8:30 p.m.
Interested in photovoltaics but
confused about how they work? Philippe will use Hitchcock's simple, accessible system to walk you through the different technologies and how they work. Our system is tied into the electric grid and offsets the Center's use of electricity, especially the new parking lot lights. There is an on-line monitoring system that Philippe will explain that enables Hitchcock staff to find out how much power the system is producing at any given time and also to view its electricity generating history over the past week, month or year. It’s really neat and even
our editor can understand it! Philippe is an energy systems installer with Pioneer Valley Photovoltaics (PV2) in Greenfield, and he installed our system, so he knows it inside and out. Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
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Thursday, October 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
Finding the greenest opportunities is often simple but seldom easy. Come hear about how three institutions balance the desire for green energy, need to realize a strong return on investment, and
make a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Join Todd Holland, Energy Manager for Amherst, Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges, as he talks about many successful, cost-effective ways to reduce fossil fuel and electrical energy consumption. You will find that many of the strategies applied at the college level can also be applied to smaller businesses and home. More importantly, you will be inspired by the what can be achieved at the local level!
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Tuesday, October 19, 7-8:30 p.m.
Are you a parent, teacher, or someone who is interested in how the Hitchcock Center teaches about renewable energy in school classrooms? Join Hitchcock environmental educator Micky McKinley for an evening of learning about the exciting new curriculum, Energy Investigations, she has been teaching in middle schools. Energy is both in the news and in the Massachusetts Frameworks. This exciting program gives students hands-on experiences in generating renewable energy. Students learn the basics of electrical energy generation by using a simple electro-magnet attached to a multi-meter. Then they practice using solar power, wind power and hydro power to generate electricity. Micky will take you through some the activities and tell you about her experience teaching these classes. Come learn what the kids are learning! Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Saturday, October 23, 10 a.m. to noon
Come learn about this attractive bungalow built on 1/4 acre in town lot. The homeowners, Turnkey Builders, and EcoPlan architects will all be available to share their enthusiasm about with you about this home and answer your green home questions. This 1700-square-foot single-family residence is Energy Star rated, has solar domestic hot water,
and a heat recovery ventilation system. It also has a passive solar design, radiant floor heating, double-wall construction; and many non-toxic, sustainable products were used in its construction. It is also designed for 1st floor living and has handicap features throughout. Space is limited, please call to register and receive directions.
Colleen Kelley and Casey Beebe
Fall Session: Wednesdays,
September 8-December 22 (skips November 24)
Playing outdoors should be a fundamental part of childhood. Children need to run through meadows, step over rocks, balance on bridges and squish through mud. Join environmental educators Colleen Kelley and Casey Beebe for this new afterschool program focused on connecting children to nature through outdoor play and adventure. Students at Crocker Farm, Wildwood, and Fort River Schools can take school buses from their schools to the Hitchcock Center. There currently is no bus from Pelham. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Colleen Kelley
Tuesdays, September 14-November 23 (No class October 19), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This fall we will be learning about the jobs the scientists do. Each day we will learn about a different field of study and practice the skills used in that area of science. One week we will be biologists learning about the diversity of plant and animal life outdoors.
The next week we will be archeologists and will excavate a "dig" and use the clues to tell a story of who lived on the site and what they did there. During our 10-week program, we hope to build relationships, develop science skills and knowledge, and have fun exploring and discovering in the outdoors together. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required; please call
(413) 256-6006.
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Ted Watt
Tuesdays, September
14-November 23 (No class October 19), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This fall we will be learning about the geologic history of our
planet. Volcanoes, earthquakes, continental glaciers, erosion and
weathering -- all these and more have helped create the landscape we see
today. We'll spend time at the Hitchcock Center and on field trips to
several local sites. We'll investigate a number of questions. What rock
types are found here and how do you tell them apart? What minerals make
up the rocks we know and how can you test for different minerals? What
landforms are here in the Valley and what clues do they give us about
the past? Where can you find fossils? Our days will include independent
projects, time to explore outdoors, group focused learning and listening time, hands-on activities and experiments, stories and games. The atmosphere is student centered and fun!
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
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Colleen Kelley
Fridays, September 24-December 10 (No class October 15, November 26)
Session
1: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Session 2: 1 to 3 p.m.
We
will become good friends with the trees as we compare their parts to our
parts, meet the animals that live in tress, discover what products we
use from trees, and learn how a baby tree grows. Through books, puzzles,
puppets, songs and crafts, children will explore the ecology of trees.
For children ages 3-5 with an adult companion who is required to stay
with the child to learn and explore together. Space is limited.
Pre-registration is required; please call (413) 256-6006.
Thursday, October 14, 6 p.m.
Join Hitchcock Center staff as we create the elaborate and imaginative pumpkins that light the trails for our Enchanted Forest event. Bring your favorite carving knife and, if you like, a medium-large pumpkin to contribute. We will also have tools and pumpkins on hand.
Pre-registration is not required
but is requested; please call (413) 256-6006.
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Friday, October 15, 5-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 16, 5-8:30 p.m.
Every October the trails at the Hitchcock Center come alive with a cast of characters from different habitats. This year, you will meet creatures that spend most of their time underground. Adults and children of all ages will enjoy meeting our magical characters as you are guided along the pumpkin-lit trails of Larch Hill Conservation Area. Walks leave every 15 minutes and last approximately 45 minutes. Inside the Center, there will be simple crafts and games and an opportunity to visit with a fortune teller. Seasonal baked goods will also be on sale.
Questions
or comments? E-mail us at hcenter@crocker.com