By Patrick O’Roark
I’d like to take a moment to step back and take a broad view of the Hitchcock Animal Care blog. The original impetus for writing it was that I was setting up our native species freshwater aquarium, which was a lengthy and very visible process. I was getting a lot of questions from both staff and the public who were curious as to how it was coming along and when they could expect to see fish in it. I wanted to be able to give a thorough response that could easily reach a lot of people. A blog that I could refer people to seemed like a great solution.
Join materials, toxics, and living building experts for a conversation on toxins in the built environment and how making toxic-free choices in materials is possible.
We are excited to be working with PV Squared to benefit our eco-friendly Hitchcock supporters! There is one week left for you to reach out to PV Squared about going solar through this limited-time promotion to earn $500 for the Hitchcock Center — it ends on May 15th. You can visit their website or call (413) 772-8788 to learn more.
By Patrick o’Roark
Recently we unexpectedly received two painted turtles at the Hitchcock Center. They were surrendered to us by someone that couldn’t give them the care they needed anymore. I’m not entirely sure if they were captive bred or taken from the wild, but based on their behavior it is clear that they’ve been pets for a good portion of their life.
By Ted Watt
Building our new living environmental education center on Hampshire College land brings us even more in-depth opportunities to partner with Hampshire College faculty, students and staff.
We often hear from parents that their children treasure their summers at Hitchcock Center’s Nature Summer Camp. For many, camp is a formative childhood experience. We think all children should have this opportunity.
By Julie Johnson
Convincing today’s wired kids that nature is more exciting than technology is a hard sell. So Hitchcock Center educators have been working to develop ways for children to integrate technology with their experiences in nature.
By Jonathan A. Wright
One of the primary goals of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) is to eliminate the use of known toxins in products installed in the built environment. If it is harmful to life – humans, animal or anything else – do not use it if at all possible. In 2016, Wright Builders Inc. completed two living buildings which will be evaluated for certification in the next 18-to-24 months. These projects gave us a unique opportunity to work inside the largely unexplored new world of materials research, vetting documentation, and research.
By Casey Beebe
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $15,000 from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at UMass Lowell. This grant will support a series of educational programs focused on the toxic materials most commonly used in constructing our homes and places of work, the harmful effects they have on human and environmental health, and alternatives that can lead toward a healthier planet.
By Casey Beebe
On a sunny Saturday in November we held the first of a series of symposiums focused on “hot” water issues. Our Hot Water Issues symposium brought nearly 100 people together to hear three distinct perspectives on water issues: how water conservation can make a difference, what is being detected in our water and the corresponding health effects, and what climate research is telling us about managing our precious water.
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Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax