By DUSTY CHRISTENSEN
As the existential threat of climate change increasingly haunts humanity, many are looking for important ways to combat carbon emissions. It was under that context that forest preservationist Michael Kellett spoke Sunday at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment about Massachusetts forests in the era of climate change. Forest loss contributes significantly to climate change, and Kellett — executive director at the nonprofit RESTORE: The North Woods — advocated for protecting those forests as a way to mitigate climate calamity.
AMHERST, Mass. — The Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst debuted its new 9,000-square-foot facility in fall 2016. Even though the environmental education center is built on the Hampshire College campus, the independent, nonprofit is completely separate, with a mission to develop environmental curriculums that are then implemented in schools throughout New England. Now, that mission is coming to life with its brand-new sustainable facility that doubles as an engaging learning tool for the center’s field trip, after-school and preschool programs, among others. Better yet, it’s currently seeking Living Building Challenge certification.
The Hitchcock Center for the Environment is proud to announce the release of its Nature Play and Learning Places Master Plan. This plan is integral to the Center’s vision to create a worldclass environmental learning center. The Master Plan will complement the Center’s new 9,000 square foot “living” building, designed and constructed to meet highest standard of sustainability in the built environment through the Living Building Challenge™.
By Scott Merzbach
AMHERST — Backers of the bylaw adopted at Town Meeting last fall mandating that all new municipal buildings produce as much energy as they use are continuing to bring experts in zero-energy design and construction to town.
Professor Timothy Randhir of the department of environmental conservation was recognized last month as a distinguished visitor by the mayor of Tuxtla-Gutierrez, the capital of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Randhir led an expert delegation of environmental professionals from western Massachusetts that visited Chiapas from Jan. 14-24 as a part of a professional exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State.
By CAITLIN ASHWORTH
FLORENCE — Along with art, music and physical education, kindergarten teacher Andrea Egitto says nature exploration should be part of the curriculum.
Franklin County, MA – Inspired by the film depicting America’s third Moon landing mission, on Friday, December 8, Hitchcock Center for the Environment will lead an innovative Science and Engineering professional development program for 60 Pre-K through 6th grade teachers in the Union 38 School District.
By Micky Rathbun
I learned of a disturbing new syndrome last week at a benefit for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst: nature deficit disorder. OK, it’s not a medically recognized term, but it’s very real.
About 40 students from Amherst Regional, Hampshire Regional, Northampton and Holyoke high schools used two environmental organizations as their laboratory earlier this month during the first Western Massachusetts Youth Climate Summit.
Throughout the day Friday, about 40 area high school students got to see firsthand how two local environmental organizations are confronting the challenges posed by a warming planet. The inaugural Western Mass Youth Climate Summit took place at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Amherst and the Mass Audubon headquarters at the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton.
Hitchcock Center for the Environment
at Hampshire College
845 West Street | Amherst MA 01002 | 413.256.6006 | 413.253.2809 fax