Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Springtime Little Bear Nature Walk
2026-03-31 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-04-06 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-04-16 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-04-29 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-05-02 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-05-11 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-05-21 10:00 - 11:15 (America/New_York) and 6 more dates
Little Bear Nature Walks
With Chrissy Larson
Ages 0-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Walks are outdoors and take place unless there is extreme weather.
See dates and locations here
Little Bear Nature Walks are guided, open-ended walks that allow toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers explore nature in an age-appropriate way. While on the walk, children borrow a backpack filled with simple tools for exploring and are led by a preschool educator. Children investigate plants and animals, engage with rocks, soil and water, and use their imaginations to play with the world. Walks incorporate observation, inquiry, and sensory learning. Each has a loose theme and includes a trail-side storytime. Come along with us!
See dates and locations here

Film Screening: Salamanders of New England
2026-04-02 18:00 - 19:30
Salamanders of New England Film Screening
Thursday, April 2, 6 pm
with filmmaker Ray Asselin and herpetologist Alan Richmond
Free, registration appreciated.

Salamanders are some of our most mysterious amphibians. Living below ground, or underwater, they’re seldom seen, if ever, by most people. Probably the most familiar is the Red Eft, that bright orange juvenile stage of the Red-spotted newt that seems to magically appear on the forest floor during or after rains. Terrestrial salamanders, when they do come to the surface, are primarily nocturnal, so we don’t get many opportunities to see them. The aquatic species remain just as elusive, given that few of us are spending any time in the kind of underwater worlds they inhabit.
“The Salamanders of New England” film will give us a close look at every salamander species that inhabits New England. We’ll see examples of the typical complete salamander life cycle, from egg to larva to adult, as well as some interesting behaviors. Timelapses will show larvae developing in their transparent eggs. All 12 New England salamander species will be featured, with scenes we promise you’ve likely never witnessed. There will be a Q&A session following the film, and UMass herpetologist Alan Richmond (retired) will be with us to answer all those questions you’re bound to have.

Yoshi’s Big Swim Storytime with Author and Turtle Meet-and-Greet
2026-05-09 14:00 - 15:00
Yoshi’s Big Swim Storytime and Turtle Meet-and-Greet with author Mary Wagley Copp
Saturday, May 9 at 2pm
At Hitchcock Center
Join the Hitchcock Center for the Environment for a special storytime with award-winning children’s author Mary Wagley Copp on Saturday, May 9! The event will focus on Mary’s picture book, Yoshi’s Big Swim: One Turtle’s Epic Journey Home, which tells the true story of Yoshi, a loggerhead sea turtle who was rescued and cared for by scientists before being released back into the ocean. Discover an amazing story celebrating teamwork, conservation, and an animal hero who swam more than 22,000 miles to her true home—the longest journey of any animal ever tracked.
Following a fun and engaging presentation on the book, attendees will learn more about Yoshi’s real-world counterparts and have the chance to meet some of the Hitchcock Center’s turtles in residence. Books will be available for purchase through Odyssey Bookshop.
Mary Wagley Copp’s debut picture book, Wherever I Go, won numerous awards, including NPR’S 100 Best Children’s Books 2020, Notable Social Studies Book by the Children’s Book Council in 2021, and was the 2022 winner of the Massachusetts Book Award. Her nonfiction book, Yoshi’s Big Swim: One Turtle’s Epic Journey Home was longlisted for the 2024 Mass Book Award and was the winner of the 2024 Nutmeg Award. Mary’s students in her ELL class were the inspiration for her new book, Sometimes We Pray (2026). She and her husband live on a farm in Westport, MA. They have 3 grown children. You can learn more about Mary at marywagleycopp.com.
​​This Mass Kids Lit Fest event is presented in partnership with the Massachusetts Center for the Book.

Summertime Little Bear Nature Walk
2026-06-29 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-07 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-10 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-18 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-20 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-23 10:00 - 11:15, 2026-07-28 10:00 - 11:15 and 6 more dates
