Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Winter Vacation Days Aftercare
2023-02-22 08:45 - 15:00, 2023-02-21 08:45 - 15:00, 2023-02-20 08:45 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
WINTER VACATION DAYS 2023 AFTERCARE
Monday through Friday, February 20 – 24
3:00pm – 5:30pm
One Group: Ages 5-10, Grades K-5
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$40 | Tier B-$35 | Tier C-$29 | Tier D-$23
Nature Play time after hours with some down time!

Winter Vacation Days
2023-02-22 08:45 - 15:00, 2023-02-21 08:45 - 15:00, 2023-02-20 08:45 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
WINTER VACATION DAYS 2023
Monday through Friday, February 20 – 24
8:45am-3:00pm
Age Groups:
Jumping Mice: Ages 5-6, Grades K-1
Brown Bats: Ages 6-8, Grades 1-2
Groundhogs: Ages 8-10, Grades 3-5
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$93 | Tier B-$81 | Tier C-$69 | Tier D-$53
Spend your days off from school learning and playing outside at the Hitchcock Center! We’ll explore topics in winter ecology while playing games, making crafts and spending time with our live animals. Sign up for as many days as you wish. Five-year olds must be in Kindergarten in order to participate. First graders may register for the K-1 age group or the 1-2 age group. Camp will be held outdoors as much as possible and masks will be worn if/when going inside. Non-refundable within a week of the program, all refunds incur a 10% administrative fee.
Limited 12 Participants for Jumping Mice
Limited to 15 participants for Brown Bats and Groundhogs

Collaborative Role Playing Saturday
2023-02-18 13:00 - 17:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come visit for a Saturday and play a role playing game (RPG) like Dungeons and Dragons. We’ll build a character and go on a group adventure with Hitchcock Educator Monya as our guide. It might be silly or serious but either way it will be loads of fun.
February 18 – Collaborative Role Playing Game Saturday
Ages 11-14
Special time: 1pm to 5pm
Limited to 10 teens
Suggested Donation: $10-$40 per teen

Nature Discovery Preschool Days
2023-02-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Nature Discovery Winter Preschool Days
With Colleen Kelley and Helen Ann Sephton
Ages 3-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
10:00am-11:30 am (Please note the later start time for winter)
Fee per child per day: Tier A-$23 per day | Tier B-$20 per day | Tier C-$17 per day | Tier D- $13
Limited to 8 families. Limit of 2 children per adult.
Celebrate the outdoors in winter with your preschooler! Colleen and Helen Ann will teach these four winter programs. Sign up for one, two or all three programs. Come prepared for winter outdoor exploration! Limited to 8 families per day. Non-refundable within a week of the program, all refunds incur a 10% administrative fee.
Friday, January 27: How Animals Live in Winter
Friday, February 17: Signs of Animals and Tracking
Friday, March 10: Slip, Slide – Ice and Snow!
Friday, March 24: Signs of Spring

Girls into the Wild Afterschool
2023-02-16 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-09 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-02 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
GIRLS INTO THE WILD AFTERSCHOOL
with Katie Koerten
Ages 8–11 or Grades 3–5
Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm
January 5 – March 16 (no program February 23)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$296 | Tier B-$257| Tier C-$219 | Tier D-$167
Limited to 13 participants
Join us in winter 2023 for more romping wildly through the field and forests of the Hitchcock Center. As always we’ll visit our favorite places to play in the forest, such as Stump City, the Ferns, and the Faraway Woods – exploring the seasonal beauty of nature as we go. Play games, make friends, and create nature projects outdoors! Come build your confidence and show your wild side! Any young people with an experience of gender marginalization are welcome!

Nature Play Afterschool
2023-02-16 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-09 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-02 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
With: Emily Schuttenberg
Ages 6-9 or grades 1-3
Thursdays, 3:30-5:30
January 5 – March 16 (no program February 23)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$296 | Tier B-$257 | Tier C-$219 | Tier D-$167
Limited to 13 participants
Hitchcock’s Nature Play Afterschool Program is designed to let kids be kids. Together we will run, jump, climb, invent, imagine, play and be free-range kids all while developing self-confidence and learning valuable social skills. In Winter Nature Play After School we will explore snowy wooded trails and fields, make snow villages, and sled down the HCE hill. Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits.

Wild Children of the Woods
2023-02-15 13:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-08 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-01 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
WILD CHILDREN OF THE WOODS
With: Emily Schuttenberg
Ages 8-11 or Grades 3-5
Wednesdays 3:30 – 5:30
January 4 – March 15 (no program on February 22)
Extended Days on February 15, March 8
Fee per Child: Tier A-$353 | Tier B-$307 | Tier C-$261 | Tier D-$200
Limited to 13 participants
We go to the woods to think, learn, play, and explore in this afterschool series for upper-elementary schoolers. We will roam the grounds of the Hitchcock Center as we watch the seasons change in our beautiful woods. We will visit stump city, ferns, and the far-away woods, play some organized games, and learn about the animals, plants, and life in these woods, including ourselves.

Nature Play Afterschool
2023-02-15 13:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-08 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-01 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
With: Jeff Mazur
Ages 6-9 or grades 1-3
Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30
January 4 – March 15 (no program on February 22)
Extended Days on February 15, March 8
Fee per Child: Tier A-$353 | Tier B-$307 | Tier C-$261 | Tier D-$200
Limited to 13 participants
Hitchcock’s Nature Play Afterschool Program is designed to let kids be kids. Together we will run, jump, climb, invent, imagine, play and be free-range kids all while developing self-confidence and learning valuable social skills. In Winter Nature Play After School we will explore snowy wooded trails and fields, make snow villages, and sled down the HCE hill. Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits.

Junior Nature Play Afterschool
2023-02-15 13:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-08 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-01 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
JUNIOR NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
With: Lauren Dausch
Ages 5-7 or Grades K-1
Wednesdays, 3:30pm-5:30pm
January 4 – March 15 (no program February 22)
Extended Days on February 15, March 8
Fee per Child: Tier A-$353 | Tier B-$307 | Tier C-$261 | Tier D-$200
Limited to 11 participants
Hitchcock’s Junior Nature Play Afterschool Program is designed to let kids be kids. Together we will run, jump, climb, invent, imagine, play and be free-range kids all while developing self-confidence and learning valuable social skills. During Winter Junior Nature Play we will explore snowy wooded trails and fields, make snow villages, and sled down the HCE hill! Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits.

Discovery Day: Animals in Winter
2023-02-14 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Animals in Winter
With Jeff Mazur
February 14, 2023 10am – 2pm
Ages 6-12 or grades 1 – 6
Tier A:$70 Tier B:$61 Tier C:$52 Tier D:$40
Limited to 1 participants
What do animals do when it gets cold out? We are going to find out, as we learn about some of the amazing adaptations animals have to survive winter in New England. We will also go on an adventure looking for animal tracks and signs.

Wild Children of the Woods
2023-02-13 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-02-06 15:30 - 17:30, 2023-01-30 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
WILD CHILDREN OF THE WOODS SERIES
With: Monya Relles
Ages 8-11 or Grades 3-5
Mondays 3:30-5:30
January 9 – March 13 (no class January 16 or February 20)
Tier A:$234 Tier B:$203 Tier C:$173 Tier D:$132
Limited to 13 participants
We go to the woods to think, learn, play, and explore in this afterschool series for upper-elementary schoolers. We will roam the grounds of the Hitchcock Center as we watch the seasons change in our beautiful woods. We will visit stump city, ferns, and the far-away woods, play some organized games, and learn about the animals, plants, and life in these woods, including ourselves.

Owl Prowl with Dan Ziomek
2023-02-11 19:30 - 22:00
Owl Prowl with Dan Ziomek
Saturdays, January 28th, February 4th or 11th
7:30pm – 10pm
Have you been hearing the Great Horned Owls at dusk and dawn? They are hooting. Join valley birder Dan Ziomek for this extra special treat of searching for owls on winter nights! Dress super duper warmly.
For ages 12 and up. Space is limited to 15 participants. Cost $25 per prowl.
Registration opens Friday, January 20 at 9:00 AM
REGISTER HERE

Second Saturday Family Science
2023-02-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
with Emily Schuttenberg
Ages 5–7 or Grades K–1
Second Saturdays, 10–11am
Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10
Suggested Donation: $5–$30 per family
Join us for seasonal nature and science programs each second Saturday of the month. Designed for children (ages 5–7) with their parents, these programs will explore cool topics in nature. We will be learning while moving, often exploring the woods behind our building.
February 11: Tracks and Traces
While we’re bundled up inside there is still a lot going on outside in Winter! We know this because the animals leave us clues! What tales can animals tell us by looking at what they leave behind?

20th Annual Spring Birding Course
2023-02-04 07:00 - 12:00
20th Annual Spring Birding Course
with Scott Surner
Have you wanted to bird? Do you love birding but don’t get out enough on your own? Then this course is for you, join other birders and the amazing birder Scott Surner for this spring course of going to all the best spots to see all the coolest of birds! This is an intensive course through the spring with many wonderful hours of field trips around New England.
For ages 12 and up. Space is limited to 15 birders. Cost Sliding Scale $750, $700, $650, $600.Class Schedule:

Feb 4th-Local- 7:00-12:00. Kick off the spring class- Winter specialties in the Valley.
Feb 24th-26. Coastal Trip Weekend. Weather permitting of course. Either the North Shore or Cape Cod.
March 4th- 7:00 AM- 12:00 – Local. Returning Waterfowl and late-season winter birds.
March 11th- 7:00-12:00. Local. Waterfowl.
March 18th – 7:00 AM-12:00. Local. More waterfowl. (Hatfield/Turners Falls Area)
April 1st- 7:00-12:00. Local
April 8th- 7:00 AM- 12:00. Local
April 15th- 7:00 AM-12:00. Westover and Tilley Street, Ludlow. Upland Sandpipers, Eastern Meadowlark, early warblers, Rusty Blackbirds?
April 29th- Plum Island. 5:00-Dusk. All Day. Waterfowl, early shorebirds, warblers etc. Last year we encountered a huge flock of Glossy Ibis at the end of the day, over 120 birds. Bring lunch.
May 6th – 6:30 AM- 12:00. Amherst Area. Migration starting to kick into gear. Warblers, Vireo’s etc.
May 13th- 6:30 AM-12:00. Mt. Holyoke. Breeding Cerulean & Worm-eating Warblers.
May 20th- 6;30AM-12:00- Local. Amherst/Hadley Area. Migration at its peak! Warblers, Flycatchers, Vireos, Sparrows etc.
May 27th- NO Class. Memorial Day Weekend.
June 3rd- 5:30-12:00. Southwick Wildlife Area. Grasshopper Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, and Prairie Warblers to name a few.
June 8th- 11th. Connecticut Lakes, Moose Bog, and a new stop in New Hampshire to look for Bicknell’s Thrush. More details to come, but we’ll need to make motel reservations in February. Last year’s trip to this area was very successful. Many species of breeding warblers, Philadelphia Vireo, Canada Jay, Spruce Grouse, American Bittern, Wilson’s Snipe, Cliff Swallows, etc.

Registration opens Friday, January 20 at 9:00 AM
REGISTER HERE
