Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Hike and Stream Catch (ages 8–12)
2020-07-21 10:00 - 14:00, 2020-07-07 10:00 - 14:00, 2020-06-30 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Come join an all-outdoor group experience where we’ll hike, explore the woods, catch creatures in a stream, and play games. From the Hitchcock Center, we will hike to the Hampshire woods. Once there, we will spread out along the banks of a stream, each with our own net and basin, to cool our feet in the water and see what creatures we can find. We’ll then make our way to a nearby open field for a socially distant lunch and end with storytelling games. During this four hour program, children will be required to wear masks while hiking and in the stream. We will all sanitize before eating lunch. Social distance will be maintained during the stream catch and games. Days with inclement weather will need to be rescheduled.
with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Educator
Tuesdays, 10am–2pm
June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21, July 28
Fee Per Child: Tier A-$60 per day | Tier B-$48 per day | Tier C-$36 per day

REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Birdwatching for Beginners (ages 6 and up)
2020-07-21 09:30 - 11:00
What feathered friends are around us? Using binoculars for adults and older kids, and eye focusers for younger ones, we’ll use our senses of sight and hearing to find and identify birds. Katie will teach you the basics of bird identification using field marks and songs.
Tuesdays, 9:30am–11:00am on June 30, July 7, 14, 21
Fee per Child: Tier A-$20 per day | Tier B-$16 per day | Tier C-$12 per day
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$25 per day | Tier B-$20 per day | Tier C-$15 per day
REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Nature Explorer Family Field Trip: Habitat (all ages)
2020-07-20 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-07-16 10:30 - 12:30
Every living thing needs a home or a habitat to survive. The Hitchcock Center has a variety of local habitats on site to experience first-hand. Just as each neighborhood has its own needs and inhabitants, each habitat has its own animals, plants, and interactions. Our trip will take us through forest, field and wetland where we will focus on the components of each habitat and the adaptations of the animals and plants that live there.
Join one of our talented Hitchcock Center educators and choose among many fun-filled and hands-on field trips designed for the whole family. Each field trip is two hours in length. Consider extending the trip by packing a picnic lunch and staying after the program ends! Adults without children are welcome too!!
Habitat (all ages)
Thursdays, 10:30am-12:30pm, July 2, 16
Monday, 10am-12noon, July 20
Wednesday, 10am-12noon, August 5
Fee per Child: Tier A-$28 per trip | Tier B-$22 per trip | Tier C-$17 per trip
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$33 per trip | Tier B-$26 per trip | Tier C-$20 per trip
(limit up to two adults and three children per family)
REGISTERHERE

Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Nature Explorer Family Field Trip: Bountiful Butterflies (ages 3 and up)
2020-07-16 14:00 - 16:00, 2020-07-09 14:00 - 16:00
Go on a butterfly walk with Jennifer to discover the fluttering friends among us. We will start with some basic tools and background about butterflies and then head to a flowering field with edges that should have a good variety of colorful butterflies.
Join one of our talented Hitchcock Center educators and choose among many fun-filled and hands-on field trips designed for the whole family (age levels for children vary as indicated below). Each field trip is two hours in length. Consider extending the trip by packing a picnic lunch and staying after the program ends! Adults without children are welcome too!!
Thursdays, 2–4pm on July 9, 16, 23, 30
Fee per Child: Tier A-$28 per trip | Tier B-$22 per trip | Tier C-$17 per trip
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$33 per trip | Tier B-$26 per trip | Tier C-$20 per trip
(limit up to two adults and three children per family)

REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Game Day Getaway (ages 8–12)
2020-07-16 10:00 - 12:00
Games are a great way to embrace summer fun. In this two-hour all outdoors program, children can be a part of a small group and enjoy the company of other kids playing classic camp games in safety. We’ll spend our time playing verbal games maintaining social distance, and physical games, which can be played in parallel with other kids. Physical games will include classics like Charades, animal style relay races, and Motion Telephone. Verbal games will include Werewolf, Mind Meld, and Contact. While this program will be offered multiple times, each one will consist of games that encourage social distancing, therefore in each session some games may repeat from day to day. Days with inclement weather will need to be rescheduled.
with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Educator
Thursdays, 10–12noon, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Fee Per Child: Tier A-$30 per day | Tier B-$24 per day | Tier C-$18 per day

REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Nature Explorer Family Field Trip: Life in a Pond (all ages)
2020-07-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-07-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-07-01 10:00 - 12:00
A pond is much more than frogs and fish! It demonstrates a beautiful web of life from algae and microscopic organisms to insect larvae and amphibians. We will use our limnology lab tools to practice techniques for observing small aquatic creatures and learning about their unique life cycles and adaptations. At the pond, we will collect and observe several varieties of invertebrates that depend on this habitat.
Join one of our talented Hitchcock Center educators and choose among many fun-filled and hands-on field trips designed for the whole family (age levels for children vary as indicated below). Each field trip is two hours in length. Consider extending the trip by packing a picnic lunch and staying after the program ends! Adults without children are welcome too!!
Wednesdays, 10am–12noon on July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 6, 13
Fee per Child: Tier A-$28 per trip | Tier B-$22 per trip | Tier C-$17 per trip
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$33 per trip | Tier B-$26 per trip | Tier C-$20 per trip
(limit up to two adults and three children per family)
REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Hike and Stream Catch (ages 8–12)
2020-07-14 10:00 - 14:00
Come join an all-outdoor group experience where we’ll hike, explore the woods, catch creatures in a stream, and play games. From the Hitchcock Center, we will hike to the Hampshire woods. Once there, we will spread out along the banks of a stream, each with our own net and basin, to cool our feet in the water and see what creatures we can find. We’ll then make our way to a nearby open field for a socially distant lunch and end with storytelling games. During this four hour program, children will be required to wear masks while hiking and in the stream. We will all sanitize before eating lunch. Social distance will be maintained during the stream catch and games. Days with inclement weather will need to be rescheduled.
with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Educator
Tuesdays, 10am–2pm
June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28
Fee Per Child: Tier A-$60 per day | Tier B-$48 per day | Tier C-$36 per day

REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Birdwatching for Beginners (ages 6 and up)
2020-07-14 09:30 - 11:00
What feathered friends are around us? Using binoculars for adults and older kids, and eye focusers for younger ones, we’ll use our senses of sight and hearing to find and identify birds. Katie will teach you the basics of bird identification using field marks and songs.
Tuesdays, 9:30am–11:00am on June 30, July 7, 14
Fee per Child: Tier A-$20 per day | Tier B-$16 per day | Tier C-$12 per day
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$25 per day | Tier B-$20 per day | Tier C-$15 per day
REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Virtual Saturday Family Science Series: Predator and Prey (ages 5-8)
2020-07-11 10:00 - 10:40
Predator and Prey
Saturday July 11, 10-10:40am
Trying to survive out in the wild can be a tough job for any animal, whether you’re a fox looking for a mouse to snack on, or the mouse hiding from the fox! Predatory animals have to hunt other animals for their food and their prey must be smart to avoid them. Both have their place in the ecosystem. Come learn more about the importance of predator and prey at this Saturday Family Science program. Learn more about this series.
Recommended for ages 5-8
Suggested donation: $5 per child
Maximum group size: 16 children
Registration opens July 7

Rivers to Range: Exploring the Pioneer: a 5-Day Institute for Grades 4-8 Educators
2020-07-10 08:30 - 16:00, 2020-07-09 08:30 - 16:00, 2020-07-08 08:30 - 16:00, 2020-07-07 08:30 - 16:00, 2020-07-06 08:30 - 16:00
For thousands of years, the Connecticut River has flowed through Pioneer Valley, shaping the land and life around it. Known for its basalt flows, mountain ranges, dinosaur footprints, and fertile soils, the Pioneer Valley exhibits a rich history of geologic change. Join us to explore opportunities for integrating science and math as you learn about the geologic history of the Pioneer Valley. Visit local field sites, delve into museum collections, and immerse yourself in inquiry-based, standards-driven investigations as you learn about how the modern landscape provides clues to a very different past.
Partners & Collaborators:
Hitchcock Center for the Environment; Beneski Museum of Natural History; Springfield Science Museum; The Trustees of Reservations
July 6-10, 2020 (8:30am – 4:00pm)
Cost:
$450/participant.
$400/participant if attending with one other teacher from your school or district.
$375/participant if attending with 2 or more other teachers from your school or district.
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit:
40 PDPs are available without graduate credit.
67.5 PDPs and 3 graduate science credits are available from Cambridge College for $225.
67.5 PDPs and 3 graduate credits are available from Framingham State University for $225.
REGISTER HERE

Game Day Getaway (ages 8–12)
2020-07-09 10:00 - 12:00, 2020-07-02 10:00 - 12:00
Games are a great way to embrace summer fun. In this two-hour all outdoors program, children can be a part of a small group and enjoy the company of other kids playing classic camp games in safety. We’ll spend our time playing verbal games maintaining social distance, and physical games, which can be played in parallel with other kids. Physical games will include classics like Charades, animal style relay races, and Motion Telephone. Verbal games will include Werewolf, Mind Meld, and Contact. While this program will be offered multiple times, each one will consist of games that encourage social distancing, therefore in each session some games may repeat from day to day. Days with inclement weather will need to be rescheduled.
with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Educator
Thursdays, 10–12noon, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 and July 30
Fee Per Child: Tier A-$30 per day | Tier B-$24 per day | Tier C-$18 per day

REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Nature Discovery Family Adventures: Colors in Nature (ages 3–5)
2020-07-08 10:00 - 11:30
This family program is a wonderful way to spend time outdoors with your young one(s), discovering nature together with Colleen Kelley. We will socially distance for circle time. Each family will be given their own discovery tools to use on our adventure together. We will enjoy a fun story at the end of each session. Choose from one or more of our three themed offerings.

Colors in Nature, July 8 There are so many colors growing outside! We will explore with a collector band and nature art palette and see how many colors we can discover together.
Fairy Houses, July 22 The forest fairies have been waiting for some help in building them new houses! We will take a walk in to the forest and find the perfect place to build some enchanting fairy houses. After story time we will go on a house tour to visit each others creations and see if the fairies have moved in yet!
Little Critters, August 12 So many little creatures have been growing in the fields and forest as the weather warms up. We will use some special tools to search the fields and forests near the Hitchcock Center to see who is flying, crawling and sliding around!

with Colleen Kelley, Hitchcock Educator
Wednesday, 10–11:30am, July 8, July 22, August 12
Fee per Child: Tier A-$20 per day | Tier B-$16 per day | Tier C-$12 per day
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$25 per day | Tier B-$20 per day | Tier C-$15 per day
(limit 1 adult with up to 2 children)
REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Birdwatching for Beginners (ages 6 and up)
2020-07-07 09:30 - 11:00, 2020-06-30 09:30 - 11:00
What feathered friends are around us? Using binoculars for adults and older kids, and eye focusers for younger ones, we’ll use our senses of sight and hearing to find and identify birds. Katie will teach you the basics of bird identification using field marks and songs.
Tuesdays, 9:30am–11:00am on June 30, July 7
Fee per Child: Tier A-$20 per day | Tier B-$16 per day | Tier C-$12 per day
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$25 per day | Tier B-$20 per day | Tier C-$15 per day
REGISTER HERE
Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Nature Explorer Family Field Trip: Habitat (all ages)
2020-07-02 10:30 - 12:30
Every living thing needs a home or a habitat to survive. The Hitchcock Center has a variety of local habitats on site to experience first-hand. Just as each neighborhood has its own needs and inhabitants, each habitat has its own animals, plants, and interactions. Our trip will take us through forest, field and wetland where we will focus on the components of each habitat and the adaptations of the animals and plants that live there.
Join one of our talented Hitchcock Center educators and choose among many fun-filled and hands-on field trips designed for the whole family. Each field trip is two hours in length. Consider extending the trip by packing a picnic lunch and staying after the program ends! Adults without children are welcome too!!
Habitat (all ages)
Thursdays, 10:30am-12:30pm, July 2, 16
Monday, 10am-12noon, July 20
Wednesday, 10am-12noon, Aug. 5
Fee per Child: Tier A-$28 per trip | Tier B-$22 per trip | Tier C-$17 per trip
Fee per Adult: Tier A-$33 per trip | Tier B-$26 per trip | Tier C-$20 per trip
(limit up to two adults and three children per family)
REGISTERHERE

Learn more about our Summer 2020 Children and Family Programs.

Virtual Saturday Family Science Series: Metamorphosis (ages 5-8)
2020-06-27 10:00 - 10:40
Metamorphosis
Saturday, June 27, 10-10:40am
We all go through changes in our life, but metamorphosis tops any changes humans can do. Butterflies, frogs, millipedes — all of them experience this incredible process. Learn about the life cycles of our metamorphosing friends at this Saturday Family Science. Learn more about this series.
Recommended for ages 5-8
Suggested donation: $5 per child
Maximum group size: 16 children
Registration opens June 23

Forests and Brain Health: Emerging Research
2020-06-16 19:00 - 20:30
The link between forests and brain health is a public policy imperative: we face increasing costs for disorders ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to addiction, and forests offer exercise, mindfulness and stress reduction. We are still discovering new species, and forests are a former and a likely future source of new medicines. Research on cardiovascular, immune and neurological systems is expanding worldwide. In people of all ages a forest can increase kindness, altruism, and generosity by provoking awe – the sense of wonder you feel in the presence of something beyond your understanding. For these and many other reasons, natural forests should be protected and accessible to citizens across the state.
Susan A. Masino, Ph.D. is the Vernon Roosa Professor of Applied Science at Trinity College and a recent Bullard Fellow in Forest Research at Harvard University. Her research focuses on links among metabolism, brain activity and behavior and she is dedicated to educational, environmental and public policy issues affecting brain health.
Tuesday, June 16, 7pm
Registration available soon.

Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests are organizing this series to educate the public about the critical importance of forests for storing carbon to fight climate change, providing critical habitat for native plants and wildlife, purifying air and water, and offering opportunities for nature-based recreation. Yet, almost all of our forests are currently open to logging and resource extraction. We must take action now to protect our forests, before it is too late! The Hitchcock Center is pleased to co-sponsor this event.

Paying to cut and burn forests: is this really what we want for renewable energy?
2020-06-09 19:00 - 20:30
Biomass energy is growing rapidly worldwide due to its inclusion in renewable energy programs that make it eligible for financial incentives, including in Massachusetts. However, despite being treated as “green” and carbon neutral, burning forest wood for energy actually emits more climate and air pollution per unit energy than most fossil fuels. And harvesting for biomass creates negative impacts on our forests. Join ecosystem scientist Mary Booth, Director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity, to hear about PFPI’s science, activism, and litigation concerning biomass energy in the US and Europe.
Mary S. Booth, Ph.D., Founder and Director of the Partnership for Policy Integrity, directs PFPI’s science and advocacy work on greenhouse gases, air pollution, and forest impacts of biomass energy.
Tuesday, June 9, 7pm
Registration available soon.
Climate Action Now and Save Massachusetts Forests are organizing this series to educate the public about the critical importance of forests for storing carbon to fight climate change, providing critical habitat for native plants and wildlife, purifying air and water, and offering opportunities for nature-based recreation. Yet, almost all of our forests are currently open to logging and resource extraction. We must take action now to protect our forests, before it is too late! The Hitchcock Center is pleased to co-sponsor this event.

Virtual Saturday Family Science: Wild With Water
2020-06-06 10:00 - 10:30
For this Saturday Science we’ll be getting our hands wet. This week we’ll be exploring topics around the magnificent powers of water. Our experiments will look at science principles like buoyancy and density, and others will explore water in our world, like the many forms of water and how it moves.
Registration opens June 2nd.
We’re excited to announce that Saturday Family Science is back!!! Each week in this five part virtual series, we will explore a different topic and focus on how young learners can think scientifically. In each session we’ll highlight one of “The Tools of a Scientist” which include; observation, hypothesizing, experimentation, and data recording. We’ll practice these science skills and investigate the world we live in by studying plants, animals, water, and air. While there will be activities to serve different ages, this series will focus on younger learners from ages five to eight.

Live half-hour interactive Zoom class for young children ages 5–8
Every Saturday at 10am, May 9 – June 6, 2020 with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Environmental Educator

Saturday Family Science programs are generously sponsored by Pelham Auto Service.

Please pre-register prior to each class using links below to receive your Zoom invitation and recommended at-home activities to explore prior to each class
Free, donations always welcome
