Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Living Building Tour
2018-10-17 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come meet our newest educator – our building! It is designed to model systems in nature, it is net zero energy, net zero water, has composting toilets, and has been made with responsibly sourced non-toxic materials, come check it out at one of our bi-monthly tours. Tours typically last from 1-1.5 hours.
First Fridays at 4pm: September 7, October 5, November 2, December 6
Third Wednesdays at 12pm: August 15, September 19, October 17, December 19 (No tour November 21)
FREE but please register online

Private Building Tours
The Hitchcock Center offers private group building tours, based on availability. The fee for these tours is $50/group for a one hour weekday tour (during business hours). Please limit group size to 15-20 for the best experience. Please contact Jessica Schultz, Living Building Coordinator, to arrange your group’s tour.
Note: We are pleased to be able to offer Spanish language translators for our building tours. If you or someone you know could benefit from translation, please let us know in advance, so that we may schedule a translator for your tour date.
While you’re here, check out our neighbors over at the R.W. Kern Center at Hampshire College, another Living Building Challenge project.

Nature Play Afterschool
2018-10-17 13:30 - 17:30, 2018-10-31 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-11-07 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Fall is here, and school has started, and your kids still want to be outside! Hitchcock’s Nature Play Afterschool Program is designed to let kids be kids. Together we will run, jump, climb, invent, imagine, play and be a free-range kids all while developing self-confidence and learning valuable social skills. During Fall Nature Play we will explore wooded trails and fields, play in and near streams, build forts, climb trees, make new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us and use our imaginations. Our instructors provide a safe structure for children to explore nature and encourages children to stretch their limits as they balance on logs, hold salamanders, or co-create new games with their peers. Please note: there will be a different educators for Mondays and Wednesdays.

Wednesdays: 3:30pm-5:30pm, extended days 1:30pm-5:30pm
September 12 – December 19 (no class November 21)
Extended days: Sept 26, Oct 17, Dec 12
Members: $380/Non-members: $475

Girls into the Wild
2018-10-18 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-10-25 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-11-01 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-11-08 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Sometimes you just need to run, explore and play outdoors! That’s what we do at Girls into the Wild, and lots more. Now going into its fifth year, Girls into the Wild is designed to get girls outside, playing and engaging with nature in their own way. Instructor Katie Koerten strives to offer games and activities that each girl can participate in at her own comfort level, from climbing trees, to playing camouflage in the forest, to running and whooping wildly through fields – all while noticing the birds that are singing, the flowers that are blooming and the animals that are leaving tracks behind. Come build your confidence and show your wild side! Families provide their own transportation to the Hitchcock Center.
with Katie Koerten
Ages 8-11, Grades 3-5
Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 13 – December 20 (no program Nov. 22)
Members: $355/Non-members: $425

Nature Discovery Preschool: Mammal Friends
2018-10-19 09:30 - 11:30, 2018-10-26 08:00 - 17:00, 2018-11-09 09:30 - 11:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
with Colleen Kelley
Ages 3-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
Fridays, Morning session: 9:30-11:30am
September 14, 28 (no September 21) October 12, 19, 26 (no October 5) November 9, 16, 30 (no November 2, 23) December 7, 14
Members: $205/Non-members: $255
Through live animal observations, puppets, stories, games and crafts, Colleen will introduce the children to local mammals living right in our backyards. Squirrels, deer, skunks, and raccoons will be just a few of the friends we’ll make during our ten weeks together. An adult is required to attend with each child. Limited to 12 families per session.

Nature Discovery Preschool: Mammal Friends
2018-10-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2018-10-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
with Colleen Kelley
Ages 3-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
Fridays, Afternoon session: 1:00-3:00pm
September 14, 28 (no September 21) October 12, 19, 26 (no October 5) November 9, 16, 30 (no November 2, 23) December 7, 14
Members: $205/Non-members: $255
Through live animal observations, puppets, stories, games and crafts, Colleen will introduce the children to local mammals living right in our backyards. Squirrels, deer, skunks, and raccoons will be just a few of the friends we’ll make during our ten weeks together. An adult is required to attend with each child. Limited to 12 families per session.

Wild Foods for Humans and Animals
2018-10-21 09:00 - 12:00
Track the movement of animals as they forage for foods, learn to gather the fall wild foods available for humans.
with Neill Broivard
$30/course
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-all-year-study-club-2018-registration-39885389273
About Niell:
Neill has been practicing and teaching wilderness skills since 1998. He is the founder and director of Wolf Tree Programs in Montague, MA and has a deep love for harvesting wild food off of the landscape. www.wolftreema.com
About this program:
This program is a part of our fifth year of offering an in-depth natural history course for naturalists and citizen scientists. Each month, in our series of nature explorations with different local naturalists, we explore a focused, seasonal, natural history topic. We’ll look at nature in new ways, from broad habitat perspectives to close details of individual species. Over the course of the year we’ll visit a variety of natural habitats in the greater Pioneer Valley area. Identification skills, ecological connections, adaptations, and life cycles of organisms will be the focus of our observations. Bring your curiosity and observation skills and be prepared to spend time outdoors. Dress for the weather as we rarely cancel due to inclement weather. Bring binoculars and a hand lens, water and snacks if you would like.

Repair Public: Fixery through Community - CANCELED
2018-10-21 12:00 - 15:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Repair Public is an exercise in community resourcefulness. The basic idea is to encourage people to learn how and/or where to fix broken items instead of tossing them into a landfill and buying replacements. The participants and facilitators are local community members just like you. You bring a broken item that you want help repairing as well as a willingness to try to fix it. There will be repair facilitators on-hand to help you figure out how to fix your treasure, each with one or more areas of specialty. We’ll have various tools available for use, as well as some basic supplies like screws, tape, glue, wire nuts, needles, threads, and probably appliance cord with some plug-ends. With all these ingredients, we intend to help you repair whatever you decide to bring in – To learn more https://repairpublic.org/.
Donations and registration appreciated

Nature Play and Learning Places Garden Work Day
2018-10-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
The Hitchcock Center is expanding its nature play area. Join this community effort and come help us dig, weed, plant, mulch, haul, etc. Bring tools and gloves if you have them.
Sunday, September 30, 1-3pm
Sunday, October 21, 1-3pm
Registration appreciated

Nature Play Afterschool
2018-10-22 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-10-29 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-11-05 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Fall is here, and school has started, and your kids still want to be outside! Hitchcock’s Nature Play Afterschool Program is designed to let kids be kids. Together we will run, jump, climb, invent, imagine, play and be a free-range kids all while developing self-confidence and learning valuable social skills. During Fall Nature Play we will explore wooded trails and fields, play in and near streams, build forts, climb trees, make new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us and use our imaginations. Our instructors provide a safe structure for children to explore nature and encourages children to stretch their limits as they balance on logs, hold salamanders, or co-create new games with their peers. Please note: there will be a different educators for Mondays and Wednesdays.
Mondays: 3:30pm-5:30pm
September 17 – December 17 (no class October 8)
Members: $295/Non-members $365

Homeschool I: Incredible Insects (And Other Arthropods!)
2018-10-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2018-10-30 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Honey, we shrunk the homeschoolers! Get ready to become very tiny this fall as we get down on a bug’s level. At Homeschool I we’ll discover the insects and other arthropods, such as spiders, millipedes and crustaceans that share our home with us. From butterfly to bumblebee, and cockroach to click beetle we’ll find out the characteristics that make these animals amazing survivors. We’ll learn about insect defense strategies, communication, and how many insects help humans in our everyday lives! Through collection and observation, field trips and art projects, we will study the insects and arthropods of our local habitats and beyond. By the end of our class, you might just ask yourself, where would the world “bee” without insects? Space is limited. Limited to 12 participants.
with Katie Koerten
Tuesdays, 10am-2pm
September 18, 25, October 9, 16, 23, 30, November 13, 20, 27, December 4 (No class October 2 or November 6)
Members: $450/Non-members: $560

Homeschool II: Citizen Science!
2018-10-23 10:00 - 14:00, 2018-10-30 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Calling all future scientists! Citizen scientists are people — young or old — who help collect data for research projects. We will work with local researchers and on national science projects, collecting data that matters! For this homeschool series we will be diving into different science projects and asking lots of questions, such as: How healthy is our local population of salamanders? When do our monarch butterflies migrate? When do our leaves drop? And more! Kids can offer a new way of looking at an issue, so bring your scientific mind, observation skills and unique perspective to our class. Through observation, special guests, field trips, and surveys, we will study the world around us and contribute to science while also having fun, exploring and playing games. Limited to 12 participants
with Jeff Mazur
Tuesdays, 10am-2pm
September 18, 25, October 9, 16, 23, 30, November 13, 20, 27, December 4 (No class October 2 or November 6)
Members: $450/Non-members: $560

Nature Play Afterschool
2018-10-24 15:30 - 17:30

What to do about Lymantria dispar (aka Gypsy Moths) - CANCELLED
2018-10-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Populations of Gypsy Moths (Lymantria dispar) have been building in the Valley during these last several years. Many of us have experienced this first hand. Come learn about this insect, its life cycle, and preferred food tree species. What are the predators and diseases that can control this moth? What can be done to reduce infestations? And what can we do as property owners for our own trees and woods? Joe has been researching this species and will bring up-to-date information about this rapidly changing field of inquiry. Come ready to take notes and ask your questions.

Please note: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this program has been cancelled. We plan to reschedule it for the winter or spring.

with Joe Elkinton, Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Sciences at UMASS
Wednesday, October 24, 7 pm
Free, registration and donations appreciated.

Living Building Tour
2018-11-02 16:00 - 17:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Did you know the Hitchcock Center is a Living Building? It is designed to model systems in nature, it’s net zero energy and water, has composting toilets, and has been made with responsibly sourced non-toxic materials. Bring your questions and come find out what good can look like in the built environment at one of our bi-monthly tours. Tours typically last from 1-1.5 hours.
First Fridays at 4pm: September 7, October 5, November 2, December 6
Third Wednesdays at 12pm: August 15, September 19, October 17, December 19 (No tour November 21)
FREE but please register online

Private Building Tours
The Hitchcock Center offers private group building tours, based on availability. The fee for these tours is $50/group for a one hour weekday tour (during business hours). Please limit group size to 15-20 for the best experience. Please contact Jessica Schultz, Living Building Coordinator, to arrange your group’s tour.
Note: We are pleased to be able to offer Spanish language translators for our building tours. If you or someone you know could benefit from translation, please let us know in advance, so that we may schedule a translator for your tour date.
While you’re here, check out our neighbors over at the R.W. Kern Center at Hampshire College, another Living Building Challenge project.

Viewing the Night Sky
2018-11-02 19:30 - 20:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
James will provide telescopes and help us view constellations, planets, galaxies and stars from our Hitchcock hilltop. We’ll discuss what we are viewing including science facts as well as legends from other cultures that teach deeper lessons about how we can connect with the sky. Dress for the weather, bring a flashlight, and be prepared to expand your horizons!
This event will be held rain or clear. Indoor astronomy activities will be planned in case of cloudy or inclement weather.
with James Lowenthal, Professor of Astronomy at Smith College, International Dark-Sky Association
Friday, October 12, 8-9pm
Friday, November 2, 7:30- 8:30pm
Friday, December 7, 7-8pm
FREE, Registration appreciated

November Curriculum Day
2018-11-06 08:30 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come play outside on this day off for Amherst elementary schoolers! Bring a snack, lunch and water bottle and come prepared to play outside, no matter what the weather! Limited to 10 participants. *Depending on enrollment, your Kindergartner or 4th grader may be able to join.

with Aemelia Thompson, Hitchcock Educator
Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3*
Tuesday, November 6
8:30am-3:00pm
Member $60/Non-Member $70

Homeschool Discovery Day: Marvelous Mammals
2018-11-06 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Do you love science and nature? Do you want to see what the Hitchcock Homeschool program is all about? Sign up for our Discovery Days, our one-time programs about science and nature. In a mixed-age setting, we explore cool topics at the Hitchcock Center, meet science experts, and sometimes go on field trips. Our Discovery Day programs are appropriate for everyone from first time to veteran homeschoolers, and we welcome almost-6 year olds who are interested in joining our class in the spring. This is designed as a drop-off program. Limited to 12 participants per program.
September 11: Quabbin Reservoir Discovery with Katie Koerten
October 2: The Forest That Stinks! with Katie Koerten
November 6: Marvelous Mammals with Jeff Mazur
December 11: Ew, That’s Gross! with Jeff Mazur
with Katie Koerten or Jeff Mazur
Tuesdays 10am-2pm
September 11, October 2, November 6, December 11
Members: $45 per program/Non-members: $55 per program
Ages 6-12

Acting Together in the Face of the Climate Crisis
2018-11-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come join us and this panel of local grassroots organizers to hear about local environmental justice issues and the great work these 3 community leaders are doing.

Jacqueline Velez – Jacqueline has worked in Holyoke, MA for Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) since July 2016. She is a leader in the Columbia Gas Resistance Campaign. Before becoming the Holyoke Organizer for N2N she served as the project assistant at the Correctional Association of New York for the Women in Prison Project for five years and then as the Social Media and Communications Associate for a year and a half. She worked as the Production Assistant for WBAI’s, “On The Count, The Prison and Criminal Justice Report,” with the late Eddie Ellis, and as the Outreach Specialist for WORTH. She is a graduate of both leadership and advocacy trainings at the Women’s Prison Association and the Correctional Association of New York and is currently pursuing a degree from Bard College.
Susan Theberge– Is deeply concerned about the environmental catastrophe, Susan left her academic position to return to her roots as an organizer with a focus on environmental, race and climate justice. Co-founder and Steering Committee member of Climate Action NOW and active in Sugar Shack Alliance, Susan helped organize and works with the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition. She serves on the Steering Committee for the Columbia Gas Resistance Campaign and as Environmental and Climate Justice Program Chair of the Amherst area NAACP.
Marty Nathan– Marty Nathan MD is an almost-retired family practitioner at Baystate Brightwood Health Center who directs the Cliniquita Fund (Spanish) for immigrant health care. She is a long-time anti-racist, peace and environmental organizer who is on the steering committees of Climate Action Now, the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition, and the Columbia Gas Resistance Coalition. She is a founder and director of the Markham-Nathan Fund for Social Justice. She is married to Elliot Fratkin and is the mother of three and grandmother of two.

Wednesday, November 7th, 7:00-8:30pm
Free, registration appreciated
Organized in partnership with Pete Westover, Hampshire College, the Roddenberry Foundation, and Climate Action NOW
