Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Wild Children of the Woods
2024-09-30 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-23 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-16 15:30 - 17:30 (America/New_York)
with Monya Relles
Grades 3 – 5
Mondays 3:30 – 5:30 PM
September 9 – December 16 (no class October 14 or November 11)
Fee per Child: Tier A:$393 | Tier B:$327 | Tier C:$278 | Tier D:$213
Limited to 12 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 Fall turn to Winter. 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.

Fall Birding Field Trip with Scott Surner
2024-09-28 07:00 - 12:00, 2024-09-21 07:00 - 12:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Fall Birding Class with Scott Surner
August 24 – October 26, 2024

Birding in the fall is just as wonderful as birding in the spring, see hawks migrating, fall warblers, waterfowl migration and more. Join lifelong birder Scott Surner as well as other local birders to get out and enjoy nature, birds and the company of others who also love birds.
Sliding Scale cost: $300, $270 or $240
Saturday Field Trips:
Aug 24 – 5AM – Dusk We start off the fall 2024 season with a trip to a coastal location in search of south bound Shorebirds, Herons, Terns etc. The likely location would be Plum Island, but a trip to the Connecticut shore can’t be ruled out. Bring Lunch.
Aug 31 – No Class
Sept 7 – 7AM – 12 Local, Looking for fall Warblers, Philadelphia Vireo, and keeping an eye out for south bound American Golden-Plovers.
Sept 14 – 7AM – 12 Local, More fall Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers. Etc.
Sept 21 – 7AM – 12 Local, Looking for more warblers, early sparrows and, depending on the weather, looking for migrating hawks at MT.Holyoke.
Sept 28- 7AM – 12. Local. Looking for Sparrows! We’ll be visiting local weedy fields in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton.
Oct 5- 6AM – 4PM. Lighthouse point, Connecticut. This is a well-known location for hawk migration, in particular for accipiters. Bring lunch.

Oct 12th– No Class
Oct 19th– 7AM-12. Local. Waterfowl migration is starting up. We could visit a number of sites locally from Quabbin to Northampton.
Oct 26th– 7AM-12. Franklin County- Waterfowl. We’ll visit Barton’s Cove, Power Canal and in the spirit of Halloween, we’ll also visit Satan’s Kingdom and Hell’s Kitchen.
Classroom Programs-
Aug 21st– 6PM-8PM- Shorebirds & Terns
Sept 4th– 6PM – 8PM- Fall Warblers
Sept 25th– 6PM-8PM- Sparrows

Juliette Gagnon Art Exhibition Opening
2024-09-27 17:30 - 18:30

Fall Birding - Classroom Program
2024-09-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Fall Birding Class with Scott Surner
August 24 – October 26, 2024
(Plus optional add on November weekend trip)

Birding in the fall is just as wonderful as birding in the spring, see hawks migrating, fall warblers, waterfowl migration and more. Join lifelong birder Scott Surner as well as other local birders to get out and enjoy nature, birds and the company of others who also love birds.
Sliding Scale cost: $300, $270 or $240
Saturday Field Trips:
Aug 24 – 5AM – Dusk We start off the fall 2024 season with a trip to a coastal location in search of south bound Shorebirds, Herons, Terns etc. The likely location would be Plum Island, but a trip to the Connecticut shore can’t be ruled out. Bring Lunch.
Aug 31 – No Class
Sept 7 – 7AM – 12 Local, Looking for fall Warblers, Philadelphia Vireo, and keeping an eye out for south bound American Golden-Plovers.
Sept 14 – 7AM – 12 Local, More fall Warblers, Vireos, Flycatchers. Etc.
Sept 21 – 7AM – 12 Local, Looking for more warblers, early sparrows and, depending on the weather, looking for migrating hawks at MT.Holyoke.
Sept 28- 7AM – 12. Local. Looking for Sparrows! We’ll be visiting local weedy fields in Amherst, Hadley and Northampton.
Oct 5- 6AM – 4PM. Lighthouse point, Connecticut. This is a well-known location for hawk migration, in particular for accipiters. Bring lunch.

Oct 12th– No Class
Oct 19th– 7AM-12. Local. Waterfowl migration is starting up. We could visit a number of sites locally from Quabbin to Northampton.
Oct 26th– 7AM-12. Franklin County- Waterfowl. We’ll visit Barton’s Cove, Power Canal and in the spirit of Halloween, we’ll also visit Satan’s Kingdom and Hell’s Kitchen.
Classroom Programs-
Aug 28th– 6PM-8PM- Shorebirds & Terns
Sept 4th– 6PM – 8PM- Fall Warblers
Sept 25th– 6PM-8PM- Sparrows
REGISTER HERE FOR FULL CLASS

Optional Overnight Weekend Birding Trip-
Nov 8th-10th. Cape Cod Weekend. Departing early Friday morning and returning late afternoon on Sunday. We’ll focus mostly on the lower Cape. (Orleans down to Provincetown). More info will be given after sign-up. This trip is separate from the other trips listed above. Everyone is responsible for their own transportation, food and lodging. Fee includes 3 days of birding instruction.
Sliding scale: $190, 160, or $130.
REGISTER HERE FOR ADDITIONAL WEEKEND TRIP

Forest Bathing with Todd Lynch
2024-09-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Forest Bathing with Todd Lynch
Wednesday, September 25, 5-7PM

Sliding Scale: $18, $25, or $35
There is a quiet pulse to the fall forest, as the trees and landscape turn inward and
prepare for winter. It is darker earlier; the leaves fall – creating spontaneous collages on
the forest floor and the trees reveal their winter forms. Come experience this changing
of the seasons on a Forest Bathing walk with Todd Lynch, certified ANFT Forest
Bathing guide. Forest Bathing offers the opportunity to slow down. It re-aligns our
rhythms with the landscape, allowing our senses a respite from everyday demands and
uncertainties, and gives us a template to practice on our own time at home. It’s a
chance to remember ourselves and the joyful relationships that await us outside. Come
experience what the Forest at the Hitchcock Center might share on this 2 hour
experience.
REGISTER HERE – SEPTEMBER

Junior Nature Play Afterschool
2024-09-25 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-18 15:30 - 17:30
Junior Nature Play Afterschool
with Lauren Dausch
Grades K – 2
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
September 4 – December 18 (Extended day (1 PM) on October 23, no program November 27)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$487 | Tier B-$406 | Tier C-$345 | Tier D-$264
Limited to 12 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 Fall Junior Nature Play we will explore wooded trails and fields, play pretend in our mud kitchen, and make leaf crowns. Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits.

Nature Play Afterschool
2024-09-25 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-18 15:30 - 17:30
Nature Play Afterschool
with Jeff Mazur
Grades 2 – 4
Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
September 4 – December 18 (Extended day (1 PM) on October 23, no program November 27)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$487 | Tier B-$406 | Tier C-$345 | Tier D-$264
Limited to 12 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. During Fall Nature Play we will explore wooded trails and fields, jump in leaf piles, build forts, climb trees, and make new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits. For those parents deciding between the junior and nature play programs, the latter often travels further and is away from the Hitchcock Center’s play yard longer.

Girls into the Wild
2024-09-24 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-17 15:30 - 17:30
with Katie Koerten
Grades 4 – 6
Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
September 3 – December 17 (no program November 5)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$453 | Tier B-$378 | Tier C-$321 | Tier D-$245
Limited to 12 participants
Girls into the Wild is back in Fall 2024 for more romping wildly through the field and forests of the Hitchcock Center with Katie! 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! Genderqueer, nonbinary, agender and trans young people are welcome.

Nature Play Afterschool
2024-09-24 15:30 - 17:30, 2024-09-17 15:30 - 17:30
with Jeff Mazur
Grades 1 – 3
Tuesdays, 3:30 – 5:30 PM
September 10 – December 17 (no program November 5)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$447 | Tier B-$372 | Tier C-$316 | Tier D-$242
Limited to 12 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. During Fall Nature Play we will explore wooded trails and fields, jump in leaf piles, build forts, climb trees, and make new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us. Our instructors provide a safe setting for children to explore nature and encourage children to stretch their limits.

Homeschool II: CSI Nature Detectives
2024-09-24 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-17 10:00 - 14:00
Homeschool II: CSI (Children Science Investigators) Nature Detectives
with Alanna Johnston-Rutledge
Grades 4 – 6, Ages 9 – 12
Tuesdays 10 AM – 2 PM
September 17 – December 10
(No program October 22, November 26 for Discovery Days. No program Nov 5 for election day)
Fee per Child: Tier A: $773 | Tier B:$645 | Tier C:$548 | Tier D:$419
Limited to 12 participants
Put on your detective hats, because it’s science investigation time! Nature has many mysteries for us to explore: Why do leaves change color in the fall? What can we learn from an animal’s bones? What makes static electricity? How do trees think? We will be investigating these cases and many more. We will learn investigative skills, ask questions and solve puzzles about the world around us. This program will feature field trips, engineering challenges, games, crafts, journaling, and more.

Homeschool I: Our Changing World
2024-09-24 10:00 - 14:00, 2024-09-17 10:00 - 14:00
Homeschool I: Our Changing World: Transformations in Nature
with Lauren Dausch
Grades 1 – 3, Ages 6 – 8
Tuesdays 10 AM – 2 PM
September 17 – December 10
(No program October 22, November 26 for Homeschool Discovery Days. No program November 5 for election day)
Fee per Child: Tier A: $773 | Tier B: $645 | Tier C: $548 | Tier D: $419
Limited to 12 participants
What does it mean to “transform?” Do all transformations happen in the same way? What changes do we experience as humans? Join us this Fall to study the intricacies of change and transformation in the natural world. We will learn about changes among plant life, the animal kingdom, soil and substrates, planetary history, chemicals and more! Our world is constantly changing, and if we train our senses finely enough, we will be able to sense our own transformations occurring right in tune with the Earth’s.

Monarch Tagging (3+) 2/2
2024-09-23 16:00 - 17:30
With Jennifer Unkles
Ages 3+
Thursday, September 19, 4:00 – 5:30 PM or Monday, September 23, 4:00 – 5:30 PM
Suggested Donation: $10–$30 per person
Limited to 15 participants
The monarch butterflies are back and their cycle continues! Come for a small group class to see them up close, learn about their fascinating life cycle, tag and release pre-caught butterflies and then take a hike to look for others. Nets and supplies will be provided. We often find other insects on these walks. Data collected will be added for scientific research through the Monarch Watch Community Science Project (MonarchWatch.org).

Nature Discovery Preschool (PM)
2024-09-20 13:00 - 15:00
Nature Discovery Preschool Series:
Life in the Canopy! (Leaves, Seeds and the Animals Above Us)
with Chrissy Larson
Ages 3 – 5 (Adult required to attend with child)
Fridays, September 13 – December 6 (no programs September 27, October 25, November 29)
Morning session: 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Afternoon session: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Fee per Child: Tier A-$477 | Tier B-$398 | Tier C-$338 | Tier D-$258
Limited to 16 participants. Limit of 2 children per adult. Siblings under 3 are free.
The leafy branches above our heads create a habitat for birds, mammals, and invertebrates. Children and their grown-ups investigate together and spend the fall learning about the unique inhabitants of the tree canopy. Birds and squirrels use the branches to find food and shelter. Hawks peer down watching for prey. As fall continues, leaves change color and fall to the ground, creating a cozy layer of food and shelter for nature’s recyclers. This program encourages learning through exploration, movement, songs, stories, and crafts. An adult caregiver must attend with the child. This Nature Discovery Preschool is a ten week series that takes place outdoors unless there is extreme weather.

Nature Discovery Preschool (AM)
2024-09-20 09:30 - 11:30

Garden Party with Herbal infusion Demo
2024-09-19 17:00 - 18:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Garden Parties with Herbal infusion Demos
Thursday, September 19, 5 PM
In the Hitchcock Center Gardens – FREE

Join us for a garden party in the Hitchcock Center gardens. Enjoy a demonstration on how to make a variety of infusions with seasonal herbs and flowers and learn more about the work of the Hitchcock Center with Executive Director Billy Spitzer. Light refreshments from the garden will be served. Please RSVP to shelly@hitchcockcenter.org or kim@hitchcockcenter.org.

Monarch Tagging (3+) 1/2
2024-09-19 16:00 - 17:30

Senior Nature Hike with John Green
2024-09-18 09:00 - 11:00
Senior Nature Hikes with John Green
Wednesday, September 18, 9-11am – Notch

These nature hikes will be led by naturalist John Green, they are all at locations with f
airly level ground, they will move slowly and not cover a lot of distance. Please wear solid footwear, and binoculars are welcome.
Registration is required, exact location and meeting spot will be provided upon registration. Sliding Scale: $10, $20, or $30

Monarch Tagging (All Ages)
2024-09-14 11:30 - 13:00
with Jennifer Unkles
All ages
Saturday, September 14, 11:30 AM – 1 PM
Suggested Donation: $5 – $30 per family
Drop in any time to see how monarch butterflies are tagged and ask questions about this amazing creature and their hope filled cycle of survival. Author Naila Moreira will be a special guest sharing about her new middle grade novel, The Monarchs of Winghaven.

Second Saturday Family Science
2024-09-14 10:00 - 11:00
Second Saturday Family Science
with Lauren Dausch
Ages 5 – 7 or Grades K – 1
Saturdays, 10 – 11 AM
September 14, October 12, November 9, December 14
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.
September 14: Strengthen Your Senses (Outside)
Do you sometimes feel like the natural world is too separate from the constructed human world? Join us as we utilize our senses to foster a more full-bodied connection with the nature around us!
