Hitchcock Center for the Environment

Winter Vacation Camp
2018-02-23 08:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
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. Online registration opens December 10. Space is limited to 15 participants per age group.
Ages 6-10, Grades K-5
Monday through Friday, February 19-23
Members: $60 per day/Non-members: $70 per day

Winter Nature Walk on Snowshoes
2018-02-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Join naturalist John Green in one of his favorite habitats for winter nature walk on snowshoes. Go off trail and down to the water with the freedome of snowshoes looking for signs of all the animals and birds active through the winter. This is a magical time to visit the Quabbin. Bring snowshoes, we have a few to loan if needed. Directions provided with registration.
with John Green, naturalist
Saturday, February 24, 9am-12pm
Members $15/Non-members $20
Registration link available soon

Salamander Tunnel Maintenance
2018-02-24 11:00 - 13:00 | Henry Street Salamander Tunnels, Amherst
Saturday, February 24
11am-1pm
Register here
A weekend day – timing depends on weather conditions and snow cover. The salamanders are coming! Come out and help get ready for their annual spring migration! We’ll gather on Henry Street in North Amherst and work on the tunnels. We’ll rake out the tunnel entrances, repair the drift fences that direct the animals into the tunnel entrances, pick up litter, and more! Wear work gloves and come prepared to get dirty! There will be a presentation on the salamanders’ amazing lives during a work break!
Note: Please park at Cushman and take a short walk to the Salamander tunnels.

Homeschool Discovery Day
2018-02-27 10:00 - 14:00, 2018-03-06 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, although the occasional parents and younger siblings stay as long as disruptions are kept to a minimum. Limited to 12 participants per program.
with Katie Koerten or Jeff Mazur
Tuesdays 10:00am-2:00pm
Ages 6-12
Members: $42 per program/Non-members: $46 per program
Tuesdays, January 9, January 23, February 27, March 6, April 3, May 1, June 12

January 9 Animals in Winter with Jeff Mazur
January 23 How Does Water Get To Our Faucet? Field Trip with Jeff Mazur
February 27 How Sweet It Is: Making Maple Syrup with Jeff Mazur
March 6 Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands with Katie Koerten
April 3 Poisonous or Venomous? An Exploration of Natural Defenses with Jeff Mazur
May 1 Making and Tinkering Workshop with Katie Koerten
June 12 The River in Our Backyard: Field Trip to Groff Park with Katie Koerten

Nature Play Afterschool
2018-02-28 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-07 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-14 13:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-21 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Just because it’s cold outside, doesn’t mean your kids need to stay inside to play. Have them join Hitchcock’s Nature Play Afterschool Program, which 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 Winter Nature Play, we make snow forts, sled, find animal tracks, play manhunt in the dark and use our imagination as we explore the wooded trails and fields. Instructor Jeff Mazur provides 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.
with Jeff Mazur, Hitchcock educator
Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3
Wednesdays, January 3 – March 21, 2018 (No program on February 21st)
3:30pm-5:30pm
Extended Days: 2/7 and 3/14 1:30pm-5:30pm
$275 members/$300 nonmembers

Spring Birding Class with Scott Surner
2018-02-28 18:30 - 20:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Join this Hitchcock tradition, Scott has been leading since 1979. Space is limited and in high demand. Class and fieldtrip schedule.
Classes: 4 Wednesdays, January 31 – May 9, 6:30pm-8pm
Weekend Field Trips: February 10-June 10 see online for all dates
Register here. Online registration opens on January 9 at 9am.
Members $295/Non-members $325

Girls into the Wild
2018-03-01 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-08 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-15 15:30 - 17:30, 2018-03-22 15:30 - 17:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Sometimes you just need to run, explore and play – especially in the winter! That’s what we do at Girls into the Wild, and lots more. Now in its fourth 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.
Katie Koerten, Hitchcock Educator
Ages 8-11, Grades 3-5
Thursdays, January 4 – March 22, 2018 (No program 2/22)
3:30pm-5:30pm
$297 members/$352 nonmembers

Living Building Tour
2018-03-02 16:00 - 17:00, 2018-03-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 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: January 5, February 2, March 2
Third Wednesdays at 12pm: January 17, February 21, March 21
FREE but please register online

Tree Pruning and Tree Health
2018-03-03 09:00 - 12:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come learn the basics of the science and art of tree care. Designed for home gardeners, this workshop will provide you with a foundation in the science and practice of pruning trees. We will cover techniques and introduce you to resources and equipment. Demonstrations on site at the Hitchcock Center.
with Walker Korby, Whole Tree
Saturday, March 3, 9am-12pm
Members $15/Non-members $20
Registration link available soon

Prowling for Owls
2018-03-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Dress INCREDIBLY warm because we’ll be standing around in the dark a lot. Bring your sharp ears, a flashlight, and a thermos of something hot to drink. We’ll meet at the Hitchcock Center.
with Dan Ziomek, local birder and naturalist
Friday, January 26, 8-10pm – wait list only!
Saturday, February 10, 8-10pm – wait list only!
Saturday, February 17, 8-10pm – wait list only!
Saturday, March 3, 8-10pm
Members $12/Non-members $16 per night, youth 8 and older welcome with an adult.
Register here.

March Curriculum Day
2018-03-09 08:30 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
(No school for Amherst schools)
Friday, March 9
8:30am-3:00pm
Ages 6-9, Grades 1-3
$60 members/$70 nonmembers
Limited to 10 participants.

Second Saturdays at Hitchcock
2018-03-10 09:00 - 13:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Second Saturdays: December 9, January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9
The Hitchcock Center is open to families and the community second Saturdays of the month, December thru June from 9am-1pm. Stop by to explore our building, talk with an educator, read a book with your kids or grandkids in our visitor center, and join us for one of our family science programs.
9am-1pm
Saturday Family Science Series
Join us for seasonal nature and science programs each second Saturday of the month. Designed for children with their parents, these programs will explore cool topics in nature.
10am-11am
Free, registration appreciated. Groups of 6 or more please call ahead.

Saturday Family Science Series: Vernal Pools
2018-03-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Second Saturdays: January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9
The Hitchcock Center is open to families and the community second Saturdays of the month, December thru June from 9am-1pm. Stop by to explore our building, talk with an educator, read a book with your kids or grandkids in our visitor center, and join us for one of our family science programs.
9am-1pm
Saturday Family Science Series
Join us for seasonal nature and science programs each second Saturday of the month. Designed for children with their parents, these programs will explore cool topics in nature.
10am-11am
Free, registration appreciated. Groups of 6 or more please call ahead.
Themes:
January 13: Coping with Cold
February 10: Crystals and Snowflakes
March 10: Vernal Pools
April 14: Water Cycle
May 12: Metamorphosis
June 9: Pollinators

Weather Cancellation Policy
If we cancel this program due to in-climate weather, we will post the cancellation on our website by 9am. Please check the website before coming to the program.

Rich Earth Institute: Urine Nutrient Reclamation Project
2018-03-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Founded in 2012, the Rich Earth Institute established the nation’s first community scale urine recycling program, the Urine Nutrient Reclamation Project. As leaders in this emerging field, we have become a hub for researchers, industry professionals, and practitioners exploring the intersection of agriculture and sanitation. Rich Earth holds the country’s first permit from the VT Department of Environmental Conservation to produce legally-approved urine derived fertilizer. Funded by the EPA, USDA, Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), National Science Foundation (NSF), and private donations, Rich Earth collects, transports, treats and land applies human urine; turning it into an effective agricultural fertilizer at our two participating local farms in Brattleboro. In our presentation we will share the rationale for source separated urine diversion and nutrient recovery, and research results from the past 5 years.
Saturday, March 10, 11am-12pm
FREE registration link available soon

Nature All Year Study Club: Tree Identification
2018-03-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Fieldtrip Location
Join us for 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. Carpooling to more distant locations will be encouraged.
Sundays once per month, 9am-12pm (some class times may vary depending on topics)
Members: $300/Non-members: $350 for the full course
Drop-in cost is $30.
Register here

Homeschool I
2018-03-13 10:00 - 14:00, 2018-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Feathers to Flight
It’s spring! What better time of year is there to discover the birds all around us? At Homeschool I we will explore the wonderful adaptations that makes a bird a bird, and how specialized beaks, feet and feathers make them suited for their habitats. We’ll learn tools for identifying a bird by examining field markings, size, and flight patterns. We will observe birds at our feeders and in different habitats on field trips. We’ll also meet live birds of prey with special visitor Tom Ricardi! Get ready for an amazing birding adventure with spring homeschool! Bring binoculars if you have them. Limited to 12 participants.
with Katie Koerten, Hitchcock educator
Tuesdays, March 13, 20, 27, April 10, 24, May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5
(no program 4/3, 4/17, or 5/1)
10:00am-2:00pm
Ages 6-8
$420 members/$450 nonmembers – financial aid available

Homeschool II
2018-03-13 10:00 - 14:00, 2018-03-20 10:00 - 14:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Rocks and Water: The Shaping of Our Valley
Discover the stories in the stones around us! We live in a geologically unique area, and the landscape provides intriguing clues to the past. At Homeschool II we will find evidence of shifting plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, glaciers, and the power of water. We will hike up mountains, collect rocks, and explore the rivers that have cut through the land. Join the fun as we conduct experiments, create crafts, explore home projects, and play outside.
with Jeff Mazur, Hitchcock educator
Tuesdays, March 13, 20, 27, April 10, 24, May 8, 15, 22, 29, June 5
(no program 4/3, 4/17, or 5/1)
10:00am-2:00pm
Ages 9-12
$420 members/$450 nonmembers – financial aid available

Buds, Leaves and Global Warming: What 8 years of data collection tells us about phenology trends at Belchertown High School
2018-03-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Come join Louise and her students as they share their findings from tracking and recording data on trees on the BHS campus for the last 8 growing seasons. We ask our trees the big questions – Is the length of the growing season changing with the changing climate? How can we understand what affects the timing of buds opening in Spring and leaves dropping in Fall, for each tree, during each year? What other weather or biological phenomena track common patterns with our trees? How do our trees compare to others of the same species in other parts of New England? How do we make use of this information to inform decisions for the future?
with Louise Levy, BHS Science Teacher, MA Conservation Teacher of the Year Thursday
January 11, 7-8:30pm
Free, registration link available soon

Morning Nature Walk for Seniors
2018-03-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Join John Green a lifelong naturalist as he ambles through a habitat looking and listening. Come see what’s waking up with the March thaw. It’s a wonderful time to explore nature and get breaths of fresh crisp air.
with John Green, naturalist
Thursday, March 15, 9am-11am
Members $10/Non-members $12
Registration link available soon

Edible Perennial Gardening and Landscaping CANCELLED
2018-03-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Join us for this late winter power point presentation featuring the variety of trees, shrubs, vines, canes, and herbaceous perennials that can be grown in New England for bountiful harvest of fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Participants learn how to establish and care for these plants using organicn methods of cultivation. Nutritional and medicinal benefits of the plants are discussed as well. Q&A, handouts with a list of edible perennial plant species, resources for further study and recommended plant nurseries included.
with John Root, naturalist and educator
Thursday, March 22, 7-8pm
Members $8/Non-members $10
Registration link available soon
