Homeschool II: Community Science
2022-12-06 10:00 - 14:00, 2022-12-13 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
With Jeff Mazur
Grades 4-6, Ages 9-12
Tuesdays 10:00am – 2:00 pm
September 13 -December 13 (No program September 27, October 18, and November 22 for Discovery Days and November 8 for Curriculum Day)
Tier A:$747 Tier B:$649 Tier C:$552 Tier D:$422
Calling all future scientists! Community scientists are people — young or old — who help collect data for research projects conducted around the world. We will work with local researchers and on national science projects collecting data that matters! Areas that we will investigate include – Climate change’s impact on when leaves fall? Monarch migration? What is living in our streams and more! Bring your scientific mind, observation skills and unique perspective to our class. Through field visits, surveys, and special guests we will study the world around us and contribute to science while also having fun, exploring and playing games.

Wild Children of the Woods
2022-12-06 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-13 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-20 15:30 - 17:30
WILD CHILDREN OF THE WOODS SERIES
Ages 8–11 or Grades 3–5
Tuesdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 6 – December 20 (no program Nov. 8) Fee per Child: Tier A-$414 | Tier B-$360 | Tier C-$306 | Tier D-$234

Wild Children of the Woods is a nature based after school for upper-elementary schoolers. We will learn, play, and explore outdoors, roaming the grounds of the Hitchcock Center and watching 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.

Wednesdays with the Animals
2022-12-07 13:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-14 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-21 15:30 - 17:30
WEDNESDAYS WITH THE ANIMALS
Ages 8-11 or grades 3-5
Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 7 – December 21 (no program October 5, November 23)
Extended Days: October 12 & December 7
Fee per Child: Tier A-$412 | Tier B-$358 | Tier C-$304 | Tier D-$232
Come spend some time with animals inside and outside at the Hitchcock Center. Some weeks we’ll meet and spend some quality time with the Hitchcock Center teaching animals and some weeks we’ll go out in search of what we can find. We’ll also have some time for outdoor free play and visit all our favorite places in the woods. **This program will only be available in the fall.**

Nature Play Aftershool
2022-12-07 13:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-14 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-21 15:30 - 17:30
NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
Ages 6-9 or grades 1-3
Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 7 – December 21 (no program October 5, November 23)
Extended Days: October 12 & December 7
Fee per Child: Tier A-$469 | Tier B-$382 | Tier C-$325 | Tier D-$248
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.

Junior Nature Play Afterschool
2022-12-07 13:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-14 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-21 15:30 - 17:30
JUNIOR NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
Ages 5-7 or grades K-1
Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 7 – December 21 (no program October 5, November 23)
Extended Days: October 12 & December 7
Fee per Child: Tier A-$469 | Tier B-$382 | Tier C-$325 | Tier D-$248
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.

GIRLS INTO THE WILD AFTERSCHOOL
2022-12-08 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-15 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-22 15:30 - 17:30
Ages 8-11 or grades 3-5
Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 8 – December 22 (no program November 24)
Fee per Child: Tier A-$418 | Tier B-$364 | Tier C-$309 | Tier D-$236
Girls into the Wild is back in Fall 2022 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! Genderqueer, nonbinary, agender and trans young people are welcome!

Hitchcock Climate Action Series: Community Forum
2022-12-08 17:30 - 20:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Hitchcock Climate Action Series
Community Forum:
Improving Communication: Deliberative Dialogue
Thursday, December 8, 5:30pm Arrival & Snacks
6pm – 8pm Forum – Net Zero: How Do We Get There?
Join in a deliberative dialogue about different ways in which we can get to a “net zero carbon” future. Deliberation matters because democracy depends on community members coming together and making well-thought-out decisions on what we can do together to solve tough problems like climate change. A pre-reading will frame the issue, lay out several approaches based on values people care about, describe benefits and trade-offs associated with each choice, and pose some reflective questions. In small groups, participants will have an opportunity to share their personal perspectives and listen to others, weigh options and wrestle with trade-offs, and identify areas of common ground. A moderator will help to set ground rules, ensure that all perspectives are heard, and identify areas of agreement and uncertainty. We hope participants will keep an open mind, listen to one another, disagree with curiosity, and focus on learning.
REGISTER HERE

Nature Discovery Preschool Series - Mammal Friends - AM
2022-12-09 09:30 - 11:30
Colleen Kelley
Ages 3-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
Fridays, September 16 – December 9 (no program October 7, and November 11 & 25)
Morning session: 9:30am-11:30 am
Fee per Child: Tier A-$434 | Tier B-$377 | Tier C-$321 | Tier D-$245
Limited to 15 participants. Limit of 2 children per adult. Siblings under 3 are free.
Come join us this Fall to learn about local mammals living right in our backyards! Squirrels, deer, skunks, rabbits and raccoons will be just a few of the friends we will make during our ten weeks together. We use live animal observations, puppets, stories, games and songs to help explore and discover.
This Nature Discovery Preschool is a ten week series that takes place outdoors unless there is extreme weather.

Second Saturday Family Science
2022-12-10 10:00 - 11:00
Ages 5–7 or Grades K–1
Saturdays, 10–11am
September 10, October 8, November 12, December 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.
September 10 – Pond Life (Outside)
October 8 – Night Animals (Outside)
November 12 – Fall Colors (Outside)
December 10 – Reptiles In Winter (Inside)

Wild Children of the Woods
2022-12-12 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-19 15:30 - 17:30
WILD CHILDREN OF THE WOODS SERIES
Ages 8-11 or Grades 3-5
Mondays, 3:30pm-5:30pm
September 12 – December 19 (no program October 10)
Extended Day: September 26
Fee per Child: Tier A-$411 | Tier B-$358 | Tier C-$304 | Tier D-$232
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.

Nature Play Afterschool
2022-12-12 15:30 - 17:30, 2022-12-19 15:30 - 17:30
NATURE PLAY AFTERSCHOOL
Ages 6-9 or grades 1-3
Mondays, 3:30-5:30pm
September 12 – December 19 (no program October 10)
Extended Day: September 26
Fee per Child: Tier A-$411 | Tier B-$358 | Tier C-$304 | Tier D-$232

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 I: Cycles and Systems
2022-12-13 10:00 - 14:00
With Monya Relles
Grades 1-3, Ages 6-8
Tuesdays 10:00am -2:00 pm
September 13 -December 13 (No program September 27, October 18, and November 22 for Discovery Days and November 8 for Curriculum Day)
Tier A:$730 Tier B:$635 Tier C:$540 Tier D:$413
What does it mean to be in an ecosystem? How are we connected to each other? We will study ecosystems, nutrient cycles, energy cycles, and the ways we can interact with all the systems around us. We will approach learning with outdoor play, hands-on activities, journaling, songs, and more.

Saturdays with the Animals
2022-12-17 10:00 - 11:00
with Monya Relles
Ages 5–7 or Grades K–1
Saturdays, 10–11am
Third Saturdays
Suggested Donation: $5–$30 per family
Join us for a series of four classes focusing on the Hitchcock Center teaching animals. Designed for children (ages 5–7) with their parents, these programs will include some time with one of the Hitchcock Center teaching animals and a craft.
September 17 – Cob
October 15 – Ivy and Terra
November 19 – Isopods
December 17 – Cockroaches

Christmas Bird Count for Kids and Families
2022-12-18 01:00 - 15:00 | Hitchcock Center for the Environment, 845 West Street, Amherst, MA, 01002
Christmas Bird Count for Kids and Families
Sponsored by Hampshire Bird Club
Sunday, December 18
All ages, especially kids ages 3-12 with their families
1 – 3pm
Free, registration appreciated
Do you want to learn more about birds? Would you like to contribute to science? Join birdwatchers all over America in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC)!
The CBC is a 122-year old event in which bird lovers of all ages and skill levels count all the birds they see in a 24-hour period in December. At this program, there will be something for everyone. We’ll meet at the Hitchcock Center for an indoor program about how to recognize common birds and a story about the history of the Christmas Bird Count. Afterwards, families who are interested may participate in an outdoor bird count, with ID help by Hampshire Bird Club members at the Hitchcock Center bird feeders and beyond. We’ll count every bird we see! Younger participants may decorate “eye focusers” and hit the trails for a self-guided bird scavenger hunt (with paper birds!). Stay as long as you wish. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to a real bird census!
This event is rain, slow, sleet or shine. Families may stay and count birds for as much time as they wish but we recommend that you arrive on time for the indoor portion in order to get introduced to the common winter species we are likely to see. Binoculars are welcome but not required.

Junior Nature Play Afterschool
2023-01-04 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.

Nature Play Afterschool
2023-01-04 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.

Wild Children of the Woods
2023-01-04 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.
