Little Bear Nature Walks

With Chrissy Larson
Ages 0-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
See dates and locations below
Fee per child (adults and younger siblings under 16 months are free):
Tier A-$15 | Tier B-$13 | Tier C-$11 | Further Financial Assistance (limited)

Little Bear Nature Walks are guided, open-ended walks that allow toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers explore nature in an age-appropriate way. While on the walk, children borrow a backpack filled with simple tools for exploring and are led by a preschool educator. Children investigate plants and animals, engage with rocks, soil and water, and use their imaginations to play with the world. Walks incorporate observation, inquiry, and sensory learning. Each has a loose theme and includes a trail-side storytime. Come along with us!

Walks are outdoors and take place unless there is extreme weather. Please dress for the weather and season, including rain/snow gear when appropriate (adults too!)

Pre-registration required. Backpacks and supplies are prioritized for registered children ages 16 months – 5 years. Younger siblings are welcome at no charge.

Children 15 months and younger (not attending as a sibling) are welcome to join a walk for free with pre-approval. Children may need to be carried at times by the attending adult and will get to borrow a backpack if there are extras. Please email chrissy@hitchcockcenter.org for information and availability.

Each walk is limited to 12 children. Limit of 2 children per adult.

Accessibility notes: All walks meet at local conservation areas and public lands, many of which require participants to navigate boardwalks, bridges, puddles, roots, soft-surface trails and uneven terrain. Educators move slowly and keep the pace family-friendly, but in many cases the trails are not suitable for strollers or other mobility devices. For information about a specific conservation area, please click the links below for each location to view maps and location details.

Theme notes: Please note that the themes are intended as flexible guides. These walks are designed to evolve based on the group’s interests, the environment, seasonal context, and weather conditions. While themes are pre-planned, the level of detail may shift depending on the day’s dynamics.

When you sign up, please register the child, not the grown up!

Little Bear Nature Walks: Winter and Spring 2026

Date	Location	Theme	Meeting spot/Parking information	Join us!
Wednesday, February 25	Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance)	Conifers	(95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields.	Register
Tuesday, March 3	Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop)	Migrating birds	(73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Monday, March 9	Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge	Ducks	(63 Moody Bridge Rd) Park in the gravel parking lot and meet at the kiosk.	Register
Thursday, March 19	Puffers Pond (South – Robert Frost Trail)	Vultures	(171 State St, Amherst) Park along State St past the South end swimming area and meet at the Robert Frost trailhead. (Take note that the road is one way)	Register
Wednesday, March 25	Plum Spring Conservation Area (Ken Cuddeback Trail at Chapel Rd)	Nests	Park along the street on Chapel Rd (off Bay Rd), adjacent to the Ken Cuddeback trailhead. Meet at the trailhead.	Register
Saturday, March 28	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Buds	(845 West St) Park in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the building and meet in the front play yard near the entrance.	Register
Tuesday, March 31	Puffers Pond (South – Robert Frost Trail)	Slugs and snails	(171 State St, Amherst) Park along State St past the South end swimming area and meet at the Robert Frost trailhead. (Take note that the road is one way)	Register
Monday, April 6	Emily Dickinson Trail (Groff Park)	Robins	(83 Mill Ln) Where to meet: Park in the parking lot for Groff Park, and head down the hill toward the covered picnic shelter.	Register
Thursday, April 16	Lawrence Swamp (Rail Trail at Station Rd)	Salamanders	Park at the Norwottuck Rail Trail parking lot on Station Rd and meet at the Caroline Arnold Trail sign across Station Rd.	Register
Wednesday, April 29	Katherine Cole Conservation Area	Turtles	(390 Sunderland Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot (just off Hwy 116) and meet at the south end of the lot.	Register
Saturday, May 2	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Mushrooms	(845 West St) Park in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the building and meet in the front play yard near the entrance.	Register
Tuesday, May 5	Robert Frost Trail (Flat Hills Rd toward Atkins Reservoir)	Bumble bees	(Nearest address 492 Flat Hills Rd) Park along either side of the road and meet at the Robert Frost Trailhead on the east side of the street.	Register
Monday, May 11	Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance)	Flowers	Park in the small gravel lot or along Old Farm Rd and meet at the kiosk at the trailhead.	Register
Thursday, May 21	Mill River Recreation Area	Butterflies	(95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields.	Register
Wednesday, May 27	Mt Warner	Beetles	(26 Mt Warner Rd, North Hadley) Park in the gravel lot at the trailhead (look for signs from Mt Warner Rd!) and meet at the kiosk at the corner of the parking area.	Register
Tuesday, June 2	Eastman Brook Conservation Area (entrance at 2 Mile Rd)	Hummingbirds	(Intersection of 2-mile Rd and Lead Mine Rd) Park along the side of the road and meet at the sign for the trailhead.	Register
Monday, June 8	Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop)	Ponds	(73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Friday, June 12	Hickory Ridge Conservation Area	Crows	(Nearest address: 150 W Pomeroy Ln, Amherst) Park in the paved parking area and meet at the corner of the lot by the conservation area signs.	Register
Saturday, June 13	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Hawks	(845 West St) Park in the gravel parking lot adjacent to the building and meet in the front play yard near the entrance.	Register
Wednesday, June 17	Robert Frost Trail (Flat Hills Rd toward Market Hill Rd)	Pillbugs	(Nearest address 492 Flat Hills Rd) Park along either side of the road and meet at the Robert Frost Trailhead on the east side of the street.	Register

Little Bear Nature Walks: Summer 2026

Day of Week	Location	Theme	Meeting spot/Parking information
Monday, June 29	Eastman Brook Conservation Area (entrance at 2 Mile Rd)	Ants	(Intersection of 2-mile Rd and Lead Mine Rd) Park along the side of the road and meet at the sign for the trailhead.	Register
Thursday, July 2	Lawrence Swamp (Rail Trail at Station Rd- Caroline Arnold Trail)	Cones	Park at the Norwottuck Rail Trail parking lot on Station Rd and meet at the grassy area at the end of the parking lot. (We’ll cross the road together as a group.)	Register
Tuesday, July 7	Amethyst Brook Conservation Area	Dragonflies	(132 Pelham Rd – at intersection of Pelham Rd and Ward St) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the trailhead adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Friday, July 10	Emily Dickinson Trail (Groff Park)	Blackbirds	(83 Mill Lane) Park in the parking lot at Groff Park and meet near the covered picnic area down the hill from the parking lot.	Register
Wednesday, July 15	Mill River Recreation Area	Dandelions	(95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields.	Register
Saturday, July 18	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Pollination	(845 West St) Park in the gravel lot by the building and meet in the grassy area out front.	Register
Monday, July 20	Puffer’s Pond (Kevin Flood portion of the Robert Frost Trail)	Crows	(171 State St, Amherst) Park along State St past the South end swimming area and meet at the Kevin R Flood Trail trail sign. (Take note that State St is one way.)	Register
Thursday, July 23	Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance)	Soil	Park in the small gravel lot or along Old Farm Rd and meet at the kiosk at the trailhead.	Register
Tuesday, July 28	Mt Warner – North Hadley	Decomposers	(26 Mt Warner Rd, North Hadley) Park in the gravel lot at the trailhead (look for signs from Mt Warner Rd!) and meet at the kiosk at the corner of the parking area.	Register
Friday, July 31	Buffam Brook Community Forest, Pelham	Daisies	(220 N. Valley Rd, Pelham) Park in the gravel lot or along the pullout across from the lot, and meet at the trail sign.	Register
Wednesday, Aug 5	Eastman Brook Conservation Area (entrance at 2 Mile Rd)	Snakes	(Intersection of 2-mile Rd and Lead Mine Rd) Park along the side of the road and meet at the sign for the trailhead.	Register
Saturday, Aug 8	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Hummingbirds	(845 West St) Park in the gravel lot by the building and meet in the grassy area out front.	Register
Monday, Aug 10	Amethyst Brook Conservation Area	Frogs	(132 Pelham Rd – at intersection of Pelham Rd and Ward St) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the trailhead adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Thursday, Aug 13	Hickory Ridge Conservation Area	Deer	(Nearest address: 150 W Pomeroy Ln, Amherst) Park in the paved parking area and meet at the corner of the lot by the conservation area signs.	Register
Tuesday, Aug 25	Puffer’s Pond (Robert Frost Trail to H.H. Jackson Trail)	Slugs & Snails	(171 State St, Amherst) Park along State St past the South end swimming area and meet at the Robert Frost trailhead heading north. (Take note that the road is one way)	Register
Friday, Aug 28	Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop)	Monarchs	(73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Wednesday, Sep 2	Mill River Recreation Area	Geese	(95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields.	Register
Thursday, Sep 10	Robert’s Hill Conservation Area (Dimock St Entrance), Leeds	Ferns	(nearest address 49 Dimock St) Park along the side of the road and meet at the trail sign.	Register
Saturday, Sep 12	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Berries	(845 West St) Park in the gravel lot by the building and meet in the grassy area out front.	Register

Little Bear Nature Walks: Fall 2026

Monday, Sep 14	Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance)	Pillbugs	Park in the small gravel lot or along Old Farm Rd and meet at the kiosk at the trailhead.	Register
Wednesday, Sep 23	Mt Warner, North Hadley	Acorns	(26 Mt Warner Rd, North Hadley) Park in the gravel lot at the trailhead (look for signs from Mt Warner Rd!) and meet at the kiosk at the corner of the parking area.	Register
Tuesday, Sep 29	Puffer’s Pond (Kevin Flood portion of the Robert Frost Trail)	Jays	(171 State St, Amherst) Park along State St past the South end swimming area and meet at the Kevin R Flood Trail trail sign. (Take note that State St is one way.)	Register
Thursday, Oct 1	Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop)	Chickadees	(73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Wednesday, Oct 7	Robert Frost Trail (Flat Hills Rd toward Atkins Reservoir)	Squirrels	(Nearest address 492 Flat Hills Rd) Park along either side of the road and meet at the Robert Frost Trailhead on the east side of the street.	Register
Tuesday, Oct 13	Amethyst Brook Conservation Area	Owls	(At intersection of Pelham Rd and Ward St) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the trailhead adjacent to the parking lot.	Register
Saturday, Oct 17	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Fall leaves	(845 West St) Park in the gravel lot by the building and meet in the grassy area out front.	Register
Monday, Oct 19	Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area, Cooke St entrance (Boggy Meadow Rd) – Northampton	Beavers	(nearest address: 164 Cooke St, Northampton, just past the intersection of Cooke St & Pines Edge Dr.) Park in the paved parking lot and meet at the trail sign.	Register
Thursday, Oct 29	Pomeroy Pond – Robert Frost Trail (Old Belchertown Rd)	Woodpeckers	(Old Belchertown Rd, next to the Amherst Dog Park) Park along the trailhead side of the road and meet at the trailhead sign. (Please save as many dog park spots for dog owners as possible)	Register
Wednesday, Nov 4	Plum Springs Conservation Area (Ken Cuddeback Trailhead at Chapel Rd)	Mushrooms	Park along either side of the street on Chapel Rd (just off Bay Rd) and meet by the Ken Cuddeback Trail sign.	Register
Tuesday, Nov 10	Katherine Cole Conservation Area	Seeds	(390 Sunderland Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot (just off Hwy 116) and meet at the south end of the lot.	Register
Saturday, Nov 14	Hitchcock Center for the Environment	Bears	(845 West St) Park in the gravel lot by the building and meet in the grassy area out front.	Register
Monday, Nov 16	Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Kiwanis Field entrance)	Trees	Park in the small gravel lot adjacent to the ballfield and meet at the trail kiosk at the end of the lot.	Register
Tuesday, Nov 24	Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge (Fort River Trail)	Cones	(63 Moody Bridge Rd, off Bay Rd) Park in the gravel parking lot and meet at the kiosk at the north end of the parking lot.	Register
Wednesday, Dec 2	Mill River Recreation Area	Pines	(95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields.	Register
Thursday, Dec 10	Larch Hill Conservation Area (Common School driveway entrance)	Ready for Winter	(503 S. Pleasant St, Amherst) Park at the gravel lot part-way up the Common School driveway. Meet at the boardwalk.	Register

Fees

Out of a strong commitment to improve access to our programs we are now offering a sliding scale fee structure aimed to provide greater flexibility in choosing a price that is right for you and your family.

Tier A: The fee is set higher than what it costs to run the program and helps to support those who cannot afford the full cost of the program.
Tier B: The fee is set to cover 100% of the program costs.
Tier C: The fee is set at 15% less than what it costs to run the program.
Some additional financial aid is available to help make this program accessible. Please complete the form, or contact Barb or Shelly at 413-256-6006 for more information. This option is available for EBT, WIC, and Connector Care participants, that is, households receiving benefits through the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and the Massachusetts Health Connector.

Cancellation policy

Cancellation policy for Hitchcock’s seasonal programs: You may cancel your registration for any of our programs up to a week prior to the program’s start date to receive a refund minus a 10% administrative fee. If you cancel within 7 days or less of the program’s start date, we cannot offer a refund unless we are able to fill your spot in the program.

Little Bear Walks exception:
For Little Bear Walks, cancellations made more than 24 hours before the scheduled walk may be eligible for a credit to your family account to use toward a future session or program. Cancellations made within 24 hours of the walk are not eligible for credits or refunds. Please contact us directly with any questions.

COVID-19 Safety

As per the State of Massachusetts guidelines, if you have symptoms of a respiratory virus, such as a fever, sore throat, cough or a runny or stuffy nose, you should stay home. If you have been exposed to someone with a virus we ask that you please wear a mask and wash hands often to protect others.

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