Little Bear Nature Walks
With Chrissy Larson
Ages 0-5 (Adult required to attend with child)
March – June, 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Fee per child (adults and children under 18 months are free): Tier A-$15 | Tier B-$13 | Tier C-$11
NEW for Spring 2025 – Come along on a Little Bear Nature Walk! Little Bear Nature Walks are a way for toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers to explore nature in an age-appropriate way. While on the walk, children borrow a backpack filled with simple tools for exploring. Nature educators guide children in small groups and explore plants, animals, rocks, and soil. Walks incorporate observation, inquiry, and sensory learning, but also make space for imagination and play. Each walk has a loose theme and includes a story and a song.
Walks are outdoors and take place unless there is extreme weather. Please dress in layers and wear rain gear and boots when appropriate (parents too!) Pre-registration required. Backpacks and supplies are prioritized for registered children ages 18 months – 5 years. Younger children are welcome at no charge.
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.
| Date | Location | Theme | Meeting spot/Parking information | Join us! |
| Tuesday, February 18 | Wentworth Farm | Winterfest | A Little Bear Walk as part of Amherst Winterfest! | Register |
| Friday, February 21 | Plum Spring | Winterfest | A Little Bear Walk as part of Amherst Winterfest! | Register |
| Tuesday, March 4 | Mill River Recreation Area | Chickadees | (95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields. | Register |
| Thursday, March 13 | Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop) | Spring Colors | (73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot. | Register |
| Monday, March 17 | Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance) | Bluebirds | Park in the small gravel lot or along Old Farm Rd and meet at the kiosk by the trailhead. | Register |
| Wednesday, March 26 | Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge | Amphibians | (63 Moody Bridge Rd) Park in the gravel parking lot and meet at the kiosk. | Register |
| Tuesday, April 1 | Plum Spring Conservation Area (Ken Cuddeback Trail at Chapel Rd) | Vultures | Park along the street on Chapel Rd (off Bay Rd), adjacent to the Ken Cuddeback trailhead. Meet at the trailhead. | Register |
| Monday, April 7 | Puffers Pond (South – Robert Frost Trail) | Nests | (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, April 16 | Lawrence Swamp (Rail Trail at Station Rd) | Buds | Park at the Norwottuck Rail Trail parking lot on Station Rd and meet at the Caroline Arnold Trail sign across Station Rd. | Register |
| Monday, April 28 | Larch Hill Conservation Area (Common School driveway entrance) | Slugs and snails | (503 S. Pleasant St, Amherst) Park at either the parking lot closest to S. Pleasant St or the gravel lot part-way up the Common School driveway. Meet at the boardwalk. | Register |
| Thursday, May 1 | Mill River Recreation Area | Robins | (95 Montague Rd, Amherst) Park in the parking lot adjacent to the pool building and meet by the baseball fields. | Register |
| Wednesday, May 7 | Sweet Alice Conservation Area (Pond Loop) | Pillbugs | (73 Bay Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot and meet at the blacktop path adjacent to the parking lot. | Register |
| Tuesday, May 13 | Wentworth Farm Conservation Area (Old Farm Rd entrance) | Leaves | Park in the small gravel lot or along Old Farm Rd and meet at the kiosk at the trailhead. | Register |
| Monday, May 19 | Silvio O. Conte Wildlife Refuge | Spiders | (63 Moody Bridge Rd) Park in the gravel parking lot and meet at the kiosk. | Register |
| Thursday, May 29 | Plum Spring Conservation Area (Ken Cuddeback Trail at Chapel Rd) | Bumble bees | Park along the street on Chapel Rd (off Bay Rd), adjacent to the Ken Cuddeback trailhead. Meet at the trailhead. | Register |
| Wednesday, June 4 | Podick & Katherine Cole Conservation Area | Flowers | (390 Sunderland Rd, Amherst) Park in the gravel lot (just off Hwy 116) and meet at the north end of the lot. | Register |
| Monday, June 9 | Lawrence Swamp (Rail Trail at Station Rd) | Butterflies | Park at the Norwottuck Rail Trail parking lot on Station Rd and meet at the Caroline Arnold Trail sign across Station Rd. | Register |
| Friday, June 13 | Larch Hill Conservation Area (Robert McClung trail – Hillcrest Pl) | Robins | (Hillcrest Place entrance off S. Pleasant St) Park in the cul-du-sac or along the street and meet at the trailhead at the end of the cul-du-sac. (Please be mindful of residential driveways when parking.) | 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 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.
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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