with Nancy Goodman

Come and explore the wonders and beauties of our native wildflowers as we spend the day learning how to identify them in the field. Please bring lunch, water, a hand lens & a copy of Newcomb’s wildflower book if you own one. Members $18/Non-members $22 Space is limited, registration required.

with Dan Ziomek, Nursery and Garden Manager at Hadley Garden Center & Anne Cann, Chair Orchard Arboretum Committee at Applewood

Applewood has been nurturing a diverse planting of both native and non-native trees on a 2 acre parcel of land south of the residences since 1994. We'll identify a number of trees and discuss their ecology and adaptations. Program is accessible. If driving to this program please park on the south side of Spencer Drive. 

with Scott Surner at 7AM on Sunday, May 3rd in Hadley OR
with John Green at 7AM on Friday, May 8th in Belchertown

Join two of our most popular birders and naturalists for new one-time outings in support of the Hitchcock Center's Biothon! Scott Surner's birding classes are amongst our most popular courses each year; this year Scott's course filled up in just 20 minutes after opening for registration! During John Green's sold-out field walks, he shares his years of knowledge with adults of all ages to explore life around us and deepen our powers of observation. As a member of Scott's or John's "Biothon team," your outing will focus on spotting and documenting as many different species of birds as possible within a 3-hour period. And, help support the Biothon by collecting pledges in support of your outing, and receive a free custom-designed Biothon 2015 t-shirt when you reach $100 in pledges! Registration required.

We think it is good to know where our water comes from and where it goes. We just turn on our faucets and flush our toilets but what’s the infrastructure that makes that possible. Come tour the facility that receives Amherst’s wastewater and see what happens there. At this special facility tiny microorganisms normally present in wastewater are given optimum conditions to feed on biodegradable matter. As the microorganisms grow, they digest large amounts of biodegradable matter and convert some of it into carbon dioxide and water, two relatively harmless byproducts. The rest of the biodegradable matter consumed by the microorganisms remains in their cell bodies, causing them to grow even more and are then removed from the wastewater together with much of the waste materials. FREE but space is limited, please call to register.

with John Green

At the new Fort River Wildlife Sanctuary on Moody Bridge Road in Hadley
Join John at this wonderful time of year to explore this beautiful new accessible trail of the USFWS Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge system. It weaves through many lovely habitats and is sure to offer some great spring plant and bird sightings. FREE, but space is limited and registration required.

8-10am at the Fort River Wildlife Sanctuary on Moody Bridge Road in Hadley
10am-2pm at the Mass Audubon’s Arcadia Sanctuary at 127 Combs Road in Easthampton

Join us for a fun day of activities and demonstrations about the birds of the Connecticut River Valley. A variety of local organizations and experts will be on hand to answer your bird questions. We’ll have live bird and bird banding demonstrations and there will be bird walks throughout the event. Check our web site as the date approaches for a complete schedule.

New this year, registration opens online Tuesday, June 16th for all Fall Children, Youth and Family Programs. Access the program registration page by visiting any program page. You may log into the system at any time to set up an account in order to register, but programs will not become available until 1AM on June 16th. Phone calls and drop-in registration are available, but we direct all who can to register online in order to reduce wait times.

with Ted Watt

Join Ted for a couple hours exploring the varied landscape of the northeast Hampshire College campus. Vernal pools, a diverse woodland, farm roads and trails, and a farm pond will all be included. You’ll get an introduction to the Hitchcock Center’s new home and start learning about the natural history of the site.

*Session full for both age groups, wait list only.*
Ages 6-7 & 8-10

Get ready to get very tiny this week as we explore all things small. Who are the creatures that can fit in your hand, or on a penny? We’ll investigate teeny tiny ants, pillbugs, worms and other invertebrates who have important jobs in nature. We’ll pay attention to the tiniest flowers and plants and discover how important they are to their ecosystems. Through field trips, live animal exploration, hikes and art projects, campers will investigate the tiny things in life!

*Session full for both age groups, wait list only.*
Ages 6-7 & 8-10

In this session, campers will connect with the land we call home. From farmland to forest, mountains to meadows, we’ll discover the ecosystems all around us and the interconnectedness of the animals that live here. We’ll learn about our rich farm soil, our fascinating geological stories and the serene wilderness of the Quabbin Reservoir by traveling on field trips, telling stories, playing nature-themed games and making crafts. From enjoying the view from a mountaintop to tasting fresh local food, we’ll experience the finest natural features of the Pioneer Valley.