Adult Community Programs
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Mushroom Classes
with Jessica Benson Evans
Saturday, October 4, 10-12 – Morse Hill ( still to come)
Jess (she/they) is an amateur mycologist who lives in Shutesbury with her kiddo, Ari. They began seriously studying mushrooms after joining the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association in 2016 (pvmamyco.org) and have been president of the club since 2017. Jess is passionate about mushrooms! She enjoys mushroom photography and collecting and identifying specimens for community science. Jess loves leading walks that include family groups, as Ari, age 14, is an avid mushroomer as well! Jess also leads mushroom walks for local libraries and community groups and gives presentations on a variety of mushroom topics such as Edible Fungi and Poisonous Lookalikes and Fungi and Climate Change.
Although Jess enjoys some edible mushroom species, their primary interests are in broadening their skills at identifying fungi and learning more about fungal ecology. Beyond fungi, Jess is a full-time outdoor educator and assistant camp director at Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center in Shutesbury. Jess enjoys vegetable gardening in the summer, snowshoeing in the winter, and trying to identify birds year-round.
Forest Bathing
One session $25 or $40 for both sessions
Connecting with nature an essential part of who we are as people. Time spent in forests has been proven to reduce stress-hormone levels and lower blood pressure, a perfect way to navigate the challenges of the modern world. A Forest Bathing experience allows you to slow down and immerse yourself in the world around you. Our time together will consist of a leisurely walk with stops along the way to explore themagic of the Hitchcock Center woodland.
This is a very relaxed, slow, and mindful wayof spending time in nature. Walks typically last about 2-3 hours and finish with an herbal tea from Todd’s garden. There is hardly a better antidote for these times!
Fall Birding Course with Scott Surner – FULL – Waitlist only
August – November 2025
Sliding Scale $350 / $410 / $470
There is a maximum of 15 people
Join Scott as he guides you through the fall migration in New England. The class starts with a trip to Plum Island to experience the southbound migration of shorebirds as well, we hope to encounter many Herons, Gulls, Terns, and an early Warbler on that first trip. The local trips will focus on the drab plumages of fall warblers, along with Vireos, Flycatchers, and of course “The Sparrows”. There will be two additional trips to coastal areas. A one-day trip to Lighthouse Point, Connecticut, to view Hawk migration and many other species. This course includes a final weekend trip to Cape Cod (rather than being separate like in spring) Last year the group encountered many Shearwaters, Sea Ducks, and Northern Gannets on this trip.
Fall Birding Class Dates:
All trips leave from the Hitchcock Center. Carpooling will be encouraged. Participants will need to make their own lodging arrangements for the final weekend overnight trip to the Cape, course cost only includes birding instruction. Additional information will be provided after signing up.
FIELD TRIPS:
August 23rd – Plum Island. Depart 5:00 AM Looking for southbound Shorebirds, Herons/Egrets, Terns, Gulls, and more.
September 13th – Local. 7:00 AM Fall warblers, Vireos, and flycatchers.
September 20th– Local. 7:00 AM Fall Warblers and more.
September 27th– Local. 7:00 AM Fall Warblers and the beginning of Sparrow season.
October 4th – Light House Point, Connecticut. Depart 5:45 AM Migrating Raptors and many other songbirds. Last year, we tallied 1183 Blue Jays migrating.
October 11th – Local. 7:00 AM. Local- more Sparrows and early waterfowl.
October 25th – Local- 7:00 AM. Local. Waterfowl.
November 7th-9th. Cape Cod. Depart the Hitchcock Center at 5:00 AM for a weekend on Cape Cod. We’ll hit several areas on the outer Cape, including locations in Provincetown, Wellfleet, Eastham, and Orleans.
CLASSROOM SESSIONS:
Wednesdays – Sept 10 & Oct 8 – 6:00 – 8:00 PM at the Hitchcock Center
PAST PROGRAMS
Monarch Tagging
with Jennifer Unkles
Saturday, September 6, 4-5:30pm
FREE, but registration appreciated, all ages
It’s time to tag monarchs before they head south to the overwintering grounds in Mexico. Join Hitchcock Educator Jennifer Unkles who has been tagging monarchs for 25 years, to learn about the monarch’s life cycle, their epic annual migration, how the tagging program works, and tag any monarchs you’re able to catch and release! Bring your family and bring the kids for this hands-on community science tradition!
Monarch Tagging CLASS
with Jennifer Unkles
Thursday, Sept. 11, 4-5:30pm
Space is limited, registration is required, donations for materials $10-$25 per family, all ages
Celebrate 25 years of this community science tagging program. Get up close to live monarch butterflies, learn how to tag them and release them as well as make your own butterfly net to take home. We will learn how this project helps us understand more about the amazing monarch butterfly migration.
You’re Invited! Hitchcock Center Garden Party
Garden Party & Herbal Infusion Demo
Wednesday, September 3rd
5:30 pm in the Hitchcock gardens
Join us for a casual gathering in the Hitchcock Center’s beautiful gardens and enjoy a demonstration on how to make a variety of infusions with seasonal herbs and flowers and learn more about the work of the Hitchcock Center with Executive Director Billy Spitzer. Light refreshments from the garden will be served.
Email Shelly Kahan or Kim Snyder to RSVP
Spring Birding Course with Scott Surner
Sliding Scale $425 / $375 / $325
There is a maximum of 15 people
Yellow Warbler, October MT State Forest, Lee, MA, Berkshire County, by Scott Surner
The Hitchcock Center is announcing its annual Spring Birding Class for the 2025 season. The class will focus on the Identification and migration of birds that regularly occur in New England. It will begin in late February and conclude at the end of May. There will be eight half-day and three full-day trips, plus three Classroom sessions. There will be an optional trip to Maine in June to look for Atlantic Puffins.
Spring Birding Class Dates:
February 22nd. Coastal Trip- All Day. Meet at 5:00 AM at Hitchcock Center. Bring lunch and dress for the weather. Depending on recent reports, we’ll visit either Plum Island or Gloucester. We’ll be looking for wintering sea ducks, Loons, and hopefully an Owl or two.
Optional June Trip to Maine- June 20th-22nd:
Sliding Scale $190 /$160 /$130
There is a maximum of 15 people
Leave Friday morning from Hitchcock Center, and bird our way up to Maine. Saturday, Boat trip to Eastern Egg Rock- Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, Black Guillemot, Common and Arctic Terns, and Common Eiders. Sunday- depart early and bird our way back to Amherst. Arrive late afternoon. Participants will be responsible for their motel rooms, food, and boat tickets. More details to come.
A John Green Slideshow: Nature’s Odyssey East – Part 1 & 2
Wednesday, March 26, 6pm – Newfoundland to Southern New England
Wednesday, April 16, 6pm – Connecticut River Valley to the Everglades
Join Naturalist John Green on a photographic exploration of eastern North America. This visual trek begins in the wild landscapes of Newfoundland, Canada then moves south of the St. Lawrence River to southern Quebec to study and photograph Northern Gannets on Bonaventure Island. Next we’re off to Baxter State Park in Maine then to a coastal Maine island to see Puffins and other seabirds. The slideshow continues to New Hampshire to visit the White Mountains and then a stand of orchids in southern Vermont.
Part 2 brings us to three areas in Massachusetts John loves to photograph, Mt. Greylock, the Connecticut River Valley and Cape Cod. He then leapfrogs down to the mysterious Okefenokee swamp of southern Georgia and ends the journey in the unique Florida Everglades.
John Green’s slideshows are a real treat, especially with the nostalgic hum of the old slide projector and click of the slides, and his love and connection to nature come through in his work and stories along the way.
Youth Climate Stories Exhibit Opening and Reception
Sunday, April 13, from 1 – 3 PM
Most meaningful for folks 12+ but open to all ages
Free to attend, registration appreciated
Join us for the free exhibit opening and reception for the Youth Climate Stories Project, in partnership with the Climate Stories Project, and made possible through funding from Mass Humanities.
This project elevates youth voices and tells the untold stories of young people and their experiences, understanding, and responses to climate change. The goals of this project are to use youth storytelling as a vehicle for inspiring young people to see themselves as climate change problem solvers; broadening engagement in youth climate action by inspiring peers and adult mentors; helping visitors of all ages to the Hitchcock Center learn about and get inspired by youth taking action on climate change; and catalyzing community conversations about visioning for the future.
Join us to hear from the youth, enjoy refreshments and community, and learn why it’s important to talk about climate change.
Designing Low-Maintenance Landscapes with Native Plants
Owen Wormser
Thursday, April 24, 7pm
Learn how to design unique garden spaces that strengthen your connection to the
landscape around you. Discover important functional and aesthetic qualities of native
plants that can provide the building blocks for creating easy-to-care-for, sustainable gardens. Using strategies based on the observation and emulation of naturally existing plant communities, landscape designer Owen Wormser will share key techniques for creating beautiful, low-maintenance garden spaces. In this interactive format, you are encouraged to bring your ideas, along with photographs, plans, or sketches of your own property. (This is also an option as part of the Flora and Fauna Walks fundraiser)
Earth Day Week Flora and Fauna Walks
Celebrate Earth Day with the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, participate in one or more of our Flora and Fauna Walks. Join expert naturalists and survey for biodiversity while fundraising for a healthy planet. Space is limited, register now!
Birds with John Green – Tuesday, April 22 – 7am -Amherst
Earth Day Family Walk – Tuesday, April 22- 3:30pm – Hitchcock
Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers with Katie – Wednesday, April 23 – 9am – Greenfield
Birds with Dan Ziomek – Thursday, April 24 – 8am – Amherst
Low Maintenance Native Gardens – Thursday, April 24 – 7pm – Hitchcock
Native Plant Gardens with Master Gardener Bridgit – Saturday, April 26 – 10am – Hitchcock
Vernal Pool Walk with Jennifer – Sunday, April 27th – 1pm – Amherst
Forest Bathing
with Todd Lynch
Thursday, May 1, 6-8pm
Saturday, May 17, 10am-12pm Cancelled due to Weather and low enrollment
Connecting with nature an essential part of who we are as people. Time spent in
forests has been proven to reduce stress-hormone levels and lower blood pressure, a
perfect way to navigate the challenges of the modern world. A Forest Bathing
experience allows you to slow down and immerse yourself in the world around you. Our
time together will consist of a leisurely walk with stops along the way to explore the
magic of the Hitchcock Center woodland. This is a very relaxed, slow, and mindful way
of spending time in nature. Walks typically last about 2-3 hours and finish with an herbal
tea from Todd’s garden. There is hardly a better antidote for these times! Space is limited.
One session $25 or $40 for both sessions.
Ticks & Tickborne Diseases (Including Lyme): Separating Fact from Fiction
6:00 PM at Hitchcock Center Join us for a presentation by Dr. Steve Rich, Professor of Microbiology at UMASS Amherst, on tick-borne diseases and how to prevent them. Lyme Disease is the most prevalent infectious disease in Massachusetts and is now considered to be a public health crisis. In addition to Lyme, deer ticks can carry the pathogens which cause Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Relapsing Fever and Powassan virus, all of which can be very serious and are on the increase. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! So come learn how you can protect yourself and your family during tick season.
Hitchcock Community Read- The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Thursday, May 22, 6pm– 8pm Date Change – 2 week postponement to Thursday, June 5, 6-8pm
Free or by donation, registration required
Join us for a discussion of Braiding Sweetgrass author Robin Wall Kimmerer’s new book The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. We will come together to discuss and share our experience of this special and timely book. This gathering will take place in the garden if weather allows and we will be able to visit our own Amelanchier (or Shadbush as we tend to call it here at Hitchcock) somewhere between its flowering and fruiting.
Firefly Ecology Fireside Program
with John Green
Thursday, June 12, 8:30pm
Sliding Scale $10, $20, $30
Do you love the ephemeral season of fireflies? Or maybe you call them lightning bugs, either way come and learn about and enjoy some guided firefly watching. We will have a fire going and snacks so we can talk about fireflies in Hitchcock gardens before we head to fields to revel in them together, a truly magical group experience.
Building Tours for Classes or Groups
The Hitchcock Center is the 23rd building in the world and the 4th in Massachusetts to achieve the Certified Living Building designation! The building is designed to model systems in nature- it is net zero energy and water, has composting toilets, and has been made with responsibly sourced non-toxic materials. Find out what makes our building a special teaching tool empowering visitors to ask, “what does sustainability look like in the built environment and in my community?” Using Zoom, we’ll explore the systems and features of the building. Bring your questions so we can learn together. Tours typically last from 1-1.5 hours and have a sliding scale fee of $100-$200. Please email dan@hitchcockcenter.org to schedule a tour.
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 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, Connector Care, and Card to Culture 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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