|
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
| |
"As a child care center director, and a mom of 4, this site is a wonderful resource. I share links to this site with families I work with, and I get great ideas for my family too! Thank you for having so much great information all in one place! - I especially love the ideas for parents to get out for child-free time together." - Christy Little (Easthampton, MA)
|
|
SUPPORT
HILLTOWN FAMILIES
| |
|
| |
If you have any additional events, camps or classes to suggest, please feel encouraged to share on these free bulletin boards, or find out more about our enhanced publicity options.
|
|
TICKET GIVEAWAY
| |
|
HILLTOWN FAMILIES SPONSORS
| |
|
|
HILLTOWN FAMILIES
eNEWSLETTER
|  |
|
|
Rain or Shine: Family Fun Happens this First Weekend of June
|      | |
 | |
Many outdoor adventures away young naturalists this weekend, from guided wild flower walks to Family Fun Day's at Mass Audubon Sanctuaries. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
|
With rain in the forecast for Saturday, June 2nd, it's our hope that it will pass us by as there are so many great outdoor activities to enjoy with your family! In Hampshire County, young naturalists can take a guided walk to learn about wild edibles and flowers at either the North Amherst Community Farm or the Hitchcock Center for the Environment. They could further supplement an interest in local habitats during Family Fun Day at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. For the more adventures ones, Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center will host a Community Day, giving families an opportunity to explore their ropes course.
In Franklin County on Saturday, young anglers can learn about fishing during Family Fish Day at the Great Falls Discovery Center, or they can discover and play Victorian Lawn Games in Hampden County at the Wistariahurst Museum. In Berkshire County, Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary will also be hosting a Family Fun Day for naturalists of all ages.
But even if it does rain on Saturday, there's plenty of fun opportunities happening indoors too! There are a couple of free Learn to Felt family workshops happening in Conway, a marionette show in Lee, and a final family concert with (soon to be missed!) Royal Order of Chords and Keys in Easthampton.
In the evening there are two school productions: Gateway High School students perform "Our Town;" and Mt. Greylock Middle School students perform the musical, "Alice in Wonderland." Other evening options include exploring Forest Park Zoo by flashlight, and a family-friendly square dance at the Montague Grange.
On Sunday, June 3rd, get outdoors and bring the kids to the Fort River Celebration Day, or check out a number of indoor performances, including: Burchie Green's free performance at the Florence Community Center; classical music for kids with Beethoven's Wig at the Wistariahurst Museum; or learn history through performance at North Hall with "They Call Me Lizzy."
And there's so much more happening all week, but you're going to have to scroll through our list of Weekly Suggested Events to find out about tag sales, community service opportunities, auditions, free events, and events just outside the area, like Strolling of the Heifers and the antique car rally at Old Sturbridge Village.
| |
|
BULLETIN BOARD
|
 SUMMER CAMP: Are you looking for a great summer experience for your kids? Check out our post Summer Camps and Programs in Western MA which highlights opportunities happening throughout the region. With a great variety of themes, there are many summer camp/programs your family can choose, including: farm & gardening, music, art, technology, nature, personal development, science, theater, sports, ballet, preK, college... as well as a good old fashion summer camp! Discover what's being offered near you, and find out how you can add a camp to this growing list too!
 SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. See your event, camp, workshop, business featured here in the bulletin board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and eNewsletter! Find out more about our Enhanced Publicity options and how we can help with your marketing.
JOIN OUR TEAM OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Interested in becoming a Contributing or Guest Writer for Hilltown Families? We welcome writings that reflect the community building and educational efforts parents, teens, teachers, artists, activists and community leaders work towards and accomplish and how that affects, supports and empowers our families. All writing styles welcomed, including DIY posts, seasonal cooking, and community-based educational opportunities. Send your query to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
BOYS TO MEN MENTORING: Boys to Men Mentoring Network. Boys between the ages of 12 and 17 can be matched with a male mentor. The Boys to Men experience gives young men higher self-esteem, empowered sense of self, and a greater capacity for compassion and empathy. Mentors go through a comprehensive training program, pass a background check, and agree to commit for one year. Boys are challenged and supported in new ways, and find their own integrity, courage, respect, passion, and leadership and they discover that they can access these qualities and put them to work. For more information visit www.boystomennewengland.org.
YOUNG PARENTS: Support for young parents. Healthy Families is a free home-visiting support program for first- time parents, age 20 and under. Home Visitors provide parenting support at participant homes, as well as in groups with other first time pregnant and parenting teens. Activities are geared toward young parents' interests, whether it be support groups on relationships or making special journals about their child's first years of life. All services are voluntary and confidential. Spanish speaking home visitors are available. For more information, visit www.communityaction.us. FRIENDS OF CHILDREN: Friends of Children, Inc. advocates to protect the basic human rights of all children to have a safe, consistent and nurturing environment in which to develop their full potential. Programs include court-appointed special advocates, mentoring to children who age out of the child-welfare system, foster transition support, assistance and guidance to parents in their role of advocate for their children, and community education. For more information, visit www.friendsofchildreninc.org.
|
HILLTOWN FAMILIES PRESENTS...
Talking to Your Kids About Sex | |
 Hilltown Families and Cup and Top Café are presenting a series of free talks for parents with Brooke Norton, Certified Sex Educator. The first free talk will be "Talking to Your Kids About Sex" on Tuesday, June 12th after hours at the café in Florence, MA from 6:30pm-8:30pm. This parents-only talk will begin with discussion about infants and toddlers, and progress to preschoolers, elementary school age kids, middle schoolers, and teenagers.
|
| MARK YOUR CALENDARS | | On Saturday, June 9th help to sustain and maintain an important community resource at Red Gate Farm's volunteer day in Buckland! Families can visit the farm to help out with all kinds of different tasks, from planting and weeding in the garden to preparing the farm's program building for summer events. Also on Saturday, June 9th, celebrate the Deerfield River and its role within the community at Riverfest in Shelburne Falls!
Find out more at www.HilltownFamilies.org.
|
|
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW:
Sugar Free Allstars Educate & Entertain!
|
| |
 | |
Next week, childhood best friends, Joe and Justin, now known as The Okee Dokee Brothers from Minneapolis, Minnesota, spinning some songs of their own childhood, songs in the americana folk tradition and even some tunes off their brand new CD called "Can You Canoe?" about their real-life 30 day canoe trip down the Mississippi River.
|
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: This week the Sugar Free Allstars take a journey thru funk and groove with lots of great background information about the songs and styles. Educational, Fun, and Funky!
Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:
Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday (9-10am) & Sunday (7-8am) mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio.
On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.
Podcast: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!
|
|
|
SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING
| |
 Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families supports development and enhancement of our local economy and community! Local businesses, individuals, schools and non-profits are invited to Sponsor and Advertise with Hilltown Families. Let us help get the word out about your class, event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement. Deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout Western Massachusetts while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for more information, or click here. |
| Hilltown Families' Blog was voted as Best Local Blog in the Valley Advocate Best of the Valley Readers' Poll for the past two years in a row! Thank you for your support!
|
Hilltown Families is an online grassroots communication network serving thousands of families living in the four counties of Western MA. Through an award winning web site, social networking, listserv, radio show/podcast, online bulletin boards, and collaborations with civic and nonprofit groups, Hilltown Families connects people and organizations in the widespread communities of Western MA. With your support, we help area residents to share ideas, organize activities, support their children's education and increase participation in community life. We welcome your participation and feedback at anytime.
Warm regards, |
|
|
