Fall Farm Programs at Crimson & Clover Farm (part of Northampton Community Farm) in Florence, MA, running Sept 16-Oct 12 for children & families. From beekeeping to preschool mornings & more! - Mondays from 9-11am, Preschool Mornings on the Farm (3-6yo), $75-120. After school Farm Club on Mondays from 3:30-5pm (6-10yo), $60-90. - Wednesdays from 10-11:30am, Parent/Child Little Growers Morning Program (0-5yo), $60-90 per child. After school Young Famers program on Wednesdays from 3:30-5pm (10-14yo), $60-90. - Fridays from 9-11am, Home school Planters Programs (6-10yo), $75-120. Parent/Child Little Growers Afternoon Program from 3-4:30pm (0-5yo), $60-90 per child. For details & to register online, visit thefarmeducationcollaborative.org.

 

Maureen Shea of Grasshoppa Dance offers creative & contemporary dance classes for ages 3 and up, and Pilates classes for adults of all ages. Children shall experience improvisation, learn choreography, make dances and develop fun & healthy movement practices. Adults shall access deep core support through Pilates matwork, work with props and Fletcher Fusion™ (developed by Ron Fletcher, a student of Joseph & Clara Pilates). The autumn '12 session begins the week of September 17, and includes Saturday morning classes! All classes take place at the Cummington Community House at 33 Main Street in Cummington. For a full class schedule, please go to grasshoppadance.org or contact Maureen at maureen@grasshoppadance.org, 413-634-5431.

 

Teen/Tween Creative Writing Group with Nerissa Nields in Northampton on Mondays from 3:45-4:45. 10 Weeks starting Sept. 17 and going to Nov. 26 (skipping Columbus Day). This is a creative writing workshop for young people. Participants will spend part of the workshop time writing fresh material, and then the remainder sharing work with each other. All kinds of writers are welcome: fiction, poets, songwriters, short story writers, journalists of all kinds, novelists, playwrights. Structured exercises and prompts will be given, but participants may write about whatever they choose. Participants must be between the ages of 9 and 15 to participate. Cost is $200 for 10 weeks. Email Nerissa Nields at Nerissand@gmail.comfor more information.

 

Miss Leticia Music presents Music and Movement Classes this fall in Amherst for young children. There are several weekly 45 min. classes being offered starting Sept 18th and running for 10 weeks @ $125. On Tuesdays at Pineapple Dance (83 Sunderland Rd.) there are 3 classes being offered: Sing and Dance with Your Tot happens at 9am; Children Sing/Adult Dance at 9:45am(Separate Rooms/Two Instructors). On Thursdays at Second Chances (7 Pomeroy Ln.), Music and Movement with Tots happens at 9am. On Saturdays at The Red Barn (409 Main St.), Music and Movement for Children PreK-1st Grade happens at 9am. $125. For more info. visit www.missleticia.com. To register call 413-256-1778 or email leticiadavies@comcast.net.

 

HooteNanny Singers is a music class, created and taught by Nerissa Nields for children aged 4-10. The mission of the class is to teach young children basic musical skills (singing, movement, rhythm, harmony, songwriting) through play and community building. The class will have a performance at the end of the session to show off their greatness. Meeting at Cradle on the Third floor of Thornes Market in Northampton on Wednesdays 4-4:45pm $165 for 10 weeks (includes CD and songbook) Sept 19-Dec.5 2012. Email Nerissand@gmail.comto sign up.

 

Is your child already a chicken lover or maybe your family is thinking about getting a few hens for the backyard? On Sunday, Sept 23 from 1-2:30pm, Crimson & Clover Farm (part of Northampton Community Farm) in Florence will host, "Who You Callin' Chicken?," a program for kids ages 6-12yo. Come meet a few egg laying ladies and learn the ins and outs of caring for hens. Participants can hold and feed chickens, share a story, ask questions, and of course, cook and eat an egg snack! Cost: $10-15 per child (sliding scale). Then on Sunday, Oct 7th the farm will hold a Fall Beekeeping for Families program from 11am-2:30pm. Cost: $25-35/family. Spaces are limited. For more info & to register online, visit thefarmeducationcollaborative.org.

 

Pilates for Moms! Two new Pilates classes just for Moms with seasoned instructor Anneliese Mordhorst on Thursdays, September 27 - November 1st. $15 single class/$75 series. Postpartum Pilates - Strength, Stretch and Support at the Cooley Dickinson Center for Midwifery Care in Northampton, Thursdays at 10am. An all-levels mat class for renewing strength and vitality after pregnancy. BYOBaby at The Pilates Studio in Hadley, Thursdays at 12pm. A mat class for all-levels using Pilates props for strength, tone and stretch. All exercises are modified to accommodate for fussiness. Contact Anneliese for more information and to register: 413-296-4306/anneliese@slashmail.org. thepilatesstudioinhadley.com 

 

Pioneer Valley Ballet Nutcracker youth auditions to be held on Sat., Sept 15th in Easthampton (no prior dance experience required). The Nutcracker is a ballet for all those who love the magic of theatre. First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1892, it is now performed around the world by countless ballet companies. Pioneer Valley Ballet is proud to present its 34th annual production of this enchanting, classic ballet at the landmark Academy of Music Theatre under the artistic direction of Maryanne Delisle Kodzis and Thomas Vacanti. Auditions for ages 5-7: 10-11am Reg.; 11am-12pm Audition. Auditions for ages 8-12: 12:30-1pm Reg.; 1-3pm Audition. Fees include $25 audition fee & $20 costume fee. pioneervalleyballet.org. 413-527-6363

 

Meet Maisy™ creator Lucy Cousins at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Books Arts in Amherst, MA on Sat. Sept 15 from 10a-5p! Join the museum for a day of activities to celebrate everyone's favorite mouse, Maisy! Meet both Lucy Cousins & Maisy during a fun-filled day of storytimes, art activities, and an opportunity to help Lucy Cousins create a "Maisy wall frieze" for The Carle's Art Studio. Take a picture with Maisy, have a book signed by Lucy Cousins, & take home a gift from Maisy as a way to remember this special day. Visit carlemuseum.org for schedule of events.125 West Bay Rd. 413-658-1100. Free w/museum admission. Support for Our British Cousins: The Magical Art of Maisy and Friends has been generously provided by Candlewick Press.

 

2012 Easthampton Bear Fest Auction happens at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on Thurs., Sept 20th. Big Bears will be auctioned off at this live auction with a silent auction for Table Top Bears. All the bears will be on view and the proceeds from this event fund arts education in the Easthampton public schools, grants support for public arts installations, and support the Riverside Industries Arts program empowering people with disabilities. The Easthampton Bear Fest Auction truly resonates through all our communities. The Log Cabin is located at 500 Easthampton Rd. in Holyoke, MA. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets include an evening of dining and auction. The auction will commence at 8pm. For more information go to easthamptonbearfest.com 

 

North Amherst Community Farm & Simple Gifts Farm will celebrate the 7th annual North Amherst Harvest Festival on Sun., Sept 23rd from 12noon-5pm in North Amherst (1089 N. Pleasant St.). The festival will feature locally grown and prepared foods & a non-stop line up of entertainers, including, New Growth String Band, Rusty Belle, Jay Mankita & several others. Families can enjoy hula-hooping, kids crafts & activities, pumpkin bowling, cider pressing & even a chance to make smoothies using a kid-sized blender bike. Horse drawn wagon rides around the farm will tour crops & livestock for families to learn about the farm's integrated, bio-diverse land management system. This is a free rain or shine event. (>$ parking) nacfonline.org  

 

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