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Saturday, April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19 & Aug. 16; 9:00 a.m.– 12 noon
For ages 12 and older
Fee: FREE
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
Join this group hiking experience through beautiful natural areas as a part of your path to fitness. Body Shoppe staff will get us started at the beginning of each hike with tips and tricks for stretching, increasing distance safely, working within your target heart rate range and more. Northfield naturalist Beth Bazler will share the natural and cultural history of some of her favorite spots – along rivers, atop breezy mountains, maybe a secret swimming hole in the heat of summer. Hikes will increase in length and challenge through the series. Bring lots of water and hearty trail snacks. Most hikes will require some carpooling. Body Shoppe website:
www.tbs-opt.com.
Hikes Schedule:
- April – Turners Falls Bike Path: Waterpower
- May – Erving Mountain Road via Crag to Northfield Brushy Mountain on the M-M trail: Birds and Breezes
- June – Northfield Mountain: Mountain Laurel and Ledges on the solstice
- July – Wendell State Forest to Farley on the M-M Trail: Wind events, overlooks and taking a dip
- August – Northfield Mountain to Erving on M-M Trail -- signs of mammals, but more walking & less talking!
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Friday, July 11; 9 a.m. – 12 noon
For ages 6 and older
Fee: FREE
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
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You see them darting away from you, or maybe they even tickle your toes when you visit local swimming holes -- lakes, ponds and rivers are full of cool creatures! Come learn more about who you’re swimming with and how to treat them kindly so they’ll be around all summer. Participants will collect animals from the Northfield Mountain Pond and then work in research teams using magnifiers and simple tools to observe pond life. Interested “researchers” will also have the opportunity to present their findings to the larger group.
Saturday, July 12; 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon
For ages 10 and older
Fee: $10 per person
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
Summer is here and Indian Meadows in Northfield abounds with beautiful wildflowers and flowering shrubs. Come for a ramble across the meadows and along the forest edges while Mass Audubon and New England Wild Flower Society naturalist Boot Boutwell helps you learn to identify a number of common flowering plants and shares stories about how they have been used by native Americans, colonial Americans and modern day folk. We’ll focus on plants with beautiful flowers and fascinating legends including on plant that was called “pissy beds” by the English because of its diuretic properties and another plant whose berries can be made into wine. Plant loving children 10 and older are welcome to join us.
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Saturday, Aug. 2; 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
For ages 10 and older
Fee: Adult $12, Senior $10, Child $6
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
Steve Winters has a passion for geology and a way of telling the stories hidden in rocks that make science come alive. The Eastern Border Fault, origins of the Connecticut River, the Jurassic dinosaur tracks, remnants of glacial geology from Lake Hitchcock, and the Barton Cove plunge pools are all things that might be observed and discussed during this 90-minute interpretive riverboat cruise. For interested participants, Steve will also lead a 90-minute free tour of local geology visible on foot from the sidewalks of Turners Falls, beginning in the lobby of the Great Falls Discovery Center at 2:00 p.m. Programs are cosponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center.
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Saturday, Aug. 9; 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
For ages 12 and older
Fee: $20 (covers cost of all supplies and use of commercial kitchen)
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
Cathy Halberg’s passion for canning began in childhood around her parent’s stove and now extends to the Franklin County Fair Roundhouse where she oversees canning entries. She has canned and frozen an incredible variety of things and will bring examples of her craft and share tips and tricks from her years of home canning experience. Participants will learn basic canning techniques by donning a head-net and preparing a soft fruit preserve and pickled cucumbers at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation’s (FCCDC) Food Processing Center in Greenfield. Participants will leave with samples of both products and the confidence to go forth and plan canning parties in their own home kitchens. Please bring a lunch. FCCDC Food Processing Center’s website: http://www.fccdc.org/foodprocess/foodprocess.html. Franklin County Fair Roundhouse Virtual Tour: http://www.fcas.com/tours.html. This is the fifth program of our eating local series.
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Image Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
mage:Kerr_mason_jar.jpg
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Friday & Saturday, August 29 & 30
For ages 12 and older
Northfield Mountain will host the 25th Annual Connecticut River Valley Astronomer's Conjunction. Enjoy the camaraderie of amateur astronomers learning and observing together under the dark skies at Northfield Mountain. As in past years the weekend will be jam-packed full of slide presentations, talks, and Friday and Saturday night sky viewing through telescopes of all shapes and sizes. Check out the conjunction website at: http://www.philharrington.net/astroconjunction/. Or, to request free information and a registration form contact: Jack Megas, Astronomy Conjunction, 311 Surrey Road, Springfield, MA 01118 or e-mail Richard Sanderson at RSanderson@springfieldmuseums.org.
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Saturday, August 30; 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
For ages 10 and older
Fee: FREE
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960
It’s one of those secrets that only local astronomy buffs know – that every summer, nationally known solar observers bring their amazing telescopes to Northfield Mountain and watch our closest star neighbor. This year you’re invited to the party! “Barlow Bob” will lead this informal viewing opportunity where participants have the chance to both observe and ask questions and may see sunspots and solar flares. "Barlow Bob" is the Solar Director of the largest astronomy trade show in the US, the Northeast Astronomy Forum. Bob’s love of solar observing shines through in his desire to share the experience with others.
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