Ribbon Tree

I had the kids select a good sized branch and enough stones to "plant" it in a small bucket we had. I cut lengths of ribbon, string, and pipe cleaners for them to use to decorate their tree. This was good practice tying knots. The end result was interesting. Several people, including my husband, found it creepy - maybe because some of the ribbon we had was grayish-black. I thought it was festive. Half way through the boys asked me for sparkly things, so the craft expanded to include glue and spangles. They glued the spangles directly onto the branch, and also on to ribbons which they then attached to it. They did this 100% outside, which was good for me, and they cooperated nicely on it - seems like a project that lends itself to multiple kids working toward one outcome. The older helped the younger with tying, for instance, and the younger one introduced the spangles.

Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, MA

On the grounds of Hampshire college sits this unusual building with it's enormous windows and gnarled apple trees studding the lawn.
There are several areas inside to explore. The staff and volunteers at the museum are very friendly and knowledgeable.
In the art room, children are invited to do a project. They can also choose to color on a papered table. If they are not interested in, or too young for, the project, they can play with a variety of toys in an attractive play area.
In the library, board books, toys and puzzles are available for play. Thousands more picture books line the shelves.

The gallery has some great exhibits, but we usually skip it. It is best seen with a 1:1 child-parent ratio.
The cafeteria is a large sunny room equipped with high chairs. There is no longer any food served there, but there are several vending machines with drinks, snacks, and lunchy items from Atkins Farms. I'm sure the food is good, but it's also quite expensive.
The movie theatre is well appointed. We have seen a couple of shows there.
The gift shop looks lovely, but I've been telling my children for years that it is off-limits to children. I've never really looked around.
The outdoor space is beautiful and we always spend time out there when the weather is nice.
The restrooms are immaculate, cute, and each has a child size potty. Best restrooms ever.
Parking is copious, but there is no shade in the lot.

Eric Carle Museum

3 County Fair, Northampton, MA

It will cost you a pretty penny, but you'll have an awesome time, too. Last year we paid for bracelets for the kids and it was so worth it. On the inflatable slide alone, which my middle son slid down about 700 times, we made our money back. There were tons of rides that both kids were tall enough to go on.

The food was good, the soda was cold. One child watched a puppet show with Grandma while I followed the other around. There were plenty of animals to look at, and in a special barn a children's paradise - from a toy tractor driving area, corn kernel sandbox, giant pig and horse, and goats, etc., a lasso game, a magnet board.... it was a really well done feature.

We found side street parking quite close - we were lucky that day. I believe you'll have to pay to park, but if you are willing to walk a bit, you can park free.

The dates for 2009 are August 28-30.

Three County Fair

Mud Spun Arts Center, Belchertown, MA

The studio at the Mud Spun Arts Center, settled with pink dust, decorated with works in progress, is a wonderful place to spend time with your children. It is a well- appointed workspace, with several wheels, open shelving for projects, canvas covered tables, and bright windows that open up the room. A blue kiln stands in the corner, a generous sink stands at the rear. It is a space that is prepared, a space where creativity has room to grow.

The space put me in mind of Reggio Emilia, a theme that seems to crop up continually in my exploration of truly great places for my children. This educational philosophy values playing with clay very highly and posits that clay itself, not play dough or silly putty, is an important aspect of kids' art experiences.

The proprietor and resident artist at Mud Spun is Becky Laliberte. Her gallery and studio here are labors of love that have expanded gradually over the past few years. With experience in both art and education, Becky is well suited to the task she's set for herself. From her website: Mud Spun strives to offer experiences in art that encourage exploration, discovery, and creativity.

On our visit there my children were offered clay, a wide variety of tools, and introductions to techniques like creating patterns, rolling out, and wetting the clay. On the potter's wheel the kids watched Becky center the clay and begin to form a vessel. They were able to touch the clay as the wheel spun, poke it with a tool, splash water on it. It was a thorough and much appreciated introduction to the medium.
Becky is an open teacher who interacted so well and so calmly with my guys, who can be revved up easily. She offers courses at the studio ranging from adult classes to summer camps, as well as birthday parties/get togethers. In the fall, look for a Mommy & Me class also - I will be!
Mud Spun

Intro to Clay for Kids

Hadley's 350th Anniversary Celebration

With a parade, farm tour days, lectures and more, and a comprehensive website, this celebration is gaining steam as the halfway mark of the year is passed.
The Valley, and Hadley in particular, have long agricultural histories. Farming as a way of life is alive here in a way that becomes scarcer as food production becomes homogenized and consumers are distanced from food sources. CISA- Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture
Among the many ways that Hadley is being honored this year is with scholarship. Several volumes on the area have been planned.

Tom Pelissier of Belchertown, MA, has written a concise and colorful history of his French Canadian ancestors and the community that they lived in- our community. Tom's background in anthropology lends his short commentary authority and structure, while extensive research into the geneologies of his families has provided Tom with a personal connection to his subject. Beautiful and original illustrations by local artist Nancy Haver, as well as antique photographs, enhance the book aesthetically.

The French Canadians of Hadley Massachusetts; Why They Came and Why They Stayed, will be available shortly at the Hadley 350th Souvenir Shop.

Feel free to email the author at tompelissier@charter.net for further details.

For all of us who share his interest in our region, I highly recommend this volume.

Fairy Houses

This activity is great for at home or out somewhere. The fun begins with treasure hunting for various materials to construct your house, and selection of an appropriate location. Then you're ready to start building. It was fun for me to do this, and my boys got into it also - especially my 3 year old. They introduced action figures and animal figures to the houses, so it turned into free play when we were done.

As it turned out, this was also a cool nature activity. Looking at the materials up close prompted a lot of questioning. And answering, of course.

Book that inspired us

How-to information

Sunwheel, UMass, Amherst, MA

I accessed this spot from Amity street, but I believe you are also able to use the UMass Stadium entrance.
We were there on a sunny day, which I recommend since it dramatizes the rocks/sculptures/icons. The kids had a blast running around here, and spent a long time in the meadow of wildflowers just outside of the mowed circle that surrounds the monument.
The meadow and a small bridge create the sense of being in a park - a defined area. I liked this. We spent about an hour here. That's probably the upper limit of entertainment here, except maybe older kids who were more interested in the meaning of the Sunwheel. Or if you picnicked.

Sunwheel Website

Make a sunwheel at home

Astronomy and Spirituality

Outlook Farm, Westhampton, MA

Outlook Farm was holding a special event on the day of our visit. Activities included a water balloon toss, free ice cream, face painting, tissue paper flowers. The shop is a deli/convenience/small grocer and a restaurant. Westhampton is quite rural, so this is a store-of -all-trades. Quite charming!

I was able to pick up a few plants for my garden at GREAT prices. This is not a regular spot I would take my kids, but I will definitely visit again anytime they are holding a family event like the one I attended yesterday.

Outlook Farm

Glue and Dirt

My children were inspired by the art on display at the Clapp Library. The exhibit features photos of the children making the artwork, as well as the pieces themselves. It's very Reggio Emilia. One technique was using natural materials on the sticky side of some contact paper. I did not have the sticky paper but we were able to re create the idea anyway.

This was an awesome project requiring nothing but Elmer's glue and cardboard, though at one point I think I brought the tape out. A variation on this is to use cardboard cut into the shape of a wreath, to make a seasonal decoration.

Higgins Armory, Worcester, MA

Parking is ample, and free. Admission is on the pricier side. The exhibits were fantastic, many many full suits of armor, weaponry, a large and fun kids room, stained glass windows, and more. The museum is even designed to look like a castle inside.

The children's area was a large open room. My sons spent most of their time at a model castle, using a myriad of toy horses and knights. There was a large dress up area - I wore the "queeniest" thing my oldest could find. An oversized chess board was surrounded by smaller gaming tables, set with checkers or chess. Other features were a puppet theater, a reading area, crayon rubbings, real helmets to try on.

I was disappointed that they were asking an additional $5 for the kids to make a cardboard shield. I peeked in, to decide whether I wanted to pay that much, and it was a very easy decision. We did not participate in that project. Just a few months ago we made much more impressive shields at home with a diaper box and some hot glue. For free.

There was a gift shop downstairs with several small tables adjacent to it. There was a vending machine with soda and juice.

Higgins Armory

Nature/Art/Music Playshop

This is a day long program to be held at the Hitchcock Center on April 26. I haven't attended one of these in the past, but it sounds like a compelling mixture of disciplines.

From workshop leader Marcy Gregoire:

"This is our third day long work/playshop, and has been a GREAT success.
Each time we spend time in nature, create original art, and write, record, and perform an Earth-based song.

We are asking a $35 fee for the day, with scholarships and sliding scale prices available. No one will be turned away due to lack of financials.

We do ask that they bring a lunch and snack. The age ranges from 3-12 so far. We love involving various age groups. It's great to see them all interact."

For registration or additional information:

marcy@underthetreeart.com

(413) 768-7114
Under The Tree Art

Garlic Festival, Orange MA

Fall in New England is a particularly wonderful time. Orange is a hilly and wooded town north of the Quabbin. This festival offers music on a large stage with seating on a hill, a smaller stage near the food area, vendors with wares from honey to hula hoops, foods (which do not come cheap, and lines can be long), and other entertainments. There is plenty of free space for children to run. The festival ground is a field which gets mowed for the event, so the "grass" is a prickly and uneven specimen.

It will cost you more than a few bucks to get in, and surely you'll purchase food, drink or garlic while you are there. Not free.

Parking is free and out on a field identical to the fairground. Watch yourself if muddy.

Restrooms are porta potties. Couldn't tell you how they were as I do not go in those.



Garlic Festival

Clark Art Museum, Williamstown, MA

We had a great time on our visit here. It was early spring and unseasonably cold with snowflakes coating the grass. The museum was hosting a completely free family day with an equestrian theme. They have these events frequently - we are looking forward to going back at some point. Our kids were able to pet miniature horses, ride a regular one, and do two separate craft projects related to the cowboy theme. We also took a few minutes in the galleries to look at some actual art. But not too long! The large open atrium that greets you as you enter the museum is a relaxing space. A cafe has basic snacks and coffee - I don't remember what I purchased but it was pretty good. There is plenty of seating. There is also a museum shop in the same open space.

Clark Art Museum

Clark Art Museum Family Event Calendar

Springfield Science Museum, Springfield, MA

Parking is free - there are two lots, one directly in front of the ticketing area, and another across the street.

The Science Museum is the first building you'll see as you approach. This museum hosts the popular dinosaur exhibit once per year. Regular exhibits include an aquarium & terrarium area, many examples of stuffed animals, early American History, an Earth Sciences section, a planetarium (still looking forward to this - have removed myself due to crying both times I tried to take them in), and a dinosaur area.
The Science Museum hosts most of the special programs that are available at the Quadrangle. On certain days additional areas are opened - a really awesome activity room in the basement and a second area with art projects near the planetarium.

The gift shop is lovely, and set up pretty well so that the high end fragile stuff is on one side and the kid friendly stuff is on the other. Unfortunately it's impossible to avoid the gift shop because the seating area where you can have your lunch is literally inside the store. There are a few vending machines there, but otherwise no food for sale, so definitely bring your own. The restrooms are fine. The best one is the handicapped one located right in the entrance area.

We have a membership to this museum complex and it is a GREAT DEAL. The regular admission, the other museums that we can visit for free on the passport program, such as the Boston Children's Museum, the Boston Science Museum, or the Ecotarium. The special programs that they hold there, the permanent exhibits and the weekend family events... all of these make the membership very worthwhile for us.

Springfield Science Museum