Public Programs

Third Saturdays Hike Series w/Body Shoppe

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!

Family Breeding Bird Survey

Saturday, June 7; 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.
For ages 6 and older
Fee: FREE
Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960

Mass Audubon is in year two of a five year breeding bird survey of the State. Your family can help gather data for the survey for the block called “Orange-1.” After a brief indoor introduction to some birds we might see, we’ll head out on the property to look for nesting birds including stops at our bird boxes. Bring binoculars if you have them. Information on Breeding Bird Atlas 2 is at: http://www.massaudubon.org/birdatlas/bba2/index.php.

Eating Local the Wild Way with Blanche Cybele Derby Sunday, June 8: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. For ages 12 and older Fee: FREE Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960 Author, artist, life-long forager and cook -- Blanche’s thirty years of foraging and preparing wild foods give her an intimate knowledge of plants through the seasons. Her books and videos, in which she refers to plants as her “friends,” give an insight to the deep reverence she has for all things green, purple or pink! Take this field walk to learn which plants are in season and how to gather and prepare them at home. In case of inclement weather, an indoor discussion and look at cut samples will take place in our cozy Yurt. Visit Blanche’s website to learn more about her books and DVD’s which will be on sale after the program. http://www.tagyerit.com/freefood.htm. This is the fourth program of our eating local series.

Join Andrea Donlon, CRWC River Steward and Northfield Mountain’s Beth Bazler on this 6½ mile paddle from the Vernon Dam, by nesting bald eagles, the mouth of the Ashuelot River and a former Native American settlement site. Andrea will also share information about issues such as riverbank erosion and bank swallow habitat. We’ll stop along the way for lunch and possibly harvest a small amount of native clay deposited when this area was submerged under glacial lake Hitchcock. This is a rare opportunity to have shuttle service between Vernon Dam and Pauchaug Brook! Those bringing their own boats can choose to drop them off in Vernon, VT before meeting the group or meet early at Pauchaug and have them shuttled for a fee. Connecticut River Watershed Council: http://www.ctriver.org/.

Beach Buddies Friday, July 11; 9 a.m. – 12 noon For ages 6 and older Fee: FREE Pre-register by calling 800-859-2960

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.

Summer Wildflowers of Indian Meadows with Boot Boutwell

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.

Astronomy Conjunction

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.