Second Saturday Family Science (In-Person Outside)

845 West Street,Amherst MA 01002

08 January, 2022

Description

Join us for seasonal nature and science programs each second Saturday of the month. Designed for children (ages 5–7) with their parents, Second Saturday Family Science (In-Person Outside) with Aemelia Thompson Ages 5–7 or Grades K–1 Saturdays, 10–11am Join us for seasonal nature and science programs each second Saturday of the month. Designed for children (ages 5–7) with their parents, these programs will explore cool topics in nature. January 8th, February 12th, March 12th, April 9th, May 7th*, and June 11th Suggested Donation: $5–$30 per family *The Saturday Science on May 7th has been moved to the first Saturday of May due to space availability. -For Saturday Sciences in January-March we will be learning while moving, often exploring the woods behind our building- January 8th: Living With Bears Have you ever seen a bear in your neighborhood? Massachusetts’ only native species of bear, the black bear, is an amazing and often misunderstood animal. Join us as we learn about how they live and how we can safely share their habitat with them. February 12th: Tracks and Traces While we’re bundled up inside there is still a lot going on outside in Winter! We know this because the animals leave us clues! What tales can animals tell us by looking at what they leave behind? March 12th: Plants in Winter Some plants die in the Winter, others retreat unseen below the ground, still others seem completely unchanged. Learn about the adaptations of different plants in Winter time and investigate some evergreens in an attempt to understand their survival strategies. April 9th: Vernal Pools Also called “ephemeral pools” these Spring habitats are teeming with life and only around for part of the year! As the world thaws, come explore the life of these unique and beautiful places. *May 7th: Wind and Air We can’t hold them or see them, but they’re all around us! This month at the Hitchcock Center we’ll make the invisible visible by examining wind and air at work. We’ll be making our own wind catchers and learning about our relationship to wind and air. June 11th: Poisonous or Venomous What’s the difference between poisonous and venomous? Where do these toxins come from? How do plants and animals use their toxins? In this Saturday Science we will explore the answers to these questions with hands-on activities, games, and nature exploration. Education helps develop a community that understands connections among the human health, ecosystems and economies. The Hitchcock Center connects people with nature and encourages a deeper emotional bond with the natural world that sustains us all. Founded in 1962, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment fosters awareness and understanding of our environment through programs with a particular focus on children, who live in a world of environmental challenges. Our educational framework centers on five fundamentals: Understanding principles of ecology Valuing place Promoting resilience Demonstrating sustainability in the built environment Educating for active citizenship