Sky Dance of the American Woodcock
2022-03-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-03-23 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-03-18 19:00 - 20:00, 2022-03-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Multiple Locations Outdoors
When the sun sets in early spring, woodcock love is in the air. Wet meadows and fields are transformed into a “runway” for their beautiful aerial courtship display. Visit Mass Audubon’s meadows to listen and watch for the woodcock’s performance on their breeding grounds. Viewing the woodcock’s sky dance is a natural spectacle that should not be missed.
Registration is required to join this outing. It cost $7 for members and $10 for nonmembers. There are four different opportunities for you to view the woodcock’s sky dance:
Lime Kiln Wildlife Sanctuary in Sheffield, MA
Wednesday, March 16 @ 7 – 8 PM (Register here)
Friday, March 18 @ 7 – 8 PM (Register here)
Housatonic Wildlife Management Area in Lenox, MA
Wednesday, March 23 @ 7 – 8 PM (Register here)
Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary in Pittsfield
Friday, March 25 @ 7 – 8 PM (Register here)

Homeschool Wilderness Skills Programs
2022-03-25 09:00 - 15:00 | Conway, MA
Spring Sessions start March 25th — every Friday for ten weeks @ 9 am-3 pm
Location: Conway, MA
2 Groups:
HERON — ages 7+
SWIFT EAGLE — teens & mature preteens
With Earthwork Programs, hundreds of children have learned and practiced not only wilderness skills but mentoring and being part of a community, as well, for 23 years! During the Spring session, children learn shelter building, fire making, tracking & bird language, foraging for wild edibles, and more!

Early-Bird Tuition: $80/class for the 10-week Spring session. Visit earthworkprograms.com or call 413-340-1161

Path of the Otter
Spring Sessions start March 25th and continue weekly (10 weeks) on Fridays (9 am-12 pm)
Conway, MA
PATH OF THE OTTER — ages 5&6Join in on a playful journey through the season as we develop nature awareness through our senses. Deepen your heart connection with your child and help to nurture your child’s longing to connect with the outdoors. A parent is welcome to stay for first class.

Early-Bird Tuition: $45/class for the 10-week Spring session. Visit earthworkprograms.com or call 413-340-1161

Western Boot Camp on Environmental Law
2022-03-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Online
Thursdays, March 24, 31 & April 7
Since 1990, ELI has educated new and seasoned environmental professionals on the substance and practice of environmental law in our highly rated signature program, Environmental Law Boot Camp. Join ELI virtually on March 24, March 31, and April 7 for this year’s Western Boot Camp, and experience a three-day immersion in environmental law from the comfort of your home or office.
Substantive areas to be covered include:
Day 1 – March 24

Clean Water Act
Ethics & Environmental Law
Clean Air Act
Agriculture and the Environment

Day 2 – March 31

Climate Change
Environmental Justice
RCRA & CERCLA
Energy Law

Day 3 – April 7

Environmental Liabilities in Business Transactions
Environmental Enforcement
Project Development

Designed for new and seasoned professionals, this intensive course explores the substance and practice of environmental law. Our top-class faculty members are respected practitioners who bring environmental law, practice, and emerging issues to life through concrete examples, cases, and practice concerns in this three-day intensive course for ELI members.
Networking opportunities offered throughout!
Questions? Visit https://www.eli.org/boot-camp/western-boot-camp-environmental-law
Hurry! Registration closes March 18!

Webinar: New Incentives for Heat Pumps
2022-03-22 19:30 - 20:30 | Online/Zoom
Wednesday, February 9th @ noon & Tuesday, March 22nd @ 7:30 p.m.
Join Green Energy Consumers Alliance at their free webinar to hear how incentives in MA & RI could help make heat pumps more affordable for you, plus an overview of the benefits of these efficient heating systems.
This webinar will cover:
– What are heat pumps?
– How do they compare with our current heating methods?
– What types of homes are they most cost-effective in?
– How to find good installers
– What questions to ask when you’re gathering bids?
– What are the current incentives to install in Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
Click here to RSVP.

Tuesday Treks
2022-03-22 12:30 - 14:30, 2022-03-15 12:30 - 14:30, 2022-03-08 12:30 - 14:30, 2022-03-01 12:30 - 14:30 | Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Rd., Cropseyville, NY
Join Len Tremblay on a moderately paced 3-mile hike every Tuesday in March to explore the wilds of Dyken Pond Center. Learn the trail system one at a time with a knowledgeable guide. Each week we’ll discover new ground and nature. Hikes will be canceled in bad weather.
This program is free for adults and older teens. Pre-registration required.
DATE: Every Tuesday
TIME: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
LOCATION: Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, NY 12052
To register, call (518) 658-2055 or email dykenpond@gmail.com. Your registration is not complete until you receive confirmation from the Center.

Hornwort Biology and Systematics
2022-03-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-03-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-03-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2022-02-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Online/Zoom
Saturdays, February 19 & 26, March 5, 12, & 19 @ 1:00 — 3:00 p.m.
Instructor: Juan Carlos Villarreal Aguilar
Tuition Cost: $175
Hornworts represent the smallest phylum among land plants, with only 220 species. Despite the reduced species number, they have a fascinating biology and hold clues on the evolution of symbiotic interactions and chloroplast evolution. Most of the diversity of hornworts is found in tropical and subtemperate areas from the Americas and Asia (especially India and China). Despite the evolutionary and, recently, genomic importance of the group, the taxonomy remains challenging and little known.
This seminar will provide an introduction to the diversity of hornworts, with focus on the American continents (from Canada to Patagonia) and Europe. We will first identify study the morphology and anatomy of hornworts and discuss last decade studies on morphology, phylogenetics, symbiosis, systematics, and genomics. Then, we will focus on the regions of interest, giving special attention to genera and species present. The participant will be guided through the taxonomical literature available for regional taxa, and the morphological particularities when using the few available keys. To dive into the hornworts, we will explore their great variety, exploring their most common species in different substrates and ecosystems, including páramos, montane, premontane rain forest, and lowland tropical rain forest. This seminar will use zoom for interactive lectures by way of power point presentations. The seminar will provide a deep knowledge of this fascinating group of plants and discover why they have become important and popular in the field of evolutionary biology!
• Participants need to have a Zoom account (https://zoom.us ; sign-up is free). They will receive a secure link to join the seminar before it begins.
• Individual classes will be recorded and made available to stream (not download) for the duration of the seminar by its participants, so they are able to review them or make up missed ones.
Register Here.

Berkshire Grown Great Barrington Winter Farmers Market
2022-03-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Housy Dome, 1064 Main Street, Housatonic, Massachusetts
Saturdays, March 19 & April 16 @ 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM
Location: Housy Dome (aka Housatonic Community Center), 1064 Main Street, Housatonic
Berkshire Grown’s Winter Famers Markets will feature the abundance of locally grown and produced foods found in the Berkshires. The offerings of local producers range from winter squash, greens, and root crops, to apples, meats, cheeses, honey, and maple syrup, as well as baked goods, jams, ferments, and cider at most markets.
With your safety in mind first, we strongly encourage pre-ordering through What’s Good and pick-up “curbside” by the exit door. Shoppers using SNAP to pre-order must check in at the Market Manager’s table first to receive benefits. Berkshire Grown staff and volunteers will assist you with the curbside pick-up.
Admission to the Farmers Markets is free and SNAP/EBT is accepted at all markets.
Click here to learn more.

Presentations with Athol Bird & Nature Club President Dave Small
2022-03-15 18:30 - 20:00 | Athol Public Library
Join Athol Bird and Nature Club for this series of presentations on our local wildlife and tips on attracting them to our yards. ABNC president Dave Small will be speaking for this series at the Athol Public Library located at 584 Main Street in Athol, MA.
– Tuesday, February 15 @ 6:30 PM – Birds in Winter
– Tuesday, March 15 @ 6:30 PM – Living with Nature
– Tuesday, April 19 @ 6:30 PM – Attracting Native Pollinators
– Thursday, May 12 @ 6:30 PM – Local Butterflies and Planting to Attract Them
– Tuesday, June 21 @ 6:30 PM – Introduction to Dragonflies
Registration is required for these free programs. REGISTER HERE.

Northwoods Tracking & Trailing
2022-03-13 - 2022-03-14, 2022-03-12 - 2022-03-13, 2022-02-26 - 2022-02-27 | Maine Woodlands
Saturday & Sunday, February 26 – 27 or March 12 – 13
The western mountains of Maine in winter are stunning. They’re also home to the densest population of Canada lynx in the lower 48 states. Join seasoned wildlife tracker, educator and Maine Guide, Dan Gardoqui, for a small-group (6 max) experience tracking and trailing lynx, moose, marten, fisher and more.
Dan has led groups in this region for over a dozen years and will provide an unforgettable experience.
Only a few openings remain!

Registration is required. Apply HERE.

To learn more, click here.
Questions: email dan@leadwithnature.com.

SWALLOWTAIL ADVENTURES — For gender-nonconforming youth ages 11–16
2022-03-12 10:00 - 16:00 | Flying Deer Nature Center, 122 Daley Rd., East Chatham, NY
March 12, April 9, May 7 (field trip), & June 18
»10:00 am–4:00 pm each day
This monthly Saturday program provides a safe and fun space for trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer youth to explore the natural world, gain wilderness skills, and build community with one another. Within this caring container, young people can learn, play, take on healthy challenges, step into their leadership, and just be themselves!
Click here to learn more about this program and register.

Winter Tracking Intensive Series
2022-03-12 08:30 - 16:00, 2022-03-06 08:30 - 16:00, 2022-02-26 08:30 - 16:00 | Outside
February 19, 26 & March 6, 12 @ 8:30 a.m. — 4:00 p.m.
Join Dan Yacobellis with special guest instructor Josh Wood as they co lead this four week series in the Northeast woods. Taken to a variety of habitats spread out through Rensselaer, Columbia, and Berkshire counties, the participants will have the opportunity to see the tracks and sign of most of the mammalian residents of this area written in the snow covered landscape.
Participants will come away with a good basic understanding of :
– Foot Morphology
– Body movements and locamotion
– Habitat preferences and uses
– Life cycles
– Animal behavior
– In-depth discussion on animal behavior and natural history and how the animals and their environment shape each other
– How to combine all of these to interpret the sign we find
This course offers something for most skill levels from novice to intermediate.
Tracking is an excellent way to have fun in winter while getting more connected to the natural world!
Cost: $ 400.00 per person (15% discount if you bring a friend)
10 Person maximun enrollment
REGISTER HERE.

Meetings Pontoosuc Lake Park Visioning Project
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30, 2022-03-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom/In-Person
Following extensive community and stakeholder input, the Pontoosuc Lake Park visioning project design consultants have developed several schemes, or concepts, for future park improvements. The Office of Community Development is pleased to share these with you in the coming weeks, both virtually and in-person.

Two meetings will be held:

Virtually:
– A Zoom webinar will be held on Thursday, March 3 at 7 pm.
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us06web.zoom.us/…/reg…/WN_R3pnYuBnTPqo9bHerZh9FQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar on the specified date.

In-person:
-Pittsfield City Hall, 70 Allen St. Thursday, March 10 beginning at 7 pm.
No registration required, but face coverings will be required.

For more information about the project, click here or contact city park staff at (413) 499-9344.

Winter Outdoor Skills Adventure Weekend
2022-02-27, 2022-02-26 | Conway, MA
Saturday, February 26th & Sunday, February 27th

Join Frank Grindrod & Earthwork Programs to learn about specific winter skills, discuss winter shelters — maybe even build a quinzee — make a fire on layers of snow, do “warm” camping, learn ice safety, and track winter animals.

Split up into 4 wilderness skills workshops: 2 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday
Early-Bird Pricing (ends 1/18):

Adult: $50/Workshop
Child: $25/WorkshopChild

Intended Audience: For Families & Adults
Where: Conway, MA

Click here to register online or call 413-340-1161

Family Self-Guided StoryWalk | Caminata Familiar Autoguiada
2022-02-27, 2022-02-26 | The Boulders, Dalton, MA
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen will be on display for a self-guided adventure from Saturday, February 12 – Sunday, February 27 (dawn to dusk) at The Boulders reserve in Pittsfield.
As you walk enjoy a story about a father that takes his child on an adventure to go owling for the first time on a cold winter night. Wordlessly the two companions walk along, for when you go owling you don’t need words. You don’t need anything but hope. Sometimes there isn’t an owl, but sometimes there is! While the audience of the book is 3-7-year-olds, the content is great for all ages- even adults!
This event is in partnership with the Berkshire Natural Resources Council and the Berkshire Environmental Action Team.
Click here to learn more.
Fo questions reach out to Mariah at mauman@bnrc.org

Luna de Búho, de Jane Yolen, estará exhibido para una aventura autoguiada desde el sábado 12 de febrero hasta el domingo 27 de febrero (desde el amanecer hasta el atardecer) en la reserva de The Boulders en Pittsfield.
Mientras camina, disfrute de la historia de un padre que lleva a su hijo a la aventura de ir en busca de búhos por primera vez en una fría noche de invierno. Los dos compañeros caminan sin palabras, pues cuando se encuentran en busca de búhos palabras no son necesarias. Solo se necesita tener esperanza. A veces no hay búhos alrededor, pero otras veces sí los hay. Si bien la audiencia del libro es para niños de 3 a 7 años, el contenido es ideal para todas las edades, ¡incluso para adultos!
Este evento se realiza en colaboración con el Consejo de Recursos Naturales de Berkshire y el Equipo de Acción Ambiental de Berkshire.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, por favor, comuníquese con Mariah en mauman@bnrc.org.
Clic aquí para saber más.
