Berkshire Environmental Action Team

Night Bites & Insights
2026-04-07 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, 1089 Main Street, Housatonic, MA
Join the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire for an evening of delicious food and eye-popping conversation!
‘Climate change’ and ‘global warming’ are misleading phrases. We’re not advocating conspiracy theories here but recognizing that these phrases lull us into thinking climate turmoil is something that is off in the future and far away from the Berkshires. ‘Extreme weather’ might be a better way to describe the local effects that we have already seen.
UUMSB will host Night Bites & Insights on Tuesday, April 7th at 5:30 p.m. featuring a spaghetti dinner and conversation with atmospheric scientist Dr. Anton Seimon. Anton Seimon is a six-time National Geographic Society grantee and interdisciplinary scientist with projects on four continents ranging from long-term monitoring of climate change impacts in the Andes to the Inside Tornadoes project over the U.S. Great Plains. Dr. Seimon teaches climate science at Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy.
A $5 spaghetti dinner – including vegetarian options, salad, bread, and dessert – will be open to the public at 5:30 PM while Dr. Seimon shares slides and information about past events such as The Great Barrington Tornado and The Butternut Fire as well as insights about things we can expect in the future. Q&A will follow Dr. Seimon’s remarks.
Learn more and register at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/night-bites-insights-tickets-1984131828711?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_source=email&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_campaign=postpublish#location
DATE: Tuesday, April 7
TIME: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
LOCATION: Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, 1089 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01236

Bringing Climate Action Home: Practical Cost Effective Measures to Save Energy and Save Money
2026-04-07 17:30 - 19:00 | Wander Berkshires, 34 Depot St Suite 101, Pittsfield, 01201, United States
350Mass Berkshire Climate Action, is presenting Bringing Climate Action Home, on April 7, 2026, at Wander, 34 Depot St. Suite 101, Pittsfield, MA. Doors open at 5:30 to provide time for attendees to meet with and learn more about participating community organizations, speakers begin at 6:00. This event is free and open to the public.
About Bring Climate Action Home:
This program will provide valuable resources for anyone considering home renovations, new construction, and upgrading to energy efficient electrical appliances. It will include information for homeowners, landlords, and renters.
Wendy Brown, AIA, CPHD, Owner/Architect at Terra Design-Build will address critical energy efficient design issues for new and existing homes, Mass Save, and how climate disruption impacts us locally.
Joe Carry, Decumanus Green Design-Build, will offer sustainable building insight based on his local home building experience which includes net zero design/construction.
Amanda Parker, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, will discuss the adoption of residential battery storage, window heat pumps, plug-in balcony solar, and more with a focus on the needs of renters and low-income households. In addition Amanda will outline current available financial incentives including rebates for implementing energy efficient measures.
About 350Mass Berkshires Climate Action:
Our volunteer members work together to impact environmental degradation and the climate crisis at the local and state level. Because we recognize that these issues impact everyone, we develop mutually supportive relationships with groups throughout the county.
In recent years 350MA Berkshires Climate Action has supported local efforts to convert Pittsfield’s polluting ‘Peaker Plants’ to clean energy, ensure that new school buildings are designed sustainably for the long term, and has worked on passage of statewide legislation supporting climate and social justice issues as well as clean affordable energy. We welcome new members!
For more information visit: 350maberkshires.org or email: berkshires@350mass.org
DATE: Tuesday, April 7
TIME: 5:30pm
LOCATION: Wander, 34 Depot St, Suite 101, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Joint Hike: Berkshire Natural Resources Council and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
2026-04-08 09:30 - 11:30 | Tom Ball Mountain, 152 Alford Road, Great Barrington, MA, 01230
Join the BNRC and OLLI at BCC for this spring loop hike at Tom Ball Mountain. This outing is rated moderate with both up and downhill stretches. The hike will be around 3 miles. Registration opens March 23 at 9am on OLLI’s website.
Tom Ball Mountain is BNRC’s newest trail which opened in summer 2025. The trail includes views of Long Pond and Round Pond to the east. The trail is moderate with both up and downhill stretches. Hikers can see the amazing trail building skills of the BNRC and Greenager crews who helped build this wonderful new trail that will eventually become part of the High Road.
Hiking poles are strongly recommended, and good hiking shoes are essential.
If we need to cancel the hike due to rain, we will notify participants by email by 7:00 AM the day of the hike.
Register and learn more at this link: https://berkshireolli.org/event-6613472
DATE: Wednesday, April 8
TIME: 9:30am – 11:30am
LOCATION: Tom Ball Mountain, Alford. From the center of Great Barrington: Take Taconic Avenue west. Taconic Avenue turns into Alford Road. Follow Alford Road 2 miles. After passing Division Street, the trailhead will be 0.6 miles ahead on the right.

Sheep Hill Spring Site Spruce-Up
2026-04-11 08:00 - 12:00 | Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MA
Join Williamstown Rural Lands staff and board for our Spring Site Spruce-up. We’ll be snipping, raking, and fixing our way through the punch list to get Sheep Hill looking sharp for the public. Avery Gura’s famous apple cake will be served with weather-appropriate drinks and other energizing snacks.
Pitch in for an hour or three, all abilities welcome. Bring along your fancy electric lawn rake if you’ve got one to tackle that gravel. Otherwise, we’ve got the tools. We look forward to catching up with you outdoors.
DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 8:00am – 12:00pm
LOCATION: Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, MA, 01267

Second Saturday Volunteer Day at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States
Join Mass Audubon at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary to help get the campus ready for spring!
Volunteers will assist with projects such as sprucing up the nature play area, weeding, mulching, and other seasonal outdoor tasks. It’s a great way to spend a spring morning outdoors while making a meaningful impact.
Learn more and register at this link: https://volunteer.massaudubon.org/need/detail/?need_id=1175101
DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 9:00am – 12:00pm
LOCATION: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd., Lenox, MA 01240

Gardening for Today & Tomorrow
2026-04-11 09:00 - 12:15 | Lenox Memorial Middle & High School, 197 East St., Lenox, MA
Join the Western Massachusetts Master Gardeners’ Association for a symposium on sustainable landscaping. The event includes two keynote sessions at 9 am and 11 am. Whether you own many acres of land or a few planters on a balcony, learn how and why your landscaping can support birds and other wildlife in the Berkshires in the face of climate change. Other topics include: invasive species of Western Mass, localizing your landscape with native trees and shrubs, deer defense, and more. Registration required, $35 fee. A full description of the event can be found at this link: https://tinyurl.com/GardeningforTodayandTomorrow.
DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 9:00 am to 12:15 pm
LOCATION: Lenox Memorial Middle & High School, 197 East Street, Lenox, MA

WRL: Repair Cafe
2026-04-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Rd, Williamstown, MA
Sponsored by Williamstown Rural Lands and the South Williamstown Community Association, volunteer fixers can address your problems with that squeaky bike, small electrical things, wooden furniture, dull blades, costume jewelry repairs, and hole-ly clothing. Computer troubles? Bring it in. The fabulous folks from BagShare Project will make you a very cool reusable bag. All for free (donations to SWCA welcome); snacks provided.
Learn more at this link: https://rurallands.org/events/spring-repair-cafe-at-sheep-hill-2/
DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
LOCATION: Sheep Hill, 671 Cold Spring Road, Williamstown, MA, 01267

Spring Fix-It Fair
2026-04-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St., Lenox, MA
Got something that needs repair?

Bring any household items, including clothing to be sewn or mended, small appliances, or other stuff needing to be fixed to the Fix-It Fair on Saturday, April 11 at the Lenox Community Center (65 Walker St.). From 1 to 4pm community volunteers will lend a hand and make repairs!

Kids are welcome to bring items that need fixing, too.

It’s FREE! Call ahead with any questions (Kate: 413-637-0233).

DATE: Saturday, April 11
TIME: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
LOCATION: Lenox Community Center, 65 Walker St., Lenox, MA 01240

Rooting out Barberry in Worthington, MA
2026-04-12 13:00 - 16:30
Join the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee for an afternoon of invasive plant removal! Reduce ticks the wild and scenic way — come for as long as you can and learn how to remove the Barberry Beast!
Email westfieldriver@gmail.com for meeting location and details. Call Meredyth with any questions at 413-207-4282.
DATE: Sunday, April 12
TIME: 1:00pm – 4:30pm
LOCATION: Worthington, MA

Environmental Film Focus Series: BAD RIVER
2026-04-12 15:00 - 17:00 | The Triplex Cinema, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA
Attend a screening of BAD RIVER, hosted by The Berkshire International Film Festival. BAD RIVER, narrated by Quannah ChasingHorse and Academy-Award nominee, Edward Norton; written and directed by award-winning filmmaker, Mary Mazzio; and produced by Grant Hill (Owner of the Atlanta Hawks) and Allison Abner (writer for Narcos, West Wing and descendant of the Stockbridge Munsee Band), is a new documentary film which chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band and its ongoing fight for sovereignty, a story which unfolds in a groundbreaking way through a series of shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience, which includes a David vs. Goliath battle to save Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in America. As Eldred Corbine, a Bad River Tribal Elder declares: “We gotta protect it… die for it, if we have to.” Learn more at this link: https://biffma.org/event/environmental-film-focus-series-bad-river/.
There will be a Q&A following the film.

In collaboration with Roaring Brook Family Foundation.
DATE: Sunday, April 12
TIME: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
LOCATION: Triplex 3, 70 Railroad St., Great Barrington, MA 01230
