Hilltown Families

Hilltown Families Hilltown Families is an award-winning Community-Based Education Network™ serving all four counties of Western MA since 2005!

Hilltown Families is dedicated to supporting the common good of its community by fostering a sense of place through "community-based education," a learning approach that emphasizes self-directed learning through community engagement. This approach, designed to be accessible and inclusive to an intergenerational audience, unites community members through shared interests, establishes a shared histo

ry, and deepens a connection to place. To accomplish its mission, Hilltown Families identifies embedded learning opportunities within communities and interprets their educational and social value, disseminating this information through an online communication network. Sienna Wildfield developed Hilltown Families' innovative method, which acts as a culture creation tool, identifying and connecting community events, resources, and opportunities across the four counties of western Massachusetts. This tool links these opportunities through shared interests, values, and engagement methods, making the intersections of community-based learning explicit and enabling community members of all ages to be self-directed in their education. Hilltown Families has earned recognition as a significant family-strengthening initiative in the region, having been awarded the "Essential Agent of Change Award" by MDPH's Massachusetts Essentials for Childhood for promoting "positive parenting through the social norm of community social connectedness."

🌿 Looking for some free summer programming? River Valley Co-op has you covered. Yoga classes at the Northampton location...
06/17/2026

🌿 Looking for some free summer programming? River Valley Co-op has you covered. Yoga classes at the Northampton location are open to all skill levels, with a variety of styles throughout the summer. On select Thursdays, the Easthampton location hosts family programs for kids and their grown-ups. Both series are free and open to the whole community.

See what's coming up!
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families' free weekly eNewsletter for more resources, community-based educational events, and self-directed learning ideas: hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Free summer events at the co-op! River Valley Co-op is offering two different free program series this summer that are open to everyone in the community! Yoga Classes at the Co-op will take place at their Northampton location and will include a wide variety of classes for all skill levels. No prior....

🎶 New Orleans musician and culture bearer Johnette Downing hosted last week's Hilltown Family Variety Show with a lively...
06/16/2026

🎶 New Orleans musician and culture bearer Johnette Downing hosted last week's Hilltown Family Variety Show with a lively zydeco episode inspired by her new album of zydeco music for children! The episode features music from zydeco pioneers and bilingual songs, inviting listeners of all ages to experience this rich Louisiana Creole tradition. In case you missed it, check out last week's show here!
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Subscribe to the weekly eNewsletter to preview the hour-long commercial-free family radio show: hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Johnette Downing brings Louisiana Creole zydeco to HFVS with songs, culture, and family fun inspired by My Little Snap Bean.

Change is constant, blending old patterns into new ones. Each month brings subtle shifts, visible in clouds, mountain ho...
06/16/2026

Change is constant, blending old patterns into new ones. Each month brings subtle shifts, visible in clouds, mountain horizons, or wildflowers. Beyond familiar shapes like clover leaves or snail shells, nature hides more complex patterns... fractals! Fractals are repeating, evolving symmetries found at every scale. Today, let’s explore how fractals appear in nature and reflect on our place in these universal patterns.
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families’ free weekly eNewsletter for more self-directed learning ideas: https://hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Change is constant, blending old patterns into new ones. Each month brings subtle shifts, visible in clouds, mountain horizons, or wildflowers. Beyond familiar shapes like clover leaves or snail shells, nature hides more complex patterns—fractals. Fractals are repeating, evolving symmetries found ...

On Friday, Historic Deerfield offers a guided walking tour of Witness Stones that commemorate the lives of enslaved indi...
06/16/2026

On Friday, Historic Deerfield offers a guided walking tour of Witness Stones that commemorate the lives of enslaved individuals from the 18th century. Learn about the life of Prince, an enslaved man who attempted self-emancipation, and view reproductions of his clothing on display in Hall Tavern.
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families’ free weekly eNewsletter for more resources, community-based educational events, and self-directed learning ideas: https://hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Historic Deerfield offers a guided walking tour of Witness Stones that commemorate the lives of enslaved individuals from the 18th century. Learn about the life of Prince, an enslaved man who attempted self-emancipation, and view reproductions of his clothing on display in Hall Tavern.

🌿 Learn about botany by exploring native ferns and their unique reproduction through spores at Tamarack Hollow Nature & ...
06/16/2026

🌿 Learn about botany by exploring native ferns and their unique reproduction through spores at Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in Windsor on Friday. The walk provides teens and lifelong learners a hands-on experience in identifying over ten species of woodland ferns and understanding how habitat shapes biodiversity.
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families’ free weekly eNewsletter for more resources, community-based educational events, and self-directed learning ideas: https://hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Learn about botany by exploring native ferns and their unique reproduction through spores at Tamarack Hollow Nature & Cultural Center in Windsor. The walk provides teens and lifelong learners a hands-on experience in identifying over ten species of woodland ferns and understanding how habitat shapes...

🎭 This summer, Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre in Heath gives young people ages 10–19 a place to create something togeth...
06/16/2026

🎭 This summer, Hilltown Youth Recovery Theatre in Heath gives young people ages 10–19 a place to create something together. Participants spend July 13–August 10 building an original outdoor spectacle inspired by The Spiderwick Chronicles, working alongside faculty and guest artists in theatre, circus arts, and music. The program wraps with four evening performances August 6–9. A paid YouthCorps track is available for high schoolers, and all programs are pay-what-you-can.

Find your spot!
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Discover more summer camps & programs with Hilltown Families' 2026 Summer Directory: hilltownfamilies.org/summer-director

The Hilltown Youth Theatre Summer Spectacle in Heath, MA, provides intensive arts leadership training for youth ages 10–19, including circus arts and creative performance. Participants collaborate with faculty and guest artists to produce an outdoor traveling show inspired by “Coraline,” with ...

💻 Holyoke Community College's Youth Summer Programs give kids ages 8–16 a week of hands-on learning in subjects they'll ...
06/16/2026

💻 Holyoke Community College's Youth Summer Programs give kids ages 8–16 a week of hands-on learning in subjects they'll actually get excited about. Cooking, game design, coding, basketball, and more, with in-person and online options. Weekly sessions run July 6–August 7.

Check it out!
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Discover more summer camps & programs with Hilltown Families' 2026 Summer Directory: hilltownfamilies.org/summer-directory

Holyoke Community College’s Summer 2026 Youth Programs offer week-long in-person and online sessions for ages 8 to 16, featuring activities like cooking, coding, and sports. Running July 6 to August 7, these programs help kids build creativity, real-world skills, and confidence while exploring new...

🌞 Did you know sunscreen has a fascinating history? From ancient times when people used minerals, oils, and shade to pro...
06/15/2026

🌞 Did you know sunscreen has a fascinating history? From ancient times when people used minerals, oils, and shade to protect their skin, to today’s advanced formulas, sun protection has always been important. Applying sunscreen now is a daily habit that blends tradition and science, helping us care for our skin while we enjoy the outdoors. The story of sunscreen is still evolving as we learn more and spend time outside!
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families’ free weekly eNewsletter for more self-directed learning ideas: https://hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Sunscreen traces a path from early sun-protective practices to the chemistry of modern formulas. Ancient methods—using minerals, oils, or shade—reflect a long-standing attention to sunlight and skin. Today, applying sunscreen becomes a daily gesture shaped by both tradition and science, offering...

Meekins Library in Williamsburg offers monthly take-and-make kits with a featured herb or spice, such as lavender in Jun...
06/15/2026

Meekins Library in Williamsburg offers monthly take-and-make kits with a featured herb or spice, such as lavender in June. This Wednesday, families can learn new techniques by experimenting with recipes at home and sharing creations at a group meeting, where a featured dish is available for sampling. What might it be this month?!
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Subscribe to Hilltown Families’ free weekly eNewsletter for more resources, community-based educational events, and self-directed learning ideas: https://hilltownfamilies.org/weekly-enewsletter

Meekins Library in Williamsburg offers monthly take-and-make kits with a featured herb or spice, such as lavender in June. Families can learn new techniques by experimenting with recipes at home and sharing creations at a group meeting, where a featured dish is available for sampling.

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