Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

Who's Been Here? A Tracking Adventure
2023-01-21 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Let’s go outside and see who’s been here in the snow. Investigate the mysterious signs that wildlife leave behind. Program includes an indoor story, scavenger hunts, and crafts. Bundle up! For ages 3 – 8 with a parent or guardian. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet inside the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Groundhogs
2023-01-27 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors who share our home. Program includes a story, activities, and a craft. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Crossroads Exhibit - Life is______: An exploration of Being Through the Eyes of Local Young People
2023-03-25 - 2023-04-26 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Created and curated by local Brick House youth, this exhibit in the Great Hall, through a variety of mediums, explores their perspectives and experiences living in modern-day rural America. This show is on display through 4-26.
This art show is inspired by Crossroads: Change in Rural America, which is on display February 5 through March 18 in the Great Hall. (over now)
“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Mass Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” is a collaboration between Department of Conservation and Recreation, RiverCulture, Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Montague Public Libraries, and New England Public Media. See the full calendar of events at https://greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/crossroads

Crossroads Reception- Life is______: An exploration of Being Through the Eyes of Local Young People
2023-03-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join Brick House youth for an artist reception! Created and curated by local Brick House youth, this exhibit in the Great Hall, through a variety of mediums, explores their perspectives and experiences living in modern-day rural America. Exhibit on display through 4-26. This art show is inspired by Crossroads: Change in Rural America, which is on display February 5 through March 18 in the Great Hall.
“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and Mass Humanities. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the United States Congress.

“Crossroads: Change in Rural America” is a collaboration between Department of Conservation and Recreation, RiverCulture, Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Montague Public Libraries, and New England Public Media. See the full calendar of events at https://greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/crossroads

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Frogs
2023-04-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

StoryWalk®—We Planted A Tree
2023-04-14 - 2023-04-30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the grounds of the center for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book We Planted a Tree by Diane Muldrow, for readers ages 3-7 and everyone who celebrates trees. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. Happy Arbor Day, Friday, April 28th!
*The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Chipmunks
2023-04-14 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Earth Week Investigation Station: Trees
2023-04-15 - 2023-04-23 | MA
Join us at the welcome desk during school vacation week in activities to inspire taking care of where we live, with a special focus on trees, including scavenger hunts.

Let’s Have a Ball! Join the 1st Jurassic Mud Ball Festival in 200 Million Years
2023-04-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Celebrate mud season with an exploration of rare Jurassic-age rocks found only in Turners Falls- armored mud balls! Family friendly activities for all ages. How were they formed millions of years ago? How were they discovered by geologist Richard Little? Make your own armored mud ball to take home, with help from local geologist Steve Winters and DCR staff. Enjoy a tasty, armored mud ball treat. Meet in the Great Hall. Weather permitting, hunt for Jurassic armored mud balls on an easy walk to nearby Unity Park.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Beavers
2023-04-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Arbor Day—Montague Celebrates Trees!
2023-04-28 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Friday, April 28
At 10:30 a.m., our story hour features the book, Who Lives in a Tree?, our ongoing outdoor story walk is We Planted a Tree, our 1 p.m. Nice & Easy Walk features trees, and the Carnegie Library has drop-in Arbor Day scavenger hunts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stay tuned for updates on Montague Tree Committee activities!

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Trees
2023-04-28 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Birds
2023-05-05 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Story Walk® – Ruby’s Birds
2023-05-11 - 2023-06-27 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book Ruby’s Birds by Mya Thompson, for readers ages 3-7 and everyone who celebrates birds. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. *The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.
Ongoing May 11—June 27

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Fish
2023-05-12 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

16th Annual Free Family Fishing Day
2023-06-04 10:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Our annual Family Fishing Day, at Barton Cove, with additional activities at the Great Falls Discovery Center. Join us for a day of FREE fishing fun. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Event is held rain or shine. Parking is free.
At Barton Cove Campground: Barton Cove Road in Gill

Free fishing from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Fishing equipment provided – limited supplies. Bring your own pole if you have it.
No fishing license needed.

At Great Falls Discovery Center: 2 Avenue A

Fly lure tying demonstrations.
Come see a fish from the USGS Conte Anadromous Fish Research Lab
CATCH THE FISH BUS HERE! Free shuttle bus to and from Barton Cove as needed from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

At Turners Falls Fishway: 15 First Street

Fish printing – The art of Gyotaku, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Turtles
2023-06-30 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

ACF Music walk: Musical Fun for Kids & Sidewalk Costume Parade
2023-07-01 14:00 - 16:00 | MA
Start the Antenna Cloud Farm Music Walk Festival at Unity Park at 2 p.m. with live music and family-friendly art-making, and then join in the parade at 2:45 p.m. Stroll along with musicians and DCR park staff for a children’s sidewalk costume parade along 2nd Street to the Great Falls Discovery Center. Make music while you walk! Instruments provided. Then, at 3 p.m. enjoy indoor music in the Great Hall with Saxophonist Travis Laplante, and enjoy our StoryWalk® Mole Music by David McPhail.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Eagles
2023-07-07 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors who share our home. Program includes a story, activities, and a craft. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall or adjacent courtyard.

Live Birds of Prey with Tom Ricardi
2023-07-08 14:00 - 15:00 | MA
Free. For all ages. Meet raptors up close and personal! Gather in the Great Hall for birds of prey, presented by Tom Ricardi, a licensed rehabilitator and wildlife biologist. Tom provides an educational presentation on their lives and habitats as well as conservation. You may see vultures, falcons, owls, and hawks!

Great Hall Exhibit: Montague Parks & Recreation Young Artist Week
2023-07-12 - 2023-07-26 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
July 12 – 26
The Montague Parks & Recreation Summer Camp 2023 celebrates Young Artist Week, bringing their art to the Great Hall. Enjoy works created by children ages 5-12 that focus on local wildlife.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bobcats
2023-07-14 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Snakes
2023-07-21 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Rabbits
2023-07-28 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bees & Flowers
2023-08-04 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Pocumtuck Homelands Festival
2023-08-05 10:00 - 17:00 | Unity Park, 56 First Street, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
A free two-day celebration at Unity Park on First Street in Turners Falls, sponsored by the Nolumbeka Project and RiverCulture. This festival is the perfect combination of live music, drumming, dancing, storytelling, native crafts and food. On Saturday August 5, 10 a.m.—5 p.m., families may visit the Northfield Mountain-Great Falls Discovery Center tent. Create a fun make-and-take nature-themed craft – this year we will make fish prints! For more information on the entire event visit nolumbekaproject.org/events.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Coyotes
2023-08-11 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

StoryWalk® - Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water
2023-08-17 - 2023-09-23 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Enjoy a story, fresh air, and exercise! Join us on the center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book Agua, Agüita / Water, Little Water by Jorge Argueta, a bilingual book for readers ages 4-7 and everyone who celebrates water. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route.
*The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. StoryWalk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalkv® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - River Otters
2023-08-18 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Art Naturally Series
2023-08-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Discover nature through story, poetry, and art in our series of free Art Naturally programs. Using words and images, instruction and techniques you create an art piece inspired by the natural world to take home. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall.
