Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

Zine on the River
2025-01-12 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Make a small booklet, a habitat zine, from a single piece of paper, then fill it with your nature observations for this drop-in program. Cut and draw in it to recreate your favorite river habitats. If you’d like to use paper you made on January 3, for First Friday’s Make Your Own Paper program, bring it! For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Rabbits
2025-01-17 10:30 - 11:30
For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Learn more about our wildlife neighbors in the Connecticut River Watershed. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Bluey Party
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00
For ages 3-10, accompanied by an adult. Join us for crafts and activities related to the popular cartoon character, Bluey! This drop-in style event is sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries and hosted by the Great Falls Discovery Center. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Winter Insects
2025-01-24 10:30 - 11:30

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Groundhogs
2025-01-31 10:30 - 11:30

Ongoing - Indoor StoryWalks®- Tracks in the Snow
2025-02-01 - 2025-02-12
Explore the lives of active and resting winter wildlife through stories. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk. At the end of the StoryWalk® enjoy reading more books about snow and winter from our collection.
2/1—2/12: Tracks in the Snow, by Wong Herbert Yee
2/13—2/28: Rabbit’s Snow Dance by Joseph Bruchac.
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.

Where Are All the Animals Hiding?
2025-02-01 10:30 - 11:30
How do animals stay snug and warm for winter? Come investigate hidden winter animal homes through stories, crafts, and activities. For ages 3–6+ with a parent or guardian. Friends and siblings welcome! Meet in the Great Hall.

First Friday: Navigate Your Neighborhood!
2025-02-07 16:00 - 18:00
Every First Friday of the Month, Turners Falls businesses and organizations stay open late for activities. Drop in to learn how to get your bearings with just a compass and map! While you’re here, find out how you can care for the watershed through Leave No Trace. For all ages. Families welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Who Do You Love? Valentines for Wildlife
2025-02-09 10:00 - 17:00
For all ages, stop by our Welcome Desk to make Valentines to give to the ones you love, keep for yourself, or give to your favorite wildlife biologist — all in honor of your favorite animal.

Ongoing - Indoor StoryWalks® - Rabbit’s Snow Dance
2025-02-13 - 2025-02-28

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Porcupines
2025-02-14 10:30 - 11:30

Building a Blizzard: Snowflakes in the Great Hall!
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00
Get inspired by the story of Vermont’s Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley and his obsession with snowflakes. In this drop-in program make your own unique snowflake art. Keep it simple making paper snowflakes or use gel printing techniques. All art materials provided. Along the way learn just what makes each snowflake unique. Families welcome! For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up who have mastered basic scissor skills. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Winter Birds
2025-02-21 10:30 - 11:30

Author Reading with Astrid Sheckels
2025-02-22 15:00 - 16:00
All ages. Local author, Astrid Sheckels, reads Hector Fox and the Map of Mystery. Look for animals from the story with a Map of Mystery scavenger hunt! Sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Beavers
2025-02-28 10:30 - 11:30

Ongoing - Indoor Story Walk® 999 Tadpoles
2025-03-01 - 2025-03-11
Explore the lives of our favorite mud season amphibians. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk.
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.

First Friday: Big Night for Beginners
2025-03-07 16:00 - 18:00
Every First Friday of the Month, Turners Falls businesses and organizations stay open late for activities. On a mild, rainy night in early Spring, thousands of frogs, toads, and salamanders move across Massachusetts to reach their vernal pools and start the next generation of amphibians. But the journey across roads and lawns can be deadly. For this drop-in program, come for crafting, a game, and stay for conversations about how you can help a local Big Night Brigade! Take a moment to enjoy hot chocolate too. For all ages. Families welcome! Meet in the Great Hall.

Ongoing: Indoor StoryWalk®-The Salamander Room
2025-03-12 - 2025-03-30
Explore the lives of our favorite mud season amphibians. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk.
3/12—3/30: The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer
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.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - When Will it Be Spring?
2025-03-14 10:30 - 11:30

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Salamanders
2025-03-21 10:30 - 11:30

Reptile Nook: Animal Talk
2025-03-22 13:00 - 14:00
For ages 5-16, accompanied by an adult. Join us to meet four animals up close and dive into learning about a variety of reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate species. Free. Sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Frogs
2025-03-28 10:30 - 11:30

Ongoing: Indoor StoryWalk ® — One Earth
2025-04-03 - 2025-04-30
Enjoy the indoor StoryWalk®, One Earth by Eileen Spinelli, which is an open invitation to both celebrate our planet and honor it through stewardship. Count the reasons to love the planet and ways to protect it. For ages 4—8 and anyone who loves the earth, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk.
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.

Haiku postcards *
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00
In this hands-on workshop for families, Denise Fontaine-Pincince teaches participants how to create a haiga (art with haiku) postcard. Poems and all materials are provided. Sample ‘haiga postcards’ can be viewed by looking up Haiku Gifts: Art with Poetry by Denise Fontaine-Pincince on YouTube. Ages 8 and up. No pre-registration required. Sponsored by PVMA and Montague Public Libraries as part of NEA Big Read activities. Meet in the Great Hall.
* The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA), in partnership with Montague Public Libraries, celebrates its eighth National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read. Focused on Ross Gay’s book of poetry, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, exhibits and events explore this year’s theme of “Where We Live.” NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Ongoing: Outdoor StoryWalk® — Spring is Here!
2025-04-10 - 2025-04-30
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the Discovery Center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring a children’s picture book. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. Spring is Here! by Heidi Pross Gay is for ages 2—8 and everyone looking for the first signs of spring.
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.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Osprey
2025-04-11 10:30 - 11:30
Learn more about our wildlife neighbors in the Connecticut River Watershed. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Vernal Pool Variety Hour: Secrets to Frog and Salamander Survival
2025-04-12 14:00 - 16:00
Why are the still waters and muck of vernal pools the most attractive pieces of real estate for amphibians in the spring? What is a “Big Night”? Join us for this drop-in program exploring the soggy lives of frogs, toads, and salamanders and their dangerous migration journeys. For children ages 7 and up and their families. Includes a game and crafting. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Chipmunks
2025-04-18 10:30 - 11:30

Ongoing: Earth Week Investigation Station and Indoor Storywalk® - One Earth
2025-04-19 - 2025-04-27
Join us at the welcome desk during school vacation week for activities to inspire taking care of where we live. Enjoy indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, crafts, and activities to honor the Earth, our shared home. Includes the indoor StoryWalk® — One Earth by Eileen Spinelli, which is an invitation to both celebrate our planet and honor it through stewardship. For all ages.

Buildwave: A Hands-on Building Game!
2025-04-22 11:00 - 12:00
Have fun building, using the materials provided! Call the Carnegie Library 413-863-3214 to register your child. For families with children ages 5 and up, accompanied by an adult. Sponsored by the Montague Public Libraries. Meet in the Great Hall.
