Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bats
2025-10-24 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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.

Wings Without Borders: A Bird Migration Talk
2025-10-25 14:00 - 15:00
Birds are among nature’s most remarkable travelers, carrying stories across continents with every wingbeat. This talk explores migration as a biological wonder and a source of human inspiration, weaving connections between landscapes. Together we discover how the movements of birds echoes themes of resilience, belonging, and change. Join ornithologist Chad Witko (Birding University) for a journey into the science and symbolism of migration. For ages 12 and up and everyone is welcome to enjoy the Migrations exhibit art. Meet in the Great Hall.

Great Hall Reception — Migrations: A Celebration of Art, Birds, and the Day of the Dead
2025-10-25 14:00 - 17:00
First, join us for a talk from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. by ornithologist Chad Witko on bird migration (described above). Then enjoy refreshments, view paintings from Guatemalan artists, and visit our Day of the Dead altar. Learn about the tradition of leaving messages of love to honor and commemorate loved ones. The altar is on display October 11 through November 2. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice and Easy Walk
2025-10-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-11-06 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-11-20 13:00 - 14:00
Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Night Animals
2025-10-31 10:30 - 11:30

First Friday: The Great Scavenger Hunt Challenge
2025-11-07 15:00 - 17:30
Join us for a self-guided scavenger hunt adventure to test your spotting skills in our Connecticut River watershed habitat dioramas. How many animals, trees, and plants can you find? Scavenger hunt worksheets will range from fun and easy to extra super hard where camouflage is the name of the game! Meet at the welcome desk.

Ongoing: Outdoor StoryWalk® — Thanks to the Animals
2025-11-13 - 2026-01-04
Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the Discovery Center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring Thanks to the Animals, by Allen Sockabasin. For young readers ages 6—8 and anyone grateful for wildlife and storytelling. 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.

Nice & Easy Walk
2025-11-13 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-11 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-12-18 13:00 - 14:00

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Moose
2025-11-21 10:30 - 11:30

Wildflowers in Winter
2025-11-22 13:00 - 14:30
Embrace the identification challenge of matching summer wildflowers with their winter attire with naturalist Dawn Marvin Ward. Learn how through photographs, clues, and hands-on exploration to expand your knowledge of the winter landscape. Discover the amazing variety of shapes, forms and textures, learn lore and legend of our local plants, and gain an appreciation of wildflowers in their dormant state. Dawn is an educator and naturalist who has been sharing her knowledge and appreciation of nature for over 20 years. Note: This program is not a hike, specimens will be available inside. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Thanks to the Animals
2025-11-28 10:30 - 11:30

Gratitude After Gravy Walk
2025-11-28 13:00 - 14:30
Get moving this holiday weekend and connect with nature and local history! Join us for a leisurely walk along the Canalside Rail Trail. The walk is about 3 miles long, on a level paved surface. Makes for an easy stroll for adults and children ages 8 and up. Be prepared for cold weather, dress in layers. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Walk begins at the front entrance to the Great Falls Discovery Center. Inclement weather or icy trail conditions cancels.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Raccoons
2025-12-05 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.

Ongoing - Great Hall Exhibit: Home
2025-12-07 - 2026-01-30
From forest floor to canopy, Will Close’s exhibition of original watercolor and mixed media paintings invites viewers to rediscover the beauty and complexity of the natural world that surrounds us. Accompanied by thoughtful text and quotes from experts and longtime New Englanders alike, each piece reveals the hidden stories, characters, and connections that shape the living landscape we all call home. For all ages.

It’s a Wonderful Night in Turner falls ... for the Birds!
2025-12-12 16:00 - 20:00
Bring the wonder of nature to your home by crafting your own bird feeder. Keep warm with hot cocoa and conversations about how different feeders attract different birds during It’s a Wonderful Night in Turners Falls – a town-wide event. Bird feeder making continues on Saturday, December 13, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

It's a Wonderful Day in Turners Falls ... for the Birds!
2025-12-13 10:00 - 12:30
Bring the wonder of nature to your home by crafting your own bird feeder. Keep warm with hot cocoa and conversations about how different feeders attract different birds.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Ducks
2025-12-19 10:30 - 11:30

Winter Solstice Walk
2025-12-21 14:00 - 16:00
Enjoy our annual tradition of sharing poetry, storytelling and light on this accessible 2.5-mile walk along the Canalside Rail Trail. Stay after the walk for hot cocoa and music. Dress for the weather and bring water. Meet outside the Discovery Center’s main entrance. For adults and children ages 6 and up. Inclement weather or icy trail conditions cancels.

Ongoing - School Vacation Week: Mammal Adaptation Investigation Station
2025-12-26 - 2026-01-04
Come learn about local mammals and their unique winter adaptations. Every animal has special adaptations that enable them to survive in their winter habitats. Explore through touchable artifacts (pelts, replica skulls, and replica tracks), and habitat diorama scavenger hunts. For ages 4 and up.

Ongoing - Indoor StoryWalk® - Under the Snow
2025-12-26 - 2026-01-11
Explore the lives of active and resting winter wildlife, in the book, Under the Snow, by Melissa Stewart. 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.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Deer
2025-12-26 10:30 - 11:30

Art Naturally: Felting Life Under the Snow
2025-12-28 10:30 - 12:00
Discover nature through story, poetry and art in our series of free art programs. Create a wintry landscape “painting” with wool, fleece, pre-felt and water. Learn how different animals adapt to snow, whether foraging or waiting out the cold. For teens, adults and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30 a.m. for complete instructions.

UPDATE: First Day Hike is Cancelled. Hot Chocolate Reception is still on!
2026-01-01 13:00 - 15:00
Update – unfortunately, icy trail conditions prevent us from offering a guided First Day Hike this year. However, we’d love to see you for a hot chocolate reception in the Great Hall from 1 – 3 p.m. instead! We we will have an activity on mammal winter adaptations and scavenger hunts for our Connecticut River habitat dioramas. Join us and help us kick off the New Year!
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Enjoy a leisurely three-mile stroll down the Canalside Rail Trail and get the New Year started off on a Great Falls note! This family friendly hike follows a gentle route and provides an opportunity to discover the abundant natural, historical, and cultural features that make the Great Falls Discovery Center and Canalside Rail Trail such an amazing State Park! Be prepared for cold weather: dress in layers and wear winter boots. Dogs are welcome on-leash. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center. Meet in the Great Hall. Hike begins at 1:15 p.m.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bear
2026-01-02 10:30 - 11:30

Sunday Matinee Documentary Series: Werner Herzog’s Fireball from Sandbox Films
2026-01-04 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for the start of our free winter Sunday matinee documentary series from Sandbox Films beginning with Werner Herzog’s Fireball. Since before we existed, meteors have haunted our planet. Over billions of years, extraterrestrial bombardments have reshaped the very nature of our planet, causing species to perish or flourish — and perhaps even seeding the initial building blocks for life on Earth. Today we can still hear the echo of these meteor impacts, ringing through culture, mythology, and scientific research. Fireball takes viewers into the mystery at the heart of these fallen stones, exploring their origins and their impacts on civilization. Sandbox Films is an Oscar-nominated production studio that illuminates the art and beauty of scientific inquiry: humankind’s weird, messy, brilliant way of navigating the world. Free hot chocolate! For adults and teens aged 14 and up. Meet in the Great Hall. (Snow date January 17).
