Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

Nice and Easy Walks
2023-12-29 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Join others seeking fresh air and exercise. Enjoy natural and local history highlights along the way. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Meet at the main entrance.

Nice and Easy Walk
2024-01-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-01-12 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-01-19 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-02-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 highlights along the way. Dress for winter weather, sturdy footwear, and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Insects
2024-01-12 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 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.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Rabbits
2024-01-19 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Great Hall Exhibit: On the Ground and in the Air and in Between
2024-01-23 - 2024-02-23 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Artist, Amy Dawn Kotel’s exhibit asks: “What do we see and how do we perceive our earth and all who dwell here?” See beauty and strangeness from different angles.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Winter Birds
2024-01-26 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Nice and Easy Walk: Food, Farms, and Factories - The John Russell Cutlery Factory
2024-01-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 highlights along the way. Dress for winter weather, sturdy footwear, and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Friday 1/26 topic: the John Russell Cutlery Factory for our Food, Farms, and Factories series. Meet at the main entrance.
Ongoing in 2024
Throughout 2024 the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories. Building on the success of Crossroads: Change in Rural America in 2023, the conversation continues about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by several local partners and funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Visit: greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Groundhogs
2024-02-02 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Porcupines
2024-02-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Nice and Easy Walk
2024-02-09 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-02-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 highlights along the way. Dress for winter weather, sturdy footwear, and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Friday 2/23: For our Food, Farms, and Factories Fourth Friday Series the topic is American Shad. Meet at the Main Entrance.

Where are all the Animals Hiding?
2024-02-10 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For ages 3–6+ with a parent or guardian. How do animals stay snug and warm for winter? Come investigate hidden winter animal homes through stories, crafts, and activities. Meet in the Great Hall. Weather permitting, we may explore outside. Bundle up!

Who Do You Love? Valentines for Wildlife
2024-02-11 10:00 - 17:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For all ages. 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. Meet at the Welcome Desk.

Investigation Station: Amphibians and Reptiles in Winter
2024-02-17 - 2024-02-25 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
What are amphibians and reptiles up to during the winter? Join us at our investigation station by the Welcome Desk to find out.

Sweeten Up! A Maple Syrup adventure
2024-02-17 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
For children ages 6-10. Explore the amazing transformation of tree sap into maple syrup. Learn how the hard work of a winter harvest sweetens up your pancakes through crafts and activities. Meet in the Great Hall.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Beavers
2024-02-23 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Nice and Easy Walk: Food, Farms, and Factories
2024-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
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 highlights along the way. Dress for winter weather, sturdy footwear, and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Friday 2/23: The topic will be American shad for our Food, Farms, and Factories series. Meet at the main entrance.
Ongoing in 2024
Throughout 2024 the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories. Building on the success of Crossroads: Change in Rural America in 2023, the conversation continues about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by several local partners and funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Visit: greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, Montague Public Libraries, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, RiverCulture, and the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association.

Who’s Been Here? A Tracking Adventure
2024-02-24 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Update – 2/24: There’s no snow today, but we still have lots of tracking fun planned! Come on over.
Join DCR staff for a tracking adventure. Find out who has been outside in the snow. Investigate the mysterious signs that wildlife leave behind. Bundle up! For ages 3–8 with a parent or guardian. Siblings and friends are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice & Easy Walks
2024-03-01 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-03-08 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-03-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-03-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Indoor StoryWalks® - When Will it be Spring?
2024-03-02 - 2024-03-15 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Explore the lives of emerging spring wildlife in When Will it be Spring? by Catherine Walters. 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.

CISA’s Field Notes Returns
2024-03-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Academy of Music, 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA, 01060, United States
The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center reminds you that CISA’s Field Notes Returns!
More info and tickets at tinyurl.com/CISAFN2024.
Back for a fifth year, this live storytelling event celebrates the diversity of perspectives and people working hard to build a local food system that works for everyone. Stories – told by your western Mass neighbors – will range from farm fields to the statehouse and be told in multiple languages (interpretation will be provided). Come laugh, think, and enjoy a cozy and affordable Sunday afternoon with your friends and family.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - When Will It Be Spring?
2024-03-15 10:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Indoor StoryWalks® - 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura.
2024-03-16 - 2024-04-02 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
3/16—4/2:
Explore the lives of emerging spring wildlife in 999 Tadpoles by Ken Kimura. 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 - Frogs
2024-03-22 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
