Flight Path Program: Bird Scavenger Hunt *
2026-04-18 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Let’s go find birds! Learn about common local bird species and join us on a quest to find birds both inside our habitat dioramas and outside on the Center’s grounds and along the Canalside Rail Trail. We’ll practice using binoculars, being quiet, and read the story Ruby’s Birds together. Wear clothing for mud season – sturdy shoes and layers. Meet in the Great Hall. For ages 4–9 and their families. Co-sponsored by Montague Public Libraries as part of Flight Path bird programming all month long.
* Special “Flight Path” Programs
Look for the asterisk! Those bird programs are a special collaboration with the Great Falls Discovery Center, thanks to a Flight Path Grant from Star Net Libraries. For more information visit www.starnetlibraries.org.

Art Naturally – Bird Zines *
2026-04-19 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 programs. Design a zine to celebrate ongoing bird migrations. Learn how to make an 8 or 16-page booklet from a single piece of paper, finding out how birds migrate along the way. For adults, teens, 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.
* Special “Flight Path” Programs
Look for the asterisk! Those bird programs are a special collaboration with the Great Falls Discovery Center, thanks to a Flight Path Grant from Star Net Libraries. For more information visit www.starnetlibraries.org.

Flight Path Program: Montague Public Libraries Presents Window Decals for Bird Safety *
2026-04-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Carnegie Library, 201 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376
Design your own window decals, inspired by local and migratory birds, and apply them to windows to reduce bird collisions. For all ages. Meet at the Carnegie Library at 201 Avenue A, Turners Falls. Sponsored by Montague Public Libraries as part of Flight Path bird programming all month long.
* Special “Flight Path” Programs
Look for the asterisk! Those bird programs are a special collaboration with the Great Falls Discovery Center, thanks to a Flight Path Grant from Star Net Libraries. For more information visit www.starnetlibraries.org.

Earth Day and Flight Path Bird Migration Program: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? *
2026-04-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Take a moment on Earth Day to explore and compare the different survival strategies of seasonal birds vs. year-round residents in this drop-in program. Learn how the activities of people impact bird migration and how you can make a difference! Enjoy both an outdoor StoryWalk® Ruby’s Birds and play an outdoor migration challenge game. Co-sponsored by Montague Public Libraries as part of Flight Path bird programming all month long. For ages 6-12 and their families. Meet in the Great Hall.
* Special “Flight Path” Programs
Look for the asterisk! Those bird programs are a special collaboration with the Great Falls Discovery Center, thanks to a Flight Path Grant from Star Net Libraries. For more information visit www.starnetlibraries.org.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-04-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-07 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 older adults, but open to all. Enjoy some 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 - Fish
2026-05-08 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 are welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-05-14 13:00 - 14:00 | MA

Find Us at the Farmers Market!
2026-05-23 10:30 - 13:00 | MA
Join DCR staff for family activities at the Great Falls Farmers Market, located between 6th and 7th streets along Avenue A at Peskeompskut Park. For all ages.

Eyes on Owls Presents: Owls Up Close
2026-05-23 13:00 - 14:15 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Everyone loves owls! Come see them up close and enjoy a slide presentation and introduction to six live owls including hooting lessons. Learn about field marks, owl pellets, tips on how to protect owls, and the importance of owls and other birds of prey in the ecosystem. For adults, youth, and children ages 5 and up (accompanied by an adult). Free. Sponsored by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center and Rescue Franklin County Wildlife, a group of community volunteers committed to raising awareness about the harms of pesticides to birds of prey and encouraging the use of wildlife safe alternatives.

Montague Plains: Enjoy a moonlit bird walk with MassWildlife
2026-05-29 19:00 - 21:30 | Montague Plains, Montague, MA, United States
The walk is scheduled for 7:15 – 9:15 p.m. at the Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area. The restored habitats of Montague Plains offer the perfect place to experience the iconic whip-poor-will call, along with American woodcock peents, firsthand. Birders of all experience levels are welcome. Participants should be prepared for a ~1.5 mile walk and dress for the weather and walking on uneven ground.
Limited spots available. Registration is required. Register using Mass Wildlife’s bird walk form: MassWildlife 2026 Spring Bird Walks | Mass.gov

Nice and Easy Walk
2026-06-04 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 older adults, but open to all. Enjoy some 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. Note: there is no walk on April 16.

Mammals of the North Woods Presentation and Friends Group Annual Meeting
2026-06-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Dawn Marvin Ward, naturalist/educator, presents a slide show on mammals common to the New England woodlands followed by a hands-on sharing of related nature findings. Dawn is an educator and naturalist who has been sharing her appreciation of nature to folks of all ages for over 30 years now, and she is a board member of our Friends Group. Learn about the Friends Group in a brief annual meeting before the program begins. For ages 8 and up. Meet in the Great Hall.
Image by VJ Anderson.

Art Naturally: Fields & Forests — What Do Bees Need?
2026-06-28 10:30 - 12:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
In honor of Pollinator Week, make your own native bee habitat by “painting” with yarn, fleece, pre-felt shapes and water. Will your bees live in a tree trunk or holes in the ground, in a nest made of mud or leaves? Learn how important native bees are, especially for growing food. For ages 4 & up, including teens and adults! Children must be accompanied by an adult. Designed for families. All are welcome! Meet in the Great Hall.

Ongoing - StoryWalk®: Dino Trail Week*®: Daring to Dig by Beth Strickler
2026-07-11 - 2026-07-22 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Includes the stories of Mary Anning, a hero of fossil discovery, and of Mignon Talbot and the discovery of podokesaurus holyokensis. Enjoy this story for young readers ages 8 – 12, and everyone who appreciates women in science.
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.
* Dino Trail Week
An asterix identifies Dino Trail Week programs, part of a celebratory week in July of performances, films, talks, exhibits, and activities inspired by dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Look for events from our partners during Dino Trail Week: Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Piti Theatre, the Beneski Museum, the Trustees of Reservations, Springfield Science Museum, Wistariahurst, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Visit the website dinotrail.org to learn more.

Dino Trail Week* – Dinosaur Footprints at Barton Cove: History and Geology Walk
2026-07-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Barton Cove Day Use Area, Barton Cove Road, Gill, MA, United States
Join Sarah Doyle and a guest geologist/paleontologist for a leisurely walk around Barton Cove in Gill, MA. Learn about the role of this site in the 19th-century discovery of fossilized dinosaur footprints when the property was owned by Roswell Field, a local farmer and businessman who was an early discoverer of the tracks. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes, and bring water. Consider enjoying a picnic before the walk. The trails are not difficult but are rough in spots and covered in tree roots. Meet at the picnic tables at the Barton Cove Campground Day Use area on Barton Cove Road in Gill, MA. The walk is less than 1 mile long. For adults and children over 12 years old. Sponsored by our Friends Group. Rain date: Saturday, July 18.
* Dino Trail Week
An asterix identifies Dino Trail Week programs, part of a celebratory week in July of performances, films, talks, exhibits, and activities inspired by dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Look for events from our partners during Dino Trail Week: Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Piti Theatre, the Beneski Museum, the Trustees of Reservations, Springfield Science Museum, Wistariahurst, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Visit the website dinotrail.org to learn more.

Dino Trail Week* – Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Dinosaurs
2026-07-17 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Learn about giant creatures from the past that roamed the Connecticut River Valley. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Siblings and friends welcome. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Meet in the Great Hall.
* Dino Trail Week
An asterix identifies Dino Trail Week programs, part of a celebratory week in July of performances, films, talks, exhibits, and activities inspired by dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Look for events from our partners during Dino Trail Week: Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Piti Theatre, the Beneski Museum, the Trustees of Reservations, Springfield Science Museum, Wistariahurst, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Visit the website dinotrail.org to learn more.

Dino Trail Week* – Find us at the Great Greenfield DinoFest!
2026-07-18 10:00 - 12:00 | Greenfield Common, 16 Court Square, Greenfield, MA, 01301, United States
In Greenfield, join Piti Theatre, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association and Great Falls Discovery Center staff for interactive exhibits, activities, fossils and a chance to make up a dino story with Story Wizards: Dino Drama. Location: on the lawn in front of the 2nd Congregational Church on the Common. For All ages.
* Dino Trail Week
An asterix identifies Dino Trail Week programs, part of a celebratory week in July of performances, films, talks, exhibits, and activities inspired by dinosaur footprints in the Connecticut River Valley. Look for events from our partners during Dino Trail Week: Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Piti Theatre, the Beneski Museum, the Trustees of Reservations, Springfield Science Museum, Wistariahurst, and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. Visit the website dinotrail.org to learn more.

Ongoing - Chill Out Indoor Story Walks® – Sploot by Sadonna Heathman
2026-07-23 - 2026-08-11 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Come on inside and Chill Out with DCR! You can find “Cool” activities for kids and families inside, including indoor StoryWalk® all summer long! Meet at the welcome desk. Accessible during open hours.
Enjoy the story Sploot by Sadonna Heathman. Two squirrels. One mission: stay cool! When the summer sun is blazing, two silly squirrels will try anything to find the perfect cool-down spot. For ages 6 – 8 and everyone cool.
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.

Drop-in and Chill-out Activities: Sploot! How Animals Keep Their Cool
2026-07-26 10:30 - 12:30, 2026-08-23 10:30 - 12:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us inside the Center for drop-in family-friendly activities and crafts all about how animals keep cool, including a story about splooting squirrels. What can we learn from animals during the heat of summer? What’s your plan to keep cool? Come on in and chill out and make your own Flat Squirrely to take on cool adventures and consider painting a scene with acorn cap ink. For ages 4 and up including youth and adults.

Tom Ricardi: Birds of Prey
2026-08-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Come see the raptors up close and personal! Meet in the Great Hall for a free program for all ages. See 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 a variety of raptors such as a turkey vulture, a peregrine falcon, hawks, owls, and more!

Geology Talk: Amazing “Deep Time” Mysteries of Turners Falls and Vicinity
2026-08-15 14:00 - 14:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Why does Turners Falls have a waterfall? Why are the rare Jurassic Armored Mud Balls found here? Why is the Connecticut River in Franklin County so strange? It has sharp 90-degree bends plus mysterious 100-foot-deep holes in its riverbed! Did you know the Connecticut used to flow into Greenfield? Join Prof. Richard Little, the discoverer of the Jurassic Armored Mud Balls, as he explains the unique and dramatic Earth events preserved in our scenic views and in the rocks under our feet. After the program there is a short walk to look at some amazing rocks. All ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Art Naturally: Cyanotype Sun Prints from the Garden
2026-08-16 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 programs. Create cyanotypes—or sun prints— to take home with sensitized paper, plants or stencils, glass, and the power of UV light. Rain or shine (we’ll use special light boxes if it rains). For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up. All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall at 10:30am for complete instructions.
