Friends of The Great Falls Discovery Center

StoryWalk®—Mole Music
2023-07-01 - 2023-08-08 | 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 Mole Music by David McPhail, for readers ages 4-7 and everyone who dreams of being a musician and changing the world. 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.

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.

Nice & Easy Walk
2023-07-12 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-07-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-07-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-07-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-08-02 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-08-09 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-08-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2023-09-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
An easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Join others seeking fresh air and exercise. A DCR Park Interpreter highlights natural and local history along the way. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and sturdy footwear and bring water. Meet outside the main entrance.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Bobcats
2023-07-14 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.

Art Naturally Series
2023-07-15 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.

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

Great Hall Exhibit: Portraits in Red – Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Painting Project
2023-07-29 - 2023-08-30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
The murder rate for Native women is about 3 times more than that of most other women. 98% of Indigenous people experience violence in their lifetime, with only a 6% prosecution rate. Athol-based artist Nayana LaFond began painting a portrait, “Lauraina in RED”, in 2020 to support the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous peoples. The response was overwhelming. She painted another with a more overwhelming response. Nayana invited anyone wanting her to paint them or their loved one for free. She received over 25 responses that first day…and the messages never stopped coming.
More of Nayana’s work on IG @nayanaarts
About the image: “Leonard in RED”
Leonard is Mohawk from Massachusetts. Leonard lost his niece “hummingbird”, when she died he cut his long braids and never grew his hair back out. Leonard is painted in honor of his niece because in Mohawk tradition you can not represent the person who has passed by image as themselves or by their name, only by other names and relationship. So Leonard is painted in honor of his niece Hummingbird who is painted on his shoulder.

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
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.

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

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Hampton Trio
2023-08-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy classical and contemporary music for mandolins, mandola, and guitar from the Hampton Trio. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. Meet in the Great Hall.

Artist Reception: Portraits in Red – Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Painting Project
2023-08-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Come meet Nayana LaFond, the artist of “Portraits in Red – Missing & Murdered Indigenous People Painting Project.”
More about the show:
The murder rate for Native women is about 3 times more than that of most other women. 98% of Indigenous people experience violence in their lifetime, with only a 6% prosecution rate. Athol-based artist Nayana LaFond began painting a portrait, “Lauraina in RED”, in 2020 to support the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous peoples. The response was overwhelming. She painted another with a more overwhelming response. Nayana invited anyone wanting her to paint them or their loved one for free. She received over 25 responses that first day…and the messages never stopped coming.
About the image: “Leonard in RED”
Leonard is Mohawk from Massachusetts. Leonard lost his niece “hummingbird”, when she died he cut his long braids and never grew his hair back out. Leonard is painted in honor of his niece because in Mohawk tradition you can not represent the person who has passed by image as themselves or by their name, only by other names and relationship. So Leonard is painted in honor of his niece Hummingbird who is painted on his shoulder.

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.

Montague Public Libraries Presents: The Whale Mobile
2023-08-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Whale watch naturalist, Cynde McInnis, presents an introduction to whales. Then 20 people at a time see the Whale Mobile inflate and get to go inside! Call the Carnegie library at 413-863-3214 to sign up! You have a choice of which of the four, 30-minute time slots you would prefer. In collaboration with Montague Public Libraries, RiverCulture, and the center. Meet in the Great Hall.

Live Animal Program: Massachusetts Wildlife
2023-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Free. For all ages. Put a face to the challenges wildlife must rise to meet. The Southern Vermont Natural History Museum presents a live animal program featuring wildlife of the Connecticut River Watershed. You may see snakes, birds, mammals, and reptiles! Includes a presentation of furs, skulls, and other artifacts for an exploration of our local fauna.

Nice & Easy Walks
2023-08-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour - Skunks
2023-08-25 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Butterflies
2023-09-01 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States

Great Hall Exhibit: Intervals
2023-09-02 - 2023-10-01 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
Karen Axtell presents, Intervals, mixed-media prints about time on handmade paper, layered with oil and water-based materials. The prints reference the rings of trees, the depth of rivers, the shape of leaves, ebb of tides, phases of the moon, and more.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour: Dragonflies
2023-09-08 10:30 - 11:30 | Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA, 01376, United States
