Pittsfield Farmers Market

Every Saturday through October, rain or shine! Find more details here: farmersmarketpittsfield.org DATE: Saturday, May 9 – Saturday, October 31TIME: 9:00am – 1:00pmLOCATION: The Common, 100 First St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Pittsfield Common, 100 1st St., Pittsfield, MA

Volunteer: Help Restore Habitat for Rare Berkshire Butterflies + Invasive Garlic Mustard Removal

Help remove an invasive plant that threatens the small native plants found in our forests’ understory and contribute to an ongoing study of rare Berkshire butterflies! Join BEAT for a meaningful volunteer event focused on removing invasive garlic mustard and supporting ......More

Help remove an invasive plant that threatens the small native plants found in our forests’ understory and contribute to an ongoing study of rare Berkshire butterflies! Join BEAT for a meaningful volunteer event focused on removing invasive garlic mustard and supporting two rare butterfly species found in the Berkshires: the Veined White (Pieris napi oleracea) and the West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis). DATE: Saturday, May 9TIME: 9:30 AM to 12:00 PMLOCATION: We will meet at the parking area on New Lenox Road in Pittsfield. The parking area is on the right side of the road, about 2.2 miles from the Route 7 intersection. Coordinates: 42.3915910, -73.2267858 (Google Maps link) This effort supports Jessica Duffy’s community science research, which is studying how garlic mustard removal affects these butterfly populations over time. By participating, you’ll be directly contributing to the preservation of important native habitats. What to Expect: A brief overview of garlic mustard and the native toothwort plant it threatensSmall group garlic mustard pulling, with plants bagged for industrial compostingComplimentary coffee and snacks to start the day — please bring your own travel mug!Gloves and bags provided — please bring a full water bottle, wear sturdy footwear, and dress for the weatherThis volunteer opportunity is open to individuals of all ages. Families, school groups, and organizations are encouraged to attend and help out. If you missed Jessica’s Green Drinks talk in March 2025 about this project, you can watch the presentation on BEAT’s YouTube channel to learn more. Watch it here. RSVP: Email [email protected] to let us know you’ll be joining us!

Pittsfield, MA

Park Serve Day: Pick a Park, Give a Day, Make a Difference

The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to the Great Falls Discovery Center to lend a hand during this day of volunteer service to our state parks. Bring your own water and snack. For registration visit mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day. For age......More

The Department of Conservation and Recreation invites you to the Great Falls Discovery Center to lend a hand during this day of volunteer service to our state parks. Bring your own water and snack. For registration visit mass.gov/info-details/dcr-park-serve-day. For ages 6 and up. Meet at the main entrance. DATE: Saturday, May 9TIME: 10:00am – 12:00pmLOCATION: Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376

Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA

Berkshire Botanical Garden Spring Fest

Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden for a full day of family fun at SpringFest on Saturday, May 9. The day’s activities include Best Damn Espresso and Cousins Maine Lobster food trucks, craft vendors, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and children’s activities. ......More

Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden for a full day of family fun at SpringFest on Saturday, May 9. The day’s activities include Best Damn Espresso and Cousins Maine Lobster food trucks, craft vendors, a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, and children’s activities. We will also celebrate our most recent Horticulture Certificate graduates with the Herb Associates’ celebrated herb-infused cookies and the Mai Bowle, a traditional May wine punch, fragrant, refreshing and a perfect toast to spring. Learn more at this link: https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/springfest DATE: Saturday, May 9TIME: 10:00am – 4:00pmLOCATION: Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 W Stockbridge Rd, Stockbridge, MA 01262

Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, MA

A Nature Year at Pleasant Valley: Spring

Immerse yourself in a season of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox. Gain extensive natural history knowledge, form a community with like-minded, ......More

Immerse yourself in a season of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox. Gain extensive natural history knowledge, form a community with like-minded, curious adults, and receive the many benefits of spending time outdoors. Throughout the spring, explore spectacular seasonal phenomena including the migration of salamanders and songbirds. We will usually start inside with an introduction and then head out for our adventure in the field which will be at least 90 minutes outside. We’ll travel mainly on trails and boardwalks, actively exploring and experiencing various habitats and sanctuary spots. Adult Program Registration covers 3 classes starting April 18. Learn more and register at this link: https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/pleasant-valley/98862-a-nature-year-at-pleasant-valley-spring-3-months DATES/TIMES: Sat. April 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Sat. May 16, 7:00am – 9:00am Sat. June 20, 8:00pm – 10:00pm LOCATION: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 W Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA 01240

Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States

Nice and Easy Mother’s Day Hike

Join Mount Greylock State Reservation for a scenic hike on Mother’s Day! All ages welcome. Join DCR Interpreter Caroline this Mother’s Day in celebration of Moms and Mother Nature by appreciating the gifts that all mothers provide. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty......More

Join Mount Greylock State Reservation for a scenic hike on Mother’s Day! All ages welcome. Join DCR Interpreter Caroline this Mother’s Day in celebration of Moms and Mother Nature by appreciating the gifts that all mothers provide. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of forested trails at Mount Greylock, while rejuvenating your mind, body, and spirit in the fresh mountain air. Easy-moderate 1–2-mile hike. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. Bring water, a snack, bug spray, and sunscreen. Inclement weather cancels. For more information and to register, call (413) 499-4262. This event is free. DATE: Sunday, May 10TIME: 11:00am – 1:00pmLOCATION: Mount Greylock State Reservation, 30 Rockwell Rd, Lanesborough, MA 01237

Mount Greylock State Reservation

Growing Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

Join Mass Audubon for a gardening workshop! At this workshop, discover native and pollinator-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees that grow well in the Berkshires and provide essential food and shelter for native insects and birds. Learn why sustainable landscaping can he......More

Join Mass Audubon for a gardening workshop! At this workshop, discover native and pollinator-friendly flowers, shrubs and trees that grow well in the Berkshires and provide essential food and shelter for native insects and birds. Learn why sustainable landscaping can help wildlife in the Berkshires, then hear ideas, design tips, and lists of garden-worthy natives that can help you choose plants well-suited to your site. This program is primarily indoors, but may have a short outdoor component at the end to explore plants on-site. See “Instructions and Directions” below for more information on the site where this program will take place. Learn more and register at this link: https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/pleasant-valley/101681-growing-wildlife-friendly-gardens?utm_source=pv_apr26_programblast&utm_medium=email+&utm_id=programs This event costs $15-$20. DATE: Wednesday, May 13TIME: 6:00pm – 7:30pmLOCATION: The Mount, Edith Wharton’s Home, 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA 01240

The Mount, 2 Plunkett St, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States

Building Better Soil: A Three-Part Soil Health Intensive

Join the Northeast Organic Farming Situation, Massachusetts Chapter, for a 3 part series exploring the living world beneath our feet! Healthy soil is the foundation of productive farms and gardens. In this three-part Soil Health Intensive, participants will explore the ......More

Join the Northeast Organic Farming Situation, Massachusetts Chapter, for a 3 part series exploring the living world beneath our feet! Healthy soil is the foundation of productive farms and gardens. In this three-part Soil Health Intensive, participants will explore the living world beneath our feet and learn practical strategies for building resilient, fertile soil. Together we’ll uncover the foundational principles that support thriving growing spaces while examining the physical, chemical, and biological pillars of soil health. Each workshop will focus on one of these core soil properties and introduce practical tools, observations, and management strategies that growers can apply in their own farms, gardens, and landscapes. The series will take place at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA. While attending all three sessions provides the most complete learning experience, participants are welcome to attend one, two, or all three workshops throughout the season. Please see individual event pages for details. This educational series is supported by the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), which helps farmers explore soil-building practices and provides resources for those interested in transitioning to organic production. Learn more and register at this link: https://www.nofamass.org/series/building-better-soil-a-three-part-soil-health-intensive/ DATE: Friday, April 17 | Friday, May 29 | Friday, June 26TIME: 10:00am – 4:00pmLOCATION: Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green Street, Gardner, MA 01440

Mount Wachusett Community College, 444 Green St., Gardner, MA

Discover Greylock Hike

Join Mount Greylock State Reservation for a lively hike! Suitable for ages 8 and older. Explore seasonal changes in the forest, look for signs of wildlife, and discover unique natural and cultural features along easy-moderate trails. Dress appropriately for the weather ......More

Join Mount Greylock State Reservation for a lively hike! Suitable for ages 8 and older. Explore seasonal changes in the forest, look for signs of wildlife, and discover unique natural and cultural features along easy-moderate trails. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water, a snack, bug spray and sunscreen. Trekking poles are recommended. Inclement weather cancels. Meeting locations vary. For more information and to register, call the Visitor Center at (413) 499-4262. This event is free. DATE: Friday, May 8 | Friday, May 22 | Friday, May 29TIME: 11:00am – 2:00pmLOCATION: Meeting locations vary

Mount Greylock State Reservation

Forms and Transformations in the Butterfly World

The West Stockbridge Historical Society Presents: Forms and Transformations in the Butterfly World. Next up in the Berkshire Nature Talk Series: Ryan Shea, The Nature Institute Butterflies are among nature’s most captivating organisms, dazzling us with their colors, pat......More

The West Stockbridge Historical Society Presents: Forms and Transformations in the Butterfly World. Next up in the Berkshire Nature Talk Series: Ryan Shea, The Nature Institute Butterflies are among nature’s most captivating organisms, dazzling us with their colors, patterns, and the remarkable transformation from caterpillar to winged adult. But what can they teach us about the deeper rhythms of the natural world? In this talk, Ryan Shea invites us to slow down and truly observe butterflies: to notice how their shapes and colors shift and transform, and to help us discover a “living understanding of nature.” He draws on an approach to nature observation developed by the German writer and scientist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which asks us to follow what we actually see rather than jump to explanation. About the Speaker: Ryan Shea is a researcher and educator at The Nature Institute in Ghent, New York, where he explores how people can develop a deeper, more meaningful connection with the natural world — with a special focus on plants and insects. $10 suggested donation for nonmembers. DATE: Friday, May 15TIME: 7:00pm – 8:30pmLOCATION: Old Town Hall, 9 Main St, West Stockbridge, MA 01266

Old Town Hall, 9 Main St, West Stockbridge, MA, 01266, United States

Pittsfield Farmers Market

Every Saturday through October, rain or shine! Find more details here: farmersmarketpittsfield.org DATE: Saturday, May 9 – Saturday, October 31TIME: 9:00am – 1:00pmLOCATION: The Common, 100 First St, Pittsfield, MA 01201

Pittsfield Common, 100 1st St., Pittsfield, MA

Open House at Old Maid's Park

When: Saturday, May 16 @ 1-3PM – (Rain Date: Sunday, May 17 @ 1-3PM)Where: Old Maid’s Park is located at 30 Wyantenuck St, Housatonic, MA 01236 What to Expect: Delicious food from Cocinera LatinasFace painting!Live music to relax and enjoy the settingNative Plant Identi......More

When: Saturday, May 16 @ 1-3PM – (Rain Date: Sunday, May 17 @ 1-3PM)Where: Old Maid’s Park is located at 30 Wyantenuck St, Housatonic, MA 01236 What to Expect: Delicious food from Cocinera LatinasFace painting!Live music to relax and enjoy the settingNative Plant Identification Walk — learn how to recognize common native species and understand their role in supporting local ecosystemsMacroinvertebrate Identification — discover the small aquatic creatures living in the pond and what they reveal about water quality and ecosystem healthActivities for all ages, with plenty for families to enjoy togetherWhat You Can Bring: Blankets or lawn chairs, toys and games for kidsA spirit of connection and communityThis project is centered on listening to the community—how the park is cared for, how people access and use it, and what its future could look like. Through events like this open house, BEAT is creating space for people to come together, share ideas, and help shape the park’s future.

MA

A Nature Year at Pleasant Valley: Spring

Immerse yourself in a season of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox. Gain extensive natural history knowledge, form a community with like-minded, ......More

Immerse yourself in a season of local natural history. With a skilled Mass Audubon naturalist as your guide, experience the cycle of the seasons at Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lenox. Gain extensive natural history knowledge, form a community with like-minded, curious adults, and receive the many benefits of spending time outdoors. Throughout the spring, explore spectacular seasonal phenomena including the migration of salamanders and songbirds. We will usually start inside with an introduction and then head out for our adventure in the field which will be at least 90 minutes outside. We’ll travel mainly on trails and boardwalks, actively exploring and experiencing various habitats and sanctuary spots. Adult Program Registration covers 3 classes starting April 18. Learn more and register at this link: https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/pleasant-valley/98862-a-nature-year-at-pleasant-valley-spring-3-months DATES/TIMES: Sat. April 18, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Sat. May 16, 7:00am – 9:00am Sat. June 20, 8:00pm – 10:00pm LOCATION: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 W Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA 01240

Mass Audubon Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd, Lenox, MA, 01240, United States