6 Ways to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in the Berkshires
November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to pay tribute and celebrate the rich ancestry, history, and traditions of the first people on this soil. Through dance, family traditions, and music, we can learn the diverse stories and long history of Indigenous...
Faded Footsteps – Arrowhead Nature Trail
Where We Went : Arrowhead Nature Trail, Pittsfield/Lenox MA When We Went : Mid-April Difficulty (Boots 1 - 10) : 1.5 Boots Trail Length : 0.5 Mile How Long it Took Us : 1 Hour Overview : "Leviathan, white whale - Call me Ishmael. Sailor, novelist - A failure until...
This is Mohican Land: 6 Hikes to Honor It
October 10th marks Indigenous Peoples' Day with the following month of November ushering in Native American Heritage Month. Colonization has led to the erasure of this land's first inhabitants, their stories, and their heritage, and reinforced a misconception that...
Haunted Hikes of the Berkshires
For a county as old as the Berkshires, it would be impossible not to have our share of the paranormal. With well over 116,000 acres of the region conserved for public land use, it’s also no surprise that many of these spooky encounters occurred during recreational activities like hiking. At Berkshire Family Hikes we’re always looking for inroads to get more people exploring their outdoors, and maybe a jaunt with the things that haunt our local woods is precisely the adventure you’ve been searching for.
A Dream Forgotten – Getty Memorial Conservation Area
In 1972, Raynard Getty, a high school science teacher, began developing 50 acres behind the Dalton school into a conservation area. In conjunction with classroom studies, Wahconah students, alongside Getty, worked on extensive plans to create a wildlife refuge, 4 1/2 miles of nature trails, two tree farms, a large fieldstone fireplace, and a small pond. A teacher truly ahead of his time,
Getty described his vision as, “a quiet area where students can go to think and meditate.”
Walking Classroom — John Lambert Nature Trail
The John Lambert Nature Trail located on the main campus at Berkshire Community College was made by environmental students and faculty.
So Nice, We Hiked It Twice – Natural Bridge State Park
Where We Went : Natural Bridge State Park (North Adams, MA) When We Went : Early June - both times! Difficulty (Boots 1 - 10) : 2 Boots around the Bridges Area - 1 Boot on the Elder Trail (Healthy Heart Trail) Trail Length : The Natural Bridge "Trail" is a short 0.3...
The Caveman Cometh – Tory Cave Falls
Where We Went: Tory Cave Falls - October Mountain State Forest, Lenoxdale, MA When We Went: Mid-June 2020 Difficulty (Boots 1 - 10): 2 Boots, (3 Boots to get to the cave) Trail Length: Just over 0.5 miles roundtrip How Long it Took Us: 1.5 hours...