In the Great Hall

Nature Photography by Patrick Zephyr

June 1 – June 30, 2011


Friday, June 10, 2011 (7:00 pm - 9:00 pm): Friends Coffeehouse Series Presents: Daniel hales, and the frost heaves

The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center host local bands, singers, and musicians in the Great Hall on the second Friday of each month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm. Refreshments available. Museum and museum store open at intermission. Donations ($6–$12 suggested) help the Friends support free programming at the Great Falls Discovery Center.

Daniel hales, and the frost heaves blend indie rock and psychedelic folk—as well as other genres—to create their own eclectic hybrid. The core of the band is Daniel: guitar, sitar, harmonica, and lead vocals; James Lowe: bass, kazoo, and vocals; Charlie Conant: guitar, dobro, and vocals; Ivan Ussach: drums, percussion, and vocals; and Emily Breines: violin and vocals.


Saturday, June 11, 2011 (9:30 am - 12:00 pm): GeoPlus River Walk

Ever want to go on one of those Turners Falls Geowalks but never got around to it? Here’s your chance! Steve Winters, now working as Holyoke Community College’s first full-time Earth Science instructor, will again make the geologic rounds in Turners Falls on Saturday, June 11, 2011. In addition to snooping under various shales and sandstones, Steve will also lead a group down to the river to look at rock worn flat by centuries, if not millennia, of water’s smoothing action. Most of Steve’s walk will be on pavement and sidewalks around Turners Falls (about 2 miles), and the short excursion to the river will involve some minor descent along the river bank (weather and water-levels permitting). Please wear appropriate footwear. “GeoPlus River Walk” starts at 9:30 am. Please meet in front of the Great Falls Discovery Center. We will return to Center grounds around 12 noon. (Rain date: June 18, 2011).

Sponsored by the Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center with funding provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration with the assistance of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.


Saturday, June 11, 2011 (10:30 am - 2:00 pm): Second Saturday Children's Series

Join us the second Saturday of every month for a day of children’s activities. Daily activities may include crafts, games, investigations, or outdoor adventures. Drop in anytime between 10:30 am and 2:00 pm for activities.

This month, discover crayfish and aquatic insects up close! Get your hands dirty looking through aquatic plants to discover what kinds of insects fish and other organisms eat. Additionally, look at crayfish up close to determine what features make them suited for the habitat that they live in.


Saturday, June 11, 2011 (1:30 pm - 3:30 pm): Water Under the Bridge Bike Tour

White bridge, red bridge, green bridge, one way, which way, fish way? Find out more! Join us for a leisurely two hour bike tour along the Turners Falls Bike Path that highlights the history of the bridges in Turners Falls and Montague City. Come learn about the many challenges associated with getting over the Connecticut River historically in our villages. How do these challenges compare with our current Gill-Montague bridge construction experiences? We will meet at the main entrance to the Great Falls Discovery Center at 1:30 pm on Saturday June 11th. Bring your bike, water, bug spray, helmet, and sun block. For more information: Call Janel at (413) 863-3221 or visit www.greatfallsma.org. Planned in partnership with Turners Falls RiverCulture for the Water Under the Bridge Music Festival.


Sunday, June 12, 2011 (2:00 - 3:30 pm): Watershed Poets and Watershed Wildflowers

Join us at the Great Falls Discovery Center for a free program. Obsessing about wildflowers is quite natural for poets. Come learn about the wildflowers of the Connecticut River watershed and the poets here who have loved them. Hear from poets Emily Dickinson, Wallace Stevens, Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, and more! Weather permitting we may stroll along the Canalside Bike Path to view wildflowers and write about them ourselves. We will consider ways to honor our own favorite wildflowers through words and through conservation. For more information call (413) 863-3221.




Thursday, June 16, 2011 (7:00 pm - 8:30 pm): Gordon Morrison: How to be a Field Artist

Come join us to hear nature artist and illustrator Gordon Morrison talk about how he does his work as a field artist—either to pick up some tips for your own work or to discover how an artist’s choice of work led him to a deepening commitment to nature. Gordon will bring along samples of his sketches, finished works, and book illustrations and will show us the kit of materials he keeps in his car just in case he finds an urge to draw from nature, which happens pretty frequently. This is your chance to learn about how art illustration is done, from an artist’s point of view.


Saturday, June 18, 2011 (10:00 am - 2:00 pm): Family Fish Day, Including a Visit from the Watershed on Wheels Express

The Great Falls Discovery Center's Sixth Annual Family Fish Day event takes place today from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Registration is at the Great Falls Discovery Center. Free raffle for everything from fishing gear to fishing trips! No need to bring any equipment, we have it all. Learn how to tie flies, cast fly fishing rods, and go fishing in Barton Cove. There will also be face painting at the Discovery Center and fish printing hosted by the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center at the fish viewing station! Also new this year, tour the Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge's mobile visitor center the Watershed on Wheels Express. Investigate interactive kiosks about the Connecticut River watershed and explore the habitat immersion trailer. This event happens as a result of generous donations from local businesses with help from local volunteers as well as the State of MA, Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, State of MA, Department of Conservation Recreation, and the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. Come celebrate!


Sunday, June 19, 2011 (8:00 am - 9:30 am): Canalside Nature Walk

Start the day off right with an early morning nature walk! We will leisurely explore level paved bike trails and village sidewalks. Meet outside the main entrance to the Discovery Center at 8 am Learn about plants, animals, and mill town history along the Canalside Bike Path of Turners Falls. Topics may include birds, fish, invasive species, wildflowers, cultural or industrial history, and more! Please wear appropriate footwear, bring water, bug repellant, and sun screen. For more information, call 413.863.3221 or visit: www.greatfallsma.org.


Sunday, June 19, 2011 (1:00 pm – 2:30 pm or 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm): Barton Cove by Canoe

Join Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center’s Dwight Harrison and Kim Noyes for an introduction to canoe safety, paddling on the Connecticut River and the magic of Barton Cove. Blooming mountain laurel, nesting bald eagles and ancient waterfalls are all part of this June paddling program at Barton Cove. The program is free and sponsored by the Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center with funding provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration with the assistance of the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged by calling 413-863-3221.


Friday, June 24, 2011 (10:30 am - 11:30 am): Fourth Friday Young Children's Story Hour Explores Fireflies!

Join us the fourth Friday of every month from 10:30 am to 11:30 am for a story hour especially for children ages 3-6. After the story, you can join us for an age appropriate activity.

We will be reading Fireflies! by Julie Binckloe, and then exploring the fascinating world of fireflies through an interactive activity. After the activity, we will have a craft available to help spur your child's interest in investigating fireflies further.


Saturday, June 25, 2011 (10:00 am - 4:00 pm): Visit the Investigation Station at the Front Desk!

Every fourth Saturday, visit the investigation station set up at the front desk. Investigation stations will cover a variety of topics throughout the year, and will have something to offer for all ages.

This month investigate what fish eat! Look at what aquatic insects eat up close!


Saturday, June 25, 2011 (1:00 pm - 2:00 pm): New England Wildlife: Live Animal Program with Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Friends Annual Meeting

Join Michael Clough of the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum to look at examples of New England’s wildlife. Live birds, mammals, and reptiles, along with New England wildlife artifacts will help the audience to learn about the many wildlife species that live in our forests. This program is appropriate for all ages. Call (413) 863-3221 for more details. The Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center will meet briefly prior to the program.


Sunday, June 26, 2011 (2:00 pm - 3:30 pm): Watershed History: The Grand Trunk Hotel

What was so grand about the Grand Trunk Hotel in Turners Falls? Come to the Great Falls Discovery Center to find out! We’ll explore the site of the old hotel, right next to the Discovery Center, that was build in 1872 and taken down in the 1960s, and then we’ll use our imaginations, old photographs, and testimonials to piece together the story of the grand old days in Turners Falls. For more information call (413) 863-3221 or visit www.greatfallsma.org.


Tuesday, June 28, 2011 (10:30 - 11:30 am): Kidleidoscope

Kidleidoscope is a kid-friendly, hands-on environmental experience for very young children presented in a fun, age-appropriate manner. Each topic includes a story, interactive games and activities, and a craft to help you and your child understand the world around us. Programming recommended for ages 3-6 with a parent or guardian. Each session will have a theme. Call 413.863.3221 or visit: www.greatfallsma.org for more details.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011 (10:30 am - 12:00 pm): River Mammals with Naturalist Dawn Marvin Ward

Beavers, muskrats and river otters are all native to our wetlands and waterways. However; these fascinating creatures have lots of differences in their behaviors and lifestyles. Join along in this hands-on educational nature program that begins inside then venture outside to explore the banks of the Connecticut River for a close up look at the habitat of these curious creatures. Dress appropriately for weather conditions and footwear suitable for a rocky shoreline. For more info call the Discovery Center 863-3221 or Dawn 367-9562. This program is made possible with a grant from NOAA.

Note: In case of really inclement weather, activities will be set up for exploration and creativity indoors.



Laurel Carpenter
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Great Falls Discovery Center
2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376
(413) 863-3221