Tracking Winter Wildlife for Beginners

Dive into the fascinating world of wildlife tracking with a beginner-friendly walk through fields and forests. Search for tracks, scat, and signs of the delicate but exciting interactions between predators and their prey. With any luck, we will find signs of coyotes, fo......More

Dive into the fascinating world of wildlife tracking with a beginner-friendly walk through fields and forests. Search for tracks, scat, and signs of the delicate but exciting interactions between predators and their prey. With any luck, we will find signs of coyotes, foxes, deer, rabbits, and more. Dress for the weather and enjoy a morning of winter tracking. This program covers up to a mile of trail depending on the amount of tracks we find. Terrain is level or gradually sloping. The trail surface could potentially be uneven or slippery due to snow, mud or ice. Traction spikes or snowshoes may be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Register Here DATE: Saturday, January 3 TIME: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM LOCATION: Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 W Mountain Rd, Lenox

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

Habitat Chat

The Massachusetts Pollinator Network hosts monthly drop-in, informal meetings for participants from across the state to learn about topics relevant to our work, share projects, ask questions, and exchange knowledge, ideas, and updates. Whether you’re a seasoned communit......More

The Massachusetts Pollinator Network hosts monthly drop-in, informal meetings for participants from across the state to learn about topics relevant to our work, share projects, ask questions, and exchange knowledge, ideas, and updates. Whether you’re a seasoned community organizer, a home gardener, work in the field already, or are new to pollinator protection concerns, all are welcome! Stay for the entire meeting or just pop in for what you can. To receive the zoom link, please register here.DATE: First Wednesday of each month TIME: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM LOCATION: Online via Zoom

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Women's Wildlife Tracking Intensive

Meet one full day a month for 6 months spanning winter, spring and summer seasons. This intensive is geared to women with any amount of tracking experience who are looking to deepen their knowledge and hone their skills as wildlife trackers. It is also open to those wit......More

Meet one full day a month for 6 months spanning winter, spring and summer seasons. This intensive is geared to women with any amount of tracking experience who are looking to deepen their knowledge and hone their skills as wildlife trackers. It is also open to those with no prior tracking experience but who are motivated and committed to learning. Participants will become more proficient with: identification of tracks and sign of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates recognition and understanding of animal gaits and track patterns familiarity with animal’s habits, behaviors and survival strategies and be strongly encouraged to pursue independent learning projects. All female-identifying trackers are welcome. Cost: $725 (an early bird discount of $650 is available if registered and paid in full by September 15th and for returning participants). A deposit of $150 is required to hold a space in the program with the remainder due by December 15, 2025.  To apply: Please email or call Kathy Dean at [email protected] or 413-625-2550 with your interest and any questions you may have. You will be sent an application for the program and upon acceptance, will receive more detailed information. Visit https://trackercertification.com/ to learn more.DATES: Saturdays, January 10, February 7, March 7, April 18, May 23, and June 20 (Sundays of each week are backup weather dates) LOCATION: All sessions will take place in a variety of locations within a 30-minute drive of Greenfield, Massachusetts, largely in western Massachusetts (mainly) and southern Vermont (possibly).

"Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?" Documentary Screening & Discussion with Sharon Wyrrick

“Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?” A Tribute to the Center for Resourceful Living Documentary screening & discussion with creator Sharon Wyrrick Visit North Adams public library for a screening of the documentary film “Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?” which captures the ......More

“Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?” A Tribute to the Center for Resourceful Living Documentary screening & discussion with creator Sharon Wyrrick Visit North Adams public library for a screening of the documentary film “Did You Put Milk in the Bucket?” which captures the history and spirit of The Center for Resourceful Living, an innovative program offered at North Adams Stage College from 1975-80, through the stories and voices of its participants. Filmmaker Sharon Wyrrick will be present for a Q&A after the showing DATE: Wednesday, January 14 TIME: 5:30 PM LOCATION: North Adams Public Library,  74 Church St., North Adams

North Adams Public Library, 74 Church St., North Adams, MA

Berkshire Green Drinks: "Stream Restoration on the Konkapot River" With Zach Adams from Trout Unlimited

Join us for the first Berkshire Green Drinks of 2026 in which Zach Adams from Trout Unlimited will share about this summer’s stream restoration project on the Konkapot River. Trout Unlimited completed construction on a bank restoration project 7 years in the making! Thi......More

Join us for the first Berkshire Green Drinks of 2026 in which Zach Adams from Trout Unlimited will share about this summer’s stream restoration project on the Konkapot River. Trout Unlimited completed construction on a bank restoration project 7 years in the making! This project both created habitat in the Konkapot River and stabilized the stream bank to prevent Hartsville-Mill River Road from washing out in the next 5 years. This huge project required 80+ trees with root wads, tons of boulders, and a lot of adaptability. Zach will share photos and stories about this fairly unique project in Massachusetts. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link. Click here to register for online participation. RSVP Here if you plan to join us for the in-person gathering (doing so helps bar staff prepare). DATE: Wednesday, January 14 TIME: 6:00 pm – 7:00 PM, in-person gathering begins about 5:15 LOCATION: Dewey Hall, 91 Main St, Sheffield In-person attendees: This venue has drinks available to purchase. You are welcome to bring food. ABOUT THE SPEAKERZach Adams is a writer, photographer, avid outdoorsman, and lifelong conservationist. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Juniata College and has worked and studied from the Chesapeake Bay to the Adirondacks. Zach has lived along the banks of the Housatonic River for his entire career, and is passionate about conservation in the Berkshires where he lives with his wife Evelyn and his German Shorthaired Pointer, Millie. He now works for Trout Unlimited, managing stream restoration projects in Berkshire County. You can find him chasing brook trout in the hills, walking behind his bird dog, or scratching his head over a rare bird identification. Zach writes a sporting column for the Berkshire Eagle, has publications in multiple magazines, and is the author of the field guide Birds of New England. What is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions! What is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations, academia, government, business, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along, and you’ll be made welcome.

Dewey Hall, 91 Main St., Sheffield, MA

Why We Need Oaks, and How to Save Them with Doug Tallamy

Join the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Services for a book talk on The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees, presented by ecologist and New York Times bestselling author Doug Tallamy. Using the months of the year as a backdrop, Tallamy show......More

Join the Cary Institute for Ecosystem Services for a book talk on The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees, presented by ecologist and New York Times bestselling author Doug Tallamy. Using the months of the year as a backdrop, Tallamy showcases the myriad of life that depends on oaks, from caterpillars and other insects —  and the birds that feed on them — to a cast of acorn-eaters. He also details the many ecosystem services that oaks provide. These long-lived trees are champions at storing carbon, and their enormous root systems help stabilize soils and buffer floods. Oaks are in decline due to the combined stress of climate change, drought, and pests and pathogens. Tallamy writes, “We cannot casually accept the loss of oaks without also accepting the loss of thousands of other plants and animals that depend on them.” Optimistically, he shares how restoring oak populations is possible and that there is no shortage of places to plant them, if we work together. The event is free and open to all registration is required. Attend in person at our Lovejoy Auditorium in Millbrook, NY, or watch a live stream online. For in-person guests, there will be a book signing after the talk. Merritt Bookstore will offer copies of The Nature of Oaks for sale in the lobby. Cary’s public lectures are made possible, in part, by support from Harney & Sons Fine Teas. Additional sponsors for this lecture include Millbrook Garden Club, Ulster Garden Club, City Garden Clubs of New York, Rye Garden Club, Fort Orange Garden Club, Southampton Garden Club, and West Hampton Garden Club. Register Here DATE: Thursday, January 15 TIME: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM LOCATION: Online, or in-person at Cary Institute for Ecosystem Services, 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Rte. 44), Millbrook, NY

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Act on Climate with 350Mass Berkshires

Join members of 350Mass, the local climate group, at their monthly zoom meetings (and sometimes in-person) for good conversation and effective action. Learn about their efforts to promote affordable renewable energy and sustainable building practices in our schools, hom......More

Join members of 350Mass, the local climate group, at their monthly zoom meetings (and sometimes in-person) for good conversation and effective action. Learn about their efforts to promote affordable renewable energy and sustainable building practices in our schools, homes, and municipalities. The group meets monthly on the 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 pm and is always looking for new people to bring ideas, brainstorm clever actions, and help implement current initiatives. Please join and you will be made welcome! To contact us and get the Zoom link, email at: [email protected] DATES: 3rd Wednesdays TIME: 6:00 PM LOCATION: Online via Zoom

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